Other Parental Rights

The rights of parents of district pupils include the rights identified below. These rights include your right:

a. To observe in your child’s classroom (upon reasonable notice).

b. To meet with your child’s teacher and the school principal (upon reasonable notice).

c. To volunteer your time and resources at the school.

d. To be notified on a timely basis if your child is absent from school without permission.

e. To be notified concerning your child’s classroom and standardized test performance.

f. To request a specific school and teacher and to receive a response from the school district. (This does not obligate the school district to grant the request.)

g. To have a safe learning environment for your child.

h. To examine curriculum materials of your child’s class.

i. To be informed of your child’s progress and appropriate school personnel to contact in the event of problems.

j. To access student records for your child.

k. To receive information concerning expectations for student learning.

l. To be informed in advance about school rules, policies, dress codes, and procedures for visiting the school.

m. To receive information about any psychological testing of your child and to deny permission for such testing.

n. To participate as a member of any school site councils or parental advisory councils at the school, in accordance with governing membership.

o. To question, and receive an answer regarding, items in your child’s record that appear inaccurate, misleading, or that invade privacy.

Parental Rights: Education Empowerment Act of 1998

The Education Empowerment Act of 1998 establishes various rights for parents, in addition to other rights identified in this Annual Notice. Your rights, as a parent, include the following:

Inspection of Instructional Materials: All primary supplemental instructional materials and assessments, including textbooks, teacher’s manuals, films, tapes, and software shall be compiled and stored by the classroom instructor and made available promptly for your inspection in a reasonable time frame or in accordance with procedures determined by the governing board of the school district.

Observation of School Activities: You have the right to observe instruction and other school activities that involve your child in accordance with procedures determined by the governing board of the school district to ensure the safety of pupils and school personnel and to prevent undue interference with instruction or harassment of school personnel. Reasonable accommodation of parents shall be considered by the governing board of this school district. Upon written request by you, school officials shall arrange for your observation of the requested class or classes or activities in a reasonable time frame and in accordance with procedures determined by the governing board of this school district.

Consent for Evaluations: Your child may not be tested for a behavioral, mental, or emotional evaluation without your informed written consent.

Affirmation or Disavowal of Beliefs: A pupil may not be compelled to affirm or disavow any particular personally or privately held world view, religious doctrine, or political opinion. This law does not relieve pupils of any obligation to complete regular classroom assignments.

Health Component of Any Program or Class: Parents may exempt students from the health component of any course or class if that instruction conflicts with a parent’s religious training or beliefs.

The Professional Qualifications of Your Student’s Teacher(s)

Federal law requires that the District tell you about your right to request information about the professional qualifications of your student’s teacher(s). The same right extends to information about any paraprofessional assigned to work with your student.

Your child is attending a school receiving Title I funds through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). At the beginning of each school year, local educational agencies receiving Title I funds are required to notify parents whose student(s) attend a Title I school that they may request, and the agency will provide the parents on request (and in a timely manner), information regarding the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers, including at a minimum:

Weather the student’s teacher:

  • Has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
  • Is teaching under emergency or other provisional authorization status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and
  • Is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher

Whether the child is provided services by a paraprofessional, and if so, their qualifications.

To submit a request for information about the qualifications of your student’s teacher(s) or paraprofessional(s), please contact the Personnel Department at the District Office.

Professional Standards

(E.C. section 44050, Code of Conduct)

The district maintains a policy of professional standards for all employees who interact with students and other members of the school community. Copies are available at district office and on the district website.

Use of the Internet and/or On-Line Sites

(E.C. section 48980(h))

The school district provides pupils with access to the Internet and has adopted policies and notices included in the first day packet regarding access by pupils to these services that contains and makes references to harmful or obscene matter as defined by Penal Code section 313(a). The policies guard the identity and pictures of individual students, prohibit the use of student e-mail or website addresses, prohibit commercial transactions, etc.

Further Information is Available

(E.C. section 48209.13, FERPA, 34 C.F.R. 99.7(b))

Further information regarding our district schools, programs, policies, and procedures is available to any interested person upon request to our District Office (1888 N Mustang Dr. Hanford).

Parental Involvement

(E.C. section 47605(n))

The Pioneer Union Charter Elementary School District strongly believes that the academic and social success of a child in school is predicated upon a strong relationship between the home and school. To further this relationship, the District strongly encourages parent’s participation in parent clubs, school site council, the district parent advisory, English Language Advisory Council, booster clubs and other involvement opportunities through the district or school connected organizations. However, involvement is not a requirement for acceptance to, or continued enrollment at any of the schools within Pioneer Union Charter Elementary School District.

Parent/Student Compact

The purpose of this compact is to strengthen the relationship between Pioneer Elementary School, parents and students. It will clarify and define the expectations of all participants and define the responsibilities of each:

Pioneer School Staff:

  1. Acknowledges the right of parents to participate in all decisions affecting their children and agrees to:
  1. Provide periodic reports on student progress.
  2. Consult with parents concerning any marked changes in student performance or behavior.
  3. Respond promptly to parent phone calls and requests for conference.
  1. Affirms its obligation to provide a quality educational opportunity for each child:
  1. Consider and respond to individual needs of children and their families.
  2. Provide a strong curriculum, preparing children for the future.
  3. Provide competent personnel who demonstrate a caring attitude toward children.
  4. Maintain a safe and secure school facility and an atmosphere conducive to quality education.
  1. Agrees to welcome parents as full partners in the educational process by:
  1. Providing opportunities for parents to assist in making important decisions regarding school policy.
  2. Encouraging parent visitation and participation in school activities.
  3. Providing numerous and varied opportunities for parents to fulfill their volunteer and educational obligations.

Pioneer Parents agree to the following:

  1. That supervision of a child is the joint responsibility of the school and the parents.
  1. Supervise and assist in the completion of homework, providing a suitable place and schedule for its completion.
  2. Support and reinforce the school’s conduct code with their children.
  3. Investigate issues fully before taking sides.
  1. To communicate promptly with the school:
  1. Regarding concerns about student performance, instruction, or other issues.
  2. Informing the school of matters that may affect the student’s performance or behavior at school.
  1. To participate in the school community by:
  1. Attending school events such as Back-to-School-Night, parent/teacher conference, Parent Teacher Club meetings, and school programs.
  2. Consider volunteer service to the school each year.

Pioneer Students will:

  1. Recognize that they and only they have the ultimate responsibility for their learning, and they will:
  1. Diligently pursue their studies at school and at home.
  2. Complete all work to the best of their ability.
  1. Model the six pillars of Character by:
  1. Demonstrating a high level of respect toward school employees, other adults on campus and fellow students.
  2. Demonstrating respect for school property and the property of others.
  3. Following school rules and the dress code.
  4. Demonstrating respect for their parents and their community.
  5. Not participating in any activity that would be defined or depict physical, social or emotional bullying.
  1. Make a positive contribution to the school and community by:
  1. Setting a model for others to follow as outlined in the conduct code.
  2. Contributing hours of service to the school or mutually agreed public service each month as needed.

Surveillance Systems

Prior to the operation of the surveillance systems, the Superintendent of designee shall ensure that signs are posted at conspicuous and targeted locations around school buildings and grounds. These signs shall state that the facility uses video surveillance equipment for security purposes and that the equipment may or may not be actively monitored at any time. The Superintendent or designee shall also provide prior written notice to students and parents/guardians about the district’s surveillance system, including the locations where surveillance may occur and that the recording may be used in disciplinary proceedings, and/or referred to local law enforcement, as appropriate

Water Report

The District’s Consumer Confidence Reports are available here.

Additional General Information on Drinking Water

As posted from the EPA:

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. U.S. EPA/Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

Lead-Specific Language: If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Pioneer School is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. [OPTIONAL: If you do so, you may wish to collect the flushed water and reuse it for another beneficial purpose, such as watering plants.] If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or at http://www.epa.gov/lead.

Transportation Safety Plan

The District’s Transportation Safety Plan is available here.