POINTS OF INTEREST

Information for Parents of Duval County Public Schools Students

#1 SCHOOL REGISTRATION #2 IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
Florida law requires that students must have on file a Florida Certification of Immunization (DH Form 680) or have an exemption on file at their school. To meet the requirements for a Florida Certification of Immunization, a child must have the following: At least four doses of the DTP or DtaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine with the last dose given on or after the fourth birthday (otherwise, a fifth dose is required); At least three or four doses of polio (IPV/OPV) vaccine with the last dose given on or after the fourth birthday (otherwise a fifth dose is required); The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine given on or after the first birthday with a definite recorded date. Proof of one dose is required for pre-school. Proof of two doses of the MMR vaccine is required for Kindergarten through 12th grade students; HIB (haemophilus influenza type b) vaccination for children under five years of age; Hepatitis B series is required to attend pre-school through 12th grade; Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine or documented history of the disease is required to attend preschool through 10th grade; A second dose of Varicella (chicken pox) is required for Kindergarten through 3rd grade; and Students entering, attending, or transferring into 7th,8th and 9th grade must have documented proof on a Florida Certificate of Immunization one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine. All other vaccinations should be complete. The required immunizations are available at your childs Medial provider or the Duval County Health Departments Immunization Center at 5222 North Pearl Street, (904-2531420) or contact the Wellness Department at 390.2960. Transfer students Florida laws authorize school officials to permit transfers of students who present proof of measles vaccination to attend school up to 30 school days until their records can be obtained UNLESS the student is transferring into a grade covered by a policy for two doses of the MMR vaccine and/or documentation of Hepatitis B vaccine series or Varicella. Students transferring into 7th, 8th and 9th grades require an additional proof of a recent Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine.

Under Florida Law: A child must have successfully completed kindergarten in order to be eligible for first grade. Children may enter kindergarten if they will be five years old on or before September 1st. Children may enter first grade if they will be six years old on or before September 1st, and have successfully completed kindergarten. All children who will be six years old by February 1st must attend school. All children must attend school until they reach the age of 16. This is Florida law and there are no exceptions. How do you register your child in a Duval County public school? 1. Find out which school your child(ren) will attend. Enter your address online or contact the Pupil Assignment Office at 390-2144 to learn where your child(ren) are assigned to attend school based upon your home address. Visit the school your child(ren) attend to register during school hours. Check the school listing on our Website for individual school hours for school listings. Proof of residence is required in order to ensure that a student is enrolled in his/her properly assigned school. For registration and subsequent enrollment, the parent or legal guardian must complete the district's student registration form and submit one document from the sources listed in Column A and one additional document from Columns B or C (both sources of information must match). Other official identification sources may be approved by the District's School Choice office in extraordinary circumstances.
Column B Automobile Insurance Column C Current Bank Account Statement (may block out account number) Payroll Statement Current non-cellular phone bill Vehicle Registration

2.

3.

Column A Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) bill or TECO bill

Mortgage agreement Credit Card statement (or closing statement) Lease agreement (from a company, or *private individual) Drivers License or State ID Bank account statement US postal service confirmation of address change

#3 ABSENCES & EXCUSES

If a child becomes ill while at school, the child is isolated until the parent or guardian can be notified or the child can be returned home.

See the district website for additional information.

For more information visit the DCPS website at www.duvalschools.org

POINTS OF INTEREST
Information for Parents of Duval County Public Schools Students
Medication may be given to a child at school ONLY if the school has a completed parent permission medication form which is supplied by the school. Medication prescribed by a doctor must be in the original container with the prescription label affixed and dosage directions clearly labeled. Over-the-counter medication must be in the original container with dosage directions clearly labeled. No expired medication may be administered. School nurses visit all schools regularly, providing services to students and helping school staff meet the health needs of students. A student must bring a written explanation signed by the parent or guardian when returning to school following an absence. If a student is out 3 or more days a doctors statement is required. A student is considered truant when he/she is absent 5 days in a 30 day time period. complete the Free and Reduced Price Meal Application form to see if your family qualifies. Applications can be completed on our website, picked up from the front office of your childs school or can be mailed to you. If you have additional questions about qualifying for Free or Reduced Price Meals or would like to request that an application be mailed to you, please call 732-5145. Completed applications can be faxed to (904) 732-5157 or sent to Duval County Public Schools, Food Service Dept, 2924 Knights Lane East, Jacksonville, FL 32216. Visit mylunchmoney.com to see school menus, access your online account, deposit funds, and maintain your family's school-time budget and spending. For additional information, call the Food Service Office at (904) 732-5117 or email us at foodservice@duvalschools.org.

#4

FOOD SERVICE

NOTICE: Paid Lunch Meal Price Increase The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 requires that we review and adjust the price students pay for paid lunches on an annual basis. For the coming 2013-14 School Year, a $0.05 meal price increase is required per HHFKA. This will only affect paid lunch meal prices. Free & reduced students are not impacted by this lunch price increase. The Paid Lunch Meal price for elementary school lunch will increase from $1.65 to $1.70. At this new $1.70 price, we still remain below most elementary school lunch pricing in the surrounding counties and large Florida districts. The Paid Lunch Meal price for secondary schools will increase from $2.15 to $2.20 per paid lunch meal and is also below most other districts. Breakfast Elementary student is $1.00 Secondary student is $1.25 "Reduced price meal" student is 30 cents Adult is $2.00 Some Duval County public schools participate in a free breakfast program known as Breakfast in the Classroom. This program does not require the family to submit a Free/Reduced Meal application in order to receive free breakfast. See the website for a list of participating schools. Lunch Elementary student is $1.70 Secondary student is $2.20 "Reduced price meal" student is 40 cents Adult is $3.00 Do You Qualify for Free Meals? Families can qualify for free or reduced priced meals depending on household income and family size. Please

# 5 COMMON CORE: Parent Roadmaps To The Common Core Standards- English Language Arts & Math
The Council of the Great City Schools' parent roadmaps in English language arts/literacy and math provide guidance to parents about what their children will be learning and how they can support that learning in grades K-8. These parent roadmaps for each grade level also provide three-year snapshots showing how selected standards progress from year to year so that students will be college and career ready upon their graduation from high school. Visit their website at: http://www.cgcs.org/Domain/36 (language arts) http://www.cgcs.org/Page/244 (math)

#6

PTA/VOLUNTEERING

Get involved, join the PTA and attend meetings. Ask the school about other opportunities to get involved. Remember, to volunteer, even for field trips, you MUST complete or have a current volunteer card. For more information contact: Office of Family Engagement/Volunteering Background Screening, at 390.2960 OR visit them at www.duvalschools.org/communityinvolvement/volunteer

#7

TRANSPORTATION

What's New? Effective August 19, 2013, school bus transportation is provided to students who live more than 1.5 miles from the school they attend. One mile is identified as a reasonable

For more information visit the DCPS website at www.duvalschools.org

POINTS OF INTEREST
Information for Parents of Duval County Public Schools Students
walking distance to a bus stop for students who are eligible to ride a school bus. Transportation for students participating in magnet, choice, special programs, and exceptional education programs is provided under specific guidelines. Secondary (middle and high) magnet routes and Alternative school routes will be "Express Routes" with stops made primarily at schools, near schools, or approved public locations. The one mile walking distance to a bus stop does not apply to students using Express routes. It is highly recommended that parents of kindergarten students tag their child with his/her name, school attending, bus number(s) and bus stop. Additionally, each parent/guardian of a kindergarten student is required to complete a form at their school to make a preference about dismissal. Some parents may choose for their child to be met by someone at the bus stop, and some may allow their child to walk home. Please be sure the school has given a copy of the form to the bus driver. All bus drivers are instructed to transport only those kindergarten students for whom they have a copy of the form from the school. Parents will be expected to transport their kindergarten student home if they have not filled out a form with the preference for their child. Transportation Call Center o 381-RIDE (7433) o August 6 - 30, 2013 o Monday - Friday o 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. DCPS Transportation Department (904) 858-6200 Exceptional Student Education Transportation Information (904) 858-6236 Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Transportation Bus Companies Birnie Bus Service - (904) 683-3432 Durham School Services - (904) 731-4150 First Student Faye Road - (904) 751-9828 First Student Commonwealth - (904) 598-2880 Student Transportation of America - (904) 720-2177 change code of conduct: http://www.duvalschools.org/static/students/codeofconduct Copy of Code of Conduct Violations of the Code of Student Conduct are grouped into four classes: Minor Class I Intermediate Class II Major Class III Zero Tolerance Class IV Each classification is followed by a disciplinary procedure that is to be implemented by the principal/designee. DRESS CODE: All students must adhere to these minimal guidelines for acceptable apparel and appearance. A school may implement a school uniform requirement through the shared decision-making process, with input from the School Advisory Council. In order to maximize instructional time, students will be given an opportunity to immediately correct dress code violations. If the student is unable to immediately correct the dress code violation and the parent/guardian cannot be reached, the student will be placed in in-school suspension. REPEATED VIOLATIONS: Repeated violations of the Code of Student Conduct in school and/or on the school bus will be considered willful disobedience and/or open defiance of authority resulting in possible suspension or expulsion from school and/or the school bus for the remainder of the school year or a specific period of time. BUS RIDING PRIVILEGES: Bus riding is a privilege, which may be revoked. Misconduct by any student while riding a school bus represents a serious threat to the safety of all occupants on the bus as well as other motorists, pedestrians, and members of the community. Parents/guardians are urged to discuss with their children appropriate school bus conduct in order to ensure bus safety. All students who misbehave while riding the school bus will be disciplined according to the Code of Student Conduct. A bus suspension is separate from a school suspension and applies only to the loss of bus riding privileges unless subject to other disciplinary actions, such as out-of-school suspension. Students are required to attend school. Bus suspension does not affect or excuse school attendance.

#9

STUDENT RECORDS

# 8 CODE OF CONDUCT
Know The Rules. Know Your Rights. The Duval County Student Code of Conduct is essential to our schools, but your understanding of these rules and requirements is even more important. That's why we have policies for Elementary and Secondary students. Link to

Student information is protected by federal and state laws as well as policies of the Duval County School Board. These regulations, determining who can or cannot obtain student information, were enacted to protect the privacy rights of students and parents. The Student Records brochure provides parents with information about student records and

For more information visit the DCPS website at www.duvalschools.org

POINTS OF INTEREST
Information for Parents of Duval County Public Schools Students
information regarding their rights as they relate to them. The brochure can be located at: www.duvalschools.org/static/aboutdcps/departments/.../Stud Record.pdf Who, other than parents, can access student records? Parents have the legal right to any and all information in a students permanent cumulative record. If parents are divorced or separated, both parents have the right to student records unless a judicial order to the contrary is on file in the students permanent cumulative record. Eligible students take on all the rights of a parent. An eligible student is one who is 18-years old or who is attending a postsecondary educational institution. Parents of eligible students still have access to the students records as long as the student continues to be listed as a dependent on the parents income tax return. A stepparent may have access to a childs record only with the written consent of the natural parent, legal guardian, or eligible student. School staff who need the information to work effectively with the student may also have access to it. MLK Holiday President's Day Spring Break Planning Day Spring Holiday Memorial Day Early Release Days Sep 11, 25 Oct 9, 23 Nov 6, 20 Dec 11 Jan 8, 22 Feb 5, 19 Mar 12, 26 Apr 9,16 May 21 Please Note: Students are dismissed 75 minutes earlier than their normal dismissal time on early release days. Weather Days Nov 27 Dec 2, 19 Jan 2, 3 School Schedules/ Hours of Operation Elementary 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Middle 9:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. High 7:15 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. *To contribute to and meet the needs of all students requiring school bus transportation, there are some exceptions to school start times. See the website for a list of schools. Jan 20 February 17 Mar 17-21 April 4 April 18 May 26

#10

2013-2014 IMPORTANT DATES AND TIMES

August 19, 2013 June 6, 2014

First Day of School: Last Day of School: Report Card Dates

1st Quarter Elementary Report Cards Go Home Middle School Report Cards Go Home High School Report Cards Go Home

2nd 3rd 4th Quarter Quarter Quarter

#11 Parent Academy

Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) has launched a Parent Academy to promote parental involvement and enhance student achievement. Academy classes will be offered in schools, libraries, community centers, government offices, faith-based institutions, and hospitals. The Parent Academy will focus on three primary tracks: Student Achievement, Parenting and Advocacy, and Personal and Individual Growth. DCPS facilitators and trainers will deliver programming that will: Help parents navigate through their childs education from birth to graduation, and beyond; Create a positive impact on student achievement; and Strengthen parents network and foster relationships beyond school walls Please contact the Community and Family Engagement Department to learn more about registration and participating in the Parent Academy. Phone Number: 904-390-2960 Email Address: cfeinfo@duvalschools.org

*Please note: The release date of progress reports are decided by each individual school. Please check with your student's school for specific release dates. Student Holidays - 2013-2014 Labor Day Sep 2 Planning Day Oct 25 Veterans' Day Nov 11 Thanksgiving Nov 28-Nov 29 Winter Break Dec 20-Jan 1 Planning Day Jan 17

For more information visit the DCPS website at www.duvalschools.org