Dalton Public Schools is dedicated to providing quality knowledge work to students every day so that students can learn what they need to learn. Students must be present to learn. The Dalton Public Schools Board of Education modified the attendance policy to address attendance requirements. The attendance policy is as follows. A student absent from school must present to school authorities a letter written by his/her parent or guardian, or medical provider explaining the reasons for the absence from school. Excuses for absences must be provided within 2 days of a student’s return to school. Absences will not be changed from unexcused to excused after that time. Students who become ill or injured while at school shall be dismissed from school only after parents or guardians have been notified. Exceptions to this will be made in cases of emergency. A student may be dismissed before the end of the official school day when a parent or guardian sends a written request explaining the reason for early dismissal to the principal, or appears in person requesting the student’s dismissal. Principals may require verification of right of custody of the student from anyone requesting early dismissal of the student. As defined by State Board Policy, a student is lawfully absent from school for the following reasons: 

1.     Personal illness that would endanger the student’s health or the health of others.

2.     Serious illness or death in the student’s immediate family. 

3.     Special and recognized religious holidays observed by the student’s faith. 

4.     Mandated absence by order of government agencies, e.g., court order or pre-induction physical for the armed forces. 

5.     Conditions rendering school attendance impossible or hazardous to health or safety.

6.     Students are allowed up to five days of visitation for students with parents preparing to ship out for military duty of on leave from such duty. The absences are excused absences. 

7.     Students shall be counted present when they are serving as pages of the General Assembly and/or while representing the school in an activity approved by the school and/or Board of Education. 

8.     Individual students who have emergencies to arise that necessitate their absence from school for a portion of the school day must have been present for one half of the instructional day in order to be included in attendance counts. An unlawful absence is one not permitted under the Compulsory School Attendance Law (20-2-690) and policies of the School Board. A combination of five (5) unexcused   tardies or unexcused early checkouts will be considered one unexcused absence. The above reasons also apply to late check-ins and early checkouts.

If a student has excessive absences and/or tardies, the socialworker may refer the student and parent(s) to the Department of Family and Children’s Services or to the appropriate court when sufficient legal caused for these absences or tardies do not exist. Punitive measures may be taken against the student and/or parent(s).

We use technology in our School District to assist us in a number of areas. One of these areas involves student records and attendance. Our entire Data System is based on the use of an assigned nine-digit number. We prefer, and think it is best, to use a child’s Social Security Number on student records for a number of reasons --- nearly every child has a Social Security Number, the Social Security Number does not change, vocation schools, colleges, and other educational institutions use Social Security Numbers for numeric ID purposes, and unlike names and birth dates, each Social Security Number is unique. For these reasons, we request that you supply us with your child’s Social Security Number. Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. 20-20150 (d) permits us to request your child’s Social Security Number. Providing a Social Security Number is voluntary. We recognize and respect your concern about the confidentiality of your child’s Social Security Number and of your child’s school records. We, too, have these same concerns. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, we assure you that your child’s Social Security Number will not be shared without YOUR permission.

 We will use your child’s Social Security Number for the following purposes:    

•      Keeping track of attendance and reporting it to you.     

•      Keeping track of grades and reporting them to you.    

•      As the Numeric ID number to locate your child’s records in our computer system.     

•      If we do not receive your child’s Social Security Number, we will assign your child a permanent nine-digit numeric ID number for the above purposes. This number will be displayed on records and computer screens ad FTE/SSN Number as would a Social Security Number.

Remember, you have the right to review ALL school records available in our system about your child. If you would like to do this, just contact your child’s Principal or Counselor. 

Bus drivers are to have control of all students during their time on the bus. The driver shall keep order, maintain discipline and see that no students are imposed upon or mistreated while in his/her charge and shall use every care for the safety of the students. The driver has the same rights and authority as a classroom teacher. Any student who presents problems may be assigned a permanent seat by the driver. Bus problems will be referred to the Assistant Principal. Students who present problems that jeopardize the safety of others may have their privileges of riding a bus withdrawn by the administration. Permission to ride a bus other than the regular bus assigned to the student must be obtained through the Assistant Principal’s Office. Permission will not be granted without a written request or phone call from the parent. A temporary transportation request form is available in the Counseling Office for students who require transportation to alternate sites. This form must be completed by the parent and sent to the Dalton Public Schools Central Office for approval. Students riding buses to other sites for after - school practice must also complete this form.  

Students will be allowed to use the telephone during the day in the event of an emergency. Teachers will not release students from class to make a call unless an emergency exists. Calls for homework or other items left at home are not considered emergencies. CELL PHONES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO BE USED DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY (HOMEROOM to DISMISSAL). Students using these items inappropriately will have them confiscated for the remainder of the day. A second offense will require a parent to pick up the phone.

Parents are encouraged to visit the school. All visitors, however, are required by law to report to the business office when coming on campus. Visitors will be issued a visitor pass before access to any area of the campus is allowed. 

Students should report anyone who they believe is a stranger on campus. Everyone should have a DPS ID badge or a visitor pass.

Dalton Public Schools
http://www.daltonpublicschools.com  

Dalton Public Schools on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/dpsschools

Dalton Public Schools on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/dpsschools  

Dalton Public Schools Parent Portal
https://ics.dalton.k12.ga.us/campus/portal/dalton.jsp

Georgia Curriculum Standards
http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/External-Affairs-and-Policy/AskDOE/Pages/Parents-Curriculum-and-Instruction.Aspx

Georgia Department of Education
http://www.gadoe.org

Georgia Schools Report Card
https://gosa.georgia.gov/report-card

Georgia Professional Standards
https://www.gapsc.com  

US Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov

Every Student Succeeds Act
http://www.ed.gov/essa

Parent Teacher Association
http://www.pta.org

Weather News
http://achieve.weatherbug.com

Discovery Education
http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com

Title I Part A is part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This act provides federal funds through the Georgia Department of Education to local educational agencies (LEAs) and public schools with greater than 40 percent of their children qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. All DPS schools are designated Title I schools. These funds are designed to ensure that all children learn challenging academic content and meet high academic achievement goals. Recognizing that parents are important partners in their child’s learning, some Title I funds are designated to provide parents with information and opportunities for parent involvement.

To view your school’s parent involvement policy and school improvement plan, check with the school’s office. To learn more about how to give input to schools and the system about Title I programs and expenditures, please visit the district website at www.daltonpublicschools.com

Content and Engagement

Dalton Public Schools is committed to the vision of “World-class learning that prepares students for success in college, career, and civic life.” Curriculum and instructional practices are designed to support three goal areas of the district’s Strategic Plan:

1. Improve student mastery of standards
2. Improve student social emotional learning competencies
3. Consistently engage student in work with high levels of cognitive demand

The Georgia Department of Education provides the Georgia Standards of Excellence to all school districts which clarifies what Georgia’s students need to know and be able to do at each grade level, in each subject. These performance standards provide clear expectations for instruction, assessment, and student work in the areas of English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Literacy in Social Studies, Science, CTAE, and Physical Education. For a listing of the standards by grade level and content area, visit www.georgiastandards.org.

How We Teach

In recent years, Dalton Public Schools has invested heavily in professional learning opportunities for teachers. For teachers to design engaging, quality work for each child so that all children learn what they need to know, the school district must provide learning opportunities and resources for teachers. At Dalton Public Schools, you may hear the phrase “framework versus program” from our teachers who are participating in these professional learning opportunities. Simply, instructional programs prescribe how teachers should teach and what resources they should use no matter the children in their classrooms; frameworks free teachers to pull from multiple resources and strategies to design lessons specific for the children in their classrooms, making “differentiation of instruction” a reality. Here are a few of the “frameworks” you might hear mentioned by our teachers:

Balanced Literacy

Dalton Public Schools has implemented a balanced literacy framework in all elementary schools.

Balanced literacy is a philosophical orientation that assumes that reading and writing achievement are developed through instruction and support in multiple environments using various approaches that differ by level of teacher support and child control (Fountas & Pinnell, 1966). There are five different components of balanced literacy: The read aloud, guided reading, shared reading, independent reading, and word study. Sustained, job-embedded professional development for teachers supports the balanced literacy implementation. School-based academic coaches are trained in research-based methods and provided with ongoing professional development that is then redelivered to classroom teachers. The goal of this effort is to raise the level of literacy achievement for all students.

Engaging Work

The district’s mission is “to develop trusting relationships and provide quality work that engages students in profound learning.” When students are authentically engaged in meaningful, quality work, the likelihood for them to learn something new and to remember what was learned increases (Hancock & Betts, 2002). Phillip Schlechty (2002) wrote that, “When teachers work on the quality of work they give students, the work will engage more students more of the time. Improved student academic performance will result from increased student engagement because students work harder to achieve desired results.” This approach provides the foundation for the design of instruction and much of the professional learning that takes place in the district. Use of Schlechty’s ten design qualities and measures of student engagement continue to serve as resources for teachers as they design work for students in their classrooms.

Grading and Homework

Pre-K

During the school year, parents will receive progress reports of their student’s progress.

K-5  — Standards Based Grading/ Reporting

Recognizing that literacy is essential to all learning, Dalton Public Schools has set goals in reading, writing and listening for every elementary child. Simultaneously, the district has researched and developed standards based reporting for literacy and numeracy in grades K-5.

When parents think about grading, they often ask, “What grade did he or she get?” In standards-based systems, the questions parents are encouraged to ask are: “What has he or she learned about?” or “How well can he or she reason, write, communicate, work with others or problem-solve?” Each of these questions arises from the shared knowledge of what constitutes achievement or mastery of a standard or set of standards.

It will be important for parents to work closely with their child’s teacher as the teacher articulates the standards and expectations as they appear on the district’s rubrics. The rubrics will be distributed to each K-5 parent at the beginning of the year and full explanations will be given explaining the standards based reporting process. It is also important that the parent understand that their child will have multiple opportunities to perform at his/her highest level through the school year. The child will have until the end of the year to meet grade-level standards. The district pledges to communicate with students and parents as to a student’s progress towards meeting identified standards and benchmarks. The standards based report card is the primary tool that will be used to communicate to students and parents regarding student academic progress. Ideally, report cards will be used in an ongoing conversation between teachers, students and parents about what is expected of students and how to help them be successful in a rigorous academic program.

Fifth Grade Only

Students in fifth grade will receive both a standards-based and a numerical grade in Reading, Language Arts and Math each reporting term.

Report Card Dates

See the calendar on previous pages. Elementary grading periods are nine weeks.

Homework

The assignment of homework is encouraged when it enriches the school program. The amount of homework shall be reasonable to the extent that it benefits the child and does not interfere with the student’s health, the student’s assuming responsibilities in the home or take so much of the student’s time as to deny opportunities to engage in activities of the student’s own choosing.

Web-based Student Reports

Infinite Campus Parent Portal

All DPS students and parents are assigned accounts on Infinite Campus, the district’s online grade reporting and messenger system. Activated accounts allow you to access password-protected, customized web pages with links to online grade report and attendance reports for your child as well as district /school messages.

There are two types of activation codes—one for students and one for parents. Students may request their codes from homeroom teachers. To obtain a parent activation code, please email your request to parentportal@dalton.k12.ga.us.

Promotion and Retention

The DPS guidelines for promotion and retention, approved by the Dalton Board of Education, comply with Georgia law. This law directly impacts all Georgia third-graders, fifth-graders, and eighth-graders. If students do not meet reading and math standards as measured by the state’s Georgia Milestone End-of-Grade (EOG) test as well as district requirements, the student will not receive automatic promotion to the next grade. To view a copy of these guidelines, visit the district’s website at www.daltonpublicschools.com.

Assessing Student Progress

Kindergarten

The Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills Readiness Check and the Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills  (GKIDS) is used by teachers so they may learn what level of instructional support your child needs as (s)he enters kindergarten and progresses throughout the year.

Grades 1-8

Dalton Public Schools complies with the Georgia Department of Education’s requirements for administering both state and national standardized tests. In addition to testing students in grades 3-8 with the state-mandated Georgia Milestone End-of-Grade (EOG) tests and NWEA’s MAP Growth Assessment (grades K-8) will be used to formatively assess student progress throughout the year, providing a district bridge of classroom performance to state annual assessments.  A testing schedule is available online at www.daltonpublicschools.com. (Note: The testing schedule is subject to revisions based on changes made by the Georgia DOE during the school year.)

Parents may view the results of all tests administered to their child. Standardized test results will be shared with parents through parent conferences and/or report cards. School-wide results are available online at gosa.georgia.gov/report-card.

Challenge/Gifted

Dalton Public Schools serves approximately 940 identified gifted students in grades 1-12. Eligibility for gifted services is based on the state gifted eligibility rule and includes qualifying scores in mental abilities, achievement, creativity, and motivation. The curriculum is aligned to both Georgia’s content standards and the state and national gifted standards. The structure of the classes allow for differentiation, acceleration, and greater depth of knowledge. In addition to classes at their home schools, fifth grade students spend one school day each week at the C3 center in Dalton High School at 1500 Manly Street, extending and enriching the curriculum taught at the home schools.

Early Intervention and Reading Recovery

The Early Intervention Program (EIP) for elementary schools is a state-funded model designed to serve students who are at risk of not reaching or maintaining academic grade level. EIP teachers work with classroom teachers to provide additional instructional resources to help students who are performing below grade level to obtain the necessary academic skills to reach grade-level performance in the shortest possible time. Intervention services for some first-grade students are provided using the Reading Recovery model.

English Learners (EL)

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is a state-funded model designed for student success in language acquisition and academic development, while learning to function successfully in the American culture. Students are evaluated and provided support based on their native-language literacy, English literacy, and academic level.

Dalton Public Schools offers a unique, comprehensive continuum of services for English Learners (ELs). At all levels, the focus is on a push-in model that is offered at all DPS schools. Certified ESOL teachers push into classrooms to provide extra academic language support for students as required by the state. Very limited English speaking students who require additional support receive it through pull-out services provided by ESOL teachers in small groups. Dalton Public Schools employs more than 200 teachers with this certification.

Exceptional Student Services (ESS)

Dalton Public Schools’ ESS department supports the programming of supports and services to more than 1100 students with disabilities, ranging in age from 3-21 years. A continuum of services, from general education curriculum to an alternate curriculum, is provided for students with disabilities within the school district. The district provides supports and services as determined by student needs and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), which could include services within the region’s Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) center at the North Star location in Dalton. For more information about Exceptional Student Services, call the ESS office at 706-876-4023.

Child Find

Do you know a child who has or may have a disability and is not receiving therapy or services? Children ages birth through 21 who have a disability may be eligible to receive special services at no cost to their parents.

For more information or to make a referral call:

Babies Can’t Wait   706-529-5763
(Serving children with disabilities ages birth –3)

Dalton Public Schools  706-876-4023
(Serving Dalton City children with disabilities ages 3-21)

Whitfield County Schools  706-876-3921
(Serving Whitfield County children with disabilities ages 3-21)

 

The Dalton Board of Education is committed to providing access to advanced technology and increased opportunities for learning (e-learning) by providing students with Internet access through our district’s computer network. Use of this network offers the opportunity for students to utilize information resources not generally available within the school or local community.

Parents and students should consider that a student’s education will be enhanced through the use of the Dalton Public Schools’ online network. Some of the academic information needed by students will be available through this network, yet, an industrious student may discover inappropriate material. Dalton Public Schools uses aggressive filters and does everything within its capacity to monitor material available through the network. Students and teachers will participate in digital citizenship curriculum throughout their school career. Digital citizenship helps build the capacity of students, teachers and parents on the self-monitored habits that sustain and improve the digital communities that you enjoy or depend on.

If you do not want your child to have access to the DPS online network, including email, you must notify the school in writing within 10 days of enrollment in DPS. If this is your preference, you assume responsibility for acquiring your child’s academic information that would otherwise be provided by Dalton Public Schools’ network.

Dalton Public Schools 1:1 Device Program

Technology in the classroom has become a necessity and not a luxury. Beginning in the 16-17 year, all Dalton Public Schools students in grades 3-12 were equipped with a device that became an integrated part of their classroom experience. The district has been expanding the use and availability of technology in many of its classrooms over the last few years. Using E-SPLOST (Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) revenues and allocating local funds, the district was able to ensure devices would be available for students. Dalton Public Schools will provide new devices to 3rd, 6th and 9th grade students. All other students in grades pre-k through 12 will get devices to complete the one-to-one ratio. Once a student reaches 3rd, 6th or 9th grade, he or she will get a new device to keep until he or she reaches the next transitioned grade, graduation or leaves the district. Students in pre-k and kindergarten will receive iPads while 1st and 2nd will receive laptops for classroom use.

Device Damage & Repairs

All new devices in 3rd, 6th and 9th grades were purchased with full accidental warranty coverage. Only loss or theft of the device and the charger are not covered by the warranty. As the district continues to make device refresh purchases, the accidental warranty will also be included. This school year, repair costs for accidental damage to a device will not be charged to the student. Families will not need to purchase any insurance this year to cover accidental damage to devices.

The district reserves the right to charge any student for a damaged device based upon school administration’s review of any particular incident. Any student found to willfully damage a device could face disciplinary action in addition to the cost for the repair of the device.

Chargers

Each student will be provided one charger for his or her device at the beginning of the school year. Students should verify the functionality of their charger within the first week of receiving their device. If a charger is found to be defective or damaged within the first week of a student having the device, then the district will replace the charger at no cost to the student. At the end of the school year the charger should be turned in with the device. If a student’s charger is lost or damaged throughout the school year, then the student may purchase another charger in the media center for $15.

Web Filtering   

All devices have a web filter that will safeguard your student both on and off campus. If you suspect an inappropriate website is accessible on your child’s device, please report the content to your school administration team. The district technology team will review the website and take any necessary steps to block content where appropriate.

Taking Devices Home

Your student’s device is a vital part of instruction at Dalton Public Schools. Students will be able to take their device home throughout the school year. Each school and grade level will have different start dates for taking devices home. Please contact your school administration for more information.

Device Take Up

During May, devices will be collected in order to prepare them for the next school year. In addition, students who transfer to another district or withdraw from Dalton Public Schools should turn in their device before leaving the district. Any student who does not turn in their device or charger will be charged for the full replacement cost of the device and/or $15 for the charger.

We recognize that electronic communication devices (ECDs) are an important part of our everyday world and are increasingly being used to enhance teaching and learning. The use of ECDs in schools increases student productivity in and outside the classroom, encourages individual leadership in learning, expands access to learning resources, and helps develop digital citizenship within a structured environment. However, we do not want devices to interfere with the students’ learning environment. Unless otherwise noted, the following information applies to both school-owned and family-owned ECDs. Use of ECDs is subject to the provisions in the District Acceptable Use and Internet Policy.

1. Electronic communication devices (ECDs) include computers (laptops), pagers, cell phones, smart phones, portable game units, graphing calculators, and similar electronic equipment that may enable users to communicate electronically person-to-person or through internet social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
2. School rules, including the Student Code of Conduct, apply when students are at school, attending a school-related activity off-campus, after-hours activities on campus, and in online school activities. They apply when students are:

• Attending class
• Socializing in hallways and elsewhere on school grounds
• Using school media centers, restrooms, locker rooms, gyms and other school facilities
• Going to and from school
• Having lunch
• Attending school-sponsored activities off-campus, such as field trips and dances
• Attending school-related activities off-campus, such as away games

3. Refusal to turn off, close the screen or silence an ECD when told by a teacher, administrator, coach, counselor or other school official

• Damaging an ECD not owned by the student
• Causing disruption or the likelihood of disruption
• Using an ECD to cheat, including getting and giving answers to tests and copying    from the internet
• Using an ECD to bully, threaten, harass or attack another student or school personnel, whether or not communicated directly to  that person
• Sending (or asking to receive) pictures or videos of people who are partially or  completely undressed
• Bypassing or attempting to bypass school Internet filtering while using the school network
• Using credentials other than a student’s own (ex: another student or staff member’s credentials) or attempt to impersonate another student or staff member

4. Additionally, the school may discipline students who misuse ECDs away from school on their own time if both of the following are true:

• The student’s use of the ECD causes significant disruption at school or serious  harm to the school, other students, or school personnel
• The student knew, or should have known, that the harm would happen

5.   When a student misuses an ECD and/or student account, the school may do the following, as long as the severity of the school’s action matches the seriousness of the student’s misuse of the ECD:

• Search the ECD and/or student account within the context of the alleged misuse
• Warn the student verbally or in writing, and/or contact the student’s parents, school security or police
• Depending upon the offense, take and keep the ECD for the rest of the school day or longer
• Deny the student the privilege of participating in co-curricular, extracurricular and athletic activities in accord with the student discipline procedure
• Suspend or expel the student from school in accordance with student discipline procedures
• Depending on the offense, a student may have limited privilege and access to their student account

Student Account Availability and Usage:

• All Dalton Public Schools Students have free access to the following accounts:
  • Office 365, G Suite, Canvas.
• Additionally, students may have access to other district and school specific accounts. Parents and guardians may contact their child’s school media specialist for a comprehensive list of accounts their student has access to.
• Password reset will occur at a minimum of two times within a school year.
• It is recommended that school passwords do not match any non-DPS accounts.
• Students should never share their username and password.
• If a student feels that their credentials have been compromised or if they have forgotten their password, they should contact their school’s media specialist.

Information Specific to Family-Owned ECDs:

• Students assume all risk of theft or damage and should exercise responsible behavior in the use and protection (protective cases) of any ECD. Dalton Public Schools will not be responsible for family-owned ECDs. You are encouraged to keep a record of your ECD’s serial number, and you may wish to install tracking software (ex. Absolute Software) to assist you in finding lost or stolen property.
• Students should consult their ECD’s manual for troubleshooting. Schools cannot offer technical support or hardware and software for family-owned devices.
• All data/usage fees associated with family-owned ECDs are the responsibility of the owner of the data plan.
• Due to licensing or compatibility constraints, district software may not be able to be installed on a family-owned ECD.

Information Specific to School-Owned ECDs:

• Based on Dalton Public Schools’ 1:1 initiative, each Pre-K through 12th grade student will be issued a device to use in class.
• While an ECD may be assigned to a specific student, it is a learning resource owned by Dalton Public Schools. As such, students may be asked to use the ECD with others during class.
• Students assume all risk of theft or misuse and should exercise responsible behavior and care in the use and protection (including protective cases) of any ECD. Replace or repair costs will be assessed to student accounts for damages or loss of the device.
• The following charges apply to devices that receive malicious/negligent damage or become lost/unreturned:

Lost or Damaged Charging Adapter: $15.00

Device Damage: The cost will vary upon the part(s) that need(s) to be replaced and the labor charge from the replacing company up to a maximum of $565.

Lost/Unreturned Device: Cost of Device Replacement

 

• A police report is required if a school-owned ECD is stolen.
• If a student graduates or withdraws from Dalton Public Schools, the school-owned ECD must be returned. Failure to return a school-owned device will result in a charge to the student’s account, as well as the device being reported as stolen. A student’s ability to receive transcripts or participate in graduation may be impacted.
• Any court costs involved in recovering a device that is not returned will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian of the student.

Behavior

All students are expected to behave in a polite and orderly manner. No student’s misconduct will be allowed to interfere with another student’s progress or welfare. Parents are asked to assist school personnel in every way possible to ensure high standards for both behavior and academic performance among students. If your child’s behavior interferes with the learning and safety of others, you may receive a call to take your child home for the remainder of the school day.

Dalton Public Schools’ Code of Conduct is printed at the end of this section for reference and convenience. Please read it and sign the acknowledgment provided with this handbook.

No Chewing Gum

Chewing gum is not allowed at school. Please do not allow students to bring gum to school.

No Toys

Do not allow students to bring toys to school, which are not part of the education program, unless specifically requested by the teacher. Also, note that toy look-alike weapons are never allowed at school. (Real weapons are not allowed, either.)

Media Center

Each class visits the school’s media center on a regular basis. When a student takes a book home, parents are asked to help their child enjoy the book and return it to school when it is due. Parents should talk to their child about the rules on the care and handling of books, especially emphasizing not marking in or tearing the book. Students learn specific ways to take care of books while using the media center. Responsibility for checking out and returning books, keeping books clean and safe (from food, liquids, babies and pets) as well as taking care of the book pages are a part of the curriculum. Also, parents may wish to check with their school’s media specialist about accessing additional resources available online.

Parents are welcome to borrow books to read as a Story Parent. Please call the school’s media center for assistance with a specific title. Resources, which include child development books, DVDs, new technologies, devices, tablets and videos, are available in the media center for student usage.

P.L.A.Y (PINES Library Access for Youth) Cards:

Dalton Public Schools partners with the Northwest Georgia Regional Library System to provide all DPS students with free access to library materials and online resources with the PLAY digital card.

Access more than 11 million items through PINES, the statewide network of public library systems.

Check out up to 5 books, audiobooks, CDs, or DVDs with no overdue fines. Plus, free access to eBooks via PINES, Libby, and eREAD KIDS.

The PLAY card is an opt-out benefit. Your child’s Student ID number will act as a library card number unless you choose to opt-out of the program by notifying in writing within 10 days of enrollment in DPS.

Field Trips

Field trips are planned to complement the instructional program. Teachers will provide parents with notification regarding details of planned trips. For your student’s safety, we require all students to ride school buses (if vehicular transportation is needed) to and from field trips. Students are expected to return to school with their class after field trips. If an admission cost must be paid for the trip, your child’s teacher will let you know in advance. Field trip costs can be paid in cash, check or through SchoolPay. No child will be excluded from a field trip if he/she is unable to pay the admission cost.

Clothing and DPS Dress Code

Dalton Public Schools has a dress code for students in grades PreK-12. For your convenience, the dress code is included in the DPS Code of Conduct located at the end of this section.

Children should wear comfortable, safe, appropriate clothing and accessories so they can participate in the classroom, gym and playground activities without worrying about their clothes. Elementary students should wear shoes appropriate for participation in physical education (PE) class. Shoes with roller blades are not allowed. Note: Do not send a rolling backpack to school with your child as they create a safety hazard in bus and car-rider lines.

Personal Belongings

Please do not allow your child to bring items to school that are expensive or have great sentimental value.

Lost and Found

Please mark your child’s belongings so they can be returned. Any item found on the school grounds or a school bus should be turned in to the school office. Parents are welcome to look through the “Lost and Found” whenever visiting the school. Unclaimed items are donated to a local charity twice a year.

Dalton Public Schools is dedicated to providing quality work to students every day so that students may learn what they need to know. Students must be present to learn. Important: Excuses for absences must be provided within two days of a student’s return to school. Absences will not be changed from “unexcused” to “excused” after that time unless medical documentation is provided. Students who are not in their classroom by the second morning bell will be considered tardy.

A student absent from school must present to school authorities a letter written by his/her parent or guardian, or medical provider, explaining the reasons for the absence from school. In some cases, parents will be requested to provide written medical excuses or documentation. Students who become ill or injured while at school shall be dismissed from school only after parents or guardians have been notified. These absences or checkouts will be automatically excused. Exceptions to this shall be made only in cases of emergency.

A student shall be dismissed before the end of the official school day only when a parent or guardian sends a written request explaining the reason for early dismissal to the principal, or appears in person requesting the student’s dismissal. Students shall not leave the school grounds during school hours without permission from the school. Schools may require verification of right of custody of the student from anyone requesting early dismissal of the student.

As defined by State or Local Board Policy, a student is lawfully absent or tardy from school for the following reasons:

1. Personal illness that would endanger the student’s health or the health of others.
2. Serious illness or death in the student’s immediate family.
3. Special and recognized religious holidays observed by the student’s faith.
4. Mandated absence by order of governmental agencies, e.g., court order or pre-induction physical for the armed forces.
5. Conditions rendering school attendance impossible or hazardous to health or safety.
6. Students are allowed up to five days of visitation for students with parents preparing to ship out for military duty or on leave from such duty. The absences are excused absences.

• Students shall be counted present when they are serving as Pages of the General Assembly and/or while representing the school in an activity approved by the school and/or Board of Education.
• Students in foster care shall be counted present when they attend court proceedings relating to their foster care.
• Individual students who have emergencies to arise that necessitate their absence from school for a portion of the school day must have been present for one half of the instructional day in order to be included in attendance counts.
• An unlawful absence is one not permitted under the Compulsory School Attendance Law (20-2-690) and policies of the School Board. A combination of five (5) unexcused tardies or unexcused early checkouts will be considered one unexcused absence. The above reasons also apply to late check-ins and early checkouts.
• Parents should notify the school within two (2) days of an absence by phone or in writing.
• Parent notes will be accepted for up to 10 absences in a school year. After 10 absences, parents will be required to provide written medical excuses or documentation. However, in cases when a student’s absences become excessive and are addressed through an attendance intervention, i.e. Attendance Review Team, Educational Improvement Team or School Social Work Referral, absences will only be excused by written medical documentation.

Definition of Perfect Attendance

To receive recognition for Perfect Attendance this year, a student must be present at school each day. In addition, the student cannot have a combined total of more than four (4) unexcused tardies and/or unexcused early checkouts. (A combination of five unexcused tardies or unexcused early checkouts equals one unexcused absence).

Checkout Procedures

School personnel recognize their responsibility as guardians of students. Therefore, no elementary school student will be permitted to leave school after arriving on the school grounds without being accompanied by the parent or having the written consent of the parent for the student to be accompanied by a third party. Consent to leave shall be approved by the principal’s designee. Decisions are made based upon information provided by the person who enrolled the child in school. It is the parents’ responsibility to provide written notification regarding individuals who may or may not check their child out of school. Please notify the school immediately of any changes to this list of adults approved to check out your child. The school may request/require a photo ID of anyone checking a child out of school.

TO ENSURE SAFETY,  students may not checkout after 2:15 p.m. After that time, you will need to wait until 2:45 p.m., when children are dismissed from school.

After-School Program (ASP)

Dalton Public Schools offers an after-school program for all prekindergarten-5th grade students needing afternoon childcare. ASP hours are 2:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday-Friday on days when school is in session. The fee is $8 per day. Fees are due in advance or on the day the child receives care. Dalton Public Schools can accept ASP payments using a credit card or debit card for ASP payments. You can access the secure online payment portal through www.schoolpay.com. A transaction and convenience fee will apply. ASP is operated by Dalton Public Schools and staffed by school personnel. Time is devoted each day to homework, recreation, art activities, videos and fellowship with other students in a safe and caring environment.

Out–of-Zone, Out-of-District Students, Out-of-State (OOZ/OOD/OOS)

Students who live in the city may apply to attend another school other than the one for which they are zoned.

Students living outside Dalton’s city limits are accepted on a space-available basis. Tuition for these students is:

• $155 per month for the first child ($1,550/year)
• $125 per month for the second child ($1250/year)
• $20 per month for the third child ($200/year)
• $0 per month for fourth child or more ($0/year)
• $500 per month for each child ($5,000/year)   for students who live outside the state of Georgia.

Tuition

Tuition must be paid by the 15th day of each school month, August through May. Tuition is payable to the DPS Central Office, Attn: Tuition, 300 W Waugh Street, Dalton, GA 30720. Dalton Public Schools can accept tuition payments using a credit card or debit card. You can access the secure online payment portal through www.schoolpay.com. A transaction and convenience fee will apply. Families who live outside the city limits but own property within the city may be exempt from all or part of the required tuition. Contact the Dalton Public Schools Finance Office at 706-876-4006 for more information.

For info about the OOZ/OOD/OOS application process and selection, call the district office at 706-876-4170 or view online at www.daltonpublicschools.com. On July 1, the district publishes “open” grades by school on this website.

Qualifications of Teaching Staff

If you would like more information about your child’s teachers (or paraprofessionals serving your child), please contact the school office.

Parent’s Right to Know Notification

In compliance with the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents may request the following information:

1. Whether the student’s teacher:

• Has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
• Is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and
• Is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.

2. Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

Parent Conferences

Because we believe parents are our partners in the education of their children, parent conferences will be scheduled. Parents with students in grades K-5 will have at least two scheduled parent conference, one in the fall and one in the spring. Additional conferences with the teacher may be scheduled at the request of a parent or as needed. Teachers’ schedules require appointments for all conferences. Call the school office or email your child’s teacher to make an appointment.

Sign-In Procedure for Visits

Parents are encouraged to visit and participate in school activities. School personnel value the assistance and support of parents at the school. As mandated by state law, all school visitors must first register in the main office before going elsewhere in the school. Parents are welcome to visit the classrooms. In order to prevent interruption of classes, visits should be planned with the teacher in advance. Please do not park along yellow curbs or block drives when visiting the school or picking up students. Emergency vehicles cannot get through when cars are parked improperly.

Personal items that need to be delivered to a student must be brought to the office.

Volunteer Opportunities

We welcome and encourage parents/guardians volunteering in our schools and with our programs. If you wish to volunteer at school, please complete a “volunteer sign-up sheet” form in the school office. We are most grateful for the extra help that our parents provide during the school year. School volunteers are Mandated Reporters by Georgia law and are required to report reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect to school administration, the school counselor, the school social worker or DFACS.

Messages for Students

Any messages for students should be received by the school’s front office. Messages regarding after-school arrangements for your child should be made as soon as possible and no later than 2:15 p.m.

Invitations

Personal party invitations may be given out at school if every student in the classroom receives one. School staff members cannot supply student names, addresses or phone numbers for special occasions.

Bus Service

Upon enrolling in Dalton Public Schools, students who live more than 1/2 mile from the school they attend, and need transportation to and from school, are assigned to a specific school bus. If it becomes necessary for your child to ride another bus to a babysitter, grandparent or somewhere other than their home on an extended or different basis, please complete the Special Transportation form in the school office. Completion of the Special Transportation request form does not guarantee the student may ride. Special Transportation will be approved if a bus stop at the requested location is already established and if the bus has seats available. Stops at businesses will not be approved and out-of-district and out-of-zone students cannot be transported. If your child needs to ride to the home of a classmate for only one day, please send a note to the child’s teacher. A school administrator or the student’s teacher must sign the note for the student to give to the bus driver.

Appropriate bus behavior is expected at all times. Bus rules are included in the DPS Code of Conduct. Students may be suspended from riding a bus due to inappropriate behavior.

Dalton Public Schools contracts with First Student for bus transportation services. If you have questions about bus schedules, etc., call 706-428-9489.

School Nutrition

All students may participate in the school breakfast and lunch program. Menus are posted online each month at www.daltonpublicschools.com/lunch-menu.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the universal free meals for the 2021-2022 school year. No free and reduced lunch applications will be processed this year.

A la carte items may be paid in advance at www.myschoolbucks.com. Meal reservations are not required for you to eat in the cafeteria with your child.

Online Meal Payments

The district offers online meal payments through www.myschoolbucks.com. This is an online portal for meal payment and viewing of student purchases. Adding funds to your student’s account is easy.

First, access your account on www.myschoolbucks.com and add your students. If you have multiple children, you can make multiple deposits for each child during your transaction.

Next, make a payment. You may use a credit card, debit card or your checking account. All payments are securely processed using our highly-secure website and encryption. All payments are quickly credited to your student’s account. The charge for each transaction is $2.50

Wellness

The Dalton Board of Education has approved a wellness policy in an effort to support and encourage wellness behaviors for both students and employees. The policy may be viewed online at https://bit.ly/2Hk8cF3.

Healthy Snacks for the Classroom

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, “Serving healthy snacks to children is important to providing good nutrition and supporting lifelong healthy eating habits. Healthy food options should always be made available as a choice when classroom treats are offered.” The following list of recommended healthy snacks/party foods is excerpted from the Center’s online publication titled “Healthy School Snacks,” accessible at www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy/healthy_school_snacks.pdf

Fruits: fresh, canned, frozen and dried fruits of all varieties; applesauce, fruit leathers and 100 percent fruit Popsicles; low-fat fruit dip. Vegetables: raw veggies of all varieties with low-fat dip.

Breads/Cereals: whole grains products including whole grain breads, muffins, pitas, tortillas, breakfast cereals, cereal bars, crackers, low -fat or air-popped popcorn, baked chips, pretzels and granola bars; low-fat crackers, such as graham crackers and animal crackers.

Low Fat Dairy Foods: yogurt, cheese, pudding and frozen yogurt.

Luncheon Meats: lean meats such as turkey, ham and roast beef served on whole grain bread or crackers.

Other snacks: angel food cake, Jell-O, low-fat ice cream and sherbets.

Healthy Beverages: water, low-fat or fat-free flavored or unflavored milk, fruit juices with a minimum of 50 percent juice.

Other snack ideas can be found at www.nutritionexplorations.org.

FITNESSGRAM

DPS is required to administer a national fitness assessment and reporting program for youth called FITNESSGRAM. The assessment includes a variety of health-related physical fitness assessments designed to assess cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition.

Criterion-referenced standards associated with good health have been established for children and youth for each of the health-related fitness components. Each child will receive an individualized report card that summarizes his/her performance on each component of health-related fitness and provides suggestions for how to promote and maintain good fitness.

School Nurse

A school nurse is available at each elementary school. The school health program is available to all students at no charge. In the event of an emergency, the school nurse will provide emergency medical care. Other services include: health screening — vision, hearing, dental, scoliosis, nutrition and development; health education — hygiene, nutrition, sleep and exercise; and other diagnosis, treatment and referral of health problems within the health nurse protocol. If you prefer that your child not access non-emergency services from the school nurse, please notify the school in writing within 10 days of enrollment.

Health Concerns and Medication

It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to notify the school, in writing, of any health problems of the student, i.e. diabetes, allergies, asthma, epilepsy. Written permission to administer medication must be on file in the clinic. Students are not allowed to have any type of medication on their person unless approved by administration. Medications must be kept in the clinic and administered by designated staff, unless otherwise authorized by a physician. Students authorized to self-administer such medications as inhalers for asthma, auto-injectable epinephrine for allergic reactions and medical needs for diabetes shall be instructed not to permit any other student to handle, possess or otherwise attempt to use his/her medication and shall be informed that violations of such instructions will be dealt with in accordance with the student code of conduct. Medications must be in the original labeled container (no baggies, foil, etc.).

Parent/guardian must complete the “Authorization to Give Medication at School” form (available in the nurse’s office) and provide the medication and related equipment to the principal or school nurse. It will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to inform the school of any changes. New medication or new doses will not be given unless a new form is completed. All medication must be taken directly to the office/clinic by the parent.  Due to federal laws, students are not allowed to bring medical marijuana (Low THC Oil) on campus, and the school nurse is not allowed to keep or administer such. Parents choosing to administer medical marijuana must bring it to the school and administer it directly to the student.

Illness

The school will make every effort to inform the parents of any illness or accident occurring at school that may need care or observation at home or medical attention.

TO ASSIST US IN CONTACTING YOU, PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOUR CURRENT ADDRESSES AND CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE ON FILE IN THE OFFICE, ALONG WITH INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY CONTACTS.

Students who are ill need to remain at home for the sake of the student and his/her classmates. Students should not return to school until they are free from fever, vomiting or viral diarrhea for a full 24 hours without the assistance of medication. For questions in this matter, please feel free to consult with your school nurse.  If a child returns to school before he/she is well, this usually aggravates the problem and may cause illness in other students.

Head Lice (Pediculosis)

Every year, children come in contact with head lice. Dalton Public Schools’ procedures are adapted from the State of Georgia Head Lice Manual. We have chosen to adopt the Whitfield County Health Department’s Lice Protocols and Practices while still allowing school administrators, school nurses and school social workers the opportunity to intervene when necessary.

An infestation of head lice is generally a minor and temporary annoyance to the child. Head lice are not caused by poor hygiene or parental neglect. Head lice can happen to anyone. Children will not be excluded from school because of the presence of nits (lice eggs), except in extreme cases.

The state recommended procedures are to notify parent/guardian of suspected infestation, which includes the presence of live bugs and live nits. State guidelines report that transmission of head lice most often occurs with direct head-to-head contact so exclusion or isolation of the child is not necessary. However, in some cases, at the discretion of school administrators, students will be sent home for treatment.

Emergencies

In weather-related or other emergency situations, information will be sent out on the district’s mobile app and posted on district and school websites and social media, as well as the local radio and TV stations. If bad weather conditions are expected, check the district website at www.daltonpublicschools.com or tune to the local radio and TV stations for information. Please make certain you keep your school office up-to-date on your current phone and email information so we may maintain your correct information in our computer-generated messenger system. You may download the free Dalton Public Schools mobile app on the App Store or GooglePlay.

DPS uses an automated messaging system to notify parents by e-mail or phone in case of a school emergency. Please be sure to keep your e-mail address and telephone number up-to-date in the school office so the district, school or teachers may send you important information.

Emergency Preparedness

The district and each school have developed an emergency preparedness plan to assist personnel in dealing with any potential catastrophic events or emergencies. A copy of the plan can be reviewed in the school office. In the event the school building must be evacuated and students moved off campus, they will be transported to a family reunification site. Parents would be told where they could pick up their child via local TV and radio stations, the school’s web page, mobile app, social media, an announcement posting on Parent Portal, and phone/email messages from the district’s messenger system. Adults will be required to show identification when picking up children at a reunification site.

School Safety

See something, Say something!

The Dalton Public Schools mobile app includes a Tip Line where anyone who sees or hears anything suspicious may report the information to a school administrator. Contact information is optional, so reports can be made anonymously. The app allows for the user to upload a photo or video related to a threat or suspicious activity. All reports are taken seriously and investigated by the school and/or district administrators.

Planning for Emergency Situations

The safety of our students and staff is one of our highest priorities. The district and schools each have an Emergency Operations Plan that outlines specific procedures for emergency situations to help ensure the safety of all students, staff and visitors. Each year, students and staff participate in lock-down drills for weather-related emergencies, fire drills, and lock-down drills for threats inside or outside the school building.

What Parents/Guardians Should Do During An Emergency

During an emergency, it is critical that a child’s emergency contact information is correct and up-to-date. Please ensure that you update your address and/or phone number anytime you move or change phone numbers.

Encourage your child to follow their teacher’s lead in an emergency. Talk with them about listening and following directions given to them at all times. Please don’t call or come to the school in the event of a school lock down or crisis. It is critical that phone lines remain open and you should keep your phone available to receive updates on the situation.  Parents who rush to the school impede traffic and hinder emergency response. Police will not allow anyone on the school grounds until the situation has been resolved. Please be assured that parents/guardians will be contacted as soon as possible when information in available.

Student Assistance Program

The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a free, confidential counseling service for all DPS students.  The assistance program helps individuals with guidance on how to best deal with personal issues that interfere with school and the ability to cope with relationships, anxiety about school performance, health and safety issues or adequate resources for daily life. The SAP is a contracted service through Hamilton EAP, which is part of Hamilton Medical Center and the counselors are independent of Dalton Public Schools.  SAP counselors maintain confidentiality between the student and parent/guardian. SAP services can be accessed by calling (706) 272-6558.  Students may contact the office directly or be referred by a custodial parent, teacher or administrative personnel with Dalton Public Schools.

Counseling

Each school has a counselor, who provides classroom guidance and counseling for students. The primary objectives of these services are to help the student gain knowledge in self-understanding, getting along with others, personal safety, decision-making and responsibility; building career awareness; providing support for all school personnel; and assisting parents in understanding the physical, emotional and intellectual development of their child. The guidance counselor achieves these objectives by classroom instruction and small group and individual counseling.

Materials and books concerning specific parent-child problems are available to be checked out by parents. Parents can call the school counselor to discuss questions or concerns about their child.

School Social Work Services

School Social Workers assist with the social and family needs of students and serve as a link between school, family, the student and community resources. Social workers may assist families in finding economic aid when appropriate; work with school, students and families on daily attendance; hold conferences with student and/or parents; make home visits; assist with

student needs, such as school supplies, clothing, food for families; and consult with appropriate school personnel to determine necessary interventions. If you wish to make a donation to an assistance fund that supports children in need, contact the DPS Student Services office at 706-876-4506.

Student Assistance Program

The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a free, confidential counseling service for all DPS students.  The assistance program helps individuals with guidance on how to best deal with personal issues that interfere with school and the ability to cope with relationships, anxiety about school performance, health and safety issues or adequate resources for daily life. The SAP is a contracted service through Hamilton EAP, which is part of Hamilton Medical Center and the counselors are independent of Dalton Public Schools.  SAP counselors maintain confidentiality between the student and parent/guardian. SAP services can be accessed by calling (706) 272-6558.  Students may contact the office directly or be referred by a custodial parent, teacher or administrative personnel with Dalton Public Schools.

Counseling

Each school has a counselor, who provides classroom guidance and counseling for students. The primary objectives of these services are to help the student gain knowledge in self-understanding, getting along with others, personal safety, decision-making and responsibility; building career awareness; providing support for all school personnel; and assisting parents in understanding the physical, emotional and intellectual development of their child. The guidance counselor achieves these objectives by classroom instruction and small group and individual counseling.

Materials and books concerning specific parent-child problems are available to be checked out by parents. Parents can call the school counselor to discuss questions or concerns about their child.

School Social Work Services

School Social Workers assist with the social and family needs of students and serve as a link between school, family, the student and community resources. Social workers may assist families in finding economic aid when appropriate; work with school, students and families on daily attendance; hold conferences with student and/or parents; make home visits; assist with

student needs, such as school supplies, clothing, food for families; and consult with appropriate school personnel to determine necessary interventions. If you wish to make a donation to an assistance fund that supports children in need, contact the DPS Student Services office at 706-876-4506.

Definition of Terms Used in PPRA:

“Instructional Material”- Instructional material that is provided to a student, regardless of format, including printed or representational materials, audio-visual materials and materials in electronic or digital formats (such as material accessible through the Internet). The term does not include academic tests or academic assessments.

“Invasive Physical Examination”- Any medical examination that involves the exposure of private body parts, or any act during such examination that includes incision, insertion, or injection into the body, but does not include a hearing, vision, or scoliosis screening.

“Personal Information” - Individually identifiable information including: (1) a student or parent’s first and last name; (2) home address; (3) telephone number; or (4) social security number.

Requirements:

No student shall be required to submit to a survey, analysis or evaluation that reveals information concerning:

• Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent;
• Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
• Sex behavior or attitudes;
• Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
• Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
• Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers;
• Religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; or
• Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program), without prior written consent of the parent or eligible student.

A parent of a student may, upon request, inspect any survey created by a third party containing one or more of the items listed above before the survey is administered or distributed by a school to a student and may choose to opt the student out of participation in the survey. The superintendent shall develop procedures for: (1) granting a request by a parent for reasonable access to such survey within a reasonable period of time after the request is received, and (2) making arrangements to protect student privacy in the event of the administration or distribution of a survey to a student containing one or more of the items listed above. The requirements of PPRA do not apply to a survey administered to a student in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

A parent of a student may, upon request, inspect any instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum for the student. The superintendent shall develop procedures for granting a request by a parent for reasonable access to instructional material within a reasonable period of time after the request is received.

Parents shall be notified prior to the administration of physical examinations or screenings that the school may administer to students. This notice shall offer the parent the opportunity to opt the student out of any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening that is (1) required as a condition of attendance; (2) administered by the school and scheduled by the school in advance; and (3) not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student, or of other students.

The parent of a student shall be notified prior to the commencement of activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling that information (or otherwise providing that information to others for that purpose). Such notice shall offer the parent the opportunity to inspect, upon request, any instrument used in the collection of such information before the instrument is administered or distributed to a student and to opt the student out of such activities. The superintendent shall develop procedures that: (1) make arrangements to protect student privacy in the event of such collection, disclosure, or use, and (2) grant a request by a parent for reasonable access to such instrument within a reasonable period of time after the request is received.

Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964); sex (Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Title II of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Equal Pay Act of 1963); age (Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967); handicap (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973); disability (Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990); genetic information (Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008) in its educational programs, employment or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The district prohibits retaliation against any individual who files a charge of discrimination, participates in a discrimination proceeding, or otherwise opposes an unlawful employment practice.

Employees, students and the general public are hereby notified that the Dalton Board of Education does not discriminate in any educational programs or activities or in its employment policies.

The director of human resources has been designated as the employee responsible for coordinating the effort to implement this non-discriminatory policy. Inquiries concerning the application of non-discrimination statues and regulations to the policies and practices of the Dalton Board of Education may be addressed to:

Mendy Woods, CAO, Equal Opportunity Employment Coordinator
Dalton Public Schools
P.O. Box 1408
300 W. Waugh St.
Dalton, GA 30722-1408
706-876-4073
mendy.woods@dalton.k12.ga.us

Or to the Regional Office for Civil Rights, Atlanta, GA 30323;
or to the Director, Office for Civil Rights, Education Department, Washington, D.C. 20201;
or to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 1-800-669-4000 (toll-free) or 1-800-669-6820 (toll-free TTY number for individuals with hearing impairments).
EEOC field office information is available at www.eeoc.gov or in most telephone directories in the U.S. Government or Federal Government section. Additional information about EEOC, including information about charge filing, is available at www.eeoc.gov.

If your communication is related to discrimination based on disability or impairment, contact:
Pam Wiles, Director of Exceptional Student Services
Dalton Public Schools
P.O. Box 1408
300 W. Waugh St.
Dalton, GA 30722-1408
706-876-4014
pam.wiles@dalton.k12.ga.us

Equity in Sports

By law, Dalton Public Schools is required to comply with and inform you about OCGA 20-2-315 Equity in Sports Act and Dalton Board of Education Policy IDFA. Inclusion of this notice in this handbook serves as Dalton Public Schools’ notification to your family.

If your communication is related to discrimination based on gender or equity in sports programs provided by Dalton Public Schools, contact: Mendy Woods, Equal Opportunity Employment Coordinator, at the address, phone number or email address listed above.

If your communication is related to discrimination based on disability or impairment, contact: Amy Bowers, Director of Exceptional Student Services, at the address, phone or email listed above.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a portion of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that ensures students experience equal access to school-related activities regardless of a known or perceived disability. Dalton Public Schools has a procedure for ensuring that students with a mental or physical impairment, or perceived as having an impairment, experience equal access to school-related activities. If a parent or staff member has concerns about a student’s access to school experiences, a Section 504 referral can be initiated by alerting the student’s teacher, school counselor, or an administrator about their concerns.

Any student or parent or guardian (“grievant”) may request an impartial hearing due to the school system’s actions or inactions regarding your child’s identification, evaluation or educational placement under Section 504. Requests for an impartial hearing must be in writing to Pam Wiles, Dalton Public Schools’ Section 504 Coordinator, PO Box 1408, Dalton, GA 30722-1408; however, a grievant’s failure to request a hearing in writing does not alleviate the school system’s obligation to provide an impartial hearing if the grievant orally requests an impartial hearing through the district’s Section 504 Coordinator. Pam Wiles will assist the grievant in completing the written Request for Hearing. She may be contacted through the district’s central office at 300 W. Waugh St, Dalton, GA 30720 or by telephone at 706-876-4023.  Copies of the Section 504 Procedural Safeguards and Notice of Rights of Students and Parents Under Section 504 may be found at www.daltonpublicschools.com or may be picked up at The 101 Building (101 N. Thornton Ave. Dalton, GA 30722) or at any of the school offices

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.  Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. Mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.