Section I contains policies on the instructional program; basic curricular subjects, special programs, instructional resources, and academic achievement.
The school year shall include a minimum of 180 instructional days for students and additional days for the teaching staff, emergency days, etc.
Any days that the schools are closed for emergency reasons will be made up at the end of the school year or during recess periods,
It is the policy of the School Board that instruction will be aligned with the goals, mission, and policies of the School District. Additionally, the District’s instructional program will comply with the rules of the NH Department of Education and all applicable state statutes and federal law.
The School Board recognizes that each student has unique and distinctive learning styles, and that not all students will excel in traditional classroom settings. To that end, the administration will design the District’s instruction and curricular program to meet the instructional needs of students with different interests and development.
The School Board will encourage and support the professional staff in its efforts to investigate new curricular ideas, develop and improve programs, and evaluate results.
The Assistant Superintendent is responsible for curriculum and assessment development for the school system.
The Contoocook Valley School Board, realizing the need for programs dealing with the gifted and talented shall endeavor to provide the level of monetary support it deems proper to enhance programs for the gifted and talented.
It is the policy of the School Board that no basic course of study shall be eliminated or new courses added without approval of the Board, nor shall any significant alteration or reduction of a course of study be made without such approval.
The School Board authorizes the establishment of Student Activity Funds. Such funds shall be organized and managed consistent with the provisions of this policy.
Student activity funds may be raised and spent to promote the general welfare,
Read More: IGDG – Student Activities Fund Management and Fundraising
In the event a parent/guardian finds specific course material objectionable, the parent/guardian may notify the building Principal of the specific material to which they object and request that the student receive alternative instruction,
Read More: IGE – Parental Objections To Specific Course Material
Those in charge of curriculum development will have the responsibility for integrating into the curriculum, as appropriate, the following principles:
The School Board will ensure that any instruction relating to religion within the District shall conform to applicable legal requirements.
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Consistent with Department of Education requirements, health and physical education, including instruction about parts of the body, reproduction, sexuality education, and related topics, will be included in the instructional program.
Read More: IHAM – Health Education And Exemption From Instruction
District personnel shall provide students, parents, and legal guardians with information and resources relative to existing drug and alcohol counseling and treatment for students. Information will be published in student/parent handbooks,
Read More: IHAMA — Teaching About Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco
The District shall provide a free appropriate public education and necessary related services to all children with disabilities residing within the district, required under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),
The State and Federal special education laws require that the SAU #1 school districts evaluate children with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services. The districts evaluate children upon referral for special education and re-evaluate educationally disabled children at least once every three years or when conditions warrant a re-evaluation.
Read More: IHBAA – Independent Special Education Evaluations
The Developmental Delay disability category has enhanced the identification process for children in early childhood age range by more accurately assessing specific areas of delay, creating a shift from less descriptive disability categories.
It shall be the policy of the ConVal School District to evaluate students suspected of having a specific learning disability in a manner consistent with the procedures and standards included in the Checklist entitled,
Read More: IHBAC- Student Evaluations: Specific Learning Disabilities
The Contoocook Valley School District ensures that all children with disabilities who are two and-a-half (2.5) years of age or older but less than twenty-one (21) years of age, within its geographic boundaries,
The Contoocook Valley School Board, realizing the need for programs dealing with the gifted and talented shall endeavor to provide the level of monetary support it deems proper to enhance programs for the gifted and talented.
If the District receives federal funding for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Programs, the following will
be provided:
Eligibility
The School Board recognizes the right of parents to pursue home education within the parameters RSA 193-A and other applicable state laws and regulations.
Enrollment Procedures
Any parent commencing a home education program for a child who withdraws from the School District shall notify the New Hampshire Department of Education,
Purpose
The Board encourages students to pursue Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) as a means of acquiring knowledge and skills through instruction or study that is outside the traditional classroom methodology.
Purpose
In an effort to reduce the number of students who do not complete the requirements to graduate from high school and earn a diploma, the Board establishes a program for Alternative Learning Plans for students to obtain either a high school diploma or its equivalent.
The Board recognizes that student learning is an ongoing process and that it is important for students to engage in learning activities even when not attending school. Therefore, the Board encourages students to have a plan for summer activities that support student learning.
A. Advanced Course Work/Advanced Placement Courses
Any student who is capable of and wishes to do advanced course work or take advanced placement classes while in high school should be permitted to do so.
The ConVal School District will adhere to all state laws and regulations pertaining to class size. In the event of scheduling conflicts, staffing shortages, space limitations, fiscal limitations, or other issues that prevent a classroom from adhering to class size regulations,
The School Board is responsible for approving and providing all instructional materials used in the District. Since the Board is a policy-making body, it delegates to the Superintendent or his/her designee the authority for the selection of instructional materials in accordance with the policy below,
MOVIES AND VIDEOS
Purpose
The School Board believes that movies, videos, other audiovisual materials and multimedia materials are important tools in the educational process. At the same time,
Read More: IJK – Supplemental Materials Selection And Adoption
The ConVal Regional School District, in partnership with its member communities, will inspire all learners to achieve academically, contribute to the global community, and thrive as independent and productive citizens.
The School Board bears full responsibility for informing the general public about the operations of the school system. The Board also encourages citizen involvement in the work of the schools to help solve educational problems.
Field trips that support curriculum goals shall be encouraged and shall be planned carefully as an integral part of instructional units. Trips organized by school officials will be considered as school activities and all of the regular school rules and regulations shall be in effect.
The District recognizes the valuable contribution made by volunteer assistance of parents and other citizens. The Superintendent is responsible for developing and implementing procedures for the selection and utilization of volunteers,
A. Demonstration of Mastery
Students can earn course credit by demonstrating mastery of the required coursework and material. Mastery is defined in Board policy ILBAA as “a high level of demonstrated proficiency with regard to a competency.”
Student assessment of mastery outside of normal classwork is the responsibility of the building Principal.
The Superintendent and the building Principals will develop a grading system appropriate for the grade levels of the respective schools. The grading system will be approved by the Board and published in the Parent-Student Handbook.
High school students may earn course credit in one content area required for graduation, and apply said credit in a different content area through the awarding of interdisciplinary credit. Interdisciplinary credit may be counted only once in meeting graduation requirements.
The term “homework” refers to an assignment to be completed outside of class. The purposes of homework are to improve the learning processes, to aid in the mastery of skills,
The Superintendent or his/her designee and the building principals shall develop guidelines for the promotion and retention of students. These guidelines shall be published in the Parent Student Handbook.
Criteria to be considered regarding the promotion of students should include,
High School Graduation
Students earn a high school diploma through the successful completion of a course of study that includes the 26 subject credits and/or related competencies required by the District for graduation.
The Board supports early graduation as a means to earn a high school diploma. Parental involvement for students under the age of 18 is required. The high school principal shall approve such requests if he/she determines that all state and local graduation requirements will be met and that early graduation is related to career and/or educational plans of the student making the request.
Acceptable attire and regalia for graduation ceremonies will be determined by the building Principal, and published in advance in the school handbook. Exceptions and changes will be made only at the discretion of the building Principal.
The Contoocook Valley School District offers a variety of awards sponsored by groups and individuals. Any new award must be approved by the Contoocook Valley School Board. The Board will not accept the offer of any award which is discriminatory on the basis of race,
The Superintendent or his/her designee will evaluate the curriculum programs in accordance with Board policies and state guidelines. The Superintendent will report annually to the Board on the progress the District is making towards the attainment of its educational goals and improving student performance.
ILBA – ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
The Superintendent or his/her SAU level designee will develop and manage an assessment framework and program that provides ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the curriculum on improving student performance.
For the purposes of assessment of high school course work through the demonstration of student mastery of course competencies, the following definitions are established:
(1) “Competencies” means student learning targets that represent key content-specific concepts,
Separate federal and state laws require that written consent be obtained from a parent or guardian before a student participates in a non-educational survey or questionnaire that asks about information not directly related to a student’s academics.
Read More: ILD – Non-Educational/Non-Academic Questionnaires, Surveys, & Research
The Board recognizes that developmentally appropriate daily physical activity, exercise and physical education are ways to promote a healthy lifestyle. The Board recommends that all students in elementary through high school participate in developmentally appropriate physical activity and exercise at for at least 30 to 60 minutes each day as a way to minimize health risks.
Students enrolled in the district may take advantage of distance education opportunities. Distance education means correspondence, video-based, internet/online-based or other similar media that provides educational opportunities, including courses, as a means to fulfill,
The Board encourages increased educational options for students. Credit may be earned through alternative methods outside of regular classroom-based instruction offered by the district schools. Awarding of credits to be applied toward high school graduation will be determined by the high school principal,
Students in 7th or 8th grade may take advanced courses and apply the credit of those courses toward high school graduation, provided the course demonstrates content requirements consistent with related high school courses and the student achieves satisfactory standards of performance.
Read More: IMBD: High School Credit for 7th/8th Grade Coursework
A goal of education is to prepare our students to participate constructively in a democratic, pluralistic society in which many different opinions are held and differing causes are espoused. It is important that students develop an understanding of ideas and of people who may seem unfamiliar to them.
In accordance with federal law, the District shall offer an education program(s) each year on Constitution Day to commemorate the September 17, 1787 signing of the United States Constitution. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall establish administrative guidelines ensuring that the District observes Constitution Day properly and in a manner befitting the importance of the event.
The Board recognizes that under the proper conditions, animals can be an effective teaching aid. In order to protect both children and animals, the following guidelines are adopted for use in all schools in the district.
Purpose
This policy addresses the use of service animals within school buildings and on school grounds. As established and defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and its accompanying regulations,
