Reports To Parents

Report cards are sent home four times per school year with students in grades 1-8. Progress of students is reported to parents in January and June on a Kindergarten Report Card.

Pursuant to state law, a School District Report Card will be available to all residents of the school district prior to October 31st of each year. This card reports student achievement, student information, staff information and financial information. This report is mailed to each parent and is available to residents in the principal's office at each school.

It is the policy of the school district that a minimum of one conference be held each year with the parents of each student in grades K-5. Conferences with parents of students in the junior high school are optional and may be requested by either parent or teacher. Some of the parent-teacher conferences are held during the regular school day and others are conducted before or after school. In any case, every effort is made to arrange for the conference as early in the school year as possible. Requests should be made through the school offices.

The purpose of the conference is to answer any questions the parents have regarding their child in school and to also inform the parents of the progress the student is making in school. Parents should not hesitate to bring a list of questions that they would like to discuss with any teacher of their children.

Homework

Homework is defined as any work or task planned by the teacher to be completed by the student outside of the regular classroom without immediate and direct teacher interaction.

District 96 has a commitment to excellence in instructional programs while taking into consideration the unique developmental stages of children. Homework is a continuation of a learning process developed in the classroom and carried on by the child in the home environment. Its effectiveness depends upon careful planning by the teacher as well as supportive parental involvement.

District 96 recognizes the importance of having opportunities for growth and development provided by parents for their children outside school hours. We realize that children participate in many after-school activities and the need for proper rest cannot be over-emphasized. However, work not completed in class, drill and practice activities, and special projects will be assigned. Good parenting skills such as reading to children, providing cultural activities and working on language development are encouraged.

POLICY: Homework is encouraged at the discretion of the teacher. Homework may be required of all students at all grade levels. The emphasis should be on quality rather than quantity. Teaching responsibility and organization should be a by-product of homework. Homework tasks and assignments may be given for the sole purpose of developing organizational skills and responsibility.

Homework should include teacher involvement, student improvement and parent involvement.

Absences Due to Vacations

It is the policy of the Riverside Public Schools to encourage student attendance at school every day unless illness or other valid reasons prevent the student from being present.

Consistent attendance is an essential component of a child's academic achievement. Classroom activities cannot be replicated if a child is absent. Furthermore, if a child is absent, classmates cannot benefit from the child's contributions.

It is recognized that some families cannot avoid scheduling vacations at times when school is in session. When possible, the district requests that such school-time vacations be kept at a minimum.

Because of the nature of the classroom learning experience, it is our policy not to provide textbooks or homework assignments prior to the vacation period during which school is in session.

When the student returns from vacation, make-up assignments which lend themselves to independent work will be given by the teacher. Normally, a student will be given an amount of time equal to that of the absence to complete assigned make-up work.

Field Trips And Excursions

Planned and supervised field trips and excursions have been a means of giving children first-hand educational experiences. Attendance on all such trips is required when planned as a part of the school curriculum. Notice of all trips will be sent to parents who will be requested to grant written permission to have their child attend. No charge is made for transportation or attendance for field trips unless there is a charge for admission to a paid event or the trip is for a special enrichment or recreational activity.

Transportation Safety

It is the policy of the Board of Education to provide the safest environment for its students. Therefore, when students of the school district are to be transported by bus, seat belts shall be used, except in emergencies. The administration shall promulgate necessary guidelines to enforce this policy, including but not limited to disciplinary regulations.

Standardized Testing

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (I.T.B.S.) is administered to all students in grades 1-8. The Cognitive Ability Tests (CogAT) is also administered to all students in grades 1-8.

The student assessment program for the State of Illinois is the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (I.S.A.T.). The I.S.A.T. tests are designed to measure student achievement in relation to state standards for learning. In April 2003, students in grades 3, 5, and 8 took I.S.A.T. tests in reading, writing, and math. During the same month, 4th and 7th grade students took the science and social science I.S.A.T. tests. The district expects to receive the results of the 2003 I.S.A.T. testing program in the fall, at which time they will be mailed to parents.

Results of the I.T.B.S. and I.S.A.T. tests are given to parents as they become available. Results of the CogAT test are available to parents upon request.

Title IX Compliance

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in education programs that are financially assisted by the federal government. If any person feels they have been discriminated against because of sex, they may file a grievance with the Superintendent of schools.

Technology Acceptable Use Policy

1. Purpose of Technology.

   The District 96 philosophy statement on technology states that students are entering a world where the ability to work with technology will be an essential skill. The Riverside Public Schools wants to provide effective technology related experiences as tools to help these children prepare for a successful life in tomorrow's world.

   Through technology, the District provides access for students and staff to resources from around the world. Expanding technologies take students and staff beyond the confines of the classroom; provide tremendous opportunities for enhancing, extending, and rethinking the teaching/learning process; and assist in preparing each student to be a productive citizen. This new capability requires guidance for students and staff. Accordingly, this policy is written to apply to all adults and students who utilize the District's facilities, equipment, and means of access to District technology.

2. Access to the Internet.

   The Board believes that the value of information and interaction that technology offers outweighs the hazards of its misuse. Making network access available, however, carries with it the potential that some network users will encounter sources that may be considered controversial or inappropriate. Because information on networks is transitory and so diverse, the District cannot completely predict or control what users may or may not locate. Technology provides a conduit to information; the users must be wary of the sources and content and be responsible in choosing information to be accessed.

   No technology is guaranteed to be error-free or totally dependable. Among other matters, the District is not liable or responsible for: 1) any information that may be lost, damaged, or unavailable due to technical, or other, difficulties; 2) the accuracy or suitability of any information that is retrieved through technology; 3) breaches of confidentiality; or 4) defamatory material. Furthermore, the District will not be liable for unauthorized charges or fees which result from accessing the Internet.

   Users may access technology only for educational purposes. Exercising this privilege requires that users accept the responsibility for all material viewed, downloaded, and/or produced or transmitted. Users should honor copyright restrictions in accessing materials through District technology and District means of access.

   The actions of users accessing networks through the District reflect on the School District; therefore, users must conduct themselves accordingly by exercising good judgment and complying with this policy, any accompanying administrative regulations and guidelines, and existing policies of the Board that relate to staff and student conduct.

3. Technology Usage Guidelines.

   Students and personnel shall not load onto the network or Internet District 96 work product without prior approval from the superintendent, principal, or his/her designee. Examples of materials constituting District 96 work product include, but are not limited to: District 96 curriculum, District 96 test or examination materials, Department Guidelines and/or Procedures, Parent/Student Handbooks, Personnel Handbooks, District 96 publications and brochures, school newspaper, school yearbook, District 96 policies and administrative regulations/procedures.

   Students and personnel shall not load onto the Internet any communications, student work, student images or any personally identifiable information about students without prior approval from the superintendent, principal, or his/her designee and prior written parental consent (when required by applicable State or federal law). Personnel shall maintain confidentiality of student records in their use of District computers. Confidential student information should not be loaded onto the network where unauthorized access to such information may be obtained.

   1. Access to the District's Internet must be for the purpose of education or research, and be consistent with the educational objectives of the District. Access is prohibited for any illegal activities, including but not limited to, "hacking," copyright violations and unauthorized access to or use of databases.
   2. The use of the District's Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use may result in the cancellation of those privileges. Users are only allowed access to information and data on the Internet which is consistent with the school's pedagogical message and educational mission. Users are not authorized access to information which is inaccurate, illegal, indecent, obscene, inappropriate or harmful to minors, pornographic (including child pornography), defamatory, likely to result in harassment of another student or staff member, likely to cause material disruption in the schools, or is otherwise inconsistent with the District's educational mission, or to enter or transmit such information. The system administrator will make judgments regarding whether or not a user has violated these procedures and may act to suspend or deny user access to the system.
   3. Only language or communications that are appropriate for school situations and consistent with the District's educational mission will be permitted. For example, obscene, defamatory or inciteful communication is not permitted.
   4. A user will only use their account or password (and no other) when utilizing the system. No anonymous or impersonated messages will be posted. The privacy rights of individuals will be respected.
   5. Users will not divulge their own address, telephone number, or access code, nor will similar information concerning others be divulged.
   6. Copyright laws will be followed. Material created by others will not be posted without their consent and with proper credit.
   7. Deliberate destruction of equipment, software, or data will result in denial of privileges and collection of damages.
   8. The system is not to be used for commercial purposes, private business, personal gain, or any activities contrary to law.
   9. As a condition of being allowed access to the Internet and the District's electronic mail communication through use of District computers and District means of access, users shall consent to monitoring and inspection by school staff and administration of all use of District computers and District means of access including any and all electronic mail communications made or attempted to be made or received by users and all materials accessed or downloaded by users.
   10. Installing and downloading software.
       1. Student users are not permitted to download and install software without school authorization.
       2. Staff members may download and install software provided they comply with the software license agreement and have authorization from the technology coordinator.
       3. No user may disable or modify, or attempt to disable or modify, any blocking software (filters) or similar technology protection measures on the District's computers or computer system.
   11. Users shall report immediately, to the system administrator, any violations of this policy and any malfunctions or misuse of the District's computer system, including but not limited to, any malfunctions or disabling of blocking software (filters) or similar technology protection measures.
4. Network Etiquette.

   Users are expected to abide by the following examples of acceptable network etiquette:

   1. Be polite. Do not become abusive in messages to others.
   2. Use language that is appropriate for the school setting.
   3. Do not reveal the personal addresses of telephone numbers of students or colleagues.
   4. Recognize that electronic mail (e-mail) is not private. People who operate the system have access to all mail. Messages that are inappropriate will be reported to the proper authority.
   5. Do not use the network in any way that would disrupt its use by other users or result in material disruption in the schools.
5. Disciplinary Action

   Failure to comply with this policy and any administrative regulations and guidelines governing the use of technology will result in disciplinary action by staff, administration and/or Board of Education.

   Disciplinary actions for students are those described in the School Discipline Code, pages 9 and 10.

   Disciplinary actions for staff members are those described in Board policy and employee group contracts.

6. Confidentiality.

   Users must recognize that there is no assurance of confidentiality with respect to access to transmissions and files by persons outside, or from persons inside, the District. Also, the District reserves the right to log technology use, to monitor file server space utilization by users, and to examine users' files and materials as needed.

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