Albany Leadership Charter High School for
Girls
Parent/Guardian Handbook
and
Code of Conduct
2014-2015
19 Hackett Boulevard
Albany, New York 12208
www.albanyleadershiphigh.org
Albany Leadership Charter High School for Girls is a tuition-free charter public high school that prepares its girls for success in college and the career of their choosing through the development of academic and leadership skills.
School Mission: Albany Leadership Charter High School for Girls (ALH) prepares young women to graduate from high school with the academic and leadership skills necessary to succeed in college and the career of their choosing.
School Vision: Albany Leadership High School will be a recognized leader in single-sex secondary education for young women. It will foster a community of scholars dedicated to life-long learning and committed to improving their communities through their pursuit of post-secondary endeavors.
School Purpose: Girls in urban America have been negatively affected by a mediocre educational system, low expectations, and high drop-out rates. Albany Leadership Charter High School for Girls is charged to eliminate this historical reality with the support of the ALH Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, families, and the community at large, whose core values influence student success.
August 2014
Greetings ALH Families,
As many of you already know, this is a very significant year for ALH; this is our “Renewal Year.” Our authorizer, The SUNY Charter Schools Institute, will be visiting us later this fall and reviewing our academic achievements, programmatic plans and fiscal viability in order to determine if they will approve us for a charter renewal. As a result, the ALH Leadership Team, faculty and support staff have been working diligently this summer to ensure that we are positioned to continue to serve our students and families.
The renewal process has forced ALH to really refine and strengthen its mission and vision, which has resulted in both minor and major changes in various facets of the school. However, please remember that all of the changes have been designed to maximize your child’s success; therefore, we anticipate and appreciate your support in these transitions. Our primary goal is to prepare our daughters for college and the career of their choosing, so our expectations are- and must remain- extremely high. Our academic and behavioral standards exceed those of traditional district schools and, consequently, are reflected in a more challenging scholastic program and more demanding disciplinary system.
Our daughters deserve a superior education, and the future of our communities depends on their success, but our girls can only succeed if the school and our families collaborate as partners with that single goal. We need involved parents at home and at school, so we invite you to join our Family Action Committee (FAC), to volunteer, to share your concerns and ideas, to find solutions and celebrate collective victories. ALH recognizes that a partnership between the school and families is essential for all of our success.
Our theme this year is: “Success by CHOICE- not chance.” If we- administration, faculty, support staff, students, Board members, families and community members- all choose to do our part and commit to give our all (not simply leave it up to another), what we can collectively accomplish is limitless. Let’s ensure that our girls continue to become the leaders we know they were called to be.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter. We look forward to making this ALH’s best year yet!
Peace and Joy,
Christina Roberts
Christina Roberts,
Principal
11 – 22 Staff Pre-Service25 - 29 Student Orientation Week (TESTING)
28 ALH Family Night Out Orientation
(5:00pm – 7:30pm) / AUGUST ’14
M / T / W / Th / F
1
4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15
18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22
25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29
/ SEPTEMBER ‘14
M / T / W / Th / F
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19
22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26
29 / 30
/ 1 Labor Day (School Closed)
2 School Closed
3 Professional Development (NO Students)
4 ALL students report
18 Open House (5:30pm -7:00pm)
B
10 Progress Reports
13 Columbus Day (School Closed)
15 PSAT Testing (10th and 11th Grade Only) / OCTOBER ‘14
M / T / W / Th / F
1 / 2 / 3
6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17
20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24
27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31
/ NOVEMBER ‘14
M / T / W / Th / F
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28
/ 5-6 CSI RENEWAL VIST
7 End of Quarter 1
11 Veterans Day (School Closed)
13 – Report Cards/Conferences 4-7pm
14 – Report Cards/Conferences 1-4pm
26-28 Thanksgiving Break (School Closed)
19 Progress Report Distribution
24 – 31 Holiday Break (School Closed) / DECEMBER ‘14
M / T / W / Th / F
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19
22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26
29 / 30 / 31
/ JANUARY ‘15
M / T / W / Th / F
1 / 2
5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
/ 1 New Year’s Day Observed
2 Professional Development (School Closed)
19 Martin Luther King Day (School Closed)
26 - 30 Regents Exams (Classes suspended)
30 End of Quarter 2
5 – Report Cards/Conferences 4-7pm
6 – Report Cards/Conferences 1-4pm
16 - 20 Winter Recess (School Closed) / FEBRUARY ‘15
M / T / W / Th / F
2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13
16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20
23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27
/ MARCH ‘15
M / T / W / Th / F
2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13
16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20
23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27
30 / 31
/ 13 Progress Report Distribution
19 ALH Open House for New Families (5:30pm – 7:00pm)
23 Regents Prep Classes Begin
3 – 10 Spring Break (School Closed)
17 End of Quarter 3
23 – Report Cards/Conferences 4-7pm
24 – Report Cards/Conferences 1-4pm / APRIL ‘15
M / T / W / Th / F
1 / 2 / 3
6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17
20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24
27 / 28 / 29 / 30
/ MAY ‘15
M / T / W / Th / F
1
4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15
18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22
25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29
/ 12 - 15 Terra Nova Testing
22 Progress Report Distribution
22 Dismissal at Noon
25 Memorial Day (School Closed)
2 – ELA & Math/NCC Regents (9th and 10th grade only)
*9th Grade Students Report at 8am
*10th Grade Students Report at Noon
15 End of Quarter 4/Last Day of Classes
16 Regents Begins
29 Class of 2015 Graduation
30 Last Day of School (Staff Only)
(Report Cards mailed home July 3rd) / JUNE ‘15
M / T / W / Th / F
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12
15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19
22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26
29 / 30
/ Professional Development (School begins at
10:00 am)
School Closed- No Staff or Students
Parent/Teacher Conferences ½ day for
Students (12:00pm dismissal)
Dc Parent/Teacher Conferences 4-7pm
ALH 2014 – 2015 SCHOOL CALENDAR
TABLE OF CONTENTS______
19
ALH Parent/Guardian Handbook and Code of Conduct One Leader Changes Everything
School Mission, Vision and Purpose 2
Principal’s letter 3
School calendar 4
ALH C.L.E.A.R. Approach 7
Core Values 7
Stakeholders’ roles 8
Non Discrimination Policy 8
Non-Negotiables for Students 9
OPERATIONS 10
The School Day 10
Tardiness 10
Early Dismissal 11
Absences 11
Release of Students 13
Visiting ALH 14
School Security 14
Phone Numbers and Student Information 15
Office and Relations Administrator 15
Board of Trustees 15
Parental Involvement – Family Action Committee 16
Weather and Emergency 16
Breakfast and Lunch Program 16
Nurse/Medication 16
Accidents 17
Transportation 17
ACADEMICS AND CULTURE 17
ALH DRESS CODE 17
ALH Dress Code Chart 19
Water Bottles 20
Appearance/Toiletries 20
FAIR VS EQUAL 20
Health Class 20
Service Learning 21
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 22
Academic Program 22
Grading Scale 23
Receiving credits for a course 23
Courses with weighted credit 23
Students who transfer from other institutions 23
Students who transfer to other institutions 23
Grade point average 23
Pass/Fail classes 24
Honor Roll/High Honor Roll 24
Homework 24
Late Work 24
FLEX Time 25
Assessments 25
Regents and Final Testing 25
Final grade Calculation 26
Promotion Policy 26
Summer School 26
After School Detention 27
Student Support Team (SST) 27
Response to Intervention (RTI) 27
Freedom of Expression 28
Cheating Violations 28
Late to Class 30
Skipping Classes 30
Additional Classroom Consequences from Faculty and Staff 30
Cell Phones/Electronics 30
Solicitation 31
Money/Valuable Property 31
Candy, Gum and Toys 31
Lockers, Search and Seizure 31
Substance Use Assessment 32
Athletic Programs 32
Off-Campus Events 33
Loss of School Privileges 33
T.L.C. (TALK. LEARN. COLLABORATE.) 33
DRAMA SESSIONS 34
DISCIPLINE 34
Discipline Code 34
Bullying/Cyber Bullying 35
Discipline and Due Process 36
Suspensions 37
Notification of Procedure for Expulsions 40
Provision of Services During Removal 41
P.I.N.S Petitions 42
Disciplinary Procedures for Students with Disabilities 42
Protection for Children Not Yet Eligible for Special Education and Related Svcs. 44
Provision of Services During Removal 45
Due Process 45
Maintenance of Public Order on School Property 46
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 48
NCLB Title I Written Complaint and Appeals Procedures 48
Notification of Rights under FERPA 52
FERPA Procedures for Storage/Handling of Student Files and Release Procedure 54
Policy and Procedure for Compliance with F.O.I.L. 55
POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH OPEN
MEETINGS LAW 57
Complaint Policy 59
GUIDELINES OF THE CHARTER SCHOOLS INSTITUTE FOR HANDLING
COMPLAINTS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO EDUCATION LAW §2855(4) 60
The ALH C.L.E.A.R. Approach: Our high academic and behavioral standards are embedded in our Core Values. These values are the foundation upon which every administrator, faculty member, student, family and community member must acknowledge and practice in order to achieve our mission:
The ALH C.L.E.A.R. approach can only be achieved when all stakeholders understand their role in our high school community.
Students’ role in the ALH community: ALH expects students to honor and embody the C.L.E.A.R. core values. Moreover, we require students to come to school on time each day, prepared and ready to learn. In addition to our high expectations for academic performance and respectful conduct, ALH also obligates each student to take a proactive role in making ALH a better place. Students will be engaged participants in service learning to ensure our young ladies will learn the true meaning of leadership while strengthening and improving the local community.
Families’ role in the ALH community: ALH needs the support of parents in order to successfully achieve our mission and to provide our students the maximum opportunity to succeed. We realize that ALH is a demanding place, not only for students but also for parents, and ask that families remember that every rule, every policy and every decision is grounded in the mission, vision, and purpose of ALH. Therefore, we need families to respect and support the school’s values and edicts.
ALH promises to keep an open relationship with parents by communicating via letters, emails, phone calls, and meetings. We also invite our parents to be leaders in the school through volunteering and mentoring. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Natalie Chicone at 694.5300, ext. 225.
Faculty’s role in the ALH community: ALH employs competent, passionate, and hard-working educators who are equipped with the necessary skills and expertise to ensure that the ALH mission is accomplished. They are committed to each scholar’s success and seek a partnership with families to maximize each daughter’s potential.
Leadership Team’s role in the ALH community: ALH employs an experienced, passionate, and competent leadership team with strong pedagogical, practical, and public education experience to ensure that each ALH member is supported and held accountable for the academic success of every girl enrolled at ALH as our mission is achieved.
Non-Discrimination Policy: ALH, in accordance with its non-discrimination policy, does not discriminate in its programs, activities, facilities, employment, or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, disability, sex, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation, and does not tolerate any form of discrimination, intimidation, threat, coercion, and/or harassment that insults the dignity of others by interfering with their freedom to learn and to work.
We further consider LOW EXPECTATIONS based on race, color, disability, sex, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation a form of discrimination. We believe all of our students can succeed in college, regardless of their background. Our commitment to our CLEAR values means that all students will be expected to succeed academically and adhere to the Code of Conduct. Below are the non-negotiables which help us achieve and maintain high expectations and high performance.