Notifications

The District’s “public records” are those records and documents, regardless of physical or electronic form, pertaining to the transaction of public business and as further defined by law, including the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and the District’s FOIA Administrative Procedures. The District maintains and makes available for inspection a reasonably current list of the types and categories of records under its control, as well as those documents that are immediately available upon request.

Requests to inspect and/or copy the District’s public records must be submitted in writing and directed to Dr. William Schmidt, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. Requests are expected to specify with reasonable particularity which public records are sought to avoid inefficient use of staff time in retrieving and preparing records for inspection. Repeated requests from the same person for the same records that are unchanged or identical to records previously provided or properly denied under FOIA are deemed unduly burdensome and may be denied. If a request is for a commercial purpose, as defined in FOIA and the District’s FOIA Administrative Procedures, the request is expected to disclose that in his or her initial written request. It is a violation of FOIA for a person to knowingly obtain a public record for a commercial purpose without disclosing that it is for a commercial purpose, if requested to do so by the District.

Categories of the District’s Public Records
(as required by 5 ILCS 140/5)

The following list identifies the types of public records maintained and available for public inspection:

• Administrative materials and procedural rules;
• Final opinions and determinations, except for those adjudicating student disciplinary cases where the disclosure would unavoidably reveal the identity of the student, or those adjudicating employee grievances or disciplinary cases;
• Final outcomes of employee grievances or disciplinary cases in which discipline is imposed;
• Board of Education policies and final documents explaining or interpreting such policies;
• Final reports and studies prepared by or for the District;
• Information concerning expenditure of public funds, unless otherwise exempt from disclosure under FOIA;
• Names, salaries, titles, and dates of employment for all District employees and officers;
• Minutes of Board of Education meetings open to the public;
• Information concerning grants or contracts made by the District, unless otherwise exempt from disclosure under FOIA;
• All other information required by law to be made available for public inspection and copying.

List of Documents or Categories of Records that the District Shall Immediately Disclose Upon Request
(as required by 5 ILCS 140/3.5(a))

• Board of Education policies
• Minutes of Board of Education meetings open to the public
• Labor Agreements

Fee Schedule for FOIA Requests

Unless a fee is otherwise fixed by another statute, or unless the District grants a request for a fee waiver/reduction in the public interest, as defined in FOIA, the charges associated with copies in response to FOIA requests shall be as set forth below:

• No fees shall be charged for the first 50 pages of black and white, letter or legal sized copies requested.
• Thereafter, a fee of $0.15 per page will be charged for each additional black and white, letter or legal sized copy.
• For all other copies, including color copies, the District shall charge no more than the actual cost for reproducing the records.
• Color Copies (8 ½ x 11) $0.25 per page

The District may charge the requester for the actual cost of purchasing a recording medium, whether disc, diskette, tape, or other medium. 

• The cost for certifying a public record shall be $1.

Public records may be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge if the individual requesting the public records states specifically the purpose for the request and the reasons that a waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest. Waiver or reduction of the fee may be determined to be in the public interest if the principal purpose of the request is to access and disseminate information regarding the health, safety, and welfare or the legal rights of the general public and is not for the principal purpose of personal or commercial benefit. In determining the amount of waiver or reduction, the District may take into consideration the amount of materials requested and the cost of copying them.

School Sponsored Publications and Web Sites

School-sponsored publications, productions and web sites are part of the curriculum and are not a public forum for general student use. School authorities may edit or delete material which is inconsistent with the District’s educational mission.

All school-sponsored communications shall comply with the ethics and rules of responsible journalism. Text that is libelous, obscene, vulgar, lewd, invades the privacy of others, conflicts with the basic educational mission of the school, is socially inappropriate, is inappropriate due to the maturity of the students, or is materially disruptive to the educational process will not be tolerated.

Non-school Sponsored Publications Accessed or Distributed on Campus

Creating, distributing and/or accessing non-school sponsored publications shall occur at a time and place and in a manner that will not cause disruption, be coercive, or result in the perception that the distribution or the publication is endorsed by the School District.

Non-School Sponsored Publications Accessed or Distributed Off-Campus

A student engages in gross disobedience and misconduct and may be disciplined for creating and/or distributing a publication that: (1) causes a substantial disruption or a foreseeable risk of a substantial disruption to school operations, or (2) interferes with the rights of other students or staff members.

Read more: Board Policy 5350: Restrictions on Publications; Elementary Schools

Guidelines for Student Distribution of Non-School-Sponsored Publications

A student or group of students seeking to distribute more than 10 copies of the same material on one or more days to students must comply with the following guidelines:

1. The student(s) must notify the Building Principal of the intent to distribute, in writing, at least 24 hours before distributing the material. No prior approval of the material is required.
2. The material may be distributed at times and locations selected by the Building Principal, such as before the beginning or ending of classes at a central location inside the building.
3. The Building Principal may impose additional requirements whenever necessary to prevent disruption, congestion, or the perception that the material is school-endorsed.
4. Distribution must be done in an orderly and peaceful manner, and may not be coercive.
5. The distribution must be conducted in a manner that does not cause additional work for school personnel. Students who distribute material are responsible for cleaning up any materials left on school grounds.
6. Students must not distribute material that:
   1. Will cause substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities;
   2. Violates the rights of others, including but not limited to, material that is libelous, slanderous or obscene, or invades the privacy of others, or infringes on a copyright;
   3. Is socially inappropriate or inappropriate due to the students’ maturity level, including but not limited to, material that is obscene, pornographic, or pervasively lewd and vulgar, contains indecent and vulgar language, or sexting as defined by Board policy 5365, Student Behavior, and/or student handbooks; 
   4. Is reasonably viewed as promoting illegal drug use;
   5. Is distributed in kindergarten through eighth grade and is primarily prepared by non-students, unless it is being used for school purposes. However, material from outside sources or the citation to such sources may be allowed, as long as the material to be distributed or accessed is primarily prepared by students; or
   6. Encourages or incites students to violate any Board policy.
7. A student may use Board policy 7260, Uniform Grievance Procedure, to resolve a complaint.
8. Whenever these guidelines require written notification, the appropriate administrator may assist the student in preparing such notification.

A student or group of students seeking to distribute 10 or fewer copies of the same publication on one or more days to students must distribute such material at times and places and in a manner that will not cause substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities and in compliance with paragraphs 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Woodridge School District 68 does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to Woodridge 68's Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. Woodridge 68's Title IX Coordinator, nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures are posted on the district website under >Departments >Human Resources. To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, please refer to the "File a Complaint" tab on that same web page. 

Equal educational and extracurricular opportunities shall be available for all students without regard to color, race, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, gender identity, status of being homeless, immigration status, order of protection status, actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy. Further, the District will not knowingly enter into agreements with any entity or any individual that discriminates against students on the basis of sex or any other protected status, except that the District remains viewpoint neutral when granting access to school facilities under School Board policy. Any student may file a discrimination grievance by using the Uniform Grievance Procedure.

Sex Equity

No student shall, on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity be denied equal access to programs, activities, services, or benefits or be limited in the exercise of any right, privilege, advantage, or denied equal access to educational and extracurricular programs and activities.

Any student may file a sex equity complaint by using the Uniform Grievance Procedure. A student may appeal the School Board’s resolution of the complaint to the Regional Superintendent of Schools (pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/3-10 of the School Code) and, thereafter, to the State Superintendent of Education (pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/2-3.8 of the School Code).

Read more: Board Policy 5010: Equal Educational Opportunities

Questions or grievances in reference to equal opportunities may be directed to:

Dr. William Schmidt, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources
7925 Janes Avenue, Woodridge, IL 60517
630-795-6800
schmidtw@woodridge68.org

No student shall, on the basis of his or her gender, be denied equal access to programs, activities, services or benefits or be limited in the exercise of any right, privilege, advantage or opportunity.

The Superintendent shall appoint a Coordinator for Nondiscrimination (the “Coordinator”) for the School District. Students and parents shall be notified annually of their right to initiate a grievance or complaint of illegal discrimination and of the Coordinator to whom such complaints shall be directed.

Within seven calendar days of receiving a grievance or complaint of illegal discrimination, the Coordinator shall send a copy of the district’s written grievance procedure to the complainant. The Coordinator shall investigate the nature and validity of the grievance with those responsible for the program or activity cited by the complainant. The Coordinator may seek advice from related state agencies or legal counsel. Within sixty days of receiving the grievance, the Coordinator shall render a written decision, including the steps to be taken for further appeal of that decision. The written decision of the Coordinator may be appealed to the Superintendent by submitting a written request. Within fourteen days of receiving the appeal, the Superintendent shall render a written decision.

The written decision may be appealed to the School Board by submitting a written request for hearing before the Board, addressed to office of the Superintendent.

The decision of the School Board may be further appealed to the Regional Superintendent of Schools pursuant to Section 3-10 of The School Code of Illinois and, thereafter, to the State Superintendent of Education pursuant to Section 2-3.8 of The School Code of Illinois, as provided in Section 200.90 (b) of the Sex Equity Rules.

On July 26, 1990, Congress enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act which became effective for government entities on January 26, 1992.  The Act prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with a disability with regard to employment and participation in or enjoyment of the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the Woodridge School District.

Woodridge School District 68 makes a diligent effort to meet the requirements of the Act. It therefore encourages, for example, persons with hearing impairments who want to attend the School Board meeting, or some other public meeting facilitated by the District, to notify the School District within a reasonable period of time prior to the meeting of the need for accommodation.

Information on the accessibility to facilities, programs, or complaints, may be directed to Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, ADA Coordinator, 7925 Janes Avenue, Woodridge, Illinois 60517, or by calling 630-795-6800.

The rules and regulations administering the Illinois School Student Records Act establish guidelines for the release and placement of information into a student’s record. Listed below are key provisions of the Act and an indication of the rights granted to parents and students. Please feel free to contact the principal of your school, should you have any questions regarding student records. The principal is the official records custodian of each school.

The District will maintain two sets of school records for each student: a permanent record and a temporary record. The permanent record shall include:

• Basic identifying information, including the student’s name and address, birth date and place, gender, and the names and addresses of the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)
• Evidence required by the Missing Children Records Act
• Academic transcripts, including: grades, graduation date, and grade level achieved; the unique student identifier assigned and used by ISBE’s Student Information System
• Attendance record
• A summary of performance for students who received special education services, unless the District has obtained the informed written consent of the student and parents or guardians to exclude it
• Health record, defined by ISBE rule as “medical documentation necessary for enrollment and proof of having certain examinations, as may be required under Section 27-8.1 of the [School] Code.”
• Record of release of permanent record information

No other information shall be placed in the permanent record. The temporary record contains all information not required to be kept in the permanent record and must include:

• Record of release of temporary record information
• Scores received on the State assessment tests administered in the elementary grade levels (kindergarten through grade 8).
• Completed home language survey
• Information regarding serious disciplinary infractions (that is, those involving drugs, weapons, or bodily harm to another) that resulted in expulsion, suspension, or the imposition of punishment or sanction.
• Any final finding report received from DCFS provided to the school under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act; no report other than what is required under Section 8.6 of that Act (325 ILCS 5/8.6) shall be placed in the student record.
• Information concerning a student’s status and related experiences as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, including a statement of the student or any other documentation, record, or corroborating evidence, and the fact that the student has requested or obtained assistance, support, or services related to that status.
• Any biometric information that is collected in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/10-20.40.
• Health-related information, defined by ISBE rule as “current documentation of a student’s health information, not otherwise governed by the MHDDCA or other privacy laws, that includes identifying information, health history, results of mandated testing and screenings, medication dispensation records and logs, e.g., glucose readings, long-term medications administered during school hours, documentation regarding a student athlete’s and his or her parents’ acknowledgment of the District’s concussion policy adopted under Section 22-80 of the [School] Code, and other health-related information that is relevant to school participation, e.g., nursing services plan, failed screenings, yearly sports physical exams, interim health histories for sports."
• Accident report, defined by ISBE rule as “documentation of any reportable student accident that results in an injury to a student, occurring on the way to or from school or on school grounds, at a school athletic event or when a student is participating in a school program or school-sponsored activity or on a school bus and that is severe enough to cause the student not to be in attendance for one-half day or more or requires medical treatment other than first aid. The accident report shall include identifying information, nature of injury, days lost, cause of injury, location of accident, medical treatment given to the student at the time of the accident, or if the school nurse has referred the student for a medical evaluation, regardless of whether the parent or guardian, student (if 18 years or older), or an unaccompanied youth has followed through on that request.”
• Any documentation of a student’s transfer, including records indicating the school or school district to which the student transferred.
• Information contained in related service logs maintained by the District for a student with an individualized education program, including speech and language services, occupational therapy services, physical therapy services, school social work services, school counseling services, school psychology services, and school nursing services. 

The temporary record may also consist of:

• Family background information
• Intelligence test scores, group and individual
• Aptitude test scores
• Reports of psychological evaluations, including information on intelligence, personality, and academic information obtained through test administration, observation, or interviews
• Elementary and secondary achievement level test results
• Participation in extracurricular activities, including any offices held in school-sponsored clubs or organizations
• Honors and awards received
• Teacher anecdotal records
• Other disciplinary information
• Special education records
• Records associated with plans developed under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. §701.)
• Verified reports or information from non-educational persons, agencies, or organizations of clear relevance to the student’s education

Records Retention

• The permanent record is maintained for at least 60 years after the student transfers, graduates, or permanently withdraws.
• The temporary record is maintained for at least 5 years after the student transfers, graduates, or permanently withdraws.

Access to Student Records

Access to a student record” means sharing or viewing any information from a student’s official school records, whether or not the information is copied. When records are shared, access is only given to the specific portion of the record that the parent/guardian has authorized or that the law allows.

The District follows the Illinois School Student Records Act, which strictly limits when and how student information can be released. District employees will not share, disclose, or grant access to student records unless the law permits it. Without a court order, the District does not provide student educational records to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration enforcement purposes.

The Building Principal is responsible for managing requests for access to student records and will follow all district procedures and legal requirements. When necessary, the Principal may consult with the Superintendent and, if appropriate, the Board Attorney.

Board Policy 5600: Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Illinois Student Records Act afford parents/guardians and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and copy the student’s education records within 10 school days of the day the District receives a request for access.
   • Students less than 18 years of age have the right to inspect and copy their permanent record. Parents/guardians or students should submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. The District charges $.35 per page for copying but no one will be denied their right to copies of their records for inability to pay this cost. The rights contained in this section are denied to any person against whom an order of protection has been entered concerning a student (105 ILCS 5/10-22.3c, 105 ILCS 10/5a, and 750 ILCS 60/214(b)(15).
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, irrelevant, or improper.
   • Parents/guardians or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate, misleading, irrelevant, or improper. They should write the school principal or records custodian, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify the reason.  If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student, the District will notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student of the decision and advise him or her of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to permit disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that the FERPA or Illinois School Student Records Act authorizes disclosure without consent.
   • Disclosure is permitted without consent to school officials with legitimate educational or administrative interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent(s)/guardian(s) or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
   • A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
   • Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student has enrolled or intends to enroll as well as to any person as specifically required by State or federal law. Before information is released to individuals described in this paragraph, the parent(s)/guardian(s) will receive prior written notice of the nature and substance of the information, and an opportunity to inspect, copy, and challenge such records.
   • The right to challenge school student records does not apply to: (1) academic grades of their child, and (2) references to expulsions or out-of-school suspensions, if the challenge is made at the time the student’s school student records are forwarded to another school to which the student is transferring.
   • Disclosure is also permitted without consent to: any person for research, statistical reporting or planning, provided that no student or parent(s)/guardian(s) can be identified; any person named in a court order; appropriate persons if the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons; and juvenile authorities when necessary for the discharge of their official duties who request information before adjudication of the student.
4. The right to a copy of any school student record proposed to be destroyed or deleted.
   • Student records are reviewed every 4 years or upon a student’s change in attendance centers, whichever occurs first.
5. The right to prohibit the release of directory information concerning the parent’s/guardian’s child.
   • Throughout the school year, the District may release directory information regarding students, limited to:
     • name
     • grade level
     • academic awards, degrees, and honors
     • information in relation to school-sponsored activities, organizations, and athletics
     • major field of study
     • period of attendance in school
     • photos, videos, images
   • Any parent, guardian, or eligible student may prohibit the release of any or all of the above information by delivering a written objection to the building principal within 30 days of the date of this notice. No directory information will be released within this time period, unless the parent, guardian, or eligible student are specifically informed otherwise.
6. The right contained in this statement: No person may condition the granting or withholding of any right, privilege or benefits or make as a condition of employment, credit, or insurance the securing by any individual of any information from a student’s temporary record which such individual may obtain through the exercise of any right secured under State Law.
7. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
   • The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-4605

Confidentiality

Although information given by a student to any school employee may be very personal, school personnel do not have “privileged communication” rights. School personnel should have an obligation and a desire to keep such information confidential, but if the employee is required by a governmental agency or court of law to disclose the information the employee will abide by the law.

Surveys

All surveys requesting personal information from students, as well as any other instrument used to collect personal information from students, must advance or relate to the District’s educational objectives as identified in Board Policy 6000: Educational Philosophy and Objectives, or assist students’ career choices. This applies to all surveys, regardless of whether the student answering the questions can be identified or who created the survey.

Third-Party Student Surveys and Questionnaires

Before a school official or staff member administers or distributes a survey or evaluation created by a third party to a student, the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) may inspect the survey or evaluation, upon their request and within a reasonable time of their request.

Surveys Requesting Personal Information

In accordance with federal law (Public Law 103-227), students who participate in federally-funded programs (e.g., Title I remedial reading) are not required to divulge in a survey, analysis, or evaluation of any of the following without the prior written consent of their parents or guardians: a) Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or his/her parent/guardian; b) Mental or psychological problems of a student or his/her family; c) Behavior or attitudes about sex; d) Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior; e) Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom students have close family relationships; f) Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those with lawyers, physicians, and ministers; g) Religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or his/her parents/guardians; or h) Income (other than required to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

Physical Exams or Screenings

No school official or staff member shall subject a student to a non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as a condition of school attendance.

Board Policy 5580: Student and Family Privacy Rights

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:

• Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED):
  • Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
  • Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
  • Sexual behavior or attitudes;
  • Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
  • Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
  • Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
  • Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
  • Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
• Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of:
  • Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
  • Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and
  • Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.
• Inspect, upon request and before administration or use
  • Protected information surveys of students;
  • Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
  • Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.

Woodridge School District 68 has developed policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. District 68 will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. The District will also directly notify, such as through U.S. Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey. Woodridge School District will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys. Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this requirement:

• Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other distribution.
• Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.
• Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.

Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5901

Notice and Consent/Opt-Out for Specific Activities

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), 20 U.S.C.§ 1232h, requires Woodridge School District to notify and obtain consent or allow parents and guardians to opt their child out of participating in certain school activities. These activities include a student survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns one or more of the following eight areas (“protected information surveys”):

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

In accordance with Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Section 1111(h)(6), Parents Right-to-Know, every parent of a student in a Title I school has the right and may request information regarding the professional qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher. This information regarding the professional qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher includes, at a minimum, the following:

1. Whether the teacher has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.
2. Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived.
3. The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
4. Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

If at any time your child has been taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks by a teacher not highly qualified, the school will notify you.

The School Visitation Rights Act permits employed parents/guardians, who are unable to meet with educators because of a work conflict, the right to time off from work to attend necessary educational or behavioral conferences at their child’s school.

Eligible Employees

For the purposes of this Act, “employee” means a person who performs services for hire for an employer for:

1. at least 6 consecutive months immediately preceding a request for leave under this Act; and
2. an average number of hours per week equal to at least one-half the full-time equivalent position in the employer’s job classification, as defined by the employer’s personnel policies or practices or in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement, during those 6 months.

“Employee” includes all individuals meeting the above criteria but does not include an independent contractor.

School conference and activity leave

1. An employer must grant an employee leave of up to a total of 8 hours during any school year, and no more than 4 hours of which may be taken on any given day, to attend school conferences, behavioral meetings, or academic meetings related to the employee’s child if the conference or meeting cannot be scheduled during non-work hours; however, no leave may be taken by an employee of an employer that is subject to this Act unless the employee has exhausted all accrued vacation leave, personal leave, compensatory leave and any other leave that may be granted to the employee except sick leave and disability leave. Before arranging attendance at the conference or activity, the employee shall provide the employer with a written request for leave at least 7 days in advance of the time the employee is required to utilize the visitation right. In emergency situations, no more than 24 hours’ notice shall be required. The employee must consult with the employer to schedule the leave so as not to disrupt unduly the operations of the employer.
2. Nothing in this Act requires that the leave be paid.
3. For regularly scheduled, non-emergency visitations, schools shall make time available for visitation during regular school hours and evening hours.

Compensation

An employee who utilizes or seeks to utilize the rights afforded by this Act may choose the opportunity to make up the time so taken as guaranteed by this Act on a different day or shift as directed by the employer. An employee who exercises his rights under this Act shall not be required to make up the time taken, but if such employee does not make up the time taken, such employee shall not be compensated for the time taken. An employee who does make up the time taken shall be paid at the same rate as paid for normal working time. Employers shall make a good faith effort to permit an employee to make up the time taken for the purposes of this Act. If no reasonable opportunity exists for the employee to make up the time taken, the employee shall not be paid for the time. A reasonable opportunity to make up the time taken does not include the scheduling of make-up time in a manner that would require the payment of wages on an overtime basis. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, if unpaid leave under this Act conflicts with the unreduced compensation requirement for exempt employees under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, an employer may require an employee to make up the leave hours within the same pay period.

Verification

Upon completion of school visitation rights by a parent or guardian, the school administrator shall provide the parent or guardian documentation of the school visitation. The parent or guardian shall submit such verification to the employer. The State Superintendent and the Director of the Department of Labor shall suggest a standard form of documentation of school visitation to schools for use as required by this Section. The standard form of documentation shall include, but not be limited to, the exact time and date the visitation occurred and ended. Failure of a parent or guardian to submit the verification statement from the school to his or her employer within 2 working days of the school visitation subjects the employee to the standard disciplinary procedures imposed by the employer for unexcused absences from work.

Employee rights

1. No employee shall lose any employee benefits, except as provided for in Section 20 of this Act, for exercising his or her rights under this Act. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect an employer’s obligation to comply with any collective bargaining agreement or employee benefit plan. Nothing in this Act shall prevent an employer from providing school visitation rights in excess of the requirements of this Act. The rights afforded by this Act shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining act or by any employee benefit plan.
2. An employer may not terminate an employee for an absence from work if the absence is due solely to the employee’s attendance at a school conference, behavioral meeting, or academic meeting, as provided in Section 15.

Limits on leave

No employer that is subject to this Act is required to grant school visitation leave to an employee if granting the leave would result in more than 5% of the employer’s work force or 5% of an employer’s work force shift taking school conference or activity leave at the same time.

Legal Reference: 820 ILCS 147/, amended by P.A. 101-486

All District employees are expected to maintain high standards in their school relationships, to demonstrate integrity and honesty, to be considerate and cooperative, and to maintain professional and appropriate relationships with students, parents, staff members, and others.

Board Policy 4220: Employee Ethics, Code of Professional Conduct and Conflict of Interest

The Board of Education shall make every attempt to protect any employee who is threatened with bodily harm or abuse. If a staff member experiences any form of harassing, assaulting or battering by a student, parent or guardian of a student, or by another employee, that staff member is expected to report the incident to his or her immediate supervisor. The district will cooperate with the criminal investigation and/or prosecution of a student, parent, or guardian accused of harassing, assaulting or battering a school district employee.

The State of Illinois requires by law that any District employee who suspects or receives knowledge that a student may be an abused or neglected child or an abused or neglected individual with a disability, shall immediately: (1) report or cause a report to be made to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on its Child Abuse Hotline 800/25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873 within Illinois), or 217/524-2606 (outside Illinois), or 1-800-358-5117 (TTY) and (2) follow any additional directions given by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to complete a report. The employee shall also promptly notify the Superintendent or Building Principal that a report has been made.

The Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act and Child Murderer Community Notification Law authorizes the release of names, addresses, and offenses committed by registered child sex offenders. Parents may obtain this information from their local police department or sheriff’s office.

Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry