policies for louisiana charter schools “best practice” for student/parent and employee handbooks...
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Policies for Louisiana Policies for Louisiana Charter SchoolsCharter Schools““Best Practice” for Student/Parent Best Practice” for Student/Parent and Employee Handbooksand Employee Handbooks
By: Stefanie J. Allweiss,LLCBy: Stefanie J. Allweiss,LLC
www.sallweiss.comwww.sallweiss.com
Charter schools can have Charter schools can have their charters revoked their charters revoked for:for: Poor academic performancePoor academic performance Business mismanagementBusiness mismanagement Legal noncomplianceLegal noncompliance
– ““A charter school can be shut down A charter school can be shut down at the end of its third year if the at the end of its third year if the school or any of its employees school or any of its employees violates its charter, fiscal or violates its charter, fiscal or accounting standards, or the law” accounting standards, or the law”
Why Have Written Why Have Written Policies?Policies?
Convey legal rights and Convey legal rights and obligationsobligations
Communicate mutual Communicate mutual expectations for students, expectations for students, parents, employees, and the parents, employees, and the communitycommunity
Shape the unique culture of a Shape the unique culture of a schoolschool
Policies for Louisiana Policies for Louisiana Charter SchoolsCharter Schools
*Required by*Required by LawLaw RegulationRegulation OrdinanceOrdinance ContractContract
Recommended as Recommended as “Best Practice”“Best Practice”
To communicate To communicate expectationsexpectations
To shape school’s To shape school’s unique characterunique character
Convey what is Convey what is special about special about school’s message school’s message and mission and mission
CAUTIONCAUTION
*Be aware of legal requirements *Be aware of legal requirements Maintain management discretion and Maintain management discretion and
flexibilityflexibility Do not commit to policies to which you are Do not commit to policies to which you are
not legally bound not legally bound Be prepared to “live with” policies as Be prepared to “live with” policies as
writtenwritten Be fair and consistent with implementationBe fair and consistent with implementation WHEN IN DOUBT SEEK ADVICE FROM AN WHEN IN DOUBT SEEK ADVICE FROM AN
EXPERTEXPERT
Risk of Not Having Risk of Not Having Written PoliciesWritten Policies Employees not aware of rightsEmployees not aware of rights Violation of lawViolation of law Liability and monetary damagesLiability and monetary damages Morale problemsMorale problems Performance issuesPerformance issues Lack of unity/universal goalsLack of unity/universal goals
Required Policies Depend Required Policies Depend On:On:
Type of Charter School (Types 1-5)Type of Charter School (Types 1-5) Number and ages of studentsNumber and ages of students Number of Employees Number of Employees
– Example:Example: *Student admission requirements*Student admission requirements *Teacher certification *Teacher certification *Relevant state and federal employment *Relevant state and federal employment
lawslaws
Designated ContactsDesignated Contacts
Encourage Open CommunicationEncourage Open Communication– Best to resolve complaints internallyBest to resolve complaints internally
Alternative avenues for Alternative avenues for grievancesgrievances– School LeaderSchool Leader– PrincipalPrincipal– Human Resources Human Resources
Student/Parent Policies:Student/Parent Policies:Commitment to MissionCommitment to Mission(Charter School Law*)(Charter School Law*)
– Mission StatementMission Statement– Description of Charter School and Description of Charter School and
FacultyFaculty– Parent/student ContractParent/student Contract– AttendanceAttendance– Academic curriculum and homeworkAcademic curriculum and homework– Yearly Calendar eventsYearly Calendar events– BehaviorBehavior– Honor codeHonor code
Student/Parent Policies:Student/Parent Policies:Performance Performance Expectations*Expectations*
– GradesGrades Grading systemGrading system Report cardsReport cards Promotional standardsPromotional standards Parental actionParental action
– Attendance policyAttendance policy Excused and unexcusedExcused and unexcused Makeup workMakeup work
– Remedial ProgramsRemedial Programs TutoringTutoring Extended dayExtended day
– Extracurricular activities Extracurricular activities
Student/ Parent Student/ Parent Policies:Policies:Behavioral Behavioral Expectations*Expectations*– Honor codeHonor code
Honesty, integrity, respectHonesty, integrity, respect
– Dress codeDress code– In-school disciplineIn-school discipline
Provide examplesProvide examples ConsequencesConsequences
– Short and long term suspensionShort and long term suspension– ExpulsionExpulsion
Student/Parent Student/Parent Policies:Policies:DisciplineDiscipline *Due Process Requirements *Due Process Requirements
MandatedMandated Dependent on length/type Dependent on length/type
punishment punishment – ConferenceConference– HearingHearing– Legal representationLegal representation– Consistent treatmentConsistent treatment
Student/Parent Policies:Student/Parent Policies:“Harassment” Free “Harassment” Free EnvironmentEnvironment
– *Mandatory abuse *Mandatory abuse reportingreporting
– *Harassment policy*Harassment policy– *Anti-discrimination *Anti-discrimination
policy (special ed)policy (special ed)– *Violence*Violence– Drugs/alcoholDrugs/alcohol– Damage to School Damage to School
propertyproperty
Employee Handbook:Employee Handbook:Initial EmploymentInitial Employment
– *Equal Opportunity Employer*Equal Opportunity Employer– *Teacher Certification Requirements*Teacher Certification Requirements– AcknowledgementAcknowledgement– Disclaimer about handbookDisclaimer about handbook– ““At will” employmentAt will” employment– *Conditions of employment, i.e. *Conditions of employment, i.e.
criminal background check, drug criminal background check, drug testing testing
Employee Employee Professional StandardsProfessional Standards
– Outline professional expectations Outline professional expectations and consequencesand consequences
– Outside employmentOutside employment– Conflict of interestConflict of interest– NepotismNepotism– GiftsGifts– Conviction/arrestConviction/arrest– Alcohol/drugsAlcohol/drugs
Employee Employee Performance Performance ExpectationsExpectations
– Describe primary responsibilitiesDescribe primary responsibilities– Teaching policiesTeaching policies– Participation in communityParticipation in community– AttendanceAttendance– Work productWork product– Evaluation processEvaluation process– Promotional standardsPromotional standards
EmployeeEmployeeProgressive Performance Progressive Performance ManagementManagement Train principals, school leader and Train principals, school leader and
supervisorssupervisors To effectively convey expectationsTo effectively convey expectations How to manage performanceHow to manage performance
Fair and Consistent treatmentFair and Consistent treatment Similarly situated employeesSimilarly situated employees Treated the sameTreated the same Cannot violate state or federal employment Cannot violate state or federal employment
lawslaws Grievance procedureGrievance procedure
*Workplace Free of *Workplace Free of Harassment/DiscriminatiHarassment/Discriminationon Equal employment Equal employment Whistleblower lawWhistleblower law Workplace violenceWorkplace violence Conflict resolutionConflict resolution Abuse/neglectAbuse/neglect Student disciplinary procedureStudent disciplinary procedure
Health and SafetyHealth and Safety
*Immunization and Health *Immunization and Health RequirementsRequirements
*In-school medication policy*In-school medication policy Field TripsField Trips *Abuse/Neglect Reporting *Abuse/Neglect Reporting Occupational safetyOccupational safety Crisis prevention and managementCrisis prevention and management Environmental concernsEnvironmental concerns
Salary and BenefitsSalary and Benefits
Employment contracts/termEmployment contracts/term Position/standards/dutiesPosition/standards/duties Employment categoriesEmployment categories Salary structureSalary structure Time ReportingTime Reporting Payroll PeriodPayroll Period DeductionsDeductions InsuranceInsurance COBRACOBRA Worker’s compensationWorker’s compensation
Leave and HolidaysLeave and Holidays
SickSick HolidaysHolidays *Family Medical Leave*Family Medical Leave *Pregnancy/Maternity*Pregnancy/Maternity *Workplace accommodation*Workplace accommodation *Jury duty*Jury duty BereavmentBereavment
School Property and School Property and RecordsRecords *Public information*Public information *Public Meeting law*Public Meeting law *Confidential and Privileged files*Confidential and Privileged files Computer and TechnologyComputer and Technology Search and SeizureSearch and Seizure
RecapRecap
Be aware of legal obligationsBe aware of legal obligations Management discretionManagement discretion CommunicationCommunication Open doorOpen door Fair and consistent application Fair and consistent application Periodic review Periodic review WHEN IN DOUBT CONSULT EXPERTWHEN IN DOUBT CONSULT EXPERT