Academically and/or intellectually gifted students perform or show the potential to perform at substantially high levels of accomplishment when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment. Academically and/ or intellectually gifted students exhibit high-performance capability in intellectual areas, specific academic fields, or in both the intellectual areas and specific academic fields. Academically and/or intellectually gifted students require differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular educational program. See Board Policy regarding Assurance of Appropriate Services for Academically Gifted Students.

Our district provides opportunities for all students to expand their learning through enrichment, extension, and acceleration in academically challenging coursework. See Board Policy regarding Access to Rigor and Acceleration.

A healthy learning environment is free of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. The possession, use, distribution or sale of these substances in any form is prohibited on school property.

The prohibition of tobacco and nicotine includes all lighted and smokeless e-liquid products, e-cigarettes and vaporizers even if they do not contain tobacco or nicotine.

See Board Policy regarding Prohibition of Alcoholic Beverages, Use of Tobacco and Nicotine Products, and Code of Student Conduct.

Coming to school every day ready to learn is important for your child’s success—and it’s required by state law for children between the ages of 7 and 16. Being tardy to class, skipping class or school, leaving campus without permission or being in an unauthorized area is prohibited. Excused absences include: illness or injury, a death in the family, health care appointments, court appearances, college visits and religious observance.

Participation in a valid educational opportunity outside of the school setting may be approved with prior notice. See Board Policy regarding Attendance.

Bullying and harassment are unacceptable behaviors that should be immediately addressed. Bullying and harassment include any physical act, threatening communication, or pattern of gestures or communications that places a student in actual and reasonable fear of harm or is certain to create a hostile environment. Bullying and harassing behavior includes, but is not limited to, behaviors motivated by the victim’s identifying characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity, religion, age or disability. If bullying or harassment is suspected, parents should contact their child’s school for help. Parents and students also can share safety concerns via the WCPSS Tip Line, 919-856-1911. See Board Policy regarding Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying.

Bus transportation is an extension of the school day, and the same student behavior standards that apply in the classroom also apply on the bus and at the bus stop. A driver will report to the school administrator any misconduct or violation of the driver’s instructions. Buses also have cameras on board to provide video and audio that school leaders may use to manage student behavior. See Board Policy regarding Code of Student Conduct.

We recognize the value of personal devices for family communication and student safety and the need to also minimize classroom disruption and promote healthy digital habits. District policies are in place to outline when students may use personal devices and the consequences for policy violations. See Board Policy regarding Student Use of Personal Communication Devices.

Cheating and plagiarism, including giving or receiving any unauthorized assistance on academic work or copying and representing another’s work as one’s own, is prohibited. See Board Policy regarding Honor Code and Code of Student Conduct.

Every school has programs and activities to help students develop good character, including programs to help students understand, assess and take responsibility for their behavior and learning, as well as how to act responsibly toward others. See Board Policy regarding Citizenship and Character Education.

A student or parent may question a school-based decision by using the procedures outlined in the Board Policy regarding Responding to Complaints.

We are required to identify, locate and evaluate children with disabilities, ages three through 21, who may be in need of special education and related services. Parents of children aged two years old or younger who may be in need of such services should contact the Children’s Development Services Agency at 919-662-4600. Parents of children aged three or older who are not yet eligible to enter kindergarten should call the WCPSS Child Find Office at 919-431-7700 or child-find-office@wcpss.net. Parents of children in kindergarten through 12th grade should contact their child’s school. They may also contact the district Family and Community Connections at 919-431-7334 (Spanish line: 919-431-7143) or email facc@wcpss.net.

We use a variety of tools to measure and communicate student progress throughout the school year. These tools include quarterly report cards, progress reports, and feedback on assignments and state and local tests. Information about K-12 testing can be found at www.wcpss.net/k12tests

Students are expected to adhere to standards of dress and appearance. Parents are asked to partner with the district to monitor student attire to help adhere to the guiding principles set forth in the Student Dress Code policy.

A student’s driving permit or license will be revoked if they are unable to maintain Adequate Progress or drop out of school. Adequate Progress is defined as passing at least 70% of a student’s courses. The law does not affect students who are 18 or older. Learn more at www.wcpss.net/driving-privileges

Our district does not charge families for required courses or activities. Students facing economic hardship may request a waiver or reduction of any fees that are imposed. Each school must notify families of the available waivers and the process for requesting them. The superintendent ensures a system is in place to review these requests fairly. See Board Policy regarding Student Fees.

Assessment and grading practices are designed to support learning, communicate achievement, and promote academic success for all students. Students in grades K–12 receive quarterly report cards and mid-quarter interim reports. Grades reflect mastery of learning objectives and are designed to support student learning. Each school follows a grading plan that is communicated to families. See Board Policy regarding Evaluation of Student Progress.

N.C. Senate Bill 57 requires that a student’s driving permit or license be revoked for one year if a student is given a suspension for more than 10 consecutive days or an assignment to an alternative educational setting for more than 10 consecutive days for one of the following reasons:

• The possession or sale of an alcoholic beverage or an illegal controlled substance on school property;
• The possession or use on school property of a weapon or firearm that resulted in disciplinary action under N.C. General Statute 115C-391 or that could have resulted in that disciplinary action if the conduct had occurred in a public school; or
• The physical assault on a teacher or other school personnel on school property.

A parent’s prior written consent is required for the district to release information needed to access NC Medicaid reimbursement for services provided through a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP), Section 504 Plan, Individualized Health Plan (IHP), or Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). The district may then release a child’s name and Medicaid number; date of birth; service documentation, including evaluations; dates and times services are provided at school; and reports of child’s progress, including therapist notes and progress notes. Parents may revoke consent at any time. Revoking parental consent does not change the district’s responsibility to provide all required services at no cost. The funds collected from Medicaid will be used to provide valuable and necessary additional staffing to meet therapy needs of students, and to purchase assistive technology equipment and materials for individual student needs.

Language support services are provided to all students identified as Multilingual Learners. When a student’s home language is not English, we administer a test to identify students who are still learning English as a new language. A plan is then created to help all teachers know the level of English language support your student may need. For more information, contact your child’s school.

In compliance with federal law, the district administers all education programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination against any person on the basis of gender, race, gender identity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation. We have broad protections against discrimination as set forth in multiple Board policies. Parents and students who perceive any form of discrimination should report it to the school principal. Parents and students also should contact the principal to request assistance or accommodations to assure a non-discriminatory, inviting, inclusive and supportive school environment.

See Board Policies regarding Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying; Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Complaint Process.

Parents may request in writing to opt out of any of the following:

• Release of the student’s directory information (See Board Policy regarding Student Records and Parental Involvement);
• Release of the student’s name, address and telephone number to military recruiters or colleges/universities (See Board Policy regarding Student Records and Parental Involvement);
• The student’s participation in certain instructional activities related to reproductive health and safety (See Board Policy regarding Comprehensive Healthful Living Education Program and Parental Involvement);
• The student’s participation in certain academic, career guidance, personal or social counseling services provided to students in a group setting (See Board Policy regarding the Counseling Program and Parental Involvement);
• The student’s participation in certain types of surveys (See Board Policy regarding Surveys of Students and Parental Involvement);
• The student’s participation in certain non-emergency physical exams or screenings (See Board Policy regarding Health Services and Parental Involvement);
• Collection, disclosure or use of the student’s personal information for marketing purposes (See Board Policy regarding Surveys of Students and Parental Involvement);
• The student’s participation in online classroom recording (See Board Policy regarding Student Records); and
• Release of student’s free and reduced-price meal information to State Medicaid or to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (See Board Policy regarding Parental Involvement).

The PPRA is a federal law that affords parents of elementary and secondary students certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. See www.wcpss.net/PPRA and Board Policies regarding Parental Inspection of and Objection to Instructional Materials and Survey of Students.

Information regarding district and individual school student achievement, graduation rates, and school performance grades can be found on the district’s website and on the NC Department of Public Instruction website. This includes data about school system performance as compared to the state as a whole.

Student wellness and proper nutrition are related to a student’s physical well-being, growth, development and readiness to learn. All meals and other items available for students to purchase from Child Nutrition Services meet strict nutritional requirements. All foods and beverages that are offered to students during the school day should support a school environment that promotes student health and wellness.

The Wake County Public School System’s Nutrition Program is committed to supporting students with documented dietary requirements. We provide meal accommodations for students with food allergies, intolerances, or texture modification needs as documented by a state-licensed healthcare professional. At this time, we are unable to accommodate requests based on religious, cultural, or personal preferences.

To initiate the meal accommodation process, we kindly ask parents to complete and submit the Medical Statement form to their school’s Child Nutrition Manager. The manager will forward the form to the Child Nutrition Services central office for processing.

Once your request is reviewed and processed, a menu will be created for your student. This information will then be shared with your school’s Child Nutrition Manager, who will contact you to confirm the starting date for the meal accommodations.

Meals should be paid for in a timely manner. We recognize that students occasionally forget or lose their meal money. In the event that a student is unable to pay for a meal on a particular day, the student may charge a meal so long as it does not create a negative account balance that exceeds the value of three days of meals (breakfast and lunch) based on current student meal prices. Parents are notified of low balances in a child’s meal account and charge balances that need to be paid off, at regular intervals during the school year. Parents are responsible for paying off any meal charges by the end of the year. See Board Policy regarding Operation of Child Nutrition Services.

If your family meets income eligibility requirements, your child may be able to receive free or reduced-price meals from the school cafeteria. Parents can complete a meal benefits application online at myschoolapps.com. Paper applications also are available at all schools. More: www.wcpss.net/free-reduced-meals.

Students may leave a school with funds left in their meal accounts. You may request a refund at www.wcpss.net/refund. You have until September 1 following the year your student withdraws to request a refund. If you do not make a request by that date, the balance will be donated to WCPSS Child Nutrition Services to be used to support the district’s school meal program for students. If you need assistance, contact Child Nutrition Services at 919-856-2918.

The use of seclusion, restraint and isolation of students is governed by N.C. General Statute 115C-391.1, Board Policy and Regulation & Procedures. To the extent allowed by these laws, policies and procedures, N.C. General Statute 115C-390.3 authorizes school personnel to use reasonable force to control behavior or remove a person from the scene when necessary to correct students, quell a disturbance threatening injury to others, obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects on the person or within the control of a student, act in self-defense or to protect other persons or property, or to maintain order on educational property, in the classroom or at a school-related activity on or off educational property. Also, see Board Policies regarding Code of Student Conduct and Seclusion and Restraint.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, prohibits discrimination against students with diagnosed physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities. Major life activities include, but are not limited to, learning, concentration, walking, seeing, breathing, hearing, lifting, bending, performing manual tasks and the operation of major bodily functions/systems such as the immune, neurological or respiratory systems. For more information, including complaint procedures, please see Board Policy regarding Special Education Programs/Rights of Students with Disabilities, as well as the Prohibition Against Discrimination. For more information regarding Section 504 Services Support, please call 919-694-0581.

Our schools provide instructional materials that enrich and support the curriculum and enhance student learning. Parents or guardians may review the process for the selection of instructional materials, including core instructional resources, supplemental materials, and school library collection materials. See Board Policy regarding Selection of Instructional Materials.

We provide special education and related services to students identified with a disability according to the Individual with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and N.C. Public School Law, Article 9. If a parent suspects that their child has a disability or would like to receive additional information, parents of children who are ages three to those who are eligible to enter kindergarten should contact the WCPSS Child Find Office at 919-431-7700 or child-find-office@ wcpss.net. Parents of children in kindergarten through 12th grade should contact their child’s school. They may also contact the district Family and Community Connections at 919-431-7334 (Spanish line: 919-431-7143) or facc@ wcpss.net. General information may be found at www.wcpss.net/special-education or Board Policy regarding Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disabilities.

Each year, parents have the option to purchase accident insurance through a WCPSS-contracted vendor at any time during the school year. This accident insurance includes a variety of plans and coverages. Students who participate in interscholastic or intramural activities are required to have insurance. See www.wcpss.net/insurance for the current student accident insurance plans and claim forms.

The McKinney-Vento Program provides legal protection and support services to children and youth experiencing a housing crisis. For assistance, contact the School Social Worker or SAP Counselor at your child’s school. See www.wcpss.net/mckinney-vento for more information.

Infinite Campus is a statewide student information system that gives parents and students access to real-time information including attendance, grades (middle and high school students only), transportation and school assignments. All students and parents have access to Infinite Campus. For more information, visit www.wcpss.net/ncsis

Families may contact the school to request a student be referred to by a preferred name rather than a legal name in some areas of our student information systems and digital platforms. Parental permission is required for students younger than 18. Once approved, the student’s preferred name will replace the legal name on report cards, Campus Parent/Campus Student portals, Teacher Gradebook, and other student-facing platforms. The student’s legal name will still display on official student records.

A federal law known as FERPA provides parents and eligible students with rights to inspect and review the student’s education records, to request amendments to such records, and to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education regarding an alleged FERPA violation. FERPA also provides that student records and personally identifiable information contained in those records generally may be released to third parties only if the parents or eligible students provide written consent. One of those exceptions to this requirement is that “directory information” about a student may be released to anyone upon request unless the parent or eligible student has opted out of the disclosure of such information. “Directory information” includes the student’s name, grade, school most recently attended, dates of attendance, date of graduation, awards received and participation in officially recognized sports and activities. Any parent, guardian or eligible student who does not want directory information released must notify the school in writing each year within 20 days of the receipt of this notice. For additional information relating to FERPA and student records, including the criteria for determining which school officials may access a student’s confidential information, please see Board Policy regarding Student Records.

Our counseling and student services staff and programs support students in their personal and social development and help them transition from school to higher education or a career. School counselors are available at each school as the first point of contact if a student has needs and families are unsure where to start. Visit www.wcpss.net/CASS for a description of the staff and services that support our students. Visit www.wcpss.net/wellness for links to additional wellness resources and support information for families. See Board Policy regarding the Counseling Program.

Our district sometimes partners with individuals and agencies conducting research. We review and approve or deny requests from individuals or agencies for any research project. Research can include surveys of staff or students. See Board Policy regarding Surveys of Students.

We are committed to providing a school environment that promotes student wellness, proper nutrition, nutrition education, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning experience. See Board Policy regarding Student Wellness.

Students should use their WCPSS-assigned Chromebooks, except when prior arrangements have been made for students to use personal devices. See Board Policies regarding Technology Responsible Use and Code of Student Conduct. Students are expected to comply with these policies when students use a school or personal device on school property, at school-sponsored events, on school-based transportation, or any time a personal device is connected to district technology resources. Any device used in violation of these policies will be confiscated and returned to the student’s parents. Contact your student’s school for additional information and technology assistance.

All school volunteers must register and pass a criminal background check. Learn about volunteering in our schools and register through MyVolunteer at www.wcpss.net/volunteer. N.C. General Statute 95-28.3 provides parents up to four hours of unpaid leave each year to volunteer in their child’s school. You are encouraged to check with your employer to see if you may receive paid leave for volunteering. See Board Policy regarding School Volunteers.