Regular attendance in school is essential to the success of our students. As parents and guardians, you play the most important role in your child’s education. Making sure your child arrives at school every day rested, well fed and ready to learn is a great contribution to your child’s education.

Children who are well should be at school every day that school is in session. Students who are ill should not be in school. Refer to page 8 for “Is my child well enough to go to school?” 

Generally, children don’t miss more than six days of school a year from illness. If there are chronic health concerns keeping your child out of school, please consult your school’s nurse.

Under the compulsory education law, students between the ages of seven and 17 are required to receive instruction each year. Children under age seven who are enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade are also subject to the law.

Minnesota statutes, section 120A.22 – Compulsory instruction

Subdivision 1. Parental responsibility. The parent of a child is primarily responsible for assuring that the child acquires knowledge and skills that are essential for effective citizenship.

Subdivision 5.  Ages and terms. (a) Every child between seven and 17 years of age must receive instruction unless the child has graduated. Every child under the age of seven who is enrolled in a kindergarten program shall receive instruction. Except as provided in subdivision 6, a parent may withdraw a child under the age of seven from enrollment at any time.

Subdivision 6.  Children under seven.

1. Once a pupil under the age of seven is enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade in a public school, the pupil is subject to the compulsory attendance provisions of this chapter and section 120A.34.
2. In a district in which children under seven are subject to compulsory attendance under this subdivision, paragraphs (c) to (e) apply.
3. A parent or guardian may withdraw the pupil from enrollment in the school for good cause by notifying the district. Good cause includes, but is not limited to, enrollment of the pupil in another school, as defined in subdivision 4, or the immaturity of the child.
4. When the pupil enrolls, the enrolling official must provide the parent or guardian who enrolls the pupil with a written explanation of the provisions of this subdivision.
5. A pupil under the age of seven who is withdrawn from enrollment in the public school under paragraph (c) is no longer subject to the compulsory attendance provisions of this chapter.

If your child will be absent, arrive late, or leave early, please call the school attendance line. The parent(s) or guardian(s) with legal custody of the student or foster parents can call 24 hours a day and leave a message. If a child is not at school, and the school has not received notice of an absence, the school will call a parent or guardian. If we don’t hear from you, your child’s absence will be recorded as unexcused. Absence due to weather concerns will be excused only if reported by a parent or guardian.

Absence guidelines:

 Grades K-5

• A student is considered tardy if they arrive up to 60 minutes late.
• A student is considered absent for a half day if they arrive more than 60 minutes late up to half of the school day.
• A student is considered absent for a full day if they arrive to school and is picked up within 90 minutes.
• A student is considered absent for a full day if they miss four or more hours of the school day.

Grades 6-12

• Student attendance is recorded each class period.
• A student is considered tardy if they arrive up to 15 minutes late to a class period.

Early dismissals are discouraged. Students leaving a few minutes early often miss important last minute instructions and/or reminders. Interrupting classes to call students to the office also distracts other students and interrupts end of the day classroom routines. Early dismissals should occur only in rare circumstances and requests must go through the school office. Please make every effort to schedule appointments outside of school hours.

• Students leaving early will be marked as early out. This is considered the same as a tardy.

Regular attendance is a crucial part of success in school. There are consequences when students are continually absent from school. If an elementary student is absent three days within a single school year; or a secondary student is absent from three or more class periods on three days within a school year without excuse that student is considered a “continuing truant,” according to state law (section 260A.02). The school is required by law to notify a parent when a child is a “continuing truant” and if the child continues to be truant there may be juvenile court proceedings. Once a child is considered a “continuing truant”, parents and guardians are given an opportunity to explain their child’s absences. 

When an elementary student is absent seven or more days from school within a single school year; or a secondary student is absent from one or more class periods on seven days within a single school year without excuse, that student is considered a “habitual truant,” according to state law (section 260C.007). Anoka-Hennepin schools refer “habitually truant” students to the county attorney. 

Attendance letters will be sent home when absences or tardies become excessive so families can take corrective action and address the issue.

If a student will not be attending school due to cold weather or other concerns, a parent or guardian must call the school to report the absence or the student will be counted as absent. Absence due to weather or other concerns will be excused if reported by a parent or guardian. 

If you are having difficulty with your child’s school attendance and would like to problem solve supports, please contact the school principal/support staff.

Students will only be released to persons other than legal parents or guardians if a note is received from the parent/guardian and a valid photo ID is presented - verbal requests and phone calls cannot be honored.  If a student arrives late or leaves early, parents/guardians must sign their students in or out at the office. Please check in at the office when picking up your child – do not go directly to your child’s classroom.  Also, see “Policy regarding parental contact with students during the school day” 

If you are dropping off an item such as lunch, homework or textbooks, go to the office and a school staff member will deliver the item to the classroom, or call the child to the office at an appropriate time.

1. Reasonable efforts must be made by a school district to accommodate any pupil who wishes to be excused from a curricular activity for a religious observance. A school board must provide annual notice to parents of the school district’s policy relating to a pupil’s absence from school for religious observance. (Minn. Stat. 102A.35.)
2. Students shall be allowed a reasonable number of excused absences to observe religious holidays within their traditions. Students and families should follow regular approval procedures for excused absences in making any such requests. Students may be asked to complete makeup assignments or tests in conjunction with such absences.

School is canceled only in extraordinary circumstances such as extreme winter weather, equipment failure or public crisis. School staff, district administration and the School Board are aware of the difficulties created by an abrupt cancellation of school. The district will post information about school closings/delayed start times through a variety of communication vehicles. In the list below, the first six communication vehicles are the quickest ways to receive such information.

• District and school websites.
• District and school social media pages (Facebook and Twitter).
• Backpack Online e-newsletter. 
• Media outlets including WCCO, KSTP, Fox 9, Kare 11, Northwest Community TV, WCCO radio and Star Tribune newspaper.

The following questions and answers have been developed in response to common questions about the operation of school on cold days.

How cold does it have to be to close school? 

The safety of all our students is our first priority when determining if schools should stay open in extreme winter weather. In making this decision, district officials use the National Weather Service’s warning system.

If the National Weather Service issues a “wind chill warning” stating that exposed skin can become frostbitten in less than 15 minutes, then the district will likely make a decision to close. If a “wind chill advisory” is in effect, students who are properly dressed for the weather should be able to walk to school or wait for the bus without risking frostbite.

The decision to close school is a serious one, and it affects many working families who would have to take a day off of work or find day care on short notice. Some families do not have these options and their children may be left home alone. Often, children are more at risk when we close school. As the largest school district in Minnesota, with more than 250,000 residents and 38,000 students, many families and businesses are affected when  Anoka-Hennepin closes school.

What if I am concerned about the weather and school is in session?

In cases of extreme winter weather, parents and guardians have the final decision on whether to send their children to school. If school is open, students are expected to attend. However, if parents and guardians feel their children would be in danger, they may choose to keep them home. The absence will be excused if the parent or guardian calls to report it prior to the start of school. If the school is not contacted, the student will not receive an excused absence. Students who are already in school will not be excused if they choose to go home.

Does the district lose money if school is closed?

No. The district does not lose state aid if school closes for weather or other emergencies. State revenue is based on the number of students enrolled in school, not on the number of days in school.

Will elementary students be allowed outside for recess when it is 25 below zero?

No. The guideline for keeping children inside for recess is 0 degree temperature or 10 degrees below zero wind chill. Accommodations for children with special medical needs can be made with the Health Services office; written documentation from a doctor will be required. 

Are student crossing guards allowed out in cold weather?

Yes. School staff check student crossing guards to ensure that they have warm and proper clothing to be out in cold weather.

Here are tips on appropriate dress for cold weather:

• Wear several layers, the layer of air between each piece of clothing acts as extra insulation.
• Wear clothing that insulates, shields and breathes. Wool and polypropylene are good insulators.
• Outer layers should be wind and waterproof.
• Wear wool socks and well-fitting waterproof boots.
• Wear a hat to prevent heat loss.
• In most cases, mittens are warmer than gloves.
• In extreme cold, cover all areas of exposed skin.

What if my bus is late?

If the school bus is more than 15 minutes late, students should return home and call the transportation department at  
763-506-1125.

During an emergency, or threat of emergency, school officials and law enforcement take specific, planned steps to keep students safe. School and district administration understand that parents and guardians may wish to take their children out of school during these times. Unfortunately, parents’ desire to take their child may create situations that further complicate an emergency.  If parents or guardians choose to come to school during an emergency, they will not have the kind of access to the school and their students that they are used to. Here is what parents should know:

• Parents should refrain from coming to campus during an emergency, unless asked to do so. The school may close the campus and parking lot to everyone except police, emergency workers and school officials.
• The presence of additional people on or near campus makes it more difficult for police, emergency workers and school staff to do their jobs. Parents who do come to school will have to wait until district and law enforcement officials are certain the situation is safe.
• Until all students and the school building are safe and secure, schools generally do not release students. 
• If there is an evacuation of school, all students are moved to a secure, safe location away from school under the supervision of teachers and administrative staff.
• Because of the need to maintain order, school staff may not release students even if parents or guardians have told their children to leave. Students are safer under the supervision of school staff than on their own.

During an emergency, our district puts a priority on providing accurate, timely information as it becomes available. Information is shared via the district website, school websites, social media 
(Facebook/Twitter), e-newsletters, phone calls, text messages and local news media. School closings and instructions to parents will be provided through these outlets. The district office at  
763-506-1000 also will provide as much information as possible.

Teachers may schedule field trips during the year to enhance the educational experience. The classroom teacher or school office will communicate information regarding any organized field trip. Parent consent is needed for a student to attend field trips. If a student is not able to attend a field trip, when possible an alternate educational experience will be provided. If you are unable to fund your child’s field trip cost, please contact the school office to discuss a possible solution.

One free reimbursable breakfast and one free reimbursable lunch are available to your student each school day. Free meals are available due to the passage of the Minnesota Free School Meals Bill that passed in March of 2023 .

To receive a meal, students will use their student ID number, school issued ID card, or the SchoolCafe app (secondary schools) to access their meal account.

Students will be offered a variety of options for breakfast and lunch. Menus can be found at ahschools.us/menus. Child Nutrition staff will assist your student to make sure they have the right amount of food to make their choices a complete meal and meals must include a fruit or vegetable serving to make their meal complete. While students must take a minimum serving of a fruit or vegetable, at Anoka-Hennepin Schools we offer our students the option to choose as much as they care to eat of fruits or vegetables, as long as it is a reasonable amount that can be eaten during the meal period.

Note that free meals are complete meals only. Students who do not want the complete meal, or only want specific items will be charged A la Carte pricing for these items.

Examples of A la Carte purchases would be:

• The entree portion of the day only, $3.00 each.
• Milk purchased separately from a meal, $.50 each.
• Snack items and beverages such as bottled water, sports drinks, etc. (prices vary)

To purchase any a la carte item students must have money in their meal account. Charging is not allowed.

Online meal account payments can be made in SchoolPay by logging in to your parent A-H Connect account. Click on Student information, then Fee, then Food Service, then Add Funds. There is no fee to make online payments. Payments may take up to two hours to show up in your students meal account. Balances are only uploaded to SchoolPay nightly so if you make a payment during the day the new balance won’t be displayed until later that night. For assistance with A-H Connect usernames and passwords contact the Anoka-Hennepin Help Desk at 763-506-4357.

All parents should continue to complete the Application for Educational Benefits. This can easily be done online when parents or guardians are completing the annual online registration process, or they can go to ahschools.us/freereduced then click on the link at the top of the page that says “To Apply please login...”. You will then create an account (or login to your existing account) in SchoolCafe where the application can be completed.

The Application for Educational Benefits is not just for meals but provides free or reduced fees for students for school fees such as athletics, band, field trips, lab fees, testing fees, metro transit, etc. If you qualify for benefits, you may be eligible to receive the Summer EBT benefit also.

This application needs to be completed every school year to receive these extended Benefits. Want your school to receive more educational funds? By filling out the Application for Educational Benefits your school can receive additional funding for educational programs based directly on the number of students who qualify for the benefit. If you prefer to complete a paper application, call the Child Nutrition office at 763-506-1240 and we will send one to you.

Diet accommodations are governed by state and federal regulations.

Lactose-reduced or soy milk is available to a student with a written request from a parent/guardian. Complete the Request for Lactose-Free Milk or Soy Milk form and submit to the Child Nutrition supervisor at the students’ school or email it to mealmodifications@ahschools.us. The form can be found at ahschools.us/dietform.

All other requests for meal modifications require a completed Diet Modification Request form signed by a licensed Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Clinical Nurse Practitioner (CNP), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) or Physician’s Assistant (P.A.C.) and signed by a parent or guardian. The form can be found at ahschools.us/ dietform. It is important that all required fields of the form be completed.

Physician letters, verbal or email requests to school staff, nursing staff, or to the Child Nutrition office do not meet USDA requirements to make a meal modification.

Email the completed form to mealmodifications@ahschools.us, mail it to Child Nutrition Program, 2727 N. Ferry St., Anoka, 55303, or fax it to 763-506-1253.

Requests may take up to 10 days to be accommodated. Additional time may be required at the beginning of the school year or complex diets. Incomplete documents will be returned for completion.

There may be special occasions for students to share snacks with the class. Food provided by parents or guardians to a classroom should be consistent with the district’s wellness policy. Please send only pre-packaged snacks to school for class events; an ingredient list must be available if needed. Homemade food cannot be handed out to children. Schools may serve students only foods obtained from sources approved and inspected by federal, state or local regulatory authority.

The district physical wellness policy is part of an effort by the federal government to encourage more healthy eating and exercise during the school day. The policy is designed to promote nutritious choices for any food that students may encounter during the school day, from the cafeteria to the classroom. To meet the goals of the district’s wellness policy, parents and guardians should think of healthy options when they want to bring food to a classroom. You may ask, what’s the harm with a cupcake, cookie or piece of candy, etc., once in a while? The occasional treat is not the problem. Unfortunately, sugary, fat-filled and generally unhealthy treats have become the norm rather than the exception. Most sweet treats are high in fat, high in sugar, and low in nutrients. In addition, prepackaged sweets and treats are high in trans-fats and preservatives; many nutrition experts recommend limiting consumption of these kinds of fats and additives. Ultimately, we want our students to have more choices than just sweets. Regular exposure to nutrient rich foods makes it easier for children to learn how to make healthy choices. We want to teach children that the healthy choice is the better choice.

Here is a list of suggestions for healthy snacks to provide to Anoka-Hennepin classrooms. Check with your child’s teacher or the school nurse before bringing food with nuts or other potential allergens. Pre-packaged, individual portions of the foods listed below also are great snacking ideas anytime.

• Instead of soft drink/pop: 100 percent juice, flavored water (no sugar added), low-fat or non-fat plain or flavored milk.
• Fresh fruit assortment.
• Dried fruit and 100 percent fruit snacks.
• Vegetable portions with low-fat dip.
• Whole-grain crackers with cheese.
• Pretzels, low-fat popcorn, rice cakes, bread sticks, graham crackers and animal crackers.
• Low-fat pudding, low-fat yogurt.
• Low-fat breakfast or granola bars (look for brands low in sugar, too).
• Trail mix or cereal mix (whole-grain, low sugar cereals with dried fruits, etc.).

Healthy classroom celebration snacks are available from the Child Nutrition program. We offer fun, healthy foods including fruits, vegetables, low/non-fat dairy and whole grains. It’s the convenient way to buy fresh, healthy snacks for your child’s class - no more worrying about last minute trips to the store!

Contact the Child Nutrition site supervisor at your child’s school.

The Minnesota School Immunization Law (MN Statute 121A.15) requires all students to provide proof of childhood immunizations. Rules require proof of chickenpox disease or varicella immunization. Proof of disease must consist of information from a medical provider indicating the year of chickenpox. Vaccinationfor varicella consists of two shots. The second measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine is required before entry to kindergarten. A tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) booster is required for all students seventh grade and older. Seventh graders in Minnesota continue to be required to have Hepatitis B vaccination in a series of two or three shots. A meningitis vaccine is also required for seventh grade. A booster meningitis dose will be due in grade 12. Please consult with your medical provider with regard to immunizations required before entering kindergarten. Private medical providers may give the immunizations. If you have no medical insurance that covers immunizations your student may be immunized at Anoka or Hennepin County community health clinics. For clinic dates, times, and locations call Anoka County at 763-324-4210 or Hennepin County at 612-348-2884. 

The Health Service office at your student’s school needs proof of the month, day and year your student’s immunizations were given. If the school does not receive documentation of the required immunizations, your student will be excluded from school. The state law does allow a process for parents or guardians to file a legal exemption to immunizations for medical reasons or conscientiously held beliefs. The exemption must be notarized and turned into the student’s Health Service office at their school. Please contact the Health Service at your student’s school if you would like help with the exemption process.

The state of Minnesota requires health and developmental screening for every child before they enter kindergarten in a public school. Ideally, the screening should be completed when the child turns three. This allows health or developmental concerns to be addressed at least one to two years before a child enters kindergarten. Anoka-Hennepin Schools offers this service at no cost. Early screening checks:

Screening includes:

• Vision and hearing
• Speech and language development
• Height and weight
• Cognitive and social development
• Immunizations

Screenings are scheduled year-round with limited availability through the summer months. There are three screening locations:

Sorteberg Early Childhood Center
(11400 Magnolia St. NW in Coon Rapids),

Riverview Early Childhood Center
(1400 93rd Ave. N. in Brooklyn Park),

Blaine Early Childhood Center
(13001 Central Ave. in Blaine).

For more information or to schedule your child’s screening appointment go to ahschools.us/earlychildhoodscreening or call 763-433-4910.

Vision and hearing screenings are conducted in accordance with State Health Department recommendations and within staffing availability. Screenings are not done on your student every school year. Screenings are not a comprehensive examination. Please do have your medical provider examine your student if you are questioning your student’s vision or hearing. If you require financial assistance with accessing care, there are several good resources as follows: Anoka County Child and Teen (763-324-4280) and First Call for Help (211 or 651-291-0211).

Parents are frequently concerned about when students should stay home from school because of illness. It is important to have a child care plan for the days your child is ill and must stay home from school.

Here is some information that can help you decide if your child should stay home:

• If a student has had a fever of 100 degrees or more, the student must stay home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal.
• If a student has vomited or had diarrhea, the student must stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
• If a student has had any rash that may be disease-related or the cause is unknown, check with a family physician before sending the student to school.
• If a student is ill, please call the school daily to report the illness.
• If your student has a chronic health disease that causes the symptoms of fever, vomiting, diarrhea and/or rash please check with the school nurse to discuss parameters for keeping your student home.

Remember that a child who is ill with an infectious disease can spread the disease when in contact with others in the family and community. Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to limit spread of disease. Set a good example by washing your hands often and helping your child develop good hand washing habits.

If you have questions about these guidelines or your child’s illness, please call your school nurse or family physician.
See the illness/disease chart.

Because some individuals are allergic to latex, Anoka-Hennepin School District strives to minimize use of latex-containing products that commonly cause allergic reactions.

Latex, a milky fluid produced by rubber trees, is processed into a wide variety of products, including latex balloons. Balloons are common causes of allergic reactions in persons sensitive to latex. The severity of the reaction depends upon the degree of sensitivity of the person. In rare instances, exposure to latex particles released when a balloon pops can include life-threatening symptoms, such as shock, severe breathing difficulties or loss of blood pressure.

Due to possible allergic reaction to latex, most balloons are not allowed in school. However, Mylar balloons, which can be recognized by their silver material, are allowed in school. If you are uncertain of the material in a particular balloon, do not bring it to school.

Please notify an administrator or Health Services staff member if your child is allergic to latex.

With many students needing medication during the school day, procedures have been developed to ensure students’ safety. Our Health Service staff request parent or guardian cooperation with these School Board approved procedures. Prescription medication may be given with medical provider and parent permission.

Only FDA approved medications can be administered to students through Health Services. Herbal, dietary supplements, essential oils and alternative medications will need to be administered to students outside of the school day at home. All medications administered at school must be provided by the parent or guardian.

1. The parent or guardian shall bring all prescription medicines to
   the school’s Health Service.
2. If this is not possible, the following procedure must be
   followed:
       a. Parent or guardian must count the number of pills in the prescription labeled bottle.
       b. The parent or guardian must seal the medicine bottle with tape and write the number of pills on the tape, or
       c. After counting the pills, the parent or guardian must place the prescription labeled bottle of medicine in an envelope, seal it, and write  the number of pills on the envelope.
       d. If the medication is in liquid form, the parent or guardian must draw a line indicating the level of liquid medicine in the bottle.
       e. Parent or guardian will send the medicine to school with the student, instructing him/her to take the medicine to Health Services upon entering school.
       f. The nurse/health paraprofessional will count the medicine upon its arrival in the Health Services office; if there is a question, the guardian will be contacted.         
3. All discontinued medication must be picked up by the parent or guardian from Health Services or it will be disposed of appropriately.

Field trip medication procedures

Schools also follow district procedures for administering medication to students while they are on field trips. Health Service personnel and teachers work together to ensure that students receive regular daily as well as emergency medication if needed while on field trips. For more information on this, please call your school Health Service office.

Can my student take medication during an after-school activity?

Anoka-Hennepin Health Service personnel are not available to give medications after school hours during activities. Therefore, medications, including inhalers, are not accessible to students or staff after school hours.

If students participating in after-school activities anticipate the need to use inhaler medicine before, during or after the activity, they may take their inhalers from Health Services at the end of school and return them the following day. Students may also bring their inhalers from home when they return to school for evening activities.

Minnesota Health Care Programs have free and low-cost health insurance for children and families who qualify. (Medical Assistance has no monthly premium. MinnesotaCare has a monthly premium based on household income.)

Your child may qualify if your household income is below:

Family size       Monthly income     Yearly income

2       $3,992             $47,905
3       $5,032             $61,048
 4       $6,072             $73,670
5       $7,113             $86,291

Income is one factor for qualifying. Other rules and limits apply. For more information, call your county office or visit www.dhs.state.mn.us/healthcare.health-care-programs/programs-and-services/income-asset-limits.jsp

From Anoka-Hennepin School District’s building and grounds department:

• Generally, pets and other animals are not allowed in school buildings. Exceptions are allowed for approved educational presentations, for service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act or as otherwise required by state and federal law.
• Minimize food storage in classrooms and offices. If food is going to be stored in these areas, it must be stored in a rigid, airtight container.
• Limit food consumption in classrooms and offices. If food consumption is to occur, then the following steps are to be followed:
  1) Spills cleaned up and/or reported to custodial staff immediately;
  2) Food waste disposed of in a lined garbage container; and
  3) Waste removed by custodial staff within a 12-hour period.
• Limit plants in classrooms and offices. No plants should be placed on or above a unit ventilator.
• Air freshener products, such as “plug-ins,” electronic air fresheners, reed diffusers, essential oils, etc., must not be used in the schools.
• No latex balloons should be used within the building.
• No household cleaning chemicals should be brought into the building.

Schools that apply pesticides must maintain an estimated schedule of pesticide applications and make the schedule available to parents and guardians for review or copying at each school office. The state law also requires that families be told that the long-term health effect on children from application of pesticides or the class of chemicals to which they belong may not be fully understood.

If you would like to be notified prior to pesticide applications made on days other than those specified in the school’s estimated schedule or for other indoor air quality questions, please contact Elizabeth Pipp, air quality coordinator, at 763-506-1214.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District is continuing its efforts to monitor asbestos in district buildings and respond in a cautious and proactive manner.

The district will continue with the on-going Operations and Maintenance (O&M) program including the semi-annual periodic surveillance of all asbestos-containing materials as to insure that the material remains in good condition and that appropriate precautions are followed whenever the material is disturbed.

Within the last year, the district has completed the periodic surveillance of all asbestos-containing materials in district buildings. In addition, the district has completed asbestos removal/repair activities in the following buildings:

• Adams ES*
• AMSA - Fred Moore Campus
• AMSA - Washington Campus
• Compass at Bell Center
• Coon Rapids HS*
• Crooked Lake ES
• Eisenhower ES*
• Evergreen Park ES
• Franklin ES*
• Hamilton ES*
• Jackson MS
• Johnsville ES
• Madison ES
• McKinley ES*
• Monroe ES
• Roosevelt MS
• Sand Creek ES*
• Sandburg EC*
• University ES

*Asbestos abatement is planned over the summer break due to building renovations.

Please rest assured that the district’s ongoing efforts related to the management and control of asbestos-containing materials are geared singularly toward providing a safe and healthy environment for students, employees and occupants.

The asbestos management plans and updated materials are available for review at the individual school buildings and also in the Buildings and Grounds Office at the Educational Service Center.

Questions about the management plan or asbestos removal should be directed to Chris Nielsen, Supervisor of Health and Safety, the designated asbestos program manager, at (763) 506-1220 or chris.nielsen@ahschools.us.

The 2017 Minnesota Legislature passed “Lead in School Drinking Water” legislation that requires Anoka-Hennepin and districts across the state to test for lead in water used for drinking and food preparation every five years. Anoka-Hennepin conducted testing for lead in the water in May 2022. A total of 1,981 locations were sampled and 56 fixtures were identified as above the recommended amount as recommended by federal guidelines. These fixtures were either replaced or removed from service. Contact buildings and grounds department for details of the plan.

According to Minnesota Statute 123B.571, school districts must conduct radon testing according to the state’s “Radon Testing Plan.” There are specific requirements the district must follow, including testing every building at least once every five years, reporting results to MDH, and reporting results at a school board meeting. Contact Buildings and Grounds department for radon results.

Students with the permission of their parents may ride bicycles to and from school. Parents are strongly encouraged to have their children wear a helmet.

Schools provide a bicycle rack for students to store their bicycles during the day. Using the bike rack is a privilege that can be taken away. Students must not tamper with someone else’s bike, bike lock or misuse the bike rack. Students should be respectful of everyone who uses the bike rack, and only park their bikes with the front tire through the rack. It is the responsibility of students to lock their bikes to the rack. Please, only one bike per lock, and do not lock bikes together.

For safety reasons, it is important that students move away from the bike rack immediately after locking their bikes in the morning or unlocking them in the afternoon. All bike riders should walk their bicycles when on school grounds. Bike riders are expected to cross streets at the corners just as other students do and to follow the school safety patrol. To avoid hitting other students crossing at the same time, bike riders should walk their bikes across intersections. When riding on the street, “ride on the right.”

Students may not use in-line skates, roller skates, skateboards or scooters on school property. Students who use any of these to travel to school must not use them once they reach school property. Parents are strongly encouraged to have their children wear a helmet when riding or wearing these items.

Students who wear roller shoes (tennis shoes with wheels) cannot use the wheels during the school day or on school property because of the safety hazard they pose to the wearer and to other students.

The school is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items that are worn or ridden to school. Items that pose a nuisance to the school environment may be confiscated and returned at a later time.

For health and safety, and to maintain an appropriate environment for learning, the possession or use of items judged by school staff to be hazardous or a nuisance are not allowed on school property and at school-sponsored events. Examples of such items vary by school, but may include, and are not limited to: electronic devices, toys, trading cards, or other items deemed disruptive by school staff.

If you have a question about whether an item should be brought to school, contact school administration.

The school is not responsible for lost, traded, stolen or damaged items that should not be in school according to this guideline. Items that pose a nuisance may be confiscated and returned at a later time. There may be additional discipline as determined by school administration.

Special notice regarding electronic items: With the growing popularity of mobile phones and other electronic devices, parents and guardians should be aware that schools are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items – no matter how expensive. Students who choose to bring these to school do so at their own risk. Keep in mind that elementary schools do not have lockable lockers, and that any item causing a disruption may be taken away at the teacher’s (or other staff member’s) discretion to be returned at a later time.

Student lockers and desks are property of the school and school district and therefore can be searched by school personnel.

To ensure the safety of all Anoka-Hennepin students and staff, building administrators often partner with law enforcement to conduct canine sweeps of parking lots and lockers. These sweeps occur randomly throughout the year and their intention is to prevent individuals from bringing chemicals or controlled substances on school property. We want to do all we can to ensure a safe and productive learning environment.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District offers alternative programs for high school and middle school students who do not excel in traditional school settings. Students are referred to these programs from their high school or middle school.

The secondary programs offer:

• Academic high school courses using small group, individualized or computerized instruction.
• Elective courses that meet diploma credit requirements.
• Vocational exploration.
• Independent study curriculum that will work in conjunction with classes offered in the program.

The school district offers alternative education programs with high expectations for students:

• COMPASS Programs serve students in grades K through 12, for more information call 763-506-3202.
• Sandburg Regional High School, 1902 2nd Ave, Anoka, MN, 55303, 763-506-7400, serves students in grades 10 through 12. This is a full-day program. Work experience classes, transportation and lunch are available.
• Anoka-Hennepin Technical High School, 1355 W Highway 10, Anoka, MN 55303, 763-576-7960, serves ages 18 through 21. This campus focuses on college and career readiness while completing a diploma. Flexible scheduling includes full-day, half-day and online courses. Additional programming is available through work seminar options along with partnerships at STEP, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, University of Minnesota and other colleges in the area. Breakfast and lunch are provided as well as full transportation from each of the district’s high schools.

Students can self-refer to these alternative schools or be referred by their principal or counselor. The program is designed for students who need a smaller class setting, more flexibility or for those who are not being successful in a traditional school. For more information on alternative programs in Anoka-Hennepin contact the principal of Anoka-Hennepin Regional High School, 763-506-7400.

Students who qualify for alternative education should have a referral from their previous high school or can self-refer for consideration into the program.

The Graduation Incentives program is designed to encourage high school students who are not succeeding in the traditional school
or who have dropped out of school to choose from a variety of nontraditional education programs to be successful in school.

Graduation incentives, established by the state, allows qualifying students to enroll in:

• Alternative programs.
• Area learning centers.
• Post secondary courses at a college, community college or technical college, if eligible.
• Any public school.
• Adult Basic Education classes operated under Community Education.

A student ages 15-20 who meets any one of the following criteria is eligible to choose a nontraditional education program:

• Limited English proficiency or speaks English as a second language.
• Substantially below performance on a local achievement test.
• At least one year behind in satisfactorily completing coursework.
• Pregnant or a parent.
• Assessed as chemically dependent.
• Has been physically or sexually abused.
• Has experienced mental health problems.
• Homeless sometime in the last six months.
• Referred by a school district for enrollment in an eligible nontraditional program.
• Excluded or expelled from school.
• Has withdrawn or is chronically truant.

For more information contact the principal of Sandburg Regional High School, 763-506-7400.

Children from birth though age five who have special needs may be eligible for service through the Anoka-Hennepin Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) programs. Students may meet criteria in any of the 13 disability areas. All school districts in the state have been mandated to offer educational service to preschool age children (birth to age five) who demonstrate a significant delay in their development. Children who appear to be having difficulty in the areas of development such as communication, cognition, fine or gross motor, or social-emotional
and adaptive skills may be eligible for services. Eligibility is determined through an evaluation process that determines the range of the child’s skills. If the child is found eligible, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) would be developed with family input.

Services birth through age two:

Children below the age of three typically receive services in their home or child care setting from a teacher, speech clinician, occupational or physical therapist. An Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) is developed from the evaluation results and input from the child’s family. Frequency and the amount of service vary based on the child’s needs and the family schedule.

Services age three through age five:

For children over the age of three, a special educational classroom setting or community preschool program is frequently recommended.

Contact information

Help Me Grow (Birth to Age Five Referral) – 1-866-693-4769
Anoka-Hennepin ECSE Office – 763-433-4800
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) - 763-506-1362.

Special education services may be available for students from birth until age 22 who have been evaluated and determined as meeting one of the 13 disability categories identified by federal law.

• Developmental delays (birth to age seven).
• Autism spectrum disorders.
• Blind/visually impaired.
• Deaf-blind.
• Deaf and hard of hearing.
• Developmental cognitive disabilities mild-moderate.
• Developmental cognitive disabilities moderate-severe.
• Emotional or behavioral disorders.
• Other health disabilities.
• Physically impaired.
• Specific learning disabilities.
• Speech or language impairments.
• Traumatic brain injury.

The district offers a full continuum of services for students identified as meeting special education criteria. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting is held following a special education evaluation. District staff work with the student’s parents/guardians to determine what goals and objectives are appropriate to meet the child’s needs. The team determines what specialized instruction is required and what related services might be appropriate. Students who are identified as having special education needs will receive instruction from a special education teacher. Some students may require additional support in the area of motor, speech/language, vision or hearing needs.

While the goal is to have students taught in their neighborhood school, it is not always appropriate based on a student’s individual needs. Students with specific needs may be placed in a program that best addresses her/his needs. Academic, functional, and behavioral needs addressed in these programs can vary, and can operate in conjunction with general education, with increased mainstreaming as the goal. Some students demonstrate needs that surpass what can be offered at a traditional school/site, and may be serviced at River Trail Learning Center, which is a special education site.

If parents have a concern that their child is experiencing learning difficulties or behavior issues at school, they should contact their child’s teacher or principal to discuss concerns. Typically the building would bring the case to their Intervention Team to discuss the appropriateness of interventions and consideration of an evaluation. Students served in private schools may also be eligible for special education services. If you have a concern, please notify the principal at your school.

Parent support groups and parent training groups are offered to families in the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Participation is voluntary. These groups offer parents and families the opportunity to meet other families with special needs children and discuss issues that are important or unique to their child’s development.

Some students who have a disability may not qualify as being in need of special education services. These students may qualify for support under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination based upon disability. Section 504 is an anti-discrimination, civil rights statute that requires the needs of students with disabilities to be met as adequately as the needs of the non-disabled are met. If a student has a mental or physical impairment that may be impacting him in the school setting, parents should contact their child’s teacher or principal regarding their concerns.

Visit ahschools.us/adventuresplus to view the Adventures Plus school-age care parent handbook, registration information and additional resources for families.

What is Title I?

Title I is a federally-funded program, which is part of the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. Anoka-Hennepin uses Title I funds at the elementary level in schools that exceed the district average for free or reduced price lunches. The purpose of this legislation is to provide opportunities for children to acquire the knowledge and skills they will need to achieve proficiency according to Minnesota Academic Standards.

Title I schools in Anoka-Hennepin are:

Adams Elementary School, Eisenhower Elementary School, Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy, Evergreen Park World Cultures Community School, Hamilton Elementary School, Hoover Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Johnsville Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts, Madison Elementary School Mississippi Elementary School, Monroe Elementary School - Mathematics, Science and Children’s Engineering, Morris Bye Elementary School, Ramsey Elementary School, Sand Creek Elementary School, University Avenue
Elementary School - Aerospace, Children’s Engineering and Science, and Wilson Elementary School.

Title I Parents’ Right to Know:

As a parent in a Title I funded school, you have the right...

• To know the qualifications of your child’s teacher.
• To know when your child has a substitute teacher for more than four weeks and the qualification of the substitute teacher.
• To expect regular communication with your school in a language and format that you can understand.
• To work with other parents and staff to jointly develop, and provide input on the Family-School Compact.

For more information or to get involved in the Title I Parent Advisory Committee at your student’s school, contact the school’s principal.

Completing homework regularly helps students develop good work habits and self-discipline. While secondary students need to become independent in getting their homework done, parents can help them develop good habits.

• Help your child be organized with schoolwork. Encourage him or her to write down all assignments in a planner or notebook.
• Help your child develop a daily routine for completing homework that allows enough flexibility for school activities plus time to spend with friends.
• Provide a quiet place to study, away from the distractions.
• Sometimes homework is difficult. When your child asks for help or is struggling, help your child find the resources (people, books, and reference material) to get it done. The student should also talk to the teacher for clarification or help. Don’t do the work for your child.
• Provide basic supplies and resources your child will need. Refer to your school’s supply list.
• Show an interest in your child’s work and offer to take him or her to the library or elsewhere to do research if needed.

Parents should feel comfortable communicating with the school’s library media specialist regarding their child’s choice of books. Please see your school media specialist with any concerns about reading content or any special circumstances your family may have. Accommodations will be made to meet your child’s needs.

Parents and others who help children grow up face many changes and challenges. Help in meeting those challenges is readily available.

Community Education classes are available throughout the school year to help parents. Learn from experts and connect with other parents to discover new ways to help students of all ages succeed in the classroom, develop positive interactions with family and peers and prepare for the future. For specific class and registration information visit www.discovercommunityed.com or call 763-506-5766.

The Parent Resource Center (PRC) lends library materials to parents, families and staff of the Anoka-Hennepin Schools’ community. Choose from over 1,000 books, CDs or DVDs to enhance your parenting skills. Topics include parenting strategies, school success, birth-adolescent development, special needs, mental health and more. Materials can be reserved online, sent through interoffice mail and returned to any of our Anoka-Hennepin schools.

The PRC is located inside door one at 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on school days. Call 763-506-1587 or visit ahschools.us/prc for more information.

For everyone’s safety, all visitors must sign in at the office, receive and wear a visitor badge at all times. Visitors not displaying a visitor badge will be referred to the office. Upon leaving, we ask that visitors, parents and guardians sign out in the office.

Classroom visits may be allowed under limited circumstances. Arrangements should be made with the school in advance as to the date and length of visit. This will ensure that visits are informative for parents and guardians and do not disrupt learning activities, tests, and other classroom schedules and routines.

See the visitor policy. 

Volunteers help in a wide variety of ways, both in and out of the classroom. They assist students with reading and math, judge science fairs and other academic competitions, chaperone field trips, perform clerical work, serve on school and district committees, and much more. Each school has a volunteer services coordinator who helps recruit volunteers and match them with opportunities.

• All volunteers are required to complete a volunteer application 16 ahschools.us/policies 2024-25 School Handbook and a criminal record history release form for each school, and school year before they are eligible to start their volunteer assignment.
• Volunteers must sign in at the office and wear a volunteer badge at all times.

Anyone interested in volunteering in an Anoka-Hennepin school can call 763-506-1585 or the school’s volunteer services coordinator. More information is also available at ahschools.us/ volunteer.

We hope that your family’s experience with the Anoka-Hennepin School District is positive and meets the needs of your child(ren).
If you are unhappy, we invite you to express your concerns or complaints.

Through experience we have learned that the person best able to address a concern is generally the person closest to it. With that in mind, we suggest that you start at the top of the list below. If you are not satisfied, then move to the next step and so on.

Expressing a concern

• If you have a concern or complaint, please talk first with your child’s teacher or coach.
• If your child’s teacher or coach is not able to handle the issue, please contact the school principal.
• If the issue is not handled satisfactorily at the school, you may bring it to the school district by contacting the appropriate associate superintendent:
  • Elementary school, Dr. Mary Wolverton: Contact her administrative assistant at 763-506-1061.
  • Middle school, Becky Brodeur: Contact her administrative assistant at 763-506-1008.
  • High school, Dr. Joshua Delich: Contact his administrative assistant at 763-506-1009.
• If you feel the associate superintendent does not handle the issue satisfactorily, you may share your concern or complaint with the superintendent and School Board by contacting the administrative assistant to the superintendent and School Board. Debbie Koffski at 763-506-1002 or debbie.koffski@ahschools.us. She will notify the superintendent and the School Board.

Getting a response from the district

The superintendent or the appropriate associate superintendent or other cabinet member will respond to you and copy the School Board. Some investigation or analysis may be needed for a complete response. You will be notified of the approximate time frame for getting a complete response.

Anoka-Hennepin staff, volunteers, representatives of the news media and others occasionally photograph, audio and/or video record students (including participants in Community Education activities). The photos, audiotape and videotape may be used in school, district and community newsletters, e-newsletters, newspapers, activity programs, yearbooks, brochures, educational. videos, podcasts, websites, social media sites and television, and for other appropriate uses. Parents or guardians may choose to limit the use of their child’s photo. When a child enrolls in an Anoka-Hennepin school, parents or guardian(s) will be asked to select one of the following options (if parents wish to change this choice after initial enrollment, please contact your child’s school):

Section A: Photos

• No Restriction: A child’s photo will be taken and may be used in newsletters, newspapers, programs, yearbooks, brochures, on television, on web pages, in educational videos, and other appropriate uses.
  
• Partial Restriction: A child’s photo will be taken and may be used for the school yearbook, educational apps, classroom photos and school identification records.
  
• Full Restriction: A child’s photo will be taken but used only for internal school identification records; it will not be used in the school yearbook/class photo.

The parent’s or guardians’ choices will be recorded in the child’s records. Parents or guardians may update their photo choice at any time by updating the ‘Information Release’ component in the Student Online Registration.

Although the school will take reasonable steps to prevent students with full or partial restrictions from being photographed, the school cannot guarantee that a student will not be photographed/ videotaped as part of a large group, such as participating in a school assembly, walking through a school hallway, and other situations where there are large numbers of students.

For details on what your child will learn this year at the elementary level please visit ahschools.us/elementarycourses.

Middle and high school course information can be found either in the registration guides or by visiting: ahschools.us/middleschoolcourses or ahschools.us/highschoolcourses. For ideas on how to support your child’s learning at home please visit ahschools.us.

Tests and assessments are one part of the educational program provided by Anoka-Hennepin Schools. Students take a variety of tests, from those given by individual teachers, to district and state standardized tests. Each test has a specific purpose designed to give the teacher, student and parent/guardian information about the academic performance and progress of the student. Explained briefly below are a few of the tests given to all Anoka-Hennepin students along with expectations of conduct while testing.

Anoka-Hennepin educators and students are expected to behave in a manner that supports academic integrity. Staff are expected to follow policies and procedures to maintain test security during classroom testing throughout the year including during standardized testing for which training is provided annually. The student code of conduct for all standardized testing promote ethical test taking procedures expected throughout the year. Students are reminded that they should do their own best work to show what they know and can do. They should not accept help
finding answers to test questions, give answers to other students, or tell others what is on a test. There may be consequences if students do not follow directions or if they behave dishonestly or are involved in cheating.

Students take standardized tests throughout the school year. The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) are given to all students in grades 3-8, 10 and 11 in the spring. The MAP® Growth is given to all students in grades 2-8, as well as some high school students. The MAP test could be given in fall, winter and/or spring. The ACT is offered every spring for students in grade 11. The Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs) is a test that is given in winter to students in grades K-12 qualifying for language acquisition services. For students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, alternate assessment(s) are available. Eligibility is based on specific criteria and IEP team determination.

MCA and alternate assessment

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) in reading, mathematics and science help districts and schools measure their student’s progress toward proficiency on the states academic standards. Students take these in the spring and results are mailed home in September. The reading test is given in grades 3-8 and 10 and the mathematics test in grades 3-8 and 11. Science MCAs are given in grades 5 and 8 and after high school biology.

ACCESS for ELLs and alternate assessment

The ACCESS for ELLs is given each year to multilingual learners to monitor their progress in acquiring social and academic English. The test assesses the four language domains of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Test items are derived from five content areas of the English Language Development standards: social and instructional language, language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Test results are mailed to families in the fall.

ACT

In the Spring of 2024, all Grade 11 students will have an option to take the ACT free of charge during the school day. This is a great opportunity for students to take this assessment in a familiar environment. The scores from this test can be submitted to colleges of the student’s choice. The ACT is one indicator of a student’s readiness for college and has been required for admission into many Minnesota colleges and universities, as well as many colleges nationwide.

MAP® Growth

Students take MAP® Growth tests in math and reading. Testing is conducted for all students in grades 2-8 and some high school students in the fall, and for select students in winter and spring. A score is available a few days after each test is completed, with detailed information provided to parents/guardians through parent vue. MAP® Growth estimates the learning level of the student in those subjects, and it tracks the student’s progress and growth over time. 

The purpose of MAP® Growth is to give teachers information about their students to help plan instruction. MAP® Growth is a useful tool to identify those areas where a student excels and areas where additional help may be needed. An additional score provided through the MAP® Growth reading test is the Lexile score included on a student’s MAP® Growth report. Parents and teachers can use this score to find books that are appropriate for a child’s reading level. For more information visit lexile.com/ parents-students.

Testing tips

Here are some general tips on preparing for tests:

• Get a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast before taking each test.
• Become familiar with the directions and the test format by taking any practice tests that are available including those provided at school.
• Provide your child with a clean, quiet study area.
• Encourage your child to read daily. Discuss with your child what he or she is reading. Ask questions like: ‘What was the main point of the book or article? What were some important details that supported the main point?
• Encourage your child to use math every day. Some common math activities might include: balance a checkbook, figure the miles per gallon of your car, determine the best buy among grocery items, calculate the amount saved when an article in a store is discounted, double a recipe, compute a baseball batting average or football passing rate.

Minnesota Department of Education parent/guardian guide and refusal for student participation in statewide testing

The Minnesota Department of Education has published a document that provides information to help parents/guardians make informed decisions that benefit their children, schools and communities. The document can be found at: https://bit.ly/3tnKXF4

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that equal educational opportunity is provided for all students of the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. It is the district’s policy to provide equal educational opportunity for all students. No student shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex/gender, marital status, disability, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age. The district does not deny any student access to the benefits and opportunities of its educational programs. The district also makes reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.
2. The district prohibits the harassment of any individual for any of the categories listed above. For definitions and information about the types of conduct that constitute violation of the district’s policy on harassment and violence and the district’s procedures for addressing complaints under this policy, refer to the district’s Harassment, Violence, and Discrimination Policy. The district prohibits retaliation against anyone who brings a complaint or participates in an investigation.
3. Pursuant to Minnesota law, all students, including transgender and gender non-conforming students, shall be permitted to use any and all facilities consistent with their gender identity. Transgender and gender non-conforming students will only be required to use individual and/or otherwise separate facilities if every student is required to do so. Upon their voluntary request, any student who desires increased privacy shall be provided with a reasonable alternative changing area or with a separate changing schedule.
4. This policy applies to all of the academic and non-academic programs of the district, including, for example, coursework, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and other rights or privileges of enrollment. This policy will be enforced before, during, or after school hours on all school property, including the school bus, school functions, or events held at other locations. The policy also applies to any off-campus conduct that causes or threatens to cause a substantial and material disruption at school, or interferes with the rights of students or employees to be free from a hostile school environment taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances on and off campus.
5. It is the responsibility of every district employee to comply with this policy, to intervene to attempt to stop any violations of this policy, and to report all violations of this policy.
6. Any student, parent or guardian having any questions regarding this policy should discuss it with the building principal or the Title IX Designee:
   Title IX Designee
   Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303
   Telephone: 763-506-1000
   Email: titleIXcoordinator@ahschools.us
7. The reporting procedures set forth in the Harassment, Violence and Discrimination Policy shall be used to report violations of this policy.

Anoka-Hennepin Schools have a growing number of students who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming. The District is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning environment and to providing an education that respects all students and families. Students of all gender identities are valued and welcome in the District. Many questions have arisen regarding how best to support our transgender students with respect to the use of names or pronouns, restroom/locker rooms, and record keeping.

Names and Pronouns: The issue of the name and pronoun use in referring to a transgender student is one of the first that schools must resolve to create an environment in which a student feels safe and supported. Transgender students may elect to change the name assigned to them at birth to a name that is associated with their gender identity. Students have a right to be addressed by a name and pronoun that corresponds to their gender identity. After conferring with parents and the student, school employees should use the pronoun and name with which the student identifies. However, the School District’s official student records should include the student’s legal name and legal gender (generally the sex assigned at birth). A student’s official record should be changed only upon receipt of documentation that such change has been made pursuant to applicable state law. Because the District maintains permanent student records that include the student’s legal name and legal gender, official documents like diplomas or transcripts do not change unless the student’s name is changed legally. However, where the legal name is not required, upon the request of transgender students and their parents, the student’s preferred name should be used for district-related purposes, such as class rosters, club activities, student ID’s, and in the yearbook.

Restrooms and Locker Rooms: The District will provide all students with access to use all facilities consistent with the students’ gender identity. We will strive to have restrooms and locker rooms with private enclosed changing areas, shower areas, and toilets for all students. All students, including transgender and gender non-conforming students, shall be permitted to use any and all facilities consistent with their gender identity. Upon their voluntary request, any student who desires increased privacy shall be provided with a reasonable alternative changing area (e.g., a nearby restroom stall with a door, an area separated by a privacy partition or a curtain, a PE instructor’s office in the locker room or a nearby health office restroom) or with a separate changing schedule. Transgender and gender non-conforming students may only be required to use
individual-user or otherwise separate facilities if every student is required to do so. The goal should be maximizing students’ social integration and equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes and sports, ensuring the students’ safety and comfort, and minimizing stigmatization of students.

Gendered Activities: Gender is often used as a classification for dividing classes into parts or as a prerequisite for participation.Such activities can be difficult for transgender or gender non- conforming students, especially if they are forced to participate in a group that does not correspond to their gender identity. As such, avoid using gender as a characteristic for divisions whenever possible. When groups are separated by gender, allow students to self-select the group they would feel more comfortable in. The Minnesota State High School League has also adopted a policy addressing eligibility determination for male-to-female transgender student athletes stating in general that all students, regardless of their gender identity or expression, should be allowed to participate in athletics in an “environment free from discrimination”.

Data Privacy Considerations: Under both state and federal law, information and data regarding one’s transgender status or sex assigned at birth is classified as private educational data. Only employees with a legitimate educational reason to know this information in order to perform their job have the right of access to this data.

Transgender and gender non-conforming students may decide to discuss and express their gender identity openly or may decide when, with whom, and how much to share private information. Schools should work closely with the student and family in devising a plan that works for both the student and the school. Privacy considerations may also vary with the age of the student. In some circumstances, transgender students do not want their parents to know about their transgender status or that they are expressing their affirmed gender at school. The need to balance support of the students with parental rights to access the information about their students poses unique challenges. Parents or guardians have a right of access to the data unless a court order provides otherwise or the student requests that the data be withheld and the school determines that that is in the best interest of the student. The school may require students to submit a signed, written request that the data be withheld and to explain the reason for denying parental access. Upon receiving such a request, the school shall determine whether denying parental access is in the student’s best interest by considering the potential for physical or emotional harm.

• Whether the student is of sufficient age and maturity to
  be able to explain the reasons for and to understand the
  consequences of the request to deny access;
• Whether the personal situation of the student is such that
  denying parental access may protect the student from physical
  or emotional harm;
• Whether there is ground for believing that the student’s
  reasons for precluding parental access are reasonably
  accurate; and
• Whether the data in question is of such a nature that
  disclosure of it to the parent could lead to physical or
  emotional harm to the student.

In most situations, these factors weigh in favor of parental access. It is the District’s policy to provide equal educational opportunity for all students. No student shall be discriminated against on the basis of any protected characteristic, including sex/gender. The District does not deny any student access to the benefits and opportunities of its educational programs. The District provides for a student complaint and appeal process if a student claims the District denied them an equal educational opportunity or violated the student’s rights under this Guidance. Information on how to file a complaint is contained in Harassment, Violence and Discrimination Policy 413.0 and Harassment, Violence, Discrimination or Bullying Report Form 413.0F.

Contact the Director of Student Services at 763-506-1017 for additional information.

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that students are aware of and comply with the school district’s expectations for student conduct.  Such compliance will enhance the school district’s ability to maintain fair and consistent discipline and ensure that there is no interference with the educational process.  The school district will take appropriate disciplinary action when students fail to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct established by this policy.

II. STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY ON CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE

1. The care, management, and control of the school district is vested in the School Board pursuant to the Minnesota Education Code.      
2. Schools have a responsibility to parents and students which goes beyond the educational program. They must provide students with a suitable environment while on the school premises and at other school activities away from the school grounds. An environment conducive to learning must be maintained to ensure an equal educational opportunity for all students. Because an environment is partially determined by the conduct of the students, student self-discipline relative to rules and regulations is a desired goal. These rules and regulations are designed to promote a desired environment for learning. It shall, therefore, be a policy of Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11 that every student abides by all rules and regulations of the district. 
3. Before effective learning can take place, reasonable order or discipline must be present.      The responsibility of classroom discipline rests first with teachers; however, school administration is responsible to provide supervision, guidance, training and assistance to teachers in handling discipline problems. Experience indicates that a positive approach to discipline is effective. Early intervention in attempting to improve a student's behavior is strongly encouraged. This may include but should not be limited to early involvement of parents or guardians and utilizing available resources, including referral to the child study team and the use of support services. 
4. The Anoka-Hennepin School District recognizes its obligations to comply with the provisions of the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act and MS 121A.61 (removal of students from class statute). In local, state, and Federal proceedings, the fundamental question has been and is one of fairness for students. The elements of due process are designed to ensure that this goal is reached. Due process is the implementation of procedure which, when adhered to, guarantees the protection of individual rights. 
5. The Anoka-Hennepin School District recognizes its obligations to comply with the provisions of the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act and MS 121A.55, the School Board values efforts to prevent dismissals through early detection of problems. It is also important to provide services and supports designed to help prevent a student’s inappropriate behavior from reoccurring.
6. "Nonexclusionary disciplinary policies and practices" are policies and practices that are alternatives to dismissing a student from school, including but not limited to evidence-based positive behavior interventions and supports, social and emotional services, school-linked mental health services, counseling services, social work services, academic screening for Title 1 services or reading interventions, alternative education services, and other policies and practices identified in Minnesota’s Education Code. Under the direction of the superintendent, school administrators will employ nonexclusionary disciplinary policies and practices.

II. STUDENT DISCIPLINE: STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. This statement of rights is not expected to cover every situation that may arise. The rights of an individual are preserved only by the protection and preservation of the rights of others. All students attending Anoka-Hennepin District No. 11 schools have the right to: 
   1. A free and appropriate education as defined by state and Federal statutes 
   2. Equal educational opportunity and freedom from discrimination 
   3. Due process as defined by state and Federal statutes and rules 
   4. Freedom of inquiry and expression 
   5. Data privacy 
   6. Be informed of school rules 
2. Rights bring responsibilities and a student is responsible for the manner in which their individual rights are exercised. This statement of responsibilities is not expected to cover every situation that may arise. All students attending Anoka-Hennepin District No. 11 schools have the responsibility to: 
   1. Attend school daily, except when excused, and to be on time to all classes and other school day functions, 
   2. Pursue and attempt to complete the course of study prescribed by the state and local school authorities, 
   3. Make necessary arrangements to make up school work when absent, 
   4. Assist school staff in maintaining a safe school for all students enrolled therein, 
   5. Be aware of all school rules and regulations and conduct themselves in accordance with them, 
   6. Assume that until a rule is waived, altered, or repealed, it is in full effect, 
   7. Be aware of and comply with state and local law, 
   8. Be aware of and comply with State High School League and regulations and School Board policy when participating in extracurricular activities, 
   9. Be willing to volunteer information in disciplinary cases and cooperate with school staff should they have important knowledge relating to such cases, 
   10. Protect and take care of school property and the property of others, 
   11. Dress and groom to meet fair standards of safety, health, and standards of decency, 
   12. Avoid inaccuracies in student newspapers or publications and indecent or obscene language, both written and verbal, 
   13. Express ideas in a manner that will not demean, harass, or defame others. 

III. CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT

1. Disciplinary action may be taken for any behavior which is disruptive of good order or violates the rights of others. The school has the authority and obligation to establish and enforce reasonable standards of conduct. In accordance with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act and Minn. Stat. 121A.61, a student may be removed from class, suspended, excluded, or expelled (definitions set forth in sections V. G and V. H) from school for:  
   1. Willful violation of any reasonable School Board regulation. Such regulation must be clear and definite to provide notice to students that they must conform their conduct to its requirements. 
   2. Willful conduct that significantly disrupts the rights of other students to an education, or the ability of school personnel to perform their duties, or school sponsored extracurricular activities, or 
   3. Willful conduct which endangers the student or other students, or surrounding persons, including school district employees, or the property of the school 
2. The following list identifies unacceptable acts subject to disciplinary action in this school district. Violation of any of these offenses before, during or after school hours while on school property, the school bus, or any other approved vehicle used to transport students; or at school functions or events held at other locations or off school grounds if the action interferes with or obstructs the mission or operations of the school or the safety of the student, other students and staff or the aiding and abetting of such acts may lead to the implementation of a disciplinary action or consequence listed in part C, including expulsion.
   1. Truancy and unauthorized absence. 
      1. As required by current statutes, regulations of the Department of Education and the School Board of this district, students shall be in attendance each day that school is in session. Students returning to school following an absence will be expected to complete all the missed assignments within a reasonable period of time. 
      2. Truancy, for purposes of this policy, is the absenting of one's self from school or class without approval of school administration. 
      3. If a student develops a pattern of tardiness to school or class, disciplinary action will be taken. 
   2. Possession, use (including being under the influence and look alike substances) and/or transmission of controlled substances including but not limited to any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, inhalant, toxic or mood altering substances, intoxicating beverage, any paraphernalia associated with such controlled substances, or any controlled substance or the unauthorized use of prescription drugs. 
   3. Possession, use, and/or transmission of tobacco, nicotine products, Electronic Cigarettes, or look-a-likes in any form. (See policy 419.0 Tobacco-Free Environment regarding potential exceptions.)
   4. Possession, use, and/or transmission of a weapon(s) or any object that can reasonably be considered a weapon(s): weapon means a knife; firearm or an item which looks like a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, in working or nonworking condition; destructive explosives, any incendiary device or look alike and/or the threatened intent or intent to cause an explosion; or any other device or instrument which is utilized in such a manner so as to threaten, intimidate or produce bodily harm or the fear of such. 
   5. Possession and/or use of any electronic device, including a computer, in a manner, which threatens or intimidates others and/or disrupts the educational process;
   6. Violations against persons communicated or attempted to be communicated by any means. Such violations include but are not limited to: verbal and/or nonverbal intimidation/ threats; stalking; obstruction; assault; fighting; extortion; bullying, racial harassment; harassment on the basis of disability sexual harassment/violence; indecent exposure; hazing; 
   7. Violations against property including tampering with, unauthorized use of, damage to, or destruction of school property or the property of school personnel and/or others (even though such an act was accidental or a result of poor judgment); vandalism; trespassing; arson; theft or robbery; possession of stolen property; 
   8. Violations of school procedures or acts disruptive to the educational process, including disobedience, disruptive and disrespectful behavior, defiance of authority, cheating, insolence, insubordination, failure to identify oneself, use of profanity, improper activation of fire alarms, activation of stink bombs and unauthorized access to school data; 
   9. Violation of school bus or transportation rules; 
   10. Violation of parking or school traffic rules and regulations; 
   11. Possession, distribution, or display of slanderous, libelous, pornographic, racist, or gang related materials or symbolism; 
   12. Student attire and/or personal grooming which creates a danger to health or safety; creates a disruption to the educational process, or violates common standards of decency as they apply to a community school setting, and/or any apparel, jewelry, accessories, or matter of grooming which by virtue of its color arrangement, trademark, or any other attribute (as a primary purpose) denotes membership in an organized gang; 
   13. Criminal activity; 
   14. Violation of other school rules, policies, or procedures. 
3. Disciplinary action or consequences for these offenses may include but are not limited to the following 
   1. Student conference 
   2. Parent/guardian contact 
   3. Parent/guardian conference 
   4. In-school monitoring 
   5. Referral to in-school support services 
   6. Detention 
   7. Removal from class 
   8. Suspension from extracurricular activities 
   9. Physical restraint 
   10. Suspension from school (except students Pre-K – grade 3)
   11. Referral to Child Study Team (see Due Process/Total Special Education Systems manual) 
   12. Referral to community, county or outside agencies 
   13. Transfer to another school building 
   14. Expulsion or exclusion from school 
   15. Referral to police or other law enforcement agency 
4. When determining an appropriate action, the administrator will utilize their discretion and will consider the extent of the disruption to the safety of an individual or a group or to the disruption of the learning environment in the schools, and other relevant factors. 
5. If the alleged violator is a student with a disability under IDEA or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the specific placement and services for the student will be consistent with state and federal requirements.  

IV. STUDENT DISCIPLINE: POLICIES

1. Disruptive Student Policy 
   1. As stated in the philosophy of our District Student Discipline Policy, an environment conducive to learning must be maintained to ensure equal educational opportunity for all students. Because an environment is partially determined by the conduct of the students, student self-discipline relative to district, building and classroom rules and regulations is a desired goal. 
   2. It shall; therefore, be a policy of the Anoka-Hennepin School District that: 
      1. Every student abides by the rules and regulations of this district. 
      2. Disciplinary action including expulsion may be taken for behaviors, which are disruptive or violate the rights of others to an environment conducive to teaching and learning.
   3. Early intervention in attempting to improve a student's pattern of disruptive behavior is strongly encouraged. This should include involvement of parents/guardians and the utilization of available school district resources provided for students, including screening by the child study team. 
   4. A student will be referred to the school board for expulsion, if various appropriate interventions have been implemented and documented and the student persists in behavior which: 
      1. Violates any reasonable School Board regulation. Such regulation must be clear and definite to provide notice to students that they must conform their conduct to its requirements, or 
      2. Significantly disrupts the rights of others to an education, or the ability of school personnel to perform their duties, or school sponsored extracurricular activities, or 
      3. Endangers the student or other students, or surrounding persons, including school district employees, or the property of the school. 
2. Policy on Weapons 

   1. It is the policy of the Anoka-Hennepin School District to maintain a positive, safe and secure learning and working environment. Therefore, the District will not tolerate weapons as defined in this policy at any time on school property or in the school zone (including district owned buildings and grounds; leased or rented facilities; school sponsored activities; field trips; school buses and other school vehicles; and school bus loading and unloading areas). Students and visitors may not possess, store, handle, transmit, or use any weapons in any of the school environments listed above. Any student found to possess, store, handle, transmit, or use any weapon before, during, or after school hours will be subject to administrative and/or legal action. 

      School zone: The area surrounding school property to a distance of 300 feet or one city block, whichever distance is greater, beyond school property.

   2. Students who become aware of a weapon (that is not subject to an exception listed in this policy) being brought to school or on school property must immediately notify an adult staff member. A student, who becomes aware that they are in possession of a weapon and immediately notifies an adult staff member, may avoid, depending on circumstances, being considered to be in possession of a weapon. Students should not, however, pick up or transport the weapon. 
      
      
3. Definition of Weapon: weapon is defined as a knife, firearm, or an item which looks like a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, in working or non-working condition; destructive explosives, any incendiary device or look-alike and/or the threatened intent or intent to cause an explosion; or any other device or instrument which is utilized in such manner so as to threaten, intimidate or produce bodily harm or the fear of such. Weapons include, but are not limited to the following: 
   1. All firearms, loaded, unloaded, working or not working 
   2. Other firearms of all types including pellet, BB, stun, splat, starter pistols, and/or look-a-likes, or replica firearms which include facsimile or toy versions of firearms and reasonably appear to be a pistol, revolver, shotgun, sawed-off shotgun, rifle, machine gun, rocket launcher, or any other firearm 
   3. Knives including switchblade or automatically opening blades, butterfly knives, Swiss army knives, pocket knives, box-cutters/utility knives hunting knives, daggers, swords, razors 
   4. Artificial knuckles or similar objects designed to be worn over or inside the fist or knuckles 
   5. Blackjacks, clubs, throwing stars, martial arts devices 
   6. Explosives and/or similar devices and/or the threatened intent to cause an explosion 
   7. Poisons, chemicals, combustible or flammable liquids, or substances capable of causing bodily harm 
   8. Slingshots, bows and arrows 
   9. Chemical irritant ** i.e. pepper spray, mace 
   10. Any other device or instrument used to intimidate, threaten, or inflict bodily harm or fear 
       
       
4. Exceptions: This policy, in accordance with Minnesota law, provides for the following exceptions: 
   1. Licensed police officers, military personnel, licensed security personnel
   2. Instructors of school district approved firearm safety courses or activities conducted on school property
   3. School district approved possession and use of weapons by ceremonial color guards
   4. School district approved possession and use of starter guns for athletic contests
   5. School district approved equipment and tools used and stored appropriately on school property for instructional or work-related purposes by workers and students
   6. Other exceptions as granted by the superintendent 
      
      
5. Implementation of the Policy on Weapons 

   1. Weapons violation, Federal law: Pursuant to the Federal "Gun Free Schools Act of 1994" any student who brings a weapon (firearm and/or destructive device as defined under Federal law) to school shall be expelled from school for not less than one year. Consistent with state and federal law, the school board or Superintendent may modify this requirement on a case-by-case basis and any recommendation for expulsion must be consistent with the limitations imposed by state and federal special education and disability laws. 

   2. Middle school students: Possession of a weapon, as defined in this policy, by students in middle school, grades six through eight, will lead to the immediate initiation of the expulsion process and may lead to referral to the police. The School Board will expel middle school students for a period of not less than the equivalent of one trimester of student contact days, and not more than 12 months. Alternative educational services will be provided to the student during the expulsion. A student in middle school will reenter school on the day the expulsion is completed.

   3. High school students: Possession of a weapon, as defined in this policy, by students in high school, grades nine through graduation, will lead to immediate initiation of the expulsion process and referral to the police. The School Board will expel high school students for a period of not less than the equivalent of one trimester of student contact days, and not more than 12 months. Alternative educational services will be provided to the student during the expulsion.

   4. Administrative Discretion:  While the Anoka-Hennepin School District forbids the possession, use or distribution of weapons by students, the superintendent or their      designee may use discretion in determining whether, under specific circumstances outlined by district administration and the school board, a course of action other than a referral to the school board for expulsion is warranted.  If so, other appropriate action may be taken, including consideration of a recommendation for lesser discipline.
      
      
   5. Elementary school students: Principals in the elementary schools, when disciplining students in grades K-5 for possession of a weapon, as defined in this policy, will  take disciplinary action consistent with state statute, as we determine the intended and actual danger to other students and staff. (Note: Expulsion may be recommended.) The principal will inform the student's parents/guardian of the disciplinary action. In all cases the student will receive information regarding the danger of weapons. 
   6. Students with Disabilities: 
      
      1. Students with disabilities may be suspended for violation of school rules in accordance with state and federal law. 
      2. If the student is in violation of the district drug, alcohol policy or has a weapon as defined by federal law is a student with a disability under IDEA or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the student may be placed in a 45 school day interim alternative placement, the specific placement and services for the student will be consistent with state and federal requirements and are to be determined by the student’s IEP Team. 
      3. The use of seclusionary time out or restraint of a student with a disability may be used in an emergency and must otherwise comply with Minnesota law on the use of restrictive procedures.   

A note to parents:
Our schools need to be a safe environment for all students. Please read this policy carefully and discuss it with your children.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District firmly enforces all aspects of the School Discipline Policy to provide all student with a safe school experience.
Please emphasize the following cautions with your child:

• If you want to attend school in the Anoka-Hennepin district, DO NOT bring anything that could be considered weapon to school with you.
• Weapons are not allowed on your person, in your desk or locker, or in your car in the school parking lot.

The district is also very serious about the policy related tocontrolled substances. No controlled substances – drugs, marijuana and alcohol – are allowed in school or within the school zone, defined as within 300 feet of school property.

1. Search and Seizure 
   1. School Facilities/School Lockers: While the student has exclusive control over      their locker, desk, workstation, and other similar assigned areas of school property as against other students, such possession is not exclusive as against the school and its officials. The lockers, desks, work stations, and other similar assigned areas remain the property of the school and, at any time it is deemed necessary, the principal or      their designee has the authority to conduct a search and confiscate items considered illegal illicit, or disruptive to the educational process or evidence tending to prove a violation of law or a rule of the School District. 
   2. Students and their Personal Possessions: While the student has exclusive control over      their property in their immediate possession as against other students it is not exclusive as against the school and its officials. When a reasonable suspicion arises that use or possession of a student's property or its contents is illegal, illicit, disruptive, or a danger to that student or others, a search may be made of the student’s person and/or personal property; including vehicles. 
   3. Conducting a search 
      1. Before conducting a search, the principal or designee will determine that there is a reasonable suspicion that the search of a student or of a student’s personal property will produce evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or the rules of the School District. 
      2. The search shall be conducted in a manner, which is reasonably related to the objective of the search and is not excessively intrusive into the student’s privacy in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the violation. Items considered illegal, illicit, disruptive to the educational process, or evidence tending to prove a violation of law or of a rule of the School District may be confiscated. 
   4. Procedures to Implement the Policies on Search and Seizure 
      1. Only the building principal or specific designee shall be responsible for determining if a search will be conducted. 
      2. A written record of each search will be kept by the principal or designee on a form provided for this purpose; including the facts upon which a reasonable suspicion rests, location, time, reason for the search and/or seizure, persons present, and disposition of items. 
      3. A search of a student’s person or personal property shall be done as discreetly and privately as possible without compromising safety. 
      4. Those items considered to be illegal, illicit, disruptive, a general nuisance to the educational process, or evidence tending to prove a violation of a law, or a rule of the District may be held by school administration. The storage, return, or disposition of withheld items shall be at the discretion of the principal, subject only to legal impoundment. 
      5. Repossession of school property shall not be considered seizure. 
      6. The School District retains the authority to patrol school parking lots and inspect the exteriors of automobiles or other motor vehicles on school property. The interiors of vehicles on school property may be inspected and searched when the principal or specific designee has a reasonable suspicion to believe that materials which are illicit, illegal, or disruptive to the education process are contained inside that vehicle. 

V. REMOVAL OF STUDENTS FROM CLASS

1. Teachers have the responsibility of attempting to modify disruptive student behavior by such means as conferring with the student, using positive reinforcement, assigning detention or other consequences, or contacting the student’s parent/guardian. When such measures fail, or when the teacher determines it is otherwise appropriate based upon the student’s conduct, the teacher shall have the authority to remove the student from class. 
2. Grounds for removal from class shall include any of the following: 
   1. Willful conduct that significantly disrupts the rights of others to an education, including conduct that interferes with a teacher’s ability to teach or communicate effectively with students in a class or with the ability of other students to learn; 
   2. Willful conduct that endangers surrounding persons, including school district employees, the student or other students, or the property of the school;
   3. Willful violation of any school rules, regulations, policies or procedures, including the Code of Student Conduct in this policy; or 
   4. Other conduct, which in the discretion of the teacher or administration, requires removal of the student from class. 
3. Removal from class is the short-term exclusion of a student from class during which the school retains custody of the student. Students violating the code of student conduct may be removed from class at the discretion of the classroom teacher for the duration of the class or activity period. If the student is to be removed for additional time, this and the conditions for return to class will be determined at a conference between the principal and the teacher. Students removed from class shall be the responsibility of the principal or designee. The principal or designee shall inform the student and the student’s parent/guardian of the conditions for returning to class.

4. If a student’s total days of removal from class exceeds ten (10) cumulative days in a school year, the principal or designee shall make reasonable attempts to convene a meeting with the student and the student’s parent/guardian prior to removing the student from class. The purpose of this meeting is to attempt to determine the student’s need for assessment or other services. 
5. Parent/guardian notification: Parents/guardians shall be notified of a violation of the rules and of the resulting disciplinary action. Under unusual circumstances, principals may determine that it is not necessary to notify the parent/guardian. 
6. Modified Learning Program: The short-term modification of a student's program, not to exceed five days per infraction, during which the school district retains custody of the student. 

VI. OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION

1. Suspension is the short-term exclusion, not to exceed five days (unless the student presents a danger to themselves or others) per infraction of the student from school during which the school is relieved of the custody of the child.  
2. If the suspension is longer than five days, the suspending administrator must provide the superintendent or designee with a reason for the longer suspension. A suspension may not extend beyond fifteen days. 
3. Upon the sixth consecutive day of a suspension an alternative form of education must be presented to the child, i.e. supervise homework. 
4. Suspensions shall be utilized in accord with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act and with this       policy. 
5. School administration must allow a suspended student the opportunity to complete all school work assigned during the period of the student's suspension and to receive full credit for satisfactorily completing the assignments. The school principal or other person having administrative control of the school building or program is encouraged to designate an employee as a liaison to work with the student’s teachers to allow the suspended student to (1) receive timely course materials and other information, and (2) complete daily and weekly assignments and receive teachers' feedback.

VII. EXCLUSION AND EXPULSION

1. Exclusion is an action taken by the School Board to prevent enrollment or reenrollment of a student for a period that shall not extend beyond a school year. 
2. Expulsion is an action taken by the School Board to prohibit an enrolled student from further attendance for a period of time that shall not extend beyond one calendar year from the date the child is suspended for the expellable offense. 
3. Exclusion and expulsion shall be utilized in accordance with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act and this policy. 

IX. RECESS AND OTHER BREAKS

1. "Recess detention" means excluding or excessively delaying a student from participating in a scheduled recess period as a consequence for student behavior. Recess detention does not include, among other things, providing alternative recess at the student's choice.
2. A school administrator must not use recess detention unless:
   1. a student causes or is likely to cause serious physical harm to other students or staff;
   2. the student's parent or guardian specifically consents to the use of recess detention; or
   3. for students receiving special education services, the student's individualized education program team has determined that withholding recess is appropriate based on the individualized needs of the student.

C.  Recess must not be withheld from a student based on incomplete schoolwork.
     
D.  School administrators are encouraged to ensure student access to structured breaks from the demands of school and to support teachers  and other school staff in their efforts to use evidence-based approaches to reduce exclusionary forms of discipline.

X. SUMMER SCHOOL

1. Summer school is not a state or federally mandated program, and students are not required to attend. Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11 has rules and regulations regarding the granting of credit for courses taken during the summer school; essentially these regulations state that participants must make up every day of absence from summer school in order to complete the necessary minimum number of hours for course credit. Excessive absence could result in a student being dismissed from a summer school credit course. 
2. Parents/guardians and students should be aware that summer school also differs from the regular school year in that alternative programs may not be available for students who exhibit attendance and/or behavior problems. Students may be dropped from summer school for violations of the student code of conduct. 
3. Anoka-Hennepin School District No. 11 recognizes its obligations to provide students the elements of due process. Due process is the implementation of procedures which when adhered to guarantees the protection of equal rights. Before a student is dropped from summer school, the appropriate due process components will be followed. 
4. The Anoka-Hennepin School District’s discipline policy applies to summer school. 

XI. DISCIPLINE COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Students, parents and other guardians, and school staff may file a complaint and seek corrective action when the requirements of the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act or this policy are not being implemented appropriately or are being discriminately applied. 

1. Time for filing complaint, to whom:  The complainant should attempt to informally resolve the complaint by notifying the principal or their designee of the complaint as soon as practicable, but in no event longer than five (5) school days after the event which is the subject of the complaint.    
2. If the complaint is not resolved informally, the complaining party shall reduce the complaint to writing and the school principal shall transmit the written complaint to the Principal Elementary Student Conduct or Principal Secondary Student Conduct, as appropriate. The Principal of Student Conduct shall begin to investigate the complaint within three (3) school days after receipt of the written complaint. The Principal of Student Conduct shall provide an opportunity for involved parties to submit additional relevant information, and shall meet (in-person, virtually, or by phone) with the complaining party. The Principal of Student Conduct will make a written disposition of the matter within twenty (20) school days of receipt of the written complaint and shall forward copies to the complaining party and the school principal. 
3. The decision of the Principal of Student Conduct shall be final.  
4. If it is determined that the requirements of the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act were not implemented appropriately or were discriminatorily applied, the Principal Elementary Student Conduct or Principal Secondary Student Conduct shall oversee a corrective action plan to correct the student’s record and provide relevant staff with training, coaching, or other accountability practices, and take other appropriate measures designed to ensure appropriate compliance with policies in the future.
5. The District prohibits reprisals or retaliation against any person who asserts, alleges, or reports a complaint under this provision. Complaints of retaliation or reprisal will be investigated and handled by the General Counsel or designee. 

XII. COMMUNICATION/DISTRIBUTION OF POLICY

1. Publication: This policy shall be published and distributed annually for all students utilizing one or more of the following methods: publication in a student handbook; publication in a principal's newsletter to parents/guardians with the request that the parent/guardian discuss the policy with the student; publication in pamphlet form to be distributed; and/or publication in a district wide mailing to parents/guardians. 
2. Building-level Supplement: The building principal may supplement this policy with rules and regulations for a particular building. However, no such rule or regulation shall be inconsistent with School Board policy. 
3. Dissemination to Students: This policy and supplemental building rules and regulations shall be reviewed with students in classrooms at the beginning of each school year. 
4. Annual Review: The principal and representative staff and students in each school building shall confer at least annually to review the discipline policy and to assess whether the policy is appropriate and has been enforced. Any recommended changes shall be forwarded to the Superintendent for review. 

Note: Discipline Policy 506.0 also addresses bullying. It states: “Violations against persons communicated or attempted to be communicated by any means. Such violations include but are not limited to: verbal and/or nonverbal intimidation/threats; stalking; obstruction; assault; fighting; extortion; bullying, racial harassment; harassment on the basis of disability; sexual harassment/violence; indecent exposure; hazing.”

I. PURPOSE

A safe and civil environment is needed for students to learn and attain high academic standards and to promote healthy human relationships. Bullying, like other violent or disruptive behavior, is conduct that interferes with students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to educate students in a safe environment. To the extent such conduct affects the educational environment of district schools and the rights and welfare of its students and is within the control of the district in its normal operations, it is the district’s intent to prevent bullying and to take action to investigate, respond, remediate, and discipline those acts of bullying which have not been successfully prevented. Appropriate administrative and staff follow-up will be provided for targets and offenders of bullying. While Anoka-Hennepin School District cannot monitor the activities of students at all times and eliminate all incidents of bullying between students, particularly when students are not under the direct supervision of school personnel, the purpose of this policy is to assist the district in its goal of preventing and responding to acts of bullying, intimidation, violence, and other similar disruptive behavior

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. An act of bullying, by either an individual student or a group of students, is expressly prohibited on district property, at school related functions, or in electronic form otherwise known as cyberbullying. This policy applies to all of the academic and nonacademic (for example, athletic and extracurricular) programs of the district and will be enforced before, during, or after school hours on all school property, including the school bus, school functions, or events held at other locations. The policy also applies to any off-campus conduct that causes or threatens to cause a substantial and material disruption at school, or interferes with the rights of students or employees to be free from a hostile school environment taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances on and off campus. This policy applies not only to students who directly engage in an act of bullying but also to students who, by their indirect behavior, condone or support another student’s act of bullying.
2. No district employee shall permit, condone, or tolerate bullying. Any district employee who observes an act of bullying shall intervene to attempt to stop the act and shall report it to the appropriate person. Likewise, any person who receives a report of an act of bullying shall report it to the appropriate person.
3. Apparent permission or consent by a student being bullied does not lessen the prohibitions contained in this policy.
4. Retaliation against a target, good faith reporter, or a witness of bullying is prohibited.
5. False accusations or reports of bullying against another student are prohibited.
6. A person who engages directly or indirectly in an act of bullying, reprisal, or intentional false reporting of bullying or permits, condones, or tolerates bullying may be subject to discipline for that act in accordance with the district’s policies and procedures. The district may take into account the following factors:
   1. The age, developmental and maturity levels of the parties
      involved;
   2. The levels of harm, surrounding circumstances, and nature
      and severity of the behavior;
   3. Past incidences or past or continuing patterns of behavior;
   4. The relationship between the parties involved; and
   5. The context in which the alleged incidents occurred.
7. The district will act to investigate all complaints of bullying and will take appropriate action against any student or district employee who is found to have violated this policy. 

Consequences for students who commit prohibited acts of bullying may range from positive behavioral interventions up to an including suspension and/or expulsion. Consequences for district employees who permit, condone, or tolerate bullying or engage in an act of reprisal or intentional false reporting of bullying may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination or discharge. Consequences for other individuals engaging in prohibited acts of bullying may include, but not be limited to, exclusion from district property and events and/or termination of services and/or contracts.

III. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this policy, the definitions included in this section apply.

1. Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
   1. An imbalance of power: Students who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
   2. Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once, or have the potential to happen more than once.

Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. There are three types of bullying:

1. 1. Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes:
      • Teasing
      • Name-calling
      • Taunting
      • Threatening to cause harm
   2. Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes:
      • Leaving someone out on purpose
      • Telling other children not to be friends with someone
      • Spreading rumors about someone
      • Embarrassing someone in public
   3. Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Physical bullying includes:
      • Hitting/kicking/pinching
      • Spitting
      • Tripping/pushing
      • Taking or breaking someone’s things
      • Making mean or rude hand gestures

Bullying can take a variety of forms. As noted above, it can be a written, verbal, or electronic expression, a physical act or gesture, graphic representation (e.g. graffiti). Bullying may include the misuse of technology in any form, including sending or posting e-mail messages, instant messages, text messages, blog or social media postings, digital pictures or images, or other electronic postings, regardless of whether such acts are committed on or off district property and/or with or without the use of district resources.

Bullying based on a protected classification set forth in the district’s Equal Educational Opportunity Policy (race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or age) may also constitute a violation of the district’s Harassment, Violence, and Discrimination Policy.

1. “District employee” for purposes of this policy includes school board members, district employees, agents, volunteers, contractors/vendors, or persons subject to the supervision and control of the district.
2. “Immediately” or “immediate” means as soon as possible but in no event longer than 24 hours.
3. “On district property, at school-related functions, or in electronic form” means all district buildings, school grounds, and school property or property immediately adjacent to school grounds, school bus stops, school buses, school vehicles, school contracted vehicles, or any other vehicles approved for district purposes, the area of entrance or departure from school grounds, premises, or events, all school-related functions, school-sponsored activities, events, or trips, the use of any district technology equipment or system on or off-campus, the use of a personal digital device on campus, or off-campus electronic communication that causes or threatens to cause a substantial and material disruption at school or interference with the rights of students or employees to be secure. District property also may mean a student’s walking route to or from school for purposes of attending school or school-related functions, activities, or events. While prohibiting bullying at these locations or events or through use of district technology resources, the district does not represent that it will provide supervision or assume liability at these locations or events, or through use of district technology resources.

IV. REPORTING PROCEDURE

1. Any person who believes he or she has been the target of bullying or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct that may constitute bullying shall report the alleged acts immediately to an administrator, counselor, or student services advocate in that school. A student may report bullying anonymously. However, the district’s ability to take action against an alleged offender based solely on an
   anonymous report may be limited.
2.  A report (verbal or written) should be made immediately, or as soon after the incident as possible; delays between the date of the alleged incident and the reporting date may make investigations more difficult.
3. The district encourages the target or other reporting party to use a report form; oral and electronic reports shall be considered complaints as well. The report form is available in the counseling and administrative office of each school, the district office, and on the district’s website at: ahschools.us/complaintform.
   Upon request for qualified persons with a disability, alternative means of filing a complaint, such as through a personal interview or by tape recording, will be made available.
4. The district is not authorized to disclose to a target or reporter private educational or personnel data regarding an alleged offender who is a student or district employee.
5. School officials will notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) of students involved in a bullying incident and the remedial action taken, to the extent permitted by law, based on a confirmed report.
6. The district shall monitor all incidents of bullying as fully set forth in Section IX of the Harassment, Violence and Discrimination Policy.

VI. APPEAL

If the report has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the target, they may appeal to the associate superintendent within ten (10) school days of receipt (verbal or written) of the findings of the district investigation. The associate superintendent will conduct a review of the appeal and, within ten (10) school days of receipt of the appeal, will affirm, reverse, or modify the findings of thereport. The decision of the associate superintendent is final.

VII. REPRISAL

The district will discipline or take appropriate action against any student or district employee who retaliates against any person who makes a good faith report of alleged bullying or against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in an investigation, or against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in a proceeding or hearing relating to such bullying. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, harassment, or intentional disparate treatment.

VIII. PROGRAMMING

The district shall implement annual bullying prevention and character development education programs for students to prevent and reduce policy violations. Such programs may offer instruction on character education including, but not limited to, character qualities such as attentiveness, truthfulness, respect for authority, diligence, gratefulness, self-discipline, patience, forgiveness, respect for others, peacemaking, and resourcefulness.

IX. NOTICE

The district will give annual notice of this policy to students, parents or guardians, and staff, and this policy shall appear in the student handbook.

X. REVIEW OF THE POLICY

This policy will be reviewed by the Board or its designee on an annual basis and, if necessary, will be revised to conform with applicable state and federal law.

Note: Discipline Policy 506.0 also addresses harassment. It states: “Violations against persons communicated or attempted to be communicated by any means. Such violations include but are not limited to: verbal and/or nonverbal intimidation/threats; stalking; obstruction; assault; fighting; extortion; bullying, racial harassment; harassment on the basis of disability; sexual harassment/violence; indecent exposure; hazing.”

I. PURPOSE:

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination, harassment and violence on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, marital status, familial or family care leave status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, including gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, or other protected classes as defined by the Minnesota Human Rights Act or other applicable state or federal laws.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. It is the policy of the Anoka-Hennepin School District No. 11 to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from harassment, violence or discrimination based on actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, marital status,
   familial status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status or veteran status. The district prohibits any form of harassment, violence or discrimination based on actual or perceived protected class status.
2. It will be a violation of this policy for any student or district employee to (1) harass a student or district employee through conduct or communication (e.g., physical, verbal, graphic or written) or to (2) inflict, threaten to inflict or attempt to inflict violence; or to (3) discriminate against a student or District employee based on that student’s or employee’s actual or perceived protected class status.
3. It is a violation of this policy for any district employee or student to engage in malicious and sadistic conduct involving race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, religion, sexual harassment, and sexual orientation and gender identity, as defined by the Minnesota Human Rights Act. It is also a violation of this policy to engage in sexual exploitation.
4. This policy applies to all of the academic and nonacademic (for example, athletic and extracurricular) programs of the district and will be enforced before, during, or after school hours on all school property, including the school bus, school functions, or events held at other locations. The policy also applies to any off-campus conduct that causes or threatens to cause a substantial and material disruption at school, or interferes with the rights of students or employees to be free from a hostile school environment taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances on and off campus.
5. The district will investigate all complaints of harassment, violence or discrimination— whether formal or informal, verbal or written—based on a student’s or district employee’s actual or perceived protected class status, and will discipline or take appropriate action against any student or District employee who is found to have violated this policy. Appropriate administrative and staff follow-up will be provided for targets and offenders of harassment, violence and discrimination.
6. While this policy addresses the reporting and responses to harassment, violence or discrimination, the district recognizes the importance of preventing harassment, violence and discrimination before it occurs through ongoing practices, programs and training. The district shall implement violence prevention and character development education programs to prevent and reduce policy violations. Such programs may offer instruction on character education including, but not limited to, character qualities such as attentiveness, truthfulness, respect for authority, diligence, gratefulness, self-discipline, patience, forgiveness, respect for others, peacemaking, and resourcefulness.

III. DEFINITIONS

1. District employee.  For purposes of this policy, district employee includes school board members, district employees, agents, volunteers, contractors/vendors, or persons subject to the supervision and control of the district.
2. Discriminate. The term "discriminate" includes segregate or separate and, for purposes of discrimination based on sex, it includes sexual harassment.
3. Harassment. Harassment is unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status or veteran status. A single incident of harassment may implicate more than one protected class. For example, a student may be targeted because of their race and sexual orientation.
   1. Harassing conduct may take many forms, including but not limited to verbal acts and name-calling, as well as nonverbal behavior that is physically threatening, harmful, or humiliating. Harassment includes the use of derogatory language, intimidation, and threats; unwanted physical contact or physical violence; and the use of derogatory language and images in graffiti, pictures or drawings, notes, e-mails, electronic postings and/or phone or text messages related to a person’s membership in a protected class. Harassment includes behavior that may not be directed at a particular person, but may instead consist of harassing conduct (e.g. physical, verbal, graphic, or written) that creates a hostile environment for students or employees.
   2. Conduct is unwelcome if the student or employee did not request or invite it and considered the conduct to be undesirable or offensive. Submission or failure to complain does not mean that the conduct was welcome; the circumstances must be examined.
   3. With respect to students, a “hostile environment” exists when harassment is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to interfere with or limit one or more students’ abilities to participate in or benefit from the education program.
   4. With respect to district employees, a “hostile environment” exists when harassment is sufficiently severe or pervasive so as to alter the conditions of the victim's employment and create an abusive working environment.
4. Sex-Based Harassment (Reference 413.1 Title IX Harassment Grievance Process)
   1. “Sex-based harassment” includes both sexual harassment and gender-based harassment.
   2. Sexual harassment is harassment of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexually motivated physical conduct or other verbal or physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature when:
      1. submission to that conduct or communication is made a term or condition, either explicitly or implicitly, of obtaining or retaining employment, or of obtaining an education; or
      2. submission to or rejection of that conduct or communication by an individual is used as a factor in decisions affecting that individual’s employment or education; or
      3. the conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile environment. 
   3. “Gender-based harassment” means non-sexual harassment of a person because of the person’s sex, including harassment based on gender identity and expression. Gender-based harassment includes, but is not limited to, harassment based on the person’s nonconformity with gender stereotypes, regardless of the actual or perceived sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation of the harasser or target of the harassment.
   4. “Gender stereotypes” refers to stereotypical notions of masculinity and femininity or expectations of how boys or girls should act.
   5. "Gender identity" means a person's inherent sense of being a man, woman, both, or neither. A person's gender identity may or may not correspond to their assigned sex at birth or to their primary or secondary sex characteristics. A person's gender identity is not necessarily visible to others.
5. Sexual Orientation Based Harassment (Reference 413.1 Title IX Harassment Grievance Process)
   1. “Sexual orientation-based harassment” means non-sexual harassment of a person because of the person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or association with or advocacy for a person or group.   
   2. "Sexual orientation" mean to whom someone is, or is perceived of as being, emotionally, physically, or sexually attracted to based on sex or gender identity. A person may be attracted to men, women, both, neither, or to people who are genderqueer, androgynous, or have other gender identities.
6. Racial, Color, Creed or National Origin Harassment.
   1. Racial, color, creed or national origin harassment consists of physical or verbal conduct based on an individual’s perceived or actual race, color, creed or national origin.
   2. “National origin” means the place of birth of an individual or of any of the individual's lineal ancestors. This includes harassment of students born in the United States who have relatives that are from other countries.
7. Race. 
   1. Race is inclusive of traits associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and hair styles such as braids, locs, and twists.
8. Religious Harassment.
   1. Religious harassment consists of physical or verbal conduct based on an individual’s perceived or actual religious beliefs.
9. Disability Harassment.
   1. Disability harassment consists of physical or verbal conduct based on an individual’s perceived or actual disability.
   2. A person with a disability is any person who (1) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) has a record of such an impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. This includes students who are protected by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. 
   3. Disability harassment also may deny a student with a disability a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). Harassment of a student based on disability may decrease the student’s ability to benefit from their education and amount to a denial of FAPE.
10. Other Protected Class Harassment.
    1. Harassment of other protected classes consists of physical or verbal conduct based on an individual’s perceived or actual protected class status.
11. Sexual Violence.
    • Sexual violence is a physical act of aggression or force or the threat thereof that involves the touching of another person’s intimate parts, or forcing a person to touch any person’s intimate parts. Intimate parts, as defined in Minn. Stat. § 609.341, includes the primary genital area, groin, inner thigh, buttocks or breast, as well as the clothing covering these areas. Sexual violence may include, but is not limited to:
      1. touching, patting, grabbing, or pinching another person’s intimate parts, whether that person is of the same sex or the opposite sex;
      2. coercing, forcing or attempting to coerce or force the touching of anyone’s intimate parts;
      3. coercing, forcing or attempting to coerce or force sexual intercourse or a sexual act on another; or
      4. threatening to force or coerce sexual acts, including the touching of intimate parts or intercourse, on another.
12. Racial, Color, Creed or National Origin Violence.
    1. Racial violence is a physical act of aggression or force, an assault, or the threat thereof, that is directed toward a student or employee based on their perceived or actual race, color, creed, or national origin.
13. Religious Violence.
    1. Religious violence is a physical act of aggression or force, an assault, or the threat thereof, that is directed toward a student or employee based on their perceived or actual religion.
14. Disability Violence.
    1. Disability violence is a physical act of aggression or force, an assault, or the threat thereof, that is directed toward a student or employee based on a perceived or actual disability.
15. Other Protected Class Violence.
    1. Other Protected Class violence is a physical act of aggression or assault on another based on their actual or perceived protected class status.
16. Assault is:
    1. an act done with intent to cause fear in another of immediate bodily harm or death;
    2. the intentional infliction of or attempt to inflict bodily harm on another; or
    3. the threat to do bodily harm to another with present ability to carry out the threat.     
17. Malicious and sadistic conduct means creating a hostile learning environment by acting with the intent to cause harm by intentionally injuring another without just cause or reason or engaging in extreme or excessive cruelty or delighting in cruelty.

IV. REPORTING PROCEDURES FOR INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT AND/OR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST DISTRICT EMPLOYEES

1. Reporting Complaints
   1. Any District employee who believes they have      experienced harassment, violence or discrimination on the basis of their      actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex/gender, marital status, familial status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status or veteran status, or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct which may constitute  harassment, violence or  discrimination, should report the alleged acts immediately, or as soon as possible, to an appropriate district official designated by this policy.
   2. Although the district encourages the alleged target or other reporting party to use the report form set forth in this policy, use of the formal reporting form is not required. Oral reports shall be considered complaints as well. The form is available from the principal of each building, the district office, and on the district’s website. Upon request for qualified persons with a disability, alternative means of filing a complaint, such as through a personal interview or by tape recording, will be made available.
   3. In the District. The school board designates the Executive Director of Human Resources as the district human rights officer to receive employee reports or complaints of harassment, violence, and discrimination at:
      Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
      Email:  humanrightsofficer@ahschools.us
   4. If the complaint involves the human rights officer, the complaint shall be filed directly with the superintendent at:
      Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
      Email: superintendent@ahschools.us   
   5. If the complaint involves the superintendent, the complaint shall be filed directly with the school board chair:
      Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
      Email: schoolboardchair@ahschools.us   
   6. If the complaint involves a school board member, the complaint shall be filed directly with the school board chair:
      Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
      Email: schoolboardchair@ahschools.us   
   7. If the complaint involves the school board chair, the complaint shall be filed directly with the district general counsel:
      Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
      Email: generalcounsel@ahschools.us   
   8. In Each School Building. The school principal is the person responsible for receiving oral or written reports of harassment, violence or discrimination at the school level. Any district employee who receives a report shall inform the principal immediately. If the principal is not available on the date of the report, then the employee must forward the oral or written report/complaint directly to the human rights officer. If the complaint involves the principal, the employee will provide their report directly to the superintendent or the district’s human rights officer. Upon receipt of a report, the principal must notify the district human rights officer immediately, without screening or investigating the credibility of the report. The principal may request, but may not insist on, a written complaint. If the report is verbal, the principal shall prepare and provide to the human rights officer a written statement of the facts alleged within 24 hours of receiving the report. Failure to forward any harassment or violence report or complaint may result in disciplinary action against the principal.
   9. Nothing in this policy shall prevent a district employee from reporting harassment, violence, or discrimination directly to the district human rights officer or to the superintendent.
   10. The complaint (verbal or written) should be reported immediately, or as soon after the incident as possible; delays between the date of the alleged incident and the reporting date may make investigations more difficult.
   11. The willful filing of a false report will be considered to be a violation of district policy.
   12. Although confidentiality cannot be assured, the district will respect the privacy of the alleged target, the reporter (if someone other than the alleged target), the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as possible, consistent with the district’s legal obligations to investigate, to take appropriate action, and to conform with any discovery or disclosure obligations.
2. Investigation – District Employees
   1. The human rights officer, upon receipt of a report or complaint, will promptly undertake or authorize an investigation. The investigation may be conducted by district officials or by a neutral third party designated by the district.
   2. The investigation will be completed within 30 calendar days from receipt of the complaint, unless impracticable.
   3. The investigation may, as appropriate, consist of personal interviews with the alleged target, the reporter (if someone other than the alleged target), the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and others who may have knowledge of the alleged incident(s) or circumstances giving rise to the complaint. The investigation may also consist of any other methods and documents deemed pertinent by the investigator.
   4. In determining whether alleged conduct constitutes a violation of this policy, the district will consider the facts and surrounding circumstances, the nature of the behavior, past incidents or past or continuing patterns of behavior, the relationships between the parties involved and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. Whether a particular action or incident constitutes a violation of this policy requires a determination based on all the facts and surrounding circumstances.
   5. The district, at its discretion, may take immediate steps, based on the severity of the allegations, to protect the parties involved in the complaint process pending completion of an investigation.
3. School District Action – District Employee
   1. Upon completion of the investigation, the district or neutral third party designated investigator will make a written report to the human rights officer. If the complaint involves the human rights officer, the report must be filed directly with the superintendent. If the complaint involves the superintendent, the report must be filed directly with the school board. The report will include the facts, a determination of whether the allegations have been substantiated and whether a violation of this policy has occurred.
   2. Upon completion of the investigation, the human rights officer will inform the alleged target of their right to review the written report at the school building where the target is employed or enrolled, in accordance with state and federal law regarding data or records privacy.
   3. In the event a complaint is substantiated, the district will take appropriate and effective action depending on the circumstances. Such action may include, but is not limited to, training, counseling, warning, suspension, transfer, remediation, or termination. District action taken for violation of this policy will be consistent with requirements of applicable collective bargaining agreements, Minnesota and federal law, and district policies.

V. REPORTING PROCEDURES FOR INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT AND/OR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST STUDENTS

1. Reporting a Complaint
   
   1. Any student who believes they have experienced harassment, violence or discrimination on the basis of their actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex/gender, marital status, familial status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status or veteran status should report the alleged acts immediately, or as soon as possible, to an administrator, counselor, or student services advocate in that school.
   2. Any District employee who observes an act of harassment, violence or discrimination toward a student shall intervene to attempt to stop the act and shall report it to the appropriate person immediately, or as soon as possible.
   3. Any District employee or student who witnesses or has knowledge or belief of conduct that may be harassment, violence or discrimination toward a student shall inform an administrator, counselor, or student services advocate immediately, or as soon after the incident as possible. A counselor or student services advocate must promptly report the information to an administrator.
   4. The complaint (verbal or written) should be reported immediately, or as soon after the incident as possible; delays between the date of the alleged incident and the reporting date may make investigations more difficult.
   5. The school board designates the Title IX Coordinator/Equity Coordinator to monitor and receive student reports or complaints of harassment, violence and discrimination against students:
      Title IX Coordinator/Equity Coordinator
      Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
      Email: titleIXcoordinator@ahschools.us   
   6. The school board designates the 504 Coordinator to monitor and receive student reports or complaints of disability harassment, violence and discrimination:
      504 Coordinator
      Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
      Email: 504coordinator@ahschools.us   
   7. If the complaint involves an administrator, the complaint should be filed directly with the Title IX/Equity Coordinator, who will advise the Superintendent. If a complaint involves the Title IX/Equity Coordinator, the complaint shall be filed directly with the superintendent. If the complaint involves the superintendent, the complaint shall be filed directly with the school board chair:
      Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
      Email: suprintendent@ahschools.us or schoolboardchair@ahschools.us 
   8. If the complaint involves a school board member, the complaint shall be filed directly with the school board chair:
      Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
      Email: schoolboardchair@ahschools.us 
   9. If the complaint involves the school board chair, the complaint shall be filed directly with the district general counsel:
      Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
      Email: generalcounsel@ahschools.us
   10. Nothing in this policy shall prevent any person from reporting harassment, violence, or discrimination directly to the Title IX Coordinator/Equity Coordinator or to the superintendent:
       Superintendent, Anoka-Hennepin School District
       Mailing address: 2727 North Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: (763) 506-1000
       Email: superintendent@ahschools.us   

   11. Although the district encourages the reporting student to use the report form set forth in this policy, use of formal reporting forms is not required. Oral reports shall be considered complaints as well. The form is available in the counseling and administrative office of each school, the district office, and on the district’s website at:
         http://www.ahschools.us/complaintform

       Alternative, accessible means of filing a complaint, such as through a personal interview or by tape recording, will be made available for individuals with disabilities.

2. Investigation– Students
   1. Upon receipt of a report or complaint, the district shall promptly undertake or authorize an investigation. The investigation will be completed within thirty days from receipt of the complaint, unless impracticable.
   2. The investigation may, as appropriate, consist of personal interviews with the alleged target, the reporter (if someone other than the alleged target), the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and others who may have knowledge of the alleged incident(s) or circumstances giving rise to the complaint. The investigation may also consist of any other methods and documents deemed pertinent by the investigator.
   3. In determining whether alleged conduct constitutes a violation of this policy, the district will consider the age and level of understanding of the student(s) involved, the facts and surrounding circumstances, the nature of the behavior, past incidents or past or continuing patterns of behavior, the relationships between the parties involved and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. Whether a particular action or incident constitutes a violation of this policy requires a determination based on all the facts and surrounding circumstances.
   4. The district may, at its discretion, take immediate steps, based on the severity of the allegations, to protect the parties involved in the complaint process pending completion of an investigation.
   5. The intentional filing of a false report will be considered to be a violation of the student discipline policy.
3. School District Action – Students
   1. The investigator shall document their findings within five school days of concluding the investigation.
   2. Upon conclusion of the investigation and receipt of the findings, and if harassment is found to have occurred, the district will take appropriate and effective action with respect to the target and the offender, and document the action taken. If the investigator determined that a violation of this policy has occurred, such appropriate action may include, but is not limited to, an education component, alternative dispute resolution, training, counseling, warning, class transfer, suspension, expulsion, or transfer. If both the target and the alleged offender agree to attempt to mediate the complaint using the school's formal mediation process, this will be encouraged.
4. Timelines and Notification to Parents/Guardians
   1. The parent(s)/guardian(s) of the target and/or the alleged offenders of bullying, harassment, violence or discrimination should be notified of the report before the close of the current school day, but not later than two school days of the report being filed, unless otherwise directed by law enforcement or required by law, or if in the professional judgment of the District notification is not warranted. The parents/guardians of both the target and the alleged offender(s) shall be notified if there is a physical assault, unless otherwise directed by law enforcement or required by law.
   2. Following the investigation, the person handling the complaint or a representative of the District will communicate with the target regarding the outcome of the investigation.
      1. This communication will include the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student at the parent's/guardian’s request if the student is under age 18, or at the student's request if over 18.
      2. If the investigation has not been completed within three school days, a verbal summary of the progress of the investigation will be given to the target at that time.
   3. The target and/or the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the target may review any relevant data in the office of the employee completing the report if requested.  
      1. Copies of the data will not be released to a student but may be released to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the target upon request of the parent(s)/guardian(s).
      2. The alleged offender(s) or their parent(s)/guardian(s) may not examine or have access to the data unless a court order is received by the District. The alleged offender(s) or their parent(s)/guardian(s) may not be informed of the individual identity of the reporter by any staff person investigating the complaint.
   4. The privacy and data privacy rights of all persons involved must be respected in accordance with current state and federal laws.
5. Who is Responsible for Carrying Out This Reporting Procedure
   1. When a report is made or referred to an administrator, that person or their designee is responsible for carrying out and documenting this reporting procedure.
   2. When a report is made or referred to the Title IX Coordinator/Equity Coordinator, that person or their designee, is responsible for carrying out and documenting this reporting procedure.
   3. When a report is made to the superintendent, that person or their      designee is responsible for carrying out and documenting this reporting procedure.
   4. The district’s 504 Coordinator or their designee, is responsible for carrying out and documenting this procedure in connection with complaints of disability harassment, violence, or discrimination.
   5. Incidents that include violence as defined in this procedure should also be referred to the school resource officer serving the building for a possible separate criminal investigation.
   6. When the report involves alleged harassment, violence or discrimination by a district employee or employee of an agency contracted by the District against a student, the investigation will be performed by the Title IX/Equity Coordinator.
6. Harassment or Violence as Abuse
   1. Under certain circumstances, alleged harassment or violence may also be possible abuse under Minnesota law. If so, the duties of mandatory reporting under Minnesota Statutes section 626.556 may be applicable.
   2. Nothing in this policy will prevent or prohibit the district from taking immediate action to protect victims of alleged harassment, violence or abuse.

V. NO REPRISAL

There will be no retaliation against any target or reporter of harassment, violence or discrimination under this policy, nor against any person who participates in an investigation. The district will take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator or other district employee who retaliates against any person who makes a good faith report, who testifies, assists or participates in an investigation, or who testifies, assists or participates in a proceeding or hearing relating to the report. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal or harassment.

VI. APPEAL

If the report or grievance has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the target of harassment, violence or discrimination, s/he may appeal to the human rights officer if a district employee, or the Title IX/Equity Coordinator if a student, within ten (10) school days of receipt of the findings of the district investigation. The district investigator will conduct a review of the appeal and, within ten (10) school days of receipt of the appeal, will affirm, reverse, or modify the findings of the report. The decision of the district investigator is final.

VII. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

If there is a conflict of interest with respect to any party affected by this policy, appropriate accommodations will be made, such as, but not limited to, appointing or contracting with a neutral third-party investigator to conduct the investigation, or recusing from the process the person for whom a conflict or potential conflict of interest exists.

VIII. RIGHT TO ALTERNATIVE COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

These procedures do not deny the right of any individual to pursue other avenues of recourse which may include filing charges with the agencies identified below, or initiating an action in state or federal court.

Minnesota Department of Human Rights Freeman Building
625 Robert Street North St. Paul, MN 55155
toll free: 800.657.3704
tty: 651.296.1283
fax: 651.296.9042
www.humanrights.state.mn.us

U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, Region V 500
W. Madison Street - Suite 1475 Chicago IL 60661
Tel: 312.730.1560
TDD: 312.730.1609

IX. MONITORING OF INCIDENTS

The Title IX/Equity Coordinator will monitor the frequency, nature, and severity of harassment, and the district’s response to harassment incidents over time, in order to address the effectiveness of the district’s prevention efforts and compliance with this policy.

X. DISSEMINATION OF THE POLICY

1. Each school will ensure that this policy is discussed at the start of each school year with all staff and with each student in a manner appropriate to their age and level of understanding and the principal or a designee will document the date it was discussed in each classroom.
2. This policy, including possible consequences for a violation, will be in the student handbook of every school.
3. This policy will be conspicuously posted throughout each school and other District buildings in areas accessible to students and staff. Posters will be made available to each school for duplication.
4. This policy will be provided to every home by mail at the start of each school year.      If a newsletter is sent to the homes of students, a summary of this policy/procedure will be included in that newsletter at least once each year.
5. This policy shall be given to each district employee and independent contractor at the time of entering into the person’s employment contract.

XI. REVIEW OF THE POLICY

This policy will be reviewed by the Board or its designee on an annual basis for effectiveness and appropriateness and, if necessary, will be revised to conform with applicable state and federal law.

Policy in Practice: The Language of Harassment

The district is committed to creating an inclusive and positive climate in all of our schools so all students feel comfortable, safe and ready to learn. The language of harassment has no place in our schools.

The language of harassment is addressed in section III B, paragraph six of the Anoka-Hennepin School District discipline policy [506.0]. It is language that creates a hostile, offensive or intimidating school environment.

It is communication of any kind (words, writing, symbols) that is intended to or has the effect of hurting, demeaning, degrading, abusing, insulting and/or intimidating another person or groups of people, related to a person’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex/gender, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status, or veteran status. Such communication, even a
single incident, may constitute a violation of the law.

Harassment is banned not just at school during school hours, but also before or after school hours on all school property, including the school bus, school functions, or school events held at other locations. The policy also applies to any off-campus conduct that causes or threatens to cause a substantial and material disruption at school, or interferes with the rights of students or employees to be free from a hostile school environment taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances on and off campus.

The district’s discipline policy addresses and gives consequences for such language, but we as a community have to work together to stop this type of harassment. Parents and district staff need to let all of our students know that such language is wrong and it should not be tolerated. In order to create an inclusive and positive learning community students, parents and district staff must work to end the language of harassment through education and appropriate consequences.

After an investigation an administrator will use their discretion to determine if there has been a violation of policy concerning the language of harassment. If there has been such a violation, disciplinary action or consequences, as set forth below, may follow.

An administrator, with the superintendent’s designee, may use their discretion to apply more appropriate consequences when needed to provide for the safety of all students.

All federal and state rules and regulations concerning special education students will apply to these policy procedures.

A first offense will result in an education session concerning the language of harassment, and may also include one or more of the following:

1. Up to a 5-day assignment to a learning center or dismissal for less than one school day for students in grades kindergarten through 3.
2. Up to a 10-day OSS (out-of-school suspension) for students in grades 4 through 12.
3. Parent/guardian conference.
4. Parents/guardians and student will be notified that any further offenses may result in a referral to the School Board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year.
5. Possible referral to a local law enforcement agency.
6. Referral to Activities Director (grades 9-12).

A second offense will result in an education session concerning the language of harassment, and may also include one or more of the following:

1. Up to a 10-day OSS (out-of-school suspension).
2. Parent/guardian conference.
3. Referral to the board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year.
4. Referral to a local law enforcement agency.
5. Possible referral to Activities Director (grades 9-12).

Further offenses will result in an education session concerning the language of harassment, a dismissal or suspension, and may also include one or more of the following:

1. Parent/guardian conference.
2. Referral to the board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year.
3. Possible referral to a local law enforcement agency.
4. Referral to Activities Director (grades 9-12).

When determining an appropriate action, the administrator will consider the extent of the disruption to the safety of an individual or a group, the disruption of the learning environment in the schools, and whether the conduct has created a hostile environment for a student or group of students.

If a student exhibits multiple and/or escalating violations of policy concerning the Language of Harassment in spite of appropriate interventions, graduated disciplinary action or consequences shall be imposed.

Note: Discipline Policy 506.0 also addresses hazing. It states: “Violations against persons communicated or attempted to be communicated by any means. Such violations include but are not limited to: verbal and/or nonverbal intimidation/threats; stalking; obstruction; assault; fighting; extortion; bullying, racial harassment; harassment on the basis of disability; sexual harassment/violence; indecent exposure; hazing.”

This policy prohibits the practice of hazing in the Anoka- Hennepin School District, on or off school grounds.

• It defines hazing.
• It outlines procedures forreporting hazing.It outlines action the district will take regarding a report of hazing.

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a positive and safe learning and working environment for students and staff that is free from hazing. Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational goals of the school district and are prohibited at all times.

II. POLICY STATEMENT

1. No student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor or other employee of the school district shall plan, direct, encourage, aid or engage in hazing.
2. No teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor or other employee of the School District shall permit, condone or tolerate hazing.
3. Apparent permission or consent by a person being hazed does not lessen the prohibition contained in this policy.
4. This policy applies to behavior that occurs on or off school property and during and after school hours.
5. A person who engages in an act that violates school policy or law in order to be initiated into or affiliated with a student organization shall be subject to discipline for that act.
6. The School District will act to investigate all complaints of hazing and will discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor or other employee of the school district who is found to have violated this policy.

III. DEFINITIONS

1. “Hazing” means committing an act against a student, or coercing a student into committing an act, that creates a substantial risk of harm to a person, in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with a student organization, or for any other purpose. The term “hazing” includes but is not limited to:
   1. Any type of physical brutality such as striking, branding, electric shocking, or placing a harmful substance on the body.
   2. Any type of physical activity such as sleep deprivation, exposure to weather, confinement in a restricted area, calisthenics or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.
   3. Any activity involving the consumption of any alcoholic beverage, drug, tobacco product or other food, liquid, or substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.
   4. Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects a student to extreme mental stress, embarrassment, shame, or humiliation; or that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from remaining in school.
   5. Any activity that causes or requires the student to perform a task that involves violation of State or Federal law or of a School District policy or a school regulation.
2. “Student Organization” means a group, club, or organization having students as its primary members or participants. It includes grade levels, classes, teams, activities or particular school events. A student organization does not have to be an official school organization to come within the terms of this definition.

IV. REPORTING PROCEDURES

1. Any person who believes he or she has been the victim of hazing, or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct which may constitute hazing, shall report the alleged act(s) immediately to an appropriate School District official designated by this policy.
2. The building Principal is the person responsible for receiving reports of hazing at the building level. Any person may report hazing directly to the Student Services Coordinator or to an Associate Superintendent.
3. Teachers, administrators, volunteers, contractors, and other school employees of the school district shall be particularly alert to possible situations, circumstances, or events which might include hazing. Any person who receives a report of, observes, or has other knowledge or belief of conduct which may constitute hazing shall inform the building Principal immediately.
4. Submission of a good faith complaint or report of hazing will not affect the complainant or reporter’s future employment, grades, or work assignments.

V. SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTION

1. Upon receiving a complaint or report of hazing, the School District shall undertake or authorize an investigation by our School District administration or a third party designated by the School District.
2. The School District may take immediate steps, at its discretion, to protect the complainant, reporter, students, or others, pending completion of an investigation of hazing.
3. Upon completion of an investigation, the School District will take appropriate action. Such action may include, but is not limited to, warning, suspension, exclusion, expulsion, transfer, remediation, termination, or discharge. Disciplinary consequences will be sufficiently severe to deter violations and to appropriately discipline prohibited behavior. School District action taken for violation of this policy will be consistent with the requirements of the applicable bargaining agreements, applicable statutory authority, including the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, and other School District policies and regulations.

VI. REPRISAL

The School District will discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other employee of the School District who retaliates against any person who makes a good faith report of alleged hazing or against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in an investigation or a proceeding or hearing relating to such hazing. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal or harassment.

VII. DISSEMINATION OF POLICY

This policy shall appear in each building’s student and staff handbook and in the School District’s Student Discipline Policy Manual, and in the Administrative Policy Manual. It shall be published annually in a format which shall be accessible to the communities included in this school district.

Note: Discipline Policy 506.0 also addresses chemical/controlled substances. It states: “Possession, use (including being under the influence and look alike substances) and/or transmission of controlled substances including but not limited to any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, inhalant, toxic or mood altering substances, intoxicating beverage, any paraphernalia associated with such controlled substances, or any controlled substance or the unauthorized use of prescription drugs.”

The Anoka-Hennepin School District is committed to helping all students fully realize their potential. To do this, it is necessary that the educational process allow students to make informed decisions about chemicals/controlled substances. One increasingly important issue in our society is the use, misuse, possession and/or transmission by students of mood-altering and/or chemical/ controlled substances, including alcohol, drugs, and, inhalants and look-alike substances. Students cannot make full use of the total school program if they are involved with these substances; chemicals can seriously inhibit their capacity to learn and to function effectively in our schools.

It is the intent of this School District that our students, their parents/guardians, and all staff be made aware of the danger inherent in making unwise choices regarding the use of mood altering and/or chemical/controlled substances. It is also the intent of the school district to uphold State and Federal laws pertaining to the possession and/or use of controlled substances. The primary responsibility for helping individual students who are involved with chemicals lies with their parents/guardians. Our schools will act in conjunction with parents/guardians to help their children by providing a safe and healthy school environment and appropriate prevention efforts.

Therefore, the Anoka-Hennepin School Board supports the following four components of the Chemical/Controlled Substance Policy for Students:

1. Compliance with current statutes concerning a minor’s use/ possession/transmission of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs/chemicals, tobacco products, drug related devices/ paraphernalia, inhalants, or misuse of prescription, look-alike substances, and/or over-the-counter medication.
2. Chemical/controlled substance use/abuse prevention education and the promotion of wise choices concerning the individual’s health.
3. An early intervention in the use/abuse process including identification, consistent consequences, pre-assessment; and, when appropriate, provide a list of resources for families of outside agencies for formal assessment.
4. A supportive school environment for non-using students, including those who have been involved with chemical/ controlled substances in the past, and for those whose families are disrupted by substance abuse.

Policy in Practice: Chemicals/Controlled Substances

The use/misuse/possession/distribution of chemicals/controlledsubstances is addressed in section B paragraph two of the Anoka- Hennepin School District discipline policy. The use of mood-altering substances continues to be an important issue in our society and is especially damaging to our youth. Students cannot make full use of the total school program if they are involved with these substances, and such involvement has a negative affect on the entire school community, thus consequences related to their use/possession/ distribution are very strict and will be fully enforced. Carefully read the following procedure for a clear understanding of the policy.

I. Possession/Use/Misuse of Chemicals/Controlled Substances at School or School activities:

• This procedure does not include tobacco possession/use: see the individual school’s policies concerning tobacco use.
• For medications, refer to the School Guidelines for Student Medication and MN Immunization Law
• This procedure does include “look alike substances”, which are presented as alcohol, narcotics or mood-altering substances.

It is a violation of the Anoka-Hennepin chemicals/controlled substance policy if it has been determined that:

1. a student has consumed/used any alcohol, narcotic,inhalants or mood-altering substance while at school or a school sponsored activity (any prescription or over the-counter medication a student is required to take must be administered in accordance with district policy).
2. a student, on school grounds or at a school activity is under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, inhalants or mood altering substances regardless of the amount consumed or where consumption took place.
3. a student has possessed alcohol, narcotics, inhalants, mood altering substances or drug paraphernalia on school grounds
   or at school activities.

In each case:

• Parents will be informed when a student has been found to have violated the policy.
• All activity eligibility consequences shall follow the Minnesota High School League Rules and Regulations and building policy.
• Local law enforcement officials will be informed of the violation.
• All Federal and State rules and regulations concerning special education students will apply to this policy.
• The school‘s chemical abuse pre-assessment team will be notified. The chemical abuse pre-assessment team’s responsibility is to address reports of chemical abuse problems and making recommendation for appropriate responses to the individual reported cases.

Possession/use/misuse of chemicals/controlled substances at school or school activities:

from 533.3G1A Guidelines for Implementation of Chemical/Controlled Substances Procedures.

Grades K-5
First Offense:

1. Possible dismissal for less than one school day for students in grades Kindergarten through 3. Possible suspension for students in grades 4 and 5.
2. Parent conference stressing preventative measures. (If it is determined that an assessment is appropriate, the parents will be asked to provide for the completion of the assessment, and the parents will be asked to provide a detailed written summary of the assessment by the evaluation agency, but may decline.)
3. Possible referral to county as child in need of protective services for any student in grades kindergarten through 5 with a drug use or distribution offense.

Second Offense:

1. Possible dismissal for less than one school day for students in grades Kindergarten through 3.
2. Possible suspension for students in grades 4 and 5.
3. Parent conference stressing preventative measures (if it is determined that an assessment is appropriate, the parents will be asked to provide for the completion of the assessment, and the parents will be asked to provide a detailed written summary of the assessment by
   the evaluation agency, but may decline)

Third Offense/Subsequent Offenses:

1. Possible dismissal for less than one school day for students in grades Kindergarten through 3. Possible suspension for students in grades 4 and 5.
2. Possible referral to the School board for an expulsion up to one calendar year in grades 4 and 5.

This policy shall be reviewed with secondary students three times per year.

Grades 6-8
First Offense:

1. 1-3 day suspension
2. Possible referral to Chemical Health Specialist for assessment and determination for further support.
3. Restorative Meeting with parents or guardians stressing the importance of preventative measures (If it is determined that an assessment is appropriate, the parents will be asked to provide for the completion of the assessment, and the parents will be asked to provide a detailed written summary of the assessment by the evaluation agency but may decline.)

Second Offense:

1. 5 day suspension
2. Referral to Chemical Health Specialist for assessment and determination for further support.
3. Restorative Meeting with parents or guardians stressing the importance of preventative measures (If it is determined that an assessment is appropriate, the parents will be asked to provide for the completion of the assessment, and the parents will be asked to provide a detailed written summary of the assessment by the evaluation agency but may decline.)

Third Offense: 

1. 10 day suspension and referral for expulsion. If a resolution for expulsion occurs, students can return on a probationary status sooner which will be determined by the completion of a chemical dependency program.
2. Restorative Meeting with parents or guardians stressing the importance of preventative measures (If it is determined that an assessment is appropriate, the parents will be asked to provide for the completion of the assessment, and the parents will be asked to provide a detailed written summary of the assessment by the evaluation agency but may decline.)

Grades 9-12
First Offense:

1. 1-3 day suspension
2. Referral to Chemical Health Specialist for assessment and determination for further support.
3. Restorative Meeting with parents or guardians stressing the importance of preventative measures (If it is determined that an assessment is appropriate, the parents will be asked to provide for the completion of the assessment, and the parents will be asked to provide a detailed written summary of the assessment by the evaluation agency but may decline.)

Second Offense:

1. 5 day Suspension
2. Referral to Chemical Health Specialist for assessment and determination for further support.
3. Restorative Meeting with parents or guardians stressing the importance of preventative measures (If it is determined that an assessment is appropriate, the parents will be asked to provide for the completion of the assessment, and the parents will be asked to provide a detailed written summary of the assessment by the evaluation agency but may decline.)

Third Offense:

1. 10 day suspension and referral for expulsion. If a resolution for expulsion occurs, students can return on a probationary status sooner which will be determined by the completion of a chemical dependency program.
2. Restorative Meeting with parents or guardians stressing the importance of preventative measures (If it is determined that an assessment is appropriate, the parents will be asked to provide for the completion of the assessment, and the parents will be asked to provide a detailed written summary of the assessment by the evaluation agency but may decline.)

II. DISTRIBUTION AND/OR INTENDING TO DISTRIBUTE CHEMICALS/CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

K-5: Any student who, on school property or at a school-sponsored activity: sells*, buys, or provides alcohol, narcotics, inhalants, or any mood-altering substance (including look alike substances); or who possesses with the intent to sell or provide alcohol, narcotics, inhalants or any mood-altering substance (including look alike substances); will be:

1. Students in grade 4 and 5; suspended from school for up to 10 school days.
2. Referral to building pre-assessment team (may include but is not limited to: building principal, building nurse, teacher/ case manager, school social worker, and student learning advocate.)
3. Parent conference stressing preventative measures. (If it is determined that an assessment is appropriate, the parents will be asked to provide for the completion of the assessment, and the parents will be asked to provide a detailed written summary of the assessment by the
   evaluation agency, but may decline.)
4. Reviewed for possible expulsion from the Anoka-Hennepin School District for up to one school year.

*This includes exchange for goods, services, or monetary gain.

Grades 6-12: Any student who, on school property or at a school-sponsored activity: sells*, buys, or provides alcohol, narcotics,inhalants, or any mood-altering substance (including look alike substances); or who possesses with the intent to sell or provide alcohol, narcotics, inhalants or any mood-altering substance (including look alike substances); will be:

1. Suspended for 10 days and be referred to the School Board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year.
2. Parent conference stressing preventative measures. (If it is determined that an assessment is appropriate, the parents will be asked to provide for the completion of the assessment, and the parents will be asked to provide a detailed written summary of the assessment by the evaluation agency, but may decline.)
3. All activity eligibility consequences shall follow the Minnesota High School League Rules and Regulations and building policy.
4. Local law enforcement officials will be informed of the violation.
5. All federal and state rules and regulations concerning special education students will apply to this policy.
6. The school‘s chemical abuse pre-assessment team will be notified. The chemical abuse pre-assessment team’s responsibility is to address  reports of chemical abuse problems and making recommendation for appropriateresponses to the individual reported cases.

*This includes exchange for goods, services, or monetary gain.

Policy in Practice: Physical Aggression/Fighting

Physical aggression/fighting is addressed in section III, B, #6 of the Anoka-Hennepin School District discipline policy [506.0]. Disputes between students need to be handled by reporting the dispute to a school staff member and by following the mediation and conflict resolution processes, which are available at your school. Anoka-Hennepin School District is committed to creating a positive climate in all schools, where all students feel comfortable, safe and ready to learn, thus physical aggression/fighting has no place in our schools. Physical aggression/fighting is extremely disruptive to the school setting, therefore Anoka- Hennepin’s consequences for such behavior are very strict.

The following consequences will be applied if it has been determined that a student has been physically aggressive toward another student or if a student has to be restrained in order to prevent harm to another student. Physical aggression is defined as:

• Assault: physical assault - touching or striking of another individual intended to inflict bodily harm to an individual. Does not include minor physical contact.
• Fighting: Two or more persons mutually participate in the use of force or physical violence that may require intervention to end the altercation, physical restraint, or results in injury. Fighting does not include conduct rising to the level of physical assault, nor does it include roughhousing or play fighting.
• Physical contact: intentional or unintentional physical contact between a student and another individual or individuals that is not age-appropriate and may or may not involve hard contact (for example, non-age appropriate pushing/shoving, hitting, knocking other individuals over, play fighting). This is distinct from actual fighting.

The consequences may also apply for offenses which take place at other locations, but directly affect school programs or activities.

Procedures concerning Promoting/Instigating/Aiding physical aggression

Promoting/instigating/aiding physical aggression -- contributing to an act of physical aggression verbally or through behavior or by preventing the intervention of a staff member who is attempting to stop an act of physical aggression.

An administrator will use their discretion to determine if there has been a violation of the promoting/instigating physical aggression policy.

An administrator, with the approval of an associate superintendent, may use their discretion to apply more appropriate consequences when needed to provide for the safety of all students.

All federal and state rules and regulations concerning special education students will apply to these policy procedures

Elementary
First offense:

1. Possible dismissal for less than one school day for students in grades kindergarten through 3.
2. Possible suspension for students in grades 4 and 5.
3. Conflict resolution strategies.
4. Parent and student will be reminded of the consequences directed by the district’s Promoting/Instigating/Aiding Physical Aggression policy procedures which include expulsion.

Second offense:

1. Possible dismissal for less than one school day for students in grades kindergarten through 3.
2. Possible suspension for students in grades 4 and 5.
3. Conference with parents and student stressing appropriate conflict resolution strategies.
4. Parent and student will be reminded of the consequences directed by the district’s Promoting/ Instigating/Aiding Physical Aggression policy procedures which include expulsion

Further offenses:

1. Possible dismissal for less than one school day for students in grades kindergarten through 3.
2. Suspension for students in grades 4 and 5.
3. Possible referral to the School Board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year

Note: Any physical aggression toward a staff member will result in an immediate ten day suspension and a referral to the school board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year. If a staff member is injured while attempting to protect the safety of others, any student who contributed to this injury by their actions or their failure to comply with staff instructions, may be suspended and referred to the school board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year.

Grades 6-8 (offenses cumulative during middle school years)

First offense:

1. Possible suspension.
2. Parent conference.
3. Counseling session with school/peer mediation or with an external agency.
4. Parents and student will be notified that further offenses may result in a referral to the School Board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year.
5. Possible referral to law enforcement officials.

Second offense:

1. Five to 10-day suspension.
2. Parent conference.
3. Counseling session with school/peer mediation or with an external agency.
4. Possible referral to the school board for a conditional expulsion
5. Possible referral to law enforcement officials.

Further offenses:

1. Ten-day suspension.
2. Referral to the School Board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year.
3. Possible referral to law enforcement officials.

Grades 9-12 (offenses cumulative during high school years)

An administrator will use their discretion to determine if there has been a violation of the physical aggression policy.

An administrator, with the approval of an associate superintendent, may use their discretion to apply more appropriate consequences when needed to provide for the safety of all students.

All federal and state rules and regulations concerning special education students will apply to these policy procedures.

First offense:

1. Five-day suspension.
2. Parent conference.
3. Parents and student will be notified that any further offenses will result in a referral to the School Board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year.
4. Referral to a local law enforcement agency.
5. Referral to Activities Director.

Further offenses:

1. Ten-day suspension.
2. Referral to the School Board for an expulsion of up to one calendar year.
3. Referral to law enforcement officials.

Policy in Practice: Guidelines for Student Threats to Staff

Note: Student Discipline Policy 506.0 addresses student threats to staff. It states: “Anoka-Hennepin School District will take threats of violence against persons or school property, whether physical, verbal or written, including threats via computer, seriously.”

Discipline procedures:

1. Upon being identified and their parents notified, the student will be dismissed from school for the remainder of the school day. If security is an immediate consideration, in-school suspension, or immediate referral to the police may be implemented.
2. The Principal or designee will investigate the incident to determine the content of the threat, who is involved, the circumstances under which the threat was made, and the potential seriousness of the threat.
3. The Principal will inform the staff member of the availability of the police liaison officer, the city police or the county sheriff as a resource.
4. At the conclusion of the investigation the following may occur:
   1. If the staff member agrees, a meeting will be held with the student and their parents, the administrator and any other appropriate staff from the building or district. The student will be asked to explain the behavior toward the staff member, and will be given the opportunity to apologize. The staff member will have the opportunity to speak to the student and parents about the threat. The outcome of this meeting will be taken into consideration when the conditions for the student’s return to school, and the consequences for the behavior (listed in #5 and #6) are determined by the principal
      with input from the staff member who was threatened.
   2. The student and staff member will not meet; the suspension of the student will remain in effect, the principal will inform the parent/guardian of the outcome of the investigation by telephone or at a meeting, and any of the options in #5 and/or #6 may be
      implemented.
5. The consequences for the student may include:
   1.  A suspension for 1-10 days for students in grades 4 through 12. Possible dismissal for less than one school day for students in grades kindergarten through 3.
   2. Agreed upon restitution or community service.
   3. A transfer to another building within the District.
   4. A recommendation for expulsion from the District.
   5. Charges may be filed with the police or sheriff’s department.
6. The readmission plan at the home building, or the building to which the student is transferred, may include:
   1. The District may include a threat assessment and/or a psychological evaluation by an outside agency.
   2. A meeting with the student, parent/guardian, counselor/dean/SSA, prevention advisor, principal and/or other appropriate staff.
   3. A change of schedule for the student.
   4. An agreement that the student join a support group or activity.

For Policy on Weapons: See Policy 506.0 District Student Discipline IV.B.
For Electronic Devices and Communication Tools: See 524.2G. Guidelines for Implementation of Acceptable Use Policy for Electronic Information, Communication, and Technology Resources.

Note: Discipline Policy 506.0 also addresses acceptable technology use. It states: “Possession and/or use of any electronic device, including a computer, in a manner, which threatens or intimidates others and/or disrupts the educational process.”

The Technology Leadership Committee is charged with the management of the Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) resources of the school district. These resources include all voice, video, and data systems. These systems include: telephones, television monitors, portable electronic devices, computers, servers, local and wide area networks, the connections to other computer networks, and the Internet and stored electronic data. A part of this management responsibility includesthe establishment and administration of an acceptable use policy and implementation guidelines of these resources by staff, students and other users.

The intent of this statement is to give an overview of user responsibility, acceptable and unacceptable use of these resources without exhaustively enumerating all such responsibilities, uses and misuses. The policy is not intended to interfere with efficient work habits but to protect employees and the students and families we serve by establishing expectations for behavior as well as the boundaries we need to keep with our students and families. The Acceptable Use Guidelines document contains more specific information.

District Responsibilities

Under the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), districts are required to restrict minors’ access to internet-based materials. The District has licensed a commercial internet filtering package that meets or exceeds the CIPA requirements for student protection.

In addition, the school district has created units of learning to educate students about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyberbullying awareness and response.

User Responsibility

• Comply with all existing school board policies as they may be interpreted to apply to ICT resources, including but not
  limited to the following:
  Staff: Selection and Reconsideration of Instructional Materials and Resources: Harassment, Violence and Discrimination; Use and Rental of School Facilities; Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records; and the Media Materials Selection Policies
  Students: Student Discipline and Harassment, Violence and Discrimination Policies; Bullying Prohibition Policy.
• Respect the privacy of other users, and not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies of, or modify files, other data or passwords belonging to other users without permission.
• Comply with legal protection provided by copyright and license to programs, data and documents.
• Help maintain the security of the district ICT resources by adhering to all security rules developed by the Technology
  Steering Committee and/or the users’ buildings.
• Monitor and supervise any individual to whom access to ICT resources is granted by you, the user.
• Comply with the acceptable use policies of all ICT resources to which the district has access.

Acceptable

• Our buildings and schools provide the resources for employees to fulfill their professional duties (in many cases, this is a computer with district-approved software and an office/classroom phone). Under normal circumstances these resources should meet staff members’ professional communication needs.
• Use that encourages efficient, cooperative and creative methods to perform the user’s job duties or educational tasks.
• Use related to instructional, administrative, and other support activities considered consistent with the mission of the district.
• Use of district ICT resources for authorized and appropriate access to voice, video, and data systems, software or data, both locally and at other sites.
• Use consistent with the mission of the Anoka-Hennepin School District.
• In execution of professional duties, any use of personal phones to communicate with students, parents, staff, or others must comply with all district policies relating

Unacceptable

• Providing, assisting in, or gaining unauthorized or inappropriate access to the district’s ICT resources, including any type of voice, video, or data information server.
• Activities or excessive personal use of ICT resources that precludes staff from performing job duties effectively or that interferes with student learning.
• Activities that result in the loss of another student/staff member’s work or unauthorized access to another student/ staff member’s work.
• Distribution of any material in such a manner that might cause congestion of the voice, video, and data networks.
• Distribution or collection of obscene, abusive, or threatening material via telephone, video, electronic mail, Internet or other means.
• Use of ICT resources for a commercial, political, or profit-making enterprise, except as specifically agreed to with the appropriate district supervisory staff
• In execution of professional responsibilities, personal email accounts, personal web sites, personal web collaboration tools, or social networking tools (e.g., Facebook, mySpace), to communicate with students, parents, staff, or others, except as authorized by the Superintendent, Cabinet member, or school Principal using the district exception approval process (see Acceptable Use Guidelines for details).

ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY AND GUIDELINES GENERAL INFORMATION

Enforcement of the policy

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Consequences of breach of policy

Use of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) resources is a privilege, not a right. The district recognizes that some personal use of district email, voice mail, and computer systems - including use during non-work time is acceptable; however, excessive use or abuse of these privileges (as outlined in the AUP adopted by the school board) is unacceptable. Abuse of these privileges may result in one or more of the following consequences:

• Suspension or cancelation of use or access privileges
• Payments for damages or repairs
• Discipline under appropriate school district policies including suspension, expulsion, exclusion or termination of employment, or civil or criminal liability under applicable laws

Data Privacy

• By authorizing use of ICT resources, the District does not relinquish control over materials on the systems or contained in files on the systems. Files stored on school-based computers and communications via email, Internet browsers, or voice mail are not private.
• Electronic messages and files stored on school-based computers may be treated like any other school property. Administrators, faculty, or network personnel may review files and messages to maintain system integrity and, if necessary, to ensure that users are acting responsibly.
• School district employees and students should also be aware that data and other material and files maintained on the school district system may be subject to review, disclosure, or discovery. The school district will cooperate fully with local, state, and federal authorities in any investigation concerning or related to any illegal activities or activities not in compliance with school district policies conducted through the school district system.
• All data on students maintained by the school, school district, or by persons acting for the school district are private and may be
  accessed or shared only with those having an educational need to know. The only exception is “directory information,” which has been designated by the district as public information unless specifically restricted by the individual. Directory information includes:
• Name and photo
• Name of school attended
• Date of birth
• Grade in school
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Awards and honors
• Weight and height of members of an athletic team
• Dates of attendance (enrollment dates)
• Last grade completed
• Date of graduation

The parent’s or guardians’ choices will be recorded in the child’s records. Parents or guardians may update a restriction at any time by updating the ‘Information Release’ component in the Student Online Registration.

*Use of Copyrighted Material: *printed with permission from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Compliance with federal copyright law is expected of all students, faculty, and staff at Anoka-Hennepin schools. “Copyright” is legal protection for creative intellectual works, which is broadly interpreted to cover just about any expression of an idea. Text (including email and web information), graphics, art, photographs, music, and software are examples of types of works protected by copyright. The creator of the work, or sometimes the person who hired the creator, is the initial copyright owner.

All or part of a copyrighted work may be used only if (a) you have the copyright owner’s permission, or (b) you qualify for a legal exception (the most common exception is called “fair use”). “Use” of a work is defined for copyright purposes as copying, distributing, making derivative works, publicly displaying, or publicly performing the work.

Copying, distributing, downloading, and uploading information on the Internet may infringe the copyright for that information. Even an innocent, unintentional infringement violates the law. Violations of copyright law that occur on or using the District’s networks or other resources (copiers, computers, etc.) may create liability for the school district as well as the user. Accordingly, repeat infringers will have access privileges terminated.

DISTRICT NETWORK HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE GUIDELINES

Network Electronics

The district’s Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure, as well as the building-based Local Area Networks (LANs) have been implemented with performance planning and appropriate security major parts of the process. Guarantees of an appropriate level of network efficiency, reliability, and manageability, along with acceptable use practices and most effective use of resources are foremost priorities of the Technology Steering Committee.

Modifications to an individual building network infrastructure and use will almost always affect LAN performance and quite often will have an impact on the efficiency of the WAN. For this reason, any additional network electronics including, but not limited to, switches, routers, and wireless access points are to be purchased, installed, and configured only by Network Services.

Network Devices

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Authorization of Building Remote Access

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Basic Standards for Desktops and Laptop Computers

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Maintenance of Local Hard Drives

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Removable Media

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Software and Hardware Purchases

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Passwords

All users that have access to the district WAN, either to access files on servers or to use the district email system, must maintain a password for their account.

Users are not authorized to share their user credentials with anyone, except with authorized technology support staff. All users are required to change the default password assigned when their network account is created.

Electronic Devices

The District defines electronic devices as, but not limited to, the following:

• Laptop and desktop computers
• Tablets
• Wireless email and text-messaging devices
• Smart Phones
• Smart Watches

For purposes of this document, the term “Personal Electronic Device” refers to staff- or student owned electronic devices.

District Electronic Device Standards and Support

District technology staff provides basic installation, synchronization, and specific software support for district electronic devices. District technology support staff includes the building’s technology teacher, technology para, and technology facilitator, as well as Network Services, Desktop Services, and Communications Technology Department staff. Buildings should purchase an extended protection plan (warranty) in situations where conditions promote breakage.

District electronic devices contain sensitive data, posing a security risk to both individuals and the school district. These devices also have the added risk of being stolen, misplaced, or left unattended. Therefore, password protection is required on all District electronic devices. In cases where the device is lost or stolen, the owner’s direct supervisor must be notified. If the user is using active sync with the device in order to check district email, the device owner and/or supervisor must inform the Communications Technology Department to ensure sensitive data can be removed from the device.

Staff-Owned Electronic Device Standards and Support

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Student-Owned Electronic Device Use

The District is committed to providing students with a safe, secure, and positive learning and working environment. The use of portable electronic devices on school property can compromise or interfere with student learning with this goal; therefore, the use and possession of such devices must be regulated. Given the prevalence and exponential growth of the types of portable electronic devices available, the District, building administration, and teacher maintains the right to control the time, place, and manner in which electronic devices are used.

Parents/guardians are advised that the best way to contact their child during the school day is by calling the school office.

The possession, use, or sharing of electronic devices in locker rooms, rest rooms, or any other area that could constitute an invasion of any person’s reasonable expectation of privacy is strictly prohibited. Any device used for such purposes shall be confiscated and searched by school personnel. Students are required to relinquish electronic devices to school personnel when directed. Refusal to comply with such directives will be considered insubordination and the student will be subject to disciplinary action.

Access to the District’s electronic communications system is a privilege, not a right. Accepting the Terms of Service, the user shall abide by the regulations and guidelines.

Below are the guidelines for each of the grade levels and Special Education.

Elementary & Middle School – Student Guidelines

At elementary and middle school levels, electronic devices must be concealed and shall not be powered on or used in any way during regular operations of the school day, during other school-sponsored and supervised group activities during the school day (e.g., during student assemblies, field trips, events, or other ceremonies, etc.), or when their use is otherwise prohibited by school personnel.

High School – Student Guidelines

Electronic devices may be used in the classroom with teacher or administrator approval. An electronic device may be used to make calls before or after school, during the individual student’s assigned lunch, or during passing time. Taking pictures or video and audio recording other students or school staff is prohibited without the permission of a teacher or administrator per district guidelines. Electronic devices used without the appropriate approval may result in disciplinary action. Student removal of a memory chip or battery from a phone in the process of being confiscated is considered grounds for disciplinary action by school administration.

Special Education

Access is based on individual student needs. If use of a portable electronic device is required in individual instances to assist a student with the student’s education, as part of a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP), or as a part of a 504 plan, the use of such device must be documented within the student’s IEP or 504 plan and communicated to building administration and staff.

Liability Statement

The district assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to personal electronic devices, whether in the possession of staff or students. Staff should make every attempt to store confiscated devices in a secure area. The Anoka-Hennepin School District bears no responsibility for, nor are its employees obligated to investigate, the theft of any personal electronic device.

INTERNET USE GUIDELINES

Use of Web tools:

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Student Internet Use:

Under the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), districts are required to restrict minors’ access to internet-based materials. The District has licensed a commercial internet filtering package that meets or exceeds the CIPA requirements for student protection.

Students using district-provided Internet access must first have the permission of and must be supervised by the district’s professional staff. Students using district-provided Internet access are responsible for good behavior online just as they are in a classroom or other areas of the school. If students use their personal device using their own data plan, they will not be filtered by the district Internet filter. Inappropriate use of the Internet using a personal data plan will be subject to discipline.

The same general rules for behavior and communications apply.

COMMUNICATION TOOLS

Staff email

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Student email:

Secondary (grades 6 through 12) students will be provided district email accounts through our Anoka-Hennepin Apps system to promote effective communication. District-provided student email accounts are a privilege and district guidelines regarding the use of student email must be strictly followed. Student email accounts must be used for educational purposes only. If a student receives email with libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist, or obscene remarks, they are required to retain the mail and report it to a teacher immediately.

Acceptable use of student email includes:

• Email should be used to communicate with a teacher regarding
assignments, class projects, and class activities.
• Email should be used to include links to share homework
documents created in Google Docs with the teacher or fellow
students. Enclosing documents in an email is discouraged.
• Email communication between students should be used to

facilitate collaboration, planning, and research for school-
related projects and activities.

• Email is not confidential or private and can be read by teachers or district personnel. Unacceptable use of student communication includes:
• Email must not contain libelous, defamatory, threatening, offensive, racist, or obscene remarks.
• Email should not be forwarded without the senders’ permission.
• Students cannot attempt to send email from another person’s account or attempt to impersonate another student’s email address.
• Students cannot forward spam, jokes, images, executable files, or viruses. Doing so will cause a loss of internet and email privileges.
• Students cannot send inappropriate links, images, or executable files.

Student Google websites:

Secondary (grades 6 through 12) students are provided access to Google Sites through the Anoka-Hennepin Apps system to promote effective communication and collaboration. District provided student websites are a privilege and district guidelines regarding the use of student created websites must be followed. Student created websites must be used for educational purposes only. Students can, upon graduation, transfer their Google Sites from their AHApps account to a personal account. Contact your technology teacher for instructions on how to transfer your digital
portfolios.

Acceptable use of student created Google Sites includes:

• Google Sites used to communicate with a teacher regarding assignments, class projects, and class activities.
• Google Sites between students should be used to facilitate collaboration, planning, and research for school-related projects and activities.
• Google Sites are not confidential or private and can be read by teachers or district personnel

Student created Google Sites should not include personal information including: addresses, birth dates, phone numbers, or personal identifiers.

Unacceptable use of student Google Sites includes:

• Google Sites that contain libelous, defamatory, threatening, offensive, racist, or obscene remarks.
• Google Sites with inappropriate links, images, or executable files.
• Google Sites for non-educational uses.

Electronic Transmission of Educational Data

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Telecommunications System

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Use of Automated Calling System:

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ENERGY MANAGEMENT

The District strives to reduce our environmental footprint by pursuing energy conservation efforts and practices. Staff and students attend instructional sessions regarding energy conservation best practices.

These guidelines are in place with regards to computers and monitors:

• All computers are to be powered off at the end of the day.
• Power management features are enabled on each computer.

POLICY/GUIDELINES LOGISTICS:

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This policy outlines the procedures parents follow if they need to meet with their child during the school day for an emergency.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District recognizes the rights of both the biological parents of a student to have equal access to communication with their child during the school day.

At the same time the District realizes the importance of providing a learning environment for all students that is free of distractions and disruptions. Whenever possible parents/guardians should arrange to meet with and/or talk with their children outside the school day.

In the event of an emergency which requires parental contact with a child during the school day, the parent/guardian should telephone or go to the office of the building principal to:

1. Request that the child be called to the office to meet with the parent/guardian and/or to speak with the child on the telephone.
2. The principal or designee may determine if the child may leave class at that time to meet or talk with the parent/ guardian.
3. This policy and the procedures will be implemented equally with all parents/guardians whether custodial or non-custodial.

The School District recognizes that disputes often arise between divorced or estranged parents; however, it is not the arbitrator of these disputes and will not assume that role. Accordingly, the Anoka-Hennepin School District will not enforce custody or parental visitation orders that are not specifically directed at it.

Procedures

1. The principal or designee may select the meeting place and determine the length of time the student may be away from class. If appropriate, the principal or designee may be present when the parent/guardian meets with the child.
2. Parents/guardians may not go to classrooms, cafeterias, or other school locations to meet with their children unless they first check into the principal’s office and receive permission to do so.
3. When a non-custodial parent/guardian requests to take their child off school grounds during the day or to pick a child up in school at the end of the school day for the purpose of taking the child off school grounds, written permission must be granted for this release by the parent with whom the child resides and the school may contact the parent with whom the child resides to inform them.

The School Board recognizes the right of district residents, parents and guardians of district students, adult students and district employees to examine instructional resources,and the responsibility of individual parents to monitor resources selected for their children. Such persons may require that specific instructional resources be excluded or restricted for their child. The school personnel will provide reasonable alternative instruction.

Parents can examine/view the materials at school sites or the district media services office. Parents should call ahead to arrange to have materials available and prepared for their review.

Assigned Buses Only

Students are assigned to buses and bus stops. No change in either bus or stop is permitted without transportation department authorization. Temporary changes may be made by school administration for emergencies only. Failure to ride the assigned bus to/from the assigned bus stop may result in disciplinary action.

Unacceptable Acts.

The following list identifies unacceptable acts subject to disciplinary action. Violation of any of these offenses on or around the school bus, or any other approved vehicle used to transport students, or the action interferes with or obstructs the safe operations of the school bus or the safety of the student, other students and staff or the aiding and abetting of suchacts may lead to the implementation of a disciplinary action orconsequence listed below, including permanent suspension from the school bus or expulsion:

1. Violations of school bus procedures or acts disruptive to the safety of the school bus, including but not limited to, disruptive and disrespectful behavior, defiance of authority, failure to identify oneself, use of profane language, horseplay or distracting behavior, eating, drinking, or littering on the bus, spitting, leaving seat while bus is moving, use of laser pointers, opening window past safety line, and riding unassigned bus or using an unassigned bus stop;
2. Violations against property including tampering with, unauthorized use of, damage to, or destruction of school bus property, property of school bus personnel and/or vandalism, arson, theft or possession of stolen Property;
3. c. Violations against persons communicated or attempted to be communicated by any means. Such violations include but are not limited: verbal and/or nonverbal intimidation, threats; stalking; obstruction; assault; fighting; extortion; bullying, harassment; indecent exposure; hazing;
4. Student attire or personal grooming which creates a danger to health or safety or creates a disruption to the school bus operation, including clothing which bears a message which is lewd, vulgar, or obscene, apparel promoting products or activities that are illegal, or clothing containing objectionable emblems, signs, words, objects, or pictures communicating a message that is racist, sexist, or otherwise derogatory to a protected class or which connotes gang membership;
5. Possession and/or use of any electronic devices including, but not limited to smartphones, cellphones, computers, tablets, etc. in a manner, which threatens or intimidates others and/or disrupts the safety procedures of the school bus;
6. Possession, distribution, or display of slanderous libelous, pornographic, racist, or gang affiliated material or symbols;
7. Possession, use, and/or transmission of tobacco, nicotineproducts, electronic cigarettes, vape pens or look-alikes in any form;
8. Possession, use, of any open-flame items, like matches or lighters;
9. Possession, use (including being under the influence and look alike substances) and/or transmission of controlled substances including but not limited to any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, inhalant, toxic or mood altering substances, intoxicating beverage, any paraphernalia associated with such controlled substances or any controlled substance or the unauthorized use of prescription medications;
10. Possession, use, and/or or transmission of weapon(s) or any object that can reasonably be considered a weapon(s): weapon means knife, firearm or an item which looks like a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, in working or nonworking condition; destructive explosives, any incendiary device or look alike and/or the threatened intent or intent to cause an explosion; or any other device or instrument which is utilized in such a manner so as to threaten, intimidate or produce bodily harm or the fear of such;
11. Criminal Activity;
12. Riding or attempting to ride any bus during a bus suspension;
13. Violation of any school board policy

Code of Conduct

Disciplinary action may be taken for any behavior, which is disruptive of good order or violates School Board Policy or the rights and safety of others or themselves. The school has the authority to and obligation to establish and enforce reasonable standards of conduct on the bus or any form of transportation.“Riding a school bus is a privilege, not a right.”

Students who have the opportunity to ride district school buses may do so as long as they conform to reasonable standards of conduct. The bus driver, bus paraprofessional or any school official supporting the bus driver is responsible for the safety and discipline of students while on the school bus. The building principal or their designee will determine the consequences for violating the school bus code of conduct. The responsibility for student supervision by the district shall begin when the student boards the bus and is retained until the student exits the bus. The bus and the bus stop are extensions of the school day. Bus and bus stop consequences may be superseded by district policy. The bus driver has the authority to assign seats and direct students to ensure safety on the bus. The school district’s harassment policy, weapons policy, and bullying policy will be strictly enforced on the school bus. Video surveillance may be used on school buses.

Under the Laws and Rules for Operation of School Buses in the State of Minnesota, it is stated that “... no materials, including guns, loaded or unloaded; gasoline cans, empty or full; animals or any other object of dangerous or objectionable nature are transported in the school bus when children are being transported.” Band instruments are allowed on the bus if they can be held in the student’s lap. Instruments may not be in the aisle or take the space of another student. Other prohibited equipment:

Hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, and golf clubs. Sleds, ice skates, inline skates, skateboards, baseball and softball bats are not permitted unless enclosed in an athletic bag or are otherwise inaccessible. Damage to personal property is not covered by the bus contractor’s/district’s insurance coverage.

Consequences.

Consequences for school bus/bus stop misconduct will be imposed by the school district under adopted administrative discipline procedures. In addition, all school bus/bus stop misconduct will be reported to the school district’s transportation safety director. Serious misconduct may be reported to local law enforcement.

Consequences for school bus/bus stop misconduct will apply to all routes and trips. Decisions regarding a student’s ability to ride the bus in connection with extracurricular and co-curricular events (for example, field trips or competitions) will be in the sole discretion of the school district. Parents or guardians will be notified of any suspension of bus privileges.

Disciplinary action or consequences for these acts may include but are not limited to the following:

1. Student Conference (Warning)
2. Assigned Seat
3. Parent Contact
4. Parent Conference
5. 1-10 day Bus Suspension
6. Transfer to new bus route
7. Alternative Transportation Assigned
8. Permanent Loss of Transportation Services
9. Suspension from School
10. Expulsion from school
11. Referral to law enforcement

When determining an appropriate action, the school administrator will consider the extent of the disruption to the safety of the school bus operation, or safety of other students or staff on the bus. The school administrator will consider the student’s age, development, ability, special education status, EL status, language, and mental health status that impact student’s action when considering interventions and discipline.

The bus and the bus stop are extensions of the school day. Bus and bus stop consequences may be superseded by District #11 policy. The bus driver has the authority to assign seats. The sexual/racial/religious harassment policy, the weapons policy, and bullying policy of District #11 will be strictly enforced on the school bus as well as at school. Video cameras will be used on all school buses.

Records

Records of school bus/bus stop misconduct will be forwarded to the individual school building and will be retained in the same manner as other student discipline records. Reports of student misbehavior on a school bus or in a bus-loading or unloading area that are reasonably believed to cause an immediate and substantial danger to the student or surrounding persons or property shall be provided by the school district to local law enforcement and the Department of Public Safety in accordance with state and federal law.

Vandalism/Bus Damage

Students damaging school buses will be responsible for the damages. Failure to pay such damages (or make arrangements to pay) within 2 weeks may result in the loss of bus privileges until damages are paid.

Notice

School bus and bus stop rules and consequences for violations of these rules will be reviewed with students annually and copies of these rules will be made available to students. School bus rules are to be posted on each school bus.

PARENT AND GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT

A. Parent and Guardian Notification

The school district school bus and bus stop rules will be provided to each family. Parents and guardians are asked to review the rules with their children.

B. Parents/Guardians Responsibilities for Transportation Safety

Parents/Guardians are responsible to:

1. Become familiar with school district rules, policies, regulations, and the principles of school bus safety, and thoroughly review them with their children;
2. Support safe riding and walking practices, and recognize that students are responsible for their actions;
3. Communicate safety concerns to their school administrators;
4. Monitor bus stops, if possible;
5. Have their children to the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus arrives;
6. Have their children properly dressed for the weather; and
7. Have a plan in case the bus is late.

C. Trespass on school bus

As defined in Minnesota Statute 609.605, Subd. 4a C, Trespass on school bus, A person who boards a school bus when the bus is on its route or otherwise in operation, or while it has pupils on it, and who refuses to leave the bus on demand of the bus operator, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to protect students with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability and to identify and evaluate learners who, within the intent of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), need services, accommodations, or program changes in order that such learners may receive a free appropriate public education.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. Students with disabilities who meet the criteria of Paragraph C. below are protected from discrimination on the basis of a disability.
2. The responsibility of the School District is to identify and evaluate learners who, within the intent of Section 504, need services, accommodations, or program changes in order that such learners may receive a free appropriate public education.
3. For this policy, a learner who is protected under Section 504 is one who:
   1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of such person’s major life activities; or
   2. has a record of such an impairment; or
   3. is regarded as having such an impairment.
4. Learners may be protected from disability discrimination and be eligible for services, accommodations, or program changes under the provisions of Section 504 even though they are not eligible for special education pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

III. COORDINATOR

Persons who have questions or comments should contact the District Section 504 Coordinator in Student Services. Persons who wish to make a complaint regarding a disability discrimination matter may use the accompanying Student Disability Discrimination Grievance Report Form.

The form should be given to the Section 504 Coordinator.

I. PURPOSE

The school board recognizes the need to display an appropriate United States flag and to provide instruction to students in the proper etiquette, display, and respect of the flag. The purpose of this policy is to provide for recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and instruction in school to help further that end.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

Students in this school district shall recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America one or more times each week. The recitation shall be conducted:

1. By each individual classroom teacher or the teacher’s surrogate; or
2. Over a school intercom system by a person designated by the school principal or other person having administrative control over the school.

III. EXCEPTIONS

Anyone who does not wish to participate in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance for any personal reasons may elect not to do so. Students and school personnel must respect another person’s right to make that choice.

IV. INSTRUCTION

Students will be instructed in the proper etiquette toward, correct display of, and respect for the flag, and in patriotic exercises.

I. PURPOSE

Maintaining the health, welfare, and safety of students, staff and visitors while on school district property as well as the protection of school district property are important functions of the school district. The School Board recognizes that video/electronic surveillance systems may serve as a deterrent of prohibited activity and assist with monitoring and investigating activity on school property.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. Placement:
   1. School district building and grounds may be equipped with video cameras. It is commonplace to locate video surveillance equipment at the entrance to schools.
   2. If school district buildings and grounds are equipped with video surveillance, a conspicuous notice will be posted to notify students, staff and the public that they may be recorded.
   3. Video surveillance may occur in any school district building or on any school district property.
   4. Video surveillance may occur in any school bus under contractual agreement with bus companies.
   5. Video surveillance will not be used in bathrooms or locker rooms, although surveillance may occur in hallways in the vicinity of bathrooms or locker rooms.
2. Use of Stored Surveillance Data:
   1. Surveillance data will be viewed only by the appropriate school building administrator (and/or designee). The data will be used by the building principal to assist in determining whether or not an incident actually occurred, and if so, the severity of the incident. Information obtained from the data that reveal unlawful actions may be brought to the attention of the school police liaison officer and/or law enforcement agencies. The parent/ guardian of the student, as well as the student that has been observed and recorded, will be allowed to view the data in accordance with data privacy laws and the Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records policy. Upon written request, the school district will provide a written summary of the recorded incident(s) to a student pictured on the data or the student’s parent/guardians.
   2. Each building principal (and/or designee) will be responsible for the security of the surveillance equipment and for the handling of the data as set forth by the District Records Retention Schedule.
   3. Any recorded data will be released only in conformance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat. Ch. 13 and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. §1232g and the rules and/or regulations.