Alcohol/Substance Use Prevention and Support

In an ongoing effort to support those dealing with addiction and substance use, the New York State Education Department amended Education and Mental Health Hygiene laws to ensure that students, parents and staff know where to go within the school community for information on substance use and support services. For more information, please contact School Social Worker Deanna Sargent at dsargent@scsd.org or visit the Prevention and Support for Alcohol & Substance Use webpage.

Annual Professional Performance Review

New York State Education Law requires each classroom teacher and school principal to receive an annual professional performance review (APPR) that results in a composite effectiveness score and rating. All parents/guardians have the right to obtain the APPR quality ratings and composite effectiveness scores for their child’s current teacher(s) and principal(s) once they are available. To initiate this request, please contact Superintendent Patricia Morris at pmorris@scsd.org.

Asbestos Management Plan

In accordance with the EPA Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act, the district has in place an asbestos management plan to identify and manage asbestos building materials. The Asbestos Management Plan for the district is available at the district office. Information about required inspections and any scheduled asbestos project occurring this school year is contained within the Asbestos Management Plan.

Child Abuse Hotline Notification

If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling 1-800-342-3720, a toll-free 24-hour hotline operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department. Information about reporting child abuse and maltreatment (neglect) is available online here.

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (The Dignity Act) took effect on July 1, 2012. Just as with the district’s Code of Conduct, the new law seeks to provide the state’s public school students and staff with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. The Dignity Act includes, but is not limited to, acts of discrimination and harassment based on a student’s race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (defined to include gender identity or expression), or sex. Visit our DASA page to learn more.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a law that outlines how states can use federal money to support public schools. In January 2018, the federal government approved New York State’s plan to spend the approximately $1.6 billion the state receives annually under ESSA. Learn more about ESSA here.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides parents/guardians and students who are 18 years of age or older (known as “eligible students”) with certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. Parents/guardians and eligible students have the right to:

• Inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day a request for access is received by the school. These requests should be submitted to your child’s school principal.
• Request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights;
• Provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent;
• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.

Families in Transition

Grade Promotion and Placement Policy

Decisions about student promotion and placement are at the discretion of the building principal. These decisions are guided by recommendations of teachers and staff members, past academic performance, and parent/guardian input. Past academic performance refers to a variety of indicators of student achievement and growth. Promotion and placement decisions are not based solely on student performance on New York state assessments in grades 3-8 English language arts or mathematics. The district’s promotion and placement policy was adopted by the board of education following a review by the district administration.

Meal Charging and Prohibition Against Meal Shaming

It is the District’s goal to provide students with access to nutritious no- or low-cost meals each school day and to ensure that a student whose parent/guardian has unpaid meal charges is not shamed or treated differently than a student whose parent/guardian does not have unpaid meal charges. Read the entire policy

Nondiscrimination Policy/Equal Opportunity Policy

The Stillwater Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, military status or any other protected status in its educational programs, employment or any other activities. Further, it is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against any individual because that person filed a complaint, opposed any unlawful practice or testified or assisted in an investigation or proceeding. Any inquiries and complaints regarding non-discrimination in the district may be referred to Superintendent Patricia Morris at pmorris@scsd.org.

Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security

The Stillwater Central School District is committed to ensuring student privacy in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and district policies. To this end and pursuant to U.S. Department of Education regulations, the district is providing the following Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security.

View the district’s Ed Law 2-D software inventory

Procedural Safeguards Notice July 2017

The CSE/CPSE is responsible for developing recommendations for special education programs and services for your child. You must be given opportunities to participate in the CSE/CPSE discussion and decision-making process about your child’s needs for special education. The following information concerns procedural safeguards that are your legal rights under federal and State laws to be informed about and involved in the special education process and to make sure that your child receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Read the full notice here.

Public Relations Use of Student Data/Photos

From time to time, school district officials may release student directory information (defined as name, grade, school, town of residence, photograph, participation in activities and/or sports, any honors or awards received, etc.) for use in school district publications and within district websites and district social media sites, or to the media for public relations purposes.

Parents who object to the disclosure of their child’s directory information should notify BOTH the superintendent of schools and their child’s building principal — in writing — on or before September 15 of each school year.

Release of Student Information to Military Recruiters

Pursuant to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school district must disclose to military recruiters and institutions of higher learning, upon request, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of our high school juniors and seniors. However, parents or students may request, in writing, that the district not release such information. Parents, or students who are at least 18 years old, wishing to exercise their option to withhold their consent to the release of this information must contact High School Secretary Patti Griffiths at pgriffiths@scsd.org by October 5 in any school year.

Requesting and Accessing Special Education, Gifted Education or Career/Vocational Education Services for Students Attending Non-Public Schools

Pursuant to New York State’s “dual enrollment” education law (NY educ. 3602-c), parents who enroll their child in a nonpublic school who are seeking dual enrollment services (special education, gifted education and/or career/vocational education) for their child must file a written request for services on or by June 1 preceding the school year in which services are sought. Learn more about dual enrollment here.

Teacher Qualifications

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents/guardians have the right to know the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers, including:

• Whether a teacher has state certification for the grade levels and subjects he or she is teaching;
• The teacher’s baccalaureate degree major and any other certifications or degrees; and
• Whether their child receives services from paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

Parents/guardians may request their child’s classroom teacher’s professional qualifications by contacting their child’s school principal.

Title I & Right to Know

All parents/guardians have the right to know the professional qualifications of the e classroom teachers(s) who instruct their children. Federal law allows parents/guardians to ask for certain information about their child’s classroom teacher(s) and requires the district to provide them with this information in a timely manner upon request. Contact Superintendent Patricia Morris at (158) 373-6100, ext. 30022, with any questions. Read more about Title I & Right to Know

Use of Pesticides & Request for Notification

The Stillwater Central School District uses an Integrated Pest Management approach to control structural and landscape pests and to minimize pesticide exposure to students, employees and visitors. While infrequent, in the event that conditions warrant a pesticide application, it is performed by state-licensed applicators and the district maintains a copy of the label of each pesticide used. The district maintains a registry of all individuals who request to receive 48-hour prior notification of pesticide applications on school property. To receive these notifications, please contact the district office.

Water Quality Testing

In September 2016, a state law went into effect that requires all public school districts in New York to test water for lead. The law requires school districts to sample all water outlets currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking purposes in buildings that may be occupied by students and to submit those samples to a state-approved lab for analysis. Read more about Water Quality Testing