Policies & Procedures
Student Safety Presentations
In partnership with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, the district has developed grade appropriate information regarding internet and cell phone safety and online content. Included in the presentation is information on how to recognize and report potential threats to school safety that are posted on the internet, including posts on social media. To view the presentation your child will receive, please select the appropriate presentation below.
Reporting a Threat to School Safety
All threats of violence and terrorism must be taken seriously. Any person who hears or observes a threat of violence or terrorism must report the conduct to the principal or to a designated building administrator immediately and complete the Threat of Violence or Terrorism Form. If you need assistance, please ask a teacher, counselor, or school administrator to help fill out the form.
Safe Schools Louisiana provides you a safe, anonymous way to help someone who may be struggling or hurting in various ways.
Guidelines for Use of the Internet
Statement of Purpose
The Internet is a vast global computer network that provides access to major universities around the world, government agencies, other school systems, and commercial providers of data banks. The purpose of this document is to set guidelines for exploring and using Internet resources to enhance learning and teaching activities. Acceptable use of these resources shall be consistent with the philosophy, goals and objectives of the Lafayette Parish School System.
Exploration of the Internet is encouraged, but with rights and privileges come responsibility. Any user of the network that adversely affects its operation in pursuit of teaching and learning or jeopardizes its use or performance for other community members is prohibited and may result in loss of network privileges.
User Responsibilities
Users may take responsibility for their actions and words.
- Users are reminded that they are representatives of their respective schools and the Lafayette Parish School System. They must conduct themselves in accordance with the policies thereof.
- Use language that is appropriate for school situations.
- Avoid offensive or inflammatory speech.
- Access only materials appropriate for fulfilling school assignments. Users are cautioned that there may be materials on the Internet that may be deemed inappropriate for young people, and access to this type of material for any reason is unacceptable.
- Adhere to copyright rules and licensing agreements when accessing materials.
- Import files from only known reputable sources to reduce the risk of spreading computer viruses.
- Impersonation and anonymity are prohibited.
- Any use of the Internet for personal profit or any illegal activities is prohibited.
User Rights
Users of the Internet have certain rights of which all users should be aware.
- Computer files may be monitored by the system administrator or teacher for compliance with this policy.
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Users should have equal access to the Internet, relative to educational goals. All users should be aware of the needs of others and to use the network in ways what would not disrupt the use by others. This includes use of a computer time and supplies.
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Users should be safe from unwanted or harrassing messages. Such communication may be brought to the attention of the teacher or an administrator, who should seek to remedy the situation.
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Any effort to disrupt Internet services or computer systems by spreading computer viruses, vandalism, unauthorized entry, or destruction of computer files can result in criminal prosecution under state and federal laws.
Internet Access Tools
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Electronic mail (E-mail) is mail sent through electronic, non-paper methods. A computer stores the messages until the receiver accesses the system and reads them.
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File transfer protocol (FTP) enables the transfer of files between computers.
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Gopher and Turbo gopher give access to a menu based index at various locations on the Internet via a point-and-click interface.
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Mosaic and Netscape provide graphical interface to the Internet that allow images, sound and movies to be played and text files to be accessed.
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Telnet allows one computer to log into and control a remote computer. It is used to search libraries and databases.
Remedies and Recourse
Violations of this acceptable use policy by students could result in supsension or recommended expulsion on a case-by-case basis. Inappropriate use that is not promptly remedied may result in termination of network privileges. Any non-acceptable use of a criminal nature will be referred to proper authorities for investigation and possible prosecution.
TEACHER BILL OF RIGHTS (LSA—R.S. 17:416.18)
Respecting the authority of teachers is essential to creating an environment conducive to learning, effective instruction in the classroom, and proper administration of city, parish and other local public schools. To maintain and protect that authority, it is important that teachers, administrators, parents and students are fully informed of the various rights conferred upon teachers. Those rights, the Teacher Bill of Rights, are established as follows:
- A teacher has the right to teach free from fear of frivolous lawsuits, including the right to qualified immunity and to a legal defense, and to indemnification by the employing school board, pursuant to R.S. 17:416.1(C), 416.4, 416.5 and 416.11, for actions taken in the performance of duties of the teacher’s employment.
- A teacher has the right to appropriately discipline students in accordance with R.S. 17:223 and through 416.6 and any city, parish, or other local public school board regulation.
- A teacher has the right to remove any persistently disruptive student from his classroom when the student’s behavior prevents the orderly instruction of other students or when the student displays impudent or defiant behavior and to place the student in the custody of the principal or his designee pursuant to R.S. 17:416(A)(1)(c).
- A teacher has the right to have his or her professional judgment and discretion respected by school and district administrators in any disciplinary action taken by the teacher in accordance with school and district policy and with R.S. 17:416(A)(1)(c).
- A teacher has the right to teach in a safe, secure, and orderly environment that is conducive to learning and free from recognized dangers or hazards that are causing or likely to cause serious injury in accordance with R.S. 17:416.9 and 416.6.
- A teacher has the right to be treated with civility and respect as provided in R.S. 17:416.12.
- A teacher has the right to communicate with and to request the participation of parents in appropriate student disciplinary decisions pursuant to R.S. 17:235.1 and 416(A).
- A teacher has the right to be free from excessively burdensome disciplinary paperwork.
- A beginning teacher has the right to receive leadership and support in accordance with R.S. 17:3881, including the assignment of a qualified, experienced mentor who commits to helping him become a competent, confident professional in the classroom and offers support and assistance as needed to meet performance standards and professional expectations.
*No city, parish or other local public school board shall establish policies that prevent teachers from exercising the rights provided herein. The provisions of the Teacher Bill of Rights shall not be construed to supersede any other state law, BESE Policy, or city, parish or other local public school board policy enacted or adopted relative to the discipline of students.
Title IX
How to file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights
Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Procedure
OCR Webinar on Due Process Protections under the New Title IX Regulations
OCR Webinar on New Title IX Protections Against Sexual Assault
Title IX Coordinator
Shannon Clement
202 Rue Iberville
Lafayette, LA 70508
titleixcoordinator@lpssonline.com
337-521-7426
Below are the critical shortage positions declared for LPSS.
- Prek-3
- Math Grades 4-8, and 9-12
- Science Grades 4-8, and 9-12
- Social Studies Grades 4-8, and 9-12.
- English Language Arts Grades 4-8, and 9-12
- Special Education Grades K-12
- Gifted Grades K-12
- Foreign Language Grades K-12
- Music (Band/Vocal) Grades K-12
§406.9. Parents' Bill of Rights for Public Schools
A. The legislature finds all of the following:
(1) That parental involvement is a significant factor in increasing student achievement.
(2) That access to student information encourages greater parental involvement.
B. Parents of public school children who have not reached the age of majority shall have all of the
following rights:
(1) To examine the textbooks, curriculum, and supplemental material used in their child's classroom.
(2) To inspect their child's school records, and to receive a copy of their child's records within ten business days of submitting a written request, either electronically or on paper. Parents shall not be required to appear in person for the purposes of requesting or validating a request for their child's school records. There shall be no charge for a parent to receive such records electronically. Any charges for a paper copy of such records shall be reasonable and set forth in the official rules and regulations of the school governing authority.
School records shall include all of the following:
(a) Academic records, including but not limited to results of interim or benchmark assessments.
(b) Medical or health records.
(c) Records of any mental health counseling.
(d) Records of any vocational counseling.
(e) Records of discipline.
(f) Records of attendance.
(g) Records associated with a child's screening for learning challenges, exceptionalities, plans for an
Individualized Education Program, or Individual Accommodation Plan.
(h) Any other student-specific file, document, or other materials that are maintained by the school.(3) To be notified when medical services are being offered to their child, except where emergency medical treatment is required. In cases where emergency medical treatment is required, the parent shall be notified as soon as practicable after the treatment is rendered.
(4) To be notified if a criminal action is deemed to have been committed against their child or by their child.
(5) To be notified if law enforcement personnel question their child, except in cases where the parent has been accused of abusing or neglecting the child.
(6) To be notified if their child is taken or removed from the school campus without parental permission.
(7) That the school shall not discriminate against their child based upon the sincerely held religious beliefs of the child's family.
(8) To receive written notice and the option to opt their child out of any surveys that include questions about any of the following:
(a) The student's sexual experiences or attractions.
(b) The student's family beliefs, morality, religion, or political affiliations.
(c) Any mental health or psychological problems of the student or a family member.
(9) To receive written notice and have the option to opt their child out of instruction on topics associated with sexual activity.
(10) To receive from the school the annual school calendar, no later than thirty days prior to the beginning of the school year, and to be notified in writing as soon as feasible of any revisions to such calendar. Such calendar shall be posted to the school's website and shall include, at a minimum, student attendance days and any event that requires parent or student attendance outside of normal school days or hours.
(11) To receive in writing each year or to view on the school's website a comprehensive listing of any required fee and its purpose and use and a description of how economic hardships may be addressed.
(12) To receive in writing each year or to view on the school's website a description of the school's required uniform for students.
(13) To be informed if their child's academic performance is such that it could threaten the child's ability to be promoted to the next grade level and to be offered an in-person meeting with the child's classroom mteacher and school leader to discuss any resources or strategies available to support and encourage the child's academic improvement.
C. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, a public school shall not be required to release any records or information regarding a student's medical or health records or mental health counseling records to a parent during the pendency of an investigation of child abuse or neglect conducted by any law enforcement agency or the Department of Children and Family Services where the parent is the target of the investigation, unless the parent has obtained a court order.
Acts 2014, No. 699, §1; Acts 2018, No. 547, §1.
§355. Parental access to instructional materials
A. A parent of a child attending a public elementary or secondary school shall be entitled to access to instructional materials as provided in this Section.
B. A parent is entitled to:
(1) Review instructional materials used by or administered to the parent's child.
(2) Review any survey before the survey is administered or distributed by a school to a student.
C. Each local school board shall adopt rules and policies for each school to make instructional materials readily available for review as provided in this Section. The rules may specify reasonable hours for review. The rules shall provide that the school shall provide access to instructional materials to a parent upon request. If a parent requests a paper copy of material that can be readily copied using school equipment, such copy shall be provided. The rules shall establish reasonable and customary fees to be collected by the school to cover the cost of providing such copies. No provision of law or school board policy shall prohibit or interfere with a parent's ability to make his own copies on school premises via mobile or other device. The principal of each school shall ensure that the school complies with such rules.
D. For purposes of this Section:
(1) "Instructional materials" means content that conveys the knowledge or skills of a subject in the school curriculum through a medium or a combination of media for conveying information to a student. It also includes any nonsecure test, nonsecure assessment, or survey administered to a student. The term also includes books, supplementary materials, teaching aids, computer software, magnetic media, DVD, CD-ROM, computer courseware, online material, information, or services, or an electronic medium or other means of conveying information to the student or otherwise contributing to the learning process.
(2) "Parent" means the parent or legal guardian of a child.
(3) "Survey" means any evaluative instrument or questionnaire that is not an assessment of academic knowledge, skills, or abilities, administered as part of a state, national, or international assessment or by itself.
Acts 2014, No. 436, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 2014.
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