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2021-22 ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HANDBOOKArlington Educational Television (AETV) broadcastson Comcast channel 70 and Verizon FiOS channel41. APS School Board meetings are broadcast live byAETV on both channels. In addition, AETV producesand broadcasts APS Snapshots, APS Green Scene,APS Partners in Action and #digitalAPS. AETV alsoshares a variety of APS arts and education events withthe community. For more information about AETVprograms and broadcast schedules, go to apsva.us/aetv.The APS Language Services Registration Center(LSRC) facilitates the school registration process andprovides language support to families with English as aSecond Language. The Language Line is an on-demand,three-way telephone translation service that can beaccessed in all schools and offices, to connect APS,families and language interpreters.APS news and information is included in a varietyof publications. These include the APS Handbook,Guidebooks for Parents, APS Friday 5 and QuickFacts.For more information, go to apsva.us/publications.H-B WOODLAWN & SHRIVER PROGRAMSFull DayEarly Release9:24 a.m. - 4:06 p.m.9:24 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.SCHOOL HOURSThe Arlington School Board is composed of fivemembers who serve overlapping four-year terms. Theterms commence on January 1 of the year followingthe election. Citizens interested in the election processshould contact the Office of Voter Registration and theElectoral Board of Arlington County at 703-228-3456.Arlington schools operate on six different timeschedules. Most schools also offer before-school andafter-school activities beyond the regular school hours.Check with your school to learn what programs areoffered and if bus transportation is available.ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: Abingdon, Campbell, CarlinSpringsFull DayEarly Release8:00 a.m. - 2:41 p.m.8:00 a.m. - 12:26 p.m.ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: Arlington Traditional School,Barrett, Long Branch and RandolphFull DayEarly Release8:25 a.m. - 3:06 p.m.8:25 a.m. - 12:51 p.m.ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: Arlington Science Focus,Ashlawn, Barcroft, Cardinal, Claremont, Discovery,Drew, Glebe, Fleet, Hoffman-Boston, Innovation,Jamestown, Key, McKinley, Montessori, Nottingham,Oakridge, Taylor and TuckahoeFull DayEarly Release9:00 a.m. - 3:41 p.m.9:00 a.m. - 1:26 p.m.MIDDLE SCHOOLS: Dorothy Hamm, Gunston, Jefferson,Kenmore, Swanson and WilliamsburgFull DayEarly Release7:50 a.m. - 2:24 p.m.7:50 a.m. - 11:54 p.m.HIGH SCHOOLS: Wakefield, Washington-Liberty andYorktownFull DayEarly Release8:19 a.m. - 3:01 p.m.8:19 a.m. - 12:34 p.m.4ARLINGTON CAREER CENTERFull DayEarly Release8:00 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.8:00 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.PLAN FOR MAKE-UP DAYSThe 2021-22 calendar includes 181 instructionaldays for elementary, middle and high school students.If inclement weather or unforeseeable circumstancesprevent students from being in school for 180 days, orthe number of instructional hours required by the state,make-up days will be scheduled as follows:ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLSThe first ten days lost will not need to be made up.ARLINGTON SCHOOL BOARDSCHOOL BOARD MEETINGSThe Arlington School Board usually meets on the firstand third Thursdays of each month in the Board Roomat the Syphax Education Center, 2110 Washington Blvd.Check the website or call the Board office for meetingtimes. The agenda for each School Board meeting ismade public one week prior to the Board meeting andcan be viewed on the BoardDocs website under the“meetings” tab.School Board meetings are broadcast live onComcast Cable channel 70 and Verizon FiOS channel41; live-streamed on the APS website; and re-broadcaston Fridays at 9 p.m. and Mondays at 7:30 p.m. Citizensmay view the broadcast on the APS website (apsva.us/school-board-meetings/) during the meetings.CONTACT THE SCHOOL BOARDThe Arlington School Board Office is located on thesecond floor of the Syphax Education Center, 2110Washington Blvd. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Open office hours for citizens to visit with School Boardmembers are generally held on Mondays from 5–7 p.m.during the school year.To contact the School Board Office, call 703-2286015; write to the Arlington School Board, 2110Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204; or emailschool.board@apsva.us.

2021-22 ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HANDBOOKSCHOOL BOARD MEMBERSDr. Barbara J. Kanninen, Chair2110 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204Office: 703-228-6015(Term expires Dec. 31, 2022)Reid Goldstein, Vice Chair2110 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204Office: 703-228-6015(Term expires Dec. 31, 2023)Christina Diaz-Torres, Member2110 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204Office: 703-228-6015(Term expires Dec. 31, 2024)Monique O’Grady, Member2110 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204Office: 703-228-6015(Term expires Dec. 31, 2021)David Priddy, Member2110 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204Office: 703-228-6015(Term expires Dec. 31, 2024)SCHOOL BOARD ADVISORY GROUPSThe School Board actively seeks the advice ofcommunity members through a wide range of advisorycommittees, boards and councils. These advisorygroups are appointed by the School Board, advise theSchool Board, and, when appropriate, make recommendations on issues or policies related to the successfuloperation of the school system. These groups include: Advisory Council on Instruction (ACI) Advisory Council on School Facilities and CapitalProjects Budget Advisory Council School Health Advisory Board (SHAB) Building Level Planning CommunityFor more information on all Arlington Public Schoolsadvisory groups, go to apsva.us/citizen-advisory-groups.APS POLICIES AND PROCEDURESThe official policies, rules and regulations ofArlington Public Schools are contained in the ArlingtonPublic Schools School Board Policies (SBP) and PolicyImplementation Procedures (PIPs). The policies andprocedures are available for public review in eachschool office, each school library, Arlington publiclibraries, the School Board Office and the Departmentof School and Community Relations at the SyphaxEducation Center, located at 2110 Washington Blvd.,Arlington. They are also available on the website atapsva.us/school-board-policies.ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PARENTALRESPONSIBILITYWhile not all material in the policies and proceduressection apply to students in a distance learningenvironment, APS is required by the Commonwealthof Virginia to have parents and legal guardians reviewthe rules and regulations of their children’s schoolsaccording to Virginia School Law 22.1-279.3. “Withinone calendar month of the opening of school, eachschool board shall, simultaneously with any othermaterials customarily distributed at that time, send tothe parents of each enrolled student (i) a notice of therequirements of this section; (ii) a copy of the schoolboard’s standards of student conduct; and (iii) a copy ofthe compulsory school attendance law. These materialsshall include a notice to the parents that by signing thestatement of receipt, parents shall not be deemed towaive, but to expressly reserve, their rights protectedby the constitutions or laws of the United States orthe Commonwealth and that a parent shall have theright to express disagreement with a school’s or schooldivision’s policies or decisions.Each parent of a student shall sign and return tothe school in which the student is enrolled a statementacknowledging the receipt of the school board’sstandards of student conduct, the notice of the requirements of this section, and the compulsory schoolattendance law. Each school shall maintain records ofsuch signed statements.”This 2021-22 Arlington Public Schools (APS)Handbook contains items on APS School Boardpolicies, including student conduct and compulsoryschool attendance. The APS Handbook is provided toall families as a part of the Annual Online VerificationProcess that requires families acknowledge they are inreceipt of the APS Handbook. The APS Handbook is alsoavailable on the website at apsva.us/publications.ADMINISTRATIVE PLACEMENTAn administrative placement falls under SchoolBoard Policy J-5.3.32. Arlington Public Schoolsdetermines a student’s eligibility to attend school inalignment with the Code of Virginia and according toSchool Board Policy J-5.3.30 Admissions, In special5

2021-22 ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HANDBOOKsituations, Arlington Public Schools may admit a studentor place a student in an alternate school or program.Placements are based on aligning student needs withArlington Public School’s services. The following specialcircumstances are considered for AdministrativePlacements. Requests of Local Courts Program Continuity Result of Disciplinary Actions Inability to Access Education Medical or Psychological Needs Hardship (Includes death in family, medical illness ofparent/guardian, financial difficulties.The duration of Administrative Placements is basedon the specific situation. Each placement shall haveits duration established at the time of the placement,including renewal requirements if any, as appropriate.In general, placements are for the duration of theprogram.Decisions regarding administrative placementrequests are made by the Director, AdministrativeServices who works with the appropriate staff fromthe Office of Academics, Student Services and SpecialEducation. The form to request an administrativeplacement can be found at: apsva.us/school-options/administrative-placement/. For more information, contact Director, Administrative Services at703-228-6187.Appeals of decisions may be made to theSuperintendent or designee. The appeal will besubmitted to the Superintendent or designee by theparent/guardian, in writing, and should include thespecific reasons and justification for why an exceptionshould be granted. The Superintendent/designee willprovide a written, clear and timely response to theappeal that is consistent with the policy. If families aredissatisfied with the response from the Superintendent/designee, they may appeal in writing to the SchoolBoard for consideration. This includes any medical and/or psychological related requests, submitted along withrequired documentation.ADMISSIONAll students enrolled in Arlington Public Schoolsmust reside in Arlington County for admission on atuition-free basis. Arlington Public Schools reservesthe right to periodically request proof of residency.Students in grades K–12 who move out of ArlingtonCounty after the fourth quarter begins may completethe school year without paying tuition. Students whomove before the fourth quarter begins must requestpermission to complete the school year in Arlingtonas a non-resident tuition-paying student. Seniors whomove out of Arlington County after the third markingperiod ends may be allowed to complete the schoolyear tuition-free. State legislation passed in 2005created a Class 4 Misdemeanor charge for knowingly6making false statements concerning the residency of achild in a particular school division or school attendancezone. For more information, see School Board PolicyJ-5.3.30 at apsva.us/school-board-policies.ABSENCESRegular school attendance is critical to students’success in school; therefore, except when ill or excused,students are expected to attend scheduled classes andother required school activities. Parents are discouraged from planning trips or vacations that will causetheir child to be absent from school. Parents shouldcheck with each school regarding specific attendancepolicies. To assist school staff in monitoring the safetyof students, parents should notify the school in advanceif their child will be absent from school.School division staff is obligated to file a courtpetition when students continue to be absent without alegitimate (excused) reason. In such cases, parents areheld liable for their minor child’s school attendance. Incases where a student is exhibiting mental health issuesthat prevent regular school attendance, the schoolcounselor, school social worker, student and parentshould work as a team to address the issue. At the highschool level, school attendance specialists are also available to assist with attendance concerns.EXCUSED ABSENCES (ALL OTHERS ARE UNEXCUSED) Illness, quarantine of student, doctor or dentistappointment Death in the family Observance of a religious holiday Summons to a court of law Suspensions Violent storms or state emergencies Severe family emergencies Other special cases approved by the school principalParents/guardians must make a verified contact withthe school office or forward a written explanation ofabsences to the school no later than two days followingthe return to school. Students are expected to makeup any school work they miss because of absences.Students forfeit (lose) daily class grades for the day(s)they were absent if the absence is unexcused.State regulations require that students who areabsent for fifteen (15) or more consecutive days bedropped (withdrawn) from school rolls. If this happens,the student is expected to return as soon as possible toschool. Parents must accompany students when theyreturn and new enrollment forms must be completed.If students are absent without indication of parents’awareness and support for five (5) days, the Code ofVirginia requires school staff, parents and students tojointly develop a plan to resolve the student’s nonattendance. If the pattern of non-attendance continues,school staff will work collaboratively with the ArlingtonCounty Juvenile and Domestic Relations District

2021-22 ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS HANDBOOKCourt and other county agencies to promote schoolattendance. The school social worker in each school isavailable to assist the parents and students with schoolattendance problems. At the high school level, schoolattendance specialists are also available to assist withattendance concernsTARDINESS (COMING TO SCHOOL LATE)In the elementary and middle schools, teachers willreport unexcused tardiness to the school principal forappropriate intervention. In the high schools, threeunexcused tardy arrivals in one grading period equalone unexcused absence.For more information about attendance expectations, see School Board Policy J-5.1.30 at apsva.us/school-board-policies.BULLYING AND HARASSMENTArlington Public Schools is committed to creatinga safe, caring, respectful learning environment for allstudents.Bullying or harassment of students, includingbullying or harassment based on an actual or perceivedcharacteristic, such as race, national origin, creed, color,religion, gender, age, economic status, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information,gender identity or expression, and/or mental, physicalor sensory disability, is strictly prohibited and will notbe tolerated. Bullying is defined as “any aggressive andunwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate,or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceivedpower imbalance between the aggressor or aggressorsand victim; and is repeated over time or causes severeemotional trauma.” Bullying includes cyberbullying.Harassment is defined as “intimidation or abusivebehavior toward a student that creates a hostileenvironment by interfering with or denying a student’sparticipation in, or receipt of, benefits, services, oropportunities.” Harassment may include “verbal actsand name-calling; graphic and written statements,which may include use of cell phones or the internet;or other conduct that may be physically threatening,harmful, or humiliating. Harassment does not have toinclude intent to harm, be directed at a specific target,or involve repeated incidents.” Students who engage inbullying or harassing behaviors will be subject to administrative action. School Board Policy J-6.8.1 applies toschool buildings; school grounds; school-sponsoredsocial events such as trips and sporting events; andto buses and bus stops. Bullying or harassment whichoccurs off of school premises, including misuse orinappropriate use of technology, is also prohibited andsubject to administrative actions when the order, safetyor welfare of the school or its students is affected asa result of such out-of-school actions. Students whoexperience bullying or harassment should tell an adultso that the matter is addressed immediately.Students who believe that they have been thevictim of bullying or harassment have the right to file acomplaint by talking to school staff and/or completinga Bully Incident Form. School staff will investigate thematter immediately by collecting information such asthe date of the incident, place, witness names and otherinformation about the incident.Parents/guardians of the victims of bullying orharassment and the alleged bully or harasser willbe notified within two days of the incident. Theconfidentiality of all parties will be protected to theextent possible. Students who are victims of bullyingor harassment will be offered counseling services, asappropriate. In addition to administrative responses,school staff will offer assistance to students who bullyor harass others, including, as appropriate, behaviorintervention plans, referrals to multidisciplinaryassistance teams, or referrals to counseling services.For more information, visit M OF EXPRESSIONPRINTED MATERIALSArlington Public Schools are not a public forum and,therefore, are not a place where written materials thatare not a part of the curriculum or other school activities may be distributed, except as specifically providedby School Board Policy K-6 which governs the distribution of printed materials.APS distributes only those printed materials, surveys,a

17 Fri Last Day of Elementary School - Early Release JULY 4 Mon Holiday - Independence Day 5 Tue First Day of Summer School 29 Fri Last Day of Summer School (Elementary) . Gunston 703-228-6900 gunston.apsva.us Jefferson 703-228-5900 jefferson.apsva.us Kenmore 703-228-6800 kenmore.apsva.us Swanson