I. INSTRUCTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topics:
File: I.1. Philosophy
File: I.2. Academic Freedom
File: I.3. Equal Opportunity in Pendleton County Schools
File: I.4. Organization of Instruction
(P) I.4.1. School Year
(P) I.4.2. Summer and After School Programs
(P) I.4.3. School Day and Instructional Day
(P) I.4.4. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
(P) I.4.5. Display of the United States Flag
(P) I.4.6. Conservation of Instructional Time
(P) I.4.7. Homework
(P) I.4.8. Class Size
File: I.5. Local School Improvement Councils
(P) I.5.1. Organizational and Operational Guidelines
File: I.6. School Curriculum Teams
File: I.7. Basic Instructional Program (K-Adult)
(P) I.7.1. Early Childhood Education (Grades Pre-K-4)
(P) I.7.1.1. Pre-K Programs
(P) I.7.1.2. Primary Elementary (K-2)
(P) I.7.1.3. Intermediate Elementary (3-4)
(P) I.7.2. Middle Level Education (Grades 5-8)
(P) I.7.2.1. Individual Student Transition Plan (Grade 8)
(P) I.7.3. Adolescent Education (Grades 9-12)
(P) I.7.3.1. Graduation Requirements Effectove 2011-2012
(P) I.7.3.2 Adolescent Education Electives Effective 2011-2012
(P) 1.7.4. Individual Student Transition Plan (Grade 10)
(P) I.7.5. Accepting Credits Earned Before Grade 9
(P) I.7.6. Experiential Learning Experiences
(P) I.7.7. Definition of a Unit of Credit
(P) I.7.8. High School Credit Recovery Options
(P) I.7.9. Career/Technical Education
(P) I.7.10. Dual Credit
(P) I.7.11. Guidance Program
(P) I.7.12. Supplemental Curricular Programs
File: I.8. Educational Services for Students with Exceptionalities
(P) I.8.1. Inclusion
(P) I.8.2. Home/Hospital Instruction
(P) I.8.3. Student Assistance Team
File: I.9. Special Instructional Programs/Concerns
(P) I.9.1. AIDS/HIV Education
(P) I.9.2. Character Education
(P) I.9.3. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Instruction (CPR) and
First Aid Training
(P) I.9.4. Controversial Issues Instruction
(P) I.9.5. Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco Education
(P) I.9.6. Physical Education
(P) I.9.7. Religious Instruction in the Schools
(P) I.9.7.1. Permissible Student Religious Expression
(P) I.9.7.2. Baccalaureate Services and Graduation Prayer
(P) I.9.8. Hunter Safety Program
(P) I.9.9. Alternative Education Program
(P) I.9.10. Voter Registration Program
(P) I.9.11. Driver Education
(P) I.9.12. Playing Taps at Veterans Funerals
(P) I.9.13. Programs of Study for Limited English Proficient Students
(P) I.9.14. Disability History Week
(P) I.9.15. West Virginia Standards for 21st Century Learning
(P) I.9.16. Critical Skills Instructional Support Programs for
Third and Eighth Grade
File: I.10. Instructional Settings and Arrangements
(P) I.10.1. School Libraries/Media Centers
File: I.11. Instructional Materials and Learning Technologies Adoptions
File: I.12. Purchase, Maintenance and Control of Instructional Materials
(P) I.12.1. Constitutional Requirement to Provide Instructional
Materials and Supplies
(P) I.12.2. Allocations for School Instructional/Administrative Needs
(P) I.12.3. Procedures for Cataloging and Maintaining Instructional
Materials and Equipment
(P) I.12.4. Regulations for Utilizing Copying Equipment and Materials
File: I.13. Implementation of Technology Infrastructure
(P) I.13.1. Meeting SBP 2470 Requirements
(P) I.13.2. Internet and Telecommunication Acceptable Use Procedures
(P) I.13.2.1. Internet and Telecommunications Access Consent and Waiver Form
(P) I.13.3. Copyrighted Computer Software Use
(P) I.13.4. Electronic Mail, Social Media and Newtorking
File: I.14. Complaints Regarding Educational Materials
(P) I.14.1. Complaint Procedures
File: I.15. Academic Achievement
(P) I.15.1. Secondary Students Progress Reports to Parents
(P) I.15.2. Uniform High School Grade Scale and Quality Points
(P) I.15.3. Primary School Reports to Parents (Grades 1-3)
(P) I.15.4. Intermediate and Middle School Reports to Parents (Grades 4-8)
(P) I.15.5. Make-up Opportunities
(P) I.15.6. Parent Conferences
File: I.16. Promotion and Retention of Students
(P) I.16.1. Procedures for Student Promotion and Retention Grades K-8
(P) I.16.2. Criteria for Promotion Grades K-8
(P) I.16.3. Procedures for Student Promotion and Retention for Grades 9-12
(P) I.16.4. Students with Exceptionalities
(P) I.16.5. Parental/Guardian Right to Appeal
(P) I.16.6. Middle School/Repeat High School Credit
(P) I.16.8. Light’s Retention Scale
File: I.17. Graduation Requirements
(P) I.17.1. Modified Graduation Requirements
(P) I.17.2. Early Graduation Requirements
(P) I.17.3. Correspondence Courses
(P) I.17.4. West Virginia Virtual School
(P) I.17.5. Honors and Advanced Placement Courses
(P) I.17.6. Senior Class Ranking
(P) I.17.7. Board of Education Honors Certificate (Repealed 9/20/06)
(P) I.17.8. High School Credential
(P) I.17.9. Senior Names and Addresses to Armed Forces Recruiters
(P) I.17.10. High School Diplomas for surviving World War I, World
War II, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Conflict veterans
File: I.18. Program Accountability (State Testing Program)
(P) I.18.1. Student Assessment Regulations
(P) I.18.2. Administration Regulations
(P) I.18.3. Reporting Regulations
(P) I.18.4. Security Regulations
(P) I.18.5. Testing Out Program for Students
File: I.19. Performance Based Accreditation System
(P) I.19.1. Annual Measures of Student Performance and Progress
(P) I.19.2. School Accreditation Status
(P) I.19.3. School System Approval
(P) I.19.4. Appeals Procedures
(P) I.19.5. On-Site Reviews
File: I.20. Electronic Strategic County Improvement Plan
File: I.21. Electronic Strategic School Improvement Plan
File: I.22. Community and Adult Education Programs
(P) I.22.1. Community Education Program
(P) I.22.2. Adult Basic Education (ABE)
(P) I.22.3. Adult Career-Technical Program
(P) I.22.4. High School Equivalency Diploma (GED)
File: I.23. School Innovation Zones
(P) I.23.1. Eligibility for Innovation Zone Designation
(P) I.23.2. Application Process
(P) I.23.3. Rights of Employees in an Innovation Zone
(P) I.23.4. Evaluation Criteria/Approval Process
(P) I.23.5. Progress Reviews and Annual Reports of Innovation Zones
File: I.24. Lesson Plans
File: I.25. Endnotes
PENDLETON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATIONI. INSTRUCTION
File: I.1. Philosophy
/ Adopted: August 20, 2003Last Review:
September, 2011
The Pendleton County Board of Education recognizes that each student has individual and unique characteristics, aptitudes, and abilities that determine his/her educational needs. Thus the school curriculum and instructional program is founded on the belief that the educational environment, as much as possible, shall attempt to meet those individual needs. The educational program must have the depth and the breadth to accommodate ability levels that range from the very low to the talented and gifted to allow each student to realize his/her full potential. Students must be given the opportunity to master the basic skills that are necessary to cope with modern-day living, including the ability to understand and utilize the technological advances that produce an ever-changing society and way of life.
The Board further recognizes that education can no longer be relegated to a certain number of years in a person’s life. Education in the 21st century must be continuous from early childhood to retirement and beyond. To this end, adult and community school programs shall be provided to meet the needs of our people beyond the years of formal school education.
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Amended/Revised:
PENDLETON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATIONI. INSTRUCTION
File: I.2. Academic Freedom
/ Adopted: August 20, 2003Last Review:
September, 2011
Academic freedom may be interpreted as being the right of an individual to engage in teaching and/or learning without interference. This freedom does not exist without responsibility. When the pursuit of academic freedom is exercised on the part of the teacher, it shall take the form of presenting a number of unbiased views of issues relevant to the subject area being studied in order to allow the student to arrive at enlightened conclusions.
Basic instructional resources and technological resources offer a guide to appropriate topics for exploration or discussion in most courses. Teachers are expected to diversify their teaching approaches and all appropriate teaching methods are acceptable. The maturity level of the students involved must always be taken into consideration. If there is any doubt about the appropriateness, of material to be covered in class, readings or research to be done by students, or teaching techniques, the teacher must clear the potentially controversial area with the principal or Director of Instruction.
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Amended/Revised:
PENDLETON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATIONI. INSTRUCTION
File: I.3. Equal Opportunity in Pendleton County Schools
/ Adopted: August 20, 2003Last Review:
September, 2011
The Pendleton County Board of Education supports the concept of equal educational opportunity for all students as being essential to education in the public schools of the County. Title IX of Public Law 92-138, the education amendments of 1972 determined that:
"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of gender be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
No student is to be denied equal opportunity for participation in any program on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, handicapping condition, age or national origin. All course offerings are to be available to both female and male students.
Special education and related services shall be made available to all individuals with disabilities who are between three and twenty-one years of age, all gifted students in grades one through eight, and all exceptional gifted students in grades nine through twelve. West Virginia Code, Chapter 18, Article 20, the State's mandatory special education statute, and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are reaffirmations that education is a right and not a privilege extended to all exceptional individuals. The Board mandates that individuals employed in the district shall implement the SBP 2419, Regulations for the Education of Students with Exceptionalities in a manner to assure the Board and it constituents that all of the aforementioned individuals with extensionalities have available a free appropriate public education which includes special education and related services to meet their unique educational needs.
(WVC 18-20-1 et seq.; SBP 2419; SBP 4200; IDEA 1997; and numerous federal acts which may be found in the endnotes)
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Amended/Revised:
PENDLETON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATIONI. INSTRUCTION
File: I.4. Organization of Instruction
/ Adopted: August 20, 2003Last Review:
September, 2011
The Pendleton County educational program shall be under the direction of the Superintendent and it shall be comprehensive in its offerings in terms of community educational needs, as well as according to varying individual needs of the youth. The instructional program shall be organized in a manner that complies with all state statutes and directives from the State Board of Education.
The Board of Education, the administrative staff, and the instructional personnel at each school site shall make every effort to provide, maintain, and expand a program of instruction that is suited to the needs of all students and is open to all that are legally eligible for instruction. Progressive, effective methods of instruction are expected and shall be used by all instructional personnel. When assistance in instructional matters is desired, the teacher should consult the building principal.
The basic instructional organizational pattern of the Pendleton County Schools shall be K-6 elementary and PCHS - PCMS a comprehensive 7-12 school.
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(P) I.4.1. School Year
Employment Term:
The school year runs from July 1 to June 30 making it coterminous with the fiscal year. The employment terms for teachers shall be no less than 10 months, a month to be defined as 20 employment days exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays; provided that the Board may contract with all or part of the personnel for a longer term. The employment term shall be fixed within such beginning and closing dates as established by the State Board.
Instructional Term:
Within the employment term there shall be an instructional term for students of no less than 180 instructional days which shall include an icy conditions and emergencies plan designed to guarantee an instructional term for students of no less than 180 separate instructional days. The instructional term shall commence on a date selected by the Board and terminate on a date selected by the Board.
Non-Instructional Days:
Non-instructional days shall total 20 and shall be comprised of the following:
v Seven holidays as specified in §18A-5-2;
v Election Day as specified in §18A-5-2;
v Six days to be designated by the county board to be used by the employees outside the school environment. Four of these days must be scheduled after March 1;
v Six days to be designated by the county board for any of the following purposes;
Ø Curriculum development;
Ø Preparation for opening and closing school;
Ø Professional development;
Ø Teacher-pupil-parent conferences;
Ø Professional meetings; and
Ø Making up days when instruction was scheduled but not conducted.
v Three of the 20 non-instructional days described immediately above shall be scheduled prior to the 26th day of August for the purposes of preparing for the opening of school and staff development;
v At least one of the 20 non-instructional days described immediately above shall be scheduled after the 8th day of June for the purpose of preparing for the closing of school. If 180 separate instruction days occur prior to the 8th day of June, this day may be scheduled on or before the eighth day of June;
v At least two of the 20 non-instructional days described immediately above must be scheduled for professional development; and
v All non-instructional days must be scheduled prior to June 8
If, on or after March 1, the Board determines that it is not possible to complete 180 separate days of instruction, it shall schedule instruction on any available non-instructional day, regardless of the purpose for which the day originally was scheduled. Use of these days for instruction shall be subject to the following:
v The non-instructional days scheduled for professional development shall be the last available non-instructional days to be rescheduled as instructional days;
v On or after March 1, the Board also may require additional minutes of instruction in the school day to make up for lost instructional days in excess of the days available through rescheduling and, if in its judgment it is reasonable and necessary to improve student performance, to avoid scheduling instruction on non-instructional days previously scheduled for professional development; and
v The provisions of this subsection do not apply to Holidays and Election Day.
(WVC §18-5-45)
Accrued Instructional Time:
Accrued instructional time is the time accrued during the entire instructional term as a result of time added beyond the required length of the instructional day, which may be accumulated and used in larger blocks of time during school year for instructional or non-instructional activities as defined by the State Board.
v Accrued instructional time may not be used to avoid 180 separate days of instruction.
v Accrued instructional time may not be used to lengthen the time provided in law for faculty senates.