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unacceptable, whether or not they constitute sexual harassment asdefined in this regulation.COMPLAINT PROCEDUREIf a student or staff member believes that he/she is being or has beensubject to behavior that could constitute sexual harassment, that personshould immediately inform a parent or guardian, teacher, oradministrator. The student or adult should immediately inform theperpetrator that his/her behavior is unwelcome and unacceptable,offensive, in poor taste, unprofessional, and/or highly inappropriate andthat such behavior must stop. It is recognized, however, that victims ofsexual harassment are not always able to express their feelings to theirharasser or to others. In all cases, the responsibility for endingharassment rests with the harasser, not the victim.The following procedures covering Title VI (race, national origin), TitleIX (gender equity); and Section 504 (handicap) will be followed indealing with all complaints alleging discrimination and apply to allparties affected by the operations of the public schools, includingstudents, employees, and parents.The purpose of this procedure is to secure, at the lowest possibleadministrative level, equitable solutions to problems which may ariseconcerning claims of discrimination. Evidence of reprisal against acomplainant or witness shall be viewed as a violation of this policy.Any person who wished to inquire or to register a complaint concerningalleged discrimination in the North Haven Public Schools shall have anopportunity to bring such concerns to the attentions of the Civil RightsOfficer, who has the authority to resolve such complaints. If thecomplainant is a minor student or involves a minor, a determination mustbe made as to whether a child abuse report is required.The following grievance procedure shall be utilized by any student,parent or employee in making a complaint or inquiry.Level I: The complainant shall discuss the alleged discriminatory act orpractice with the Civil Rights Officer or the individual closest to the dailydecision-making level. This will normally be a principal, teacher,counselor, department chairperson, head custodian, or cafeteria manager.If satisfaction cannot be achieved through informal discussion, thefollowing procedure must be initiated.Level II: The complainant shall, within forty calendar days of the allegedincident, on forms provided, put the complaint in writing and file it withthe Civil Rights Officer. Within five working days a conference must beheld and a written response provided. Within five working days14

following the conference, the complaint must be resolved to thesatisfaction of both parties or referred to the Superintendent of Schools.Level III: Within ten working days after receipt of such complaint, theSuperintendent must hold a hearing; and within five working days of thehearing, resolve the complaint, negotiate a long-term solution or refer thematter to the Board of Education for consideration.Level IV: If the complainant is not satisfied with the Superintendent'sdecision, an appeal may be made within ten school days to the Board ofEducation. The Board will hear the complaint at the next regularmeeting. A written decision will be rendered within fifteen school daysfollowing the hearing.At any time, students, staff, or parents may report their grievance directlyto:U.S. Department of EducationOffice for Civil Rights5 Post Office Square 8th FloorBoston, MA 02109-3921Affirmative Action/ Nondiscrimination PolicyIn compliance with regulations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Civil Rights Act of 1987 and theAmericans with Disabilities Act, the North Haven Board of Educationadopts the following Equal Employment Opportunity and Equal AccessPolicies:It is the policy of the North Haven Board of Education that no staff,student, or parent on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, age,national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, genderidentity or expression, disability (including, but not limited to,intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physicaldisability or learning disability), genetic information be excluded fromparticipation, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discriminationunder any education program or activity sponsored by its public schools.Equal access will be provided to Boy Scouts of America and otherdesignated youth groups.Retaliation against any individual who complains pursuant to theBoard’s policy and regulations is strictly prohibited. The district will takeactions necessary to prevent retaliation as a result of filing a complaint.More information can be obtained by contacting the appropriate CivilRights Coordinator: Section 504/ADA , Director of Student Services,15

203-239-2581, Title IX, Coordinator of Health/Physical Education, 203239-1641.NONDISCRIMINATION GRIEVANCE PROCEDUREThe following procedures covering Title VI (race, national origin); TitleIX (sex, equity); and Section 504 (handicap) will be followed in dealingwith all complaints alleging discrimination and apply to all partiesaffected by the operations of the public schools, including students,employees and parents.The purpose of this procedure is to secure, at the lowest possibleadministrative level, equitable solutions to problems which may ariseconcerning claims of discrimination. Evidence of reprisal against acomplainant or witness shall be viewed as a violation of this policy.Any person who wishes to inquire or to register a complaint concerningalleged discrimination in the North Haven Public Schools shall have anopportunity to bring such concerns to the attention of the appropriateCivil Rights Coordinator or Superintendent, who has the authority toresolve such complaints. The following grievance procedure shall beutilized by any student, parent or employee in making a complaint orinquiry. Officials shall be governed by this procedure.Level I: The complainant shall discuss the alleged discriminatory act orpractice with the appropriate Civil Rights Coordinator or the individualclosest to the daily decision-making level. This will normally be theprincipal, teacher, counselor, program coordinator, head custodian, orcafeteria manager. If satisfaction cannot be achieved through informaldiscussion, the following procedure must be initiated.Level II: The complainant shall, within thirty (30) calendar days of thealleged incident, on forms provided, put the complaint in writing andfile it with the appropriate Civil Rights Coordinator. Within ten (10)working days a conference must be held and a written responseprovided. Within fifteen (15) working days from the date upon whichthe complaint was received by the appropriate Civil RightsCoordinator, the complaint must be resolved to the satisfaction of bothparties or referred to the Superintendent of Schools.Level III: Following the Superintendent’s review, he or she shallcommunicate his/her findings to the complainant with ten (10) businessdays following his/her receipt of the written request for review by theSuperintendent, including recommendations to resolve the complaint,negotiate a long-term solution or refer the matter to an impartial hearingofficer.Level IV: If the complainant is not satisfied with the Superintendent’sdecision, a request may be made within fifteen (15) school days to submitthe matter to a mediator or impartial hearing officer. The mediator orimpartial hearing officer must be someone who is knowledgeable about16

the differences between the particular civil rights violation beingdisputed and/or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).Students, employees and parents are advised that they may use the abovestated grievance procedures regarding Title VI, Title IX or Section 504complaints or they may report their grievance directly to the director ofthe Regional Office for Civil Rights.Grievances may be addressed to:U.S. Department of EducationOffice for Civil Rights8th Floor5 Post Office SquareBoston, MA 02109-3921NOTICE OF PARENT/STUDENT RIGHTSUNDER SECTION 504 OFTHE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (commonly referred to as“Section 504”) is a nondiscrimination statute enacted by the UnitedStates Congress.The purpose of Section 504 is to prohibitdiscrimination on the basis of disability and to assure that disabledstudents have educational opportunities and benefits equal to thoseprovided to nondisabled students.For the purposes of Section 504, the term “disability” with respect to anindividual means: (a) a physical or mental impairment that substantiallylimits one or more major life activities of such individual; (b) a record ofsuch an impairment; or (c) being regarded as having such an impairment.“Major life activities” include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself,performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking,standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading,concentrating, thinking, communicating and working. A major lifeactivity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including,but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth,digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory,endocrine and reproductive functions.Many students will be eligible for educational services under bothSection 504 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),17

but entitlement to services under the IDEA or other statutes is notrequired to receive services under Section 504.The following is a description of the rights and options granted by federallaw to students with disabilities under Section 504. The intent of the lawis to keep you fully informed concerning decisions about your child andto inform you of your rights if you disagree with any of these decisions.You have the right:1.2.To be informed of your rights under Section 504;To have your child take part in and receive benefits from the NorthHaven School District’s education programs withoutdiscrimination based on his/her disability.3. For your child to have equal opportunities to participate inacademic, nonacademic and extracurricular activities in yourschool without discrimination based on his/her disability;4. To be notified with respect to the Section 504 identification,evaluation, and educational placement of your child;5. To have an evaluation, educational recommendation, andplacement decision developed by a team of persons who areknowledgeable of your child, the assessment data, and anyplacement options;6. If your child is eligible for services under Section 504, for yourchild to receive a free appropriate public education. This includesthe right to receive reasonable accommodations and services toallow your child an equal opportunity to participate in school andschool-related activities;7. For your child to be educated with peers who do not havedisabilities to the maximum extent appropriate;8. To have your child educated in facilities and receive servicescomparable to those provided to non-disabled students;9. To review all relevant records relating to decisions regarding yourchild’s Section 504 identification, evaluation, and educationalplacement;10. To obtain copies of your child’s educational records at a reasonablecost unless the fee would effectively deny you access to therecords;11. To request changes in the educational program of your child;12. To an impartial hearing if you disagree with the school district’sdecisions regarding your child’s Section 504 identification,evaluation or educational placement. The costs for this hearing areborne by the local school district. You and the student have the18

right to take part in the hearing and to have an attorney representyou at your expense.13. To file a court action if you are dissatisfied with the impartialhearing officer’s decision or to request attorney’s fees related tosecuring your child’s rights under Section 504.14. To file a local grievance with the designated Section 504Coordinator to resolve complaints of discrimination other thanthose involving the identification, evaluation or placement of yourchild.15. To file a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Education,Office for Civil Rights.The Section 504 Coordinator for this district is:Director of Student ServicesTelephone: 203-239-25815 Linsley St.North Haven, CT 06473For additional assistance regarding your rights under Section 504, youmay contact:Boston Regional OfficeOffice for Civil RightsU.S. Department of Education8th Floor5 Post Office Square, Suite 900Boston, MA 02109-3921Telephone: (617) 289-0111U.S. Department of EducationOffice for Civil Rights550 12th Street, SWWashington, DC 20202-1100Telephone: 1-800-421-3481Connecticut State Department of EducationBureau of Special EducationP.O. Box 2219Hartford, CT 06145Telephone: (860) 713-691019

NHHS STUDENT ATTENDANCE POLICYREGARDING COURSE CREDIT AND TRUANCYPhilosophy and Shared ResponsibilitiesATTENDANCEA.The North Haven High School community believes that schoolattendance is essential to academic success and adheres to theseconvictions concerning attendance: Time spent in class is academic opportunity. Time spent on task increases learning. To succeed, students must actively engage in theeducational experience. In school, as in life, success depends largely on teamwork.B.Students are expected to:16. attend class regularly and on time,17. come to class with materials and prepared to learn,18. contribute to class, and19. obtain class work and homework following an absence.C.Parents are expected to: ensure students’ attendance in class (required by law inConnecticut General Statutes 10-184), monitor students’ attendance and progress throughcommunications with their students, the PowerSchoolwebsite, and communications with the school cooperate with the school to help students achieve academicsuccess.D.The school is expected to: maintain accurate student attendance records, provide and implement an attendance policy that supportsthe NHHS Core Values and Belief statement, notify the parents/guardians when a student reaches half ofthe maximum allowed absences in a course, and provide an appeal process for loss of credit.20

Student Attendance Policy Regarding TruancyRegular and punctual student attendance in school is essential to theeducational process. Connecticut state law places responsibility forassuring that students attend school with the parent or other personhaving control of the child. To assist parents and other persons inmeeting this responsibility, the Board of Education, through itsSuperintendent, will adopt and maintain procedures to implement thispolicy.In addition, the Board of Education takes seriously the issue of chronicabsenteeism. To address this issue, the Board of Education, through itsSuperintendent, will adopt and maintain procedures regarding chronicabsenteeism in accordance with state law.Legal References:1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.Connecticut General Statutes §10-220Connecticut General Statutes §10-184Connecticut General Statutes §10-186Connecticut General Statutes §10-198aPublic Act 15-225, “An Act Concerning Chronic Absenteeism”Guidelines for Reporting Student Attendance in the PublicSchool Information System (Connecticut State Department ofEducation, January 2008)Connecticut State Department of Education Circular Letter C2, Utilizing Local Support Resources Prior to Referral ofStudents for Family with Service Needs (August 4, 2009)Connecticut State Board of Education Memorandum,Definitions of Excused and Unexcused Absences (June 27,2012)Connecticut State Department of Education, Guidelines forImplementation of the Definitions of Excused and UnexcusedAbsences and Best Practices for Absence Prevention andIntervention (April 2013)Administrative Regulations Regarding Attendance,21

Truancy, and Chronic AbsenteeismI. Attendance and TruancyA. Definitions for Section I1. “Absence” - any day during which a student is notconsidered “in attendance” at his/her assigned school, or ona school-sponsored activity (e.g. field trip), for at least onehalf of the school day.2. “Disciplinary absence” - Any absence as a result of schoolor district disciplinary action. Any student serving an outof-school suspension or expulsion should be consideredabsent. Such absence is not considered excused orunexcused for attendance and truancy purposes.3. “Educational evaluation” - for purposes of this policy, aneducational evaluation is an assessment of a student’seducation

Alan Vezina Jennifer Zettergren F.P.S. PROGRAM Bevan Moore, Program Coordinator . Rebecca Carr, Program Director Melissa Chiarelli, School Counselor Lisa Eagan, School Counselor . that such behavior must