Disclosures
State and federal regulations require each school district to make a series of disclosures annually to residents, students or their parents/guardians.
Disclosures
- Asbestos Management Plan
- Bullying
- Exceptional Children
- Interscholastic Athletics
- McKinney Vento Homeless Law
- Non-Discrimination Statement
- Pest Management Plan
- PPRA Consent
- Resource Links
- Right to Know Law
- School Board Policy
- Student Records (FERPA)
Asbestos Management Plan
This notice is to inform the parents, teachers and building occupants, of the Conestoga Valley School District, that the School has maintained its AHERA Management Plan and Periodic Surveillance as stipulated in the EPA’s AHERA Section 763.84 regulation.
This updated information concerning the Management Plan is available for review at the District’s Service Center Office at 160 Newport Road, Leola, PA 17540. Please call ahead to make arrangements to view the Management Plan. Copies are available at the rate of $0.25 per copy.
If you have any questions regarding the information in the Management Plan, please contact the Conestoga Valley School District‘s Asbestos Program Coordinator, Mr. Kenneth Johnson 717-656-2601.
Bullying
Exceptional Children
Identification of Exceptional Children
Pupil services staff assist in the identification and evaluation of children thought to be exceptional. A team of district personnel including the counselor, principal, teachers, nurse, and school psychologist work with parents in the evaluation process.
If a parent suspects that their child might be exceptional they should contact the counselor. Exceptional children have many rights to assure prompt evaluation and program development. The counselor will advise you on how to access those services. If special placement is recommended, the parent is assured of due process at all steps.
Many special programs are provided by CV, the Intermediate Unit and other districts. Regardless of the source of service or program, the identification and evaluation process is coordinated by the pupil service staff; placement and actual program is provided by the Supervisor of Special Education.
Interscholastic Athletics
McKinney Vento Homeless Law
Homeless
As part of the No Child Left Behind Act, provisions have been made to ensure that homeless students have no barriers to getting an education comparable with any other students. The McKinney-Vento Act, a federal act that protects the rights of homeless students, classifies families as homeless if they have a precipitating event [Abandonment, Act of Nature/Natural Disaster, Death of Parent/Guardian, Domestic Violence, Eviction, Fire, Hospitalization of Parent/Guardian, Incarceration of Parent/Guardian, Left Home, Military, Parental Job Loss/Loss of Income, Parent Divorce/Separation, Separated from Family, Other Poverty-related Situation, Other, and Unknown]. Along with the precipitating event, the family also must be experiencing one of the following.
- Sharing the house of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason, called “doubled up”
- Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or campgrounds to due lack of alternative adequate
accommodations - Living in emergency or transitional shelters
- Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
Conestoga Valley School District will work with students defined as homeless to remove barriers that may prevent them from receiving education services. Anyone who feels their child may qualify as homeless should contact
:
Carla DiClemente, Homeless Liaison for High School
717-397-5231 x1001
carla_diclemente@conestogavalley.org,
717-397-5231 x1001
carla_diclemente@conestogavalley.org,
Jena Mable, Homeless Liason for Middle School
717-394-0555 x6840
Resources
Non-Discrimination Statement
Notice of Non-Discrimination
Conestoga Valley School District is an equal-opportunity educational institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender and disability in its activities, programs or employment practices as required by Title VI, Title IX and Section 504. Conestoga Valley’s Title IX Coordinator is Adelina Villarroel-Matos.
For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact the Office of the Superintendent (717-397-2421) at the District Office at 500 Mt. Sidney Rd., Lancaster, PA 17602.
Pest Management Plan
Conestoga Valley School District abides by the provisions of Act 35-36 2002 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Integrated Pest Management. In accordance with this plan, non-chemical pest management treatment will be implemented whenever practical. Advance notification of pesticide treatment will be posted prior to all applications. Parents or guardians may also request individual notification prior to pesticide use within the school district by contacting the Maintenance Office.
All reports of inspections and the CVSD management plan are on file in the Maintenance Office. Anyone interested may examine these reports by appointment by contacting the Maintenance Office at 717-656-2601.
PPRA Consent
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) Notice and Consent/Opt-Out for Specific Activities
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) requires that the school notifies you to obtain consent or allow you to opt out of the following school activities: a student survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns one or more of the following eight areas (“protected information surveys”):
- Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
- Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
- Sex behavior or attitudes; illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
- Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
- Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
- Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
- Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
This requirement also applies to the collection, disclosure or use of student information for marketing purposes (“marketing surveys”), and certain physical exams and screenings.
Resource Links
Right to Know Law
School Board Policy
Student Records (FERPA)
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guarantees parents/eligible students certain rights concerning student records.
Policy
The school has the right and responsibility to collect and maintain educational records on all students. Procedures for collection and maintenance are found in the district records policy (CV 216). That policy is based on the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which protects the confidentiality of student records by limiting their disclosure. No information may be collected without the informed written consent of the parent or the representational consent of the school board.
FERPA guarantees parents/eligible students (18 years of age or older) certain rights described below. For a copy of the complete policy contact the building principal.
Access to Records
Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect their child’s or their own educational records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access.
Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
Records are purged at the end of Grades 6, 8, and 12. Parents have a right to see that information before it is purged. If interested, contact your building principal by May 1.
When a child’s parents do not live together, both parents have the right of access to all information relating to their child’s education unless there is a court document on file in the school, which specifically prohibits it. Report cards, progress reports, and other educational information routinely provided to the custodial parent by the school may also be sent to the non-custodial parent upon request. Non-custodial parents should make this request yearly.
Challenge to Records
Parents or eligible students may ask the school to amend a record they believe is inaccurate. They should write to the principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify him or her of the decision and advise that person of the right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
Disclosure
FERPA provides that educational records, except Directory Information, not be released without the written consent of the parent or eligible student except: to other educational institutions; at the order of the court or school board; or the health or safety of the student.
This information can be disclosed to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a School Board member; a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or
therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Directory Information is excluded from FERPA’s protection from release and can be released without parental or student consent. Directory information includes: student name; address; phone number; participation in school clubs, activities and sports; height and weight for athletic participation; attendance; degrees/awards; major field of study; and similar information. Federal law requires schools to provide Directory Information to military recruiters. The district may also release Directory Information to the press if deemed in the best interest of the student.
If you do not want some or all of this information about your child released, you may prevent its disclosure by sending a written request to the building principal prior to October 1 of each school year.
Records Transferred - Moving to New District
Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. Discipline records are part of your child’s educational record and will be released along with all other records, including students transferring to or from nonpublic schools.
Access to Pupil Records in Custody Situation
When a child’s parents do not live together, both parents have the right of access to all information relating to their child’s education unless there is a current court order on file in the school which specifically prohibits it.
There are many types of child custody arrangements. Specific policies to cover every situation are impractical. The following guidelines and policies will be practiced:
- Non-custodial parents shall have access to all educational information on their child unless prohibited by a court order specifically denying such access. The access is for information only educational decisions are made by the custodial parent.
- All educational decision-making and decision-approving signatures shall be done by the custodial parent. Noncustodial parents may participate in teacher conferences concerning their child/children but not in a decision-making capacity. Both custodial and non-custodial parents are urged to attend the conference together.
- Stepparents, grandparents, or friends of the parent do not have access to any educational information. Stepparents may have access only if a release is signed by the parent. Stepparent signatures on school documents are not permitted unless written permission is granted by the parent. Stepparents may attend parent-teacher conferences with their spouse. They may not attend without their spouse.
- Non-custodial parents may request the school to send copies of the school’s communication, report cards, and any other information relating to their child. Each year requests should be made in writing to the principal.
Complaints
If you believe that the School District is not complying with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or not guaranteeing you the rights outlined above, you may file a letter of complaint with the federal office in charge of enforcing the Act at the address below:
Family Police Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605