Policies for Louisiana Policies for Louisiana Charter SchoolsCharter Schools““Best Practice” for Student/Parent Best Practice” for Student/Parent and Employee Handbooksand Employee Handbooks

By: Stefanie J. Allweiss,LLCBy: Stefanie J. Allweiss,LLC

www.sallweiss.comwww.sallweiss.com

Charter schools can have Charter schools can have their charters revoked their charters revoked for:for: Poor academic performancePoor academic performance Business mismanagementBusiness mismanagement Legal noncomplianceLegal noncompliance

– ““A charter school can be shut down A charter school can be shut down at the end of its third year if the at the end of its third year if the school or any of its employees school or any of its employees violates its charter, fiscal or violates its charter, fiscal or accounting standards, or the law” accounting standards, or the law”

Why Have Written Why Have Written Policies?Policies?

Convey legal rights and Convey legal rights and obligationsobligations

Communicate mutual Communicate mutual expectations for students, expectations for students, parents, employees, and the parents, employees, and the communitycommunity

Shape the unique culture of a Shape the unique culture of a schoolschool

Policies for Louisiana Policies for Louisiana Charter SchoolsCharter Schools

*Required by*Required by LawLaw RegulationRegulation OrdinanceOrdinance ContractContract

Recommended as Recommended as “Best Practice”“Best Practice”

To communicate To communicate expectationsexpectations

To shape school’s To shape school’s unique characterunique character

Convey what is Convey what is special about special about school’s message school’s message and mission and mission

CAUTIONCAUTION

*Be aware of legal requirements *Be aware of legal requirements Maintain management discretion and Maintain management discretion and

flexibilityflexibility Do not commit to policies to which you are Do not commit to policies to which you are

not legally bound not legally bound Be prepared to “live with” policies as Be prepared to “live with” policies as

writtenwritten Be fair and consistent with implementationBe fair and consistent with implementation WHEN IN DOUBT SEEK ADVICE FROM AN WHEN IN DOUBT SEEK ADVICE FROM AN

EXPERTEXPERT

Risk of Not Having Risk of Not Having Written PoliciesWritten Policies Employees not aware of rightsEmployees not aware of rights Violation of lawViolation of law Liability and monetary damagesLiability and monetary damages Morale problemsMorale problems Performance issuesPerformance issues Lack of unity/universal goalsLack of unity/universal goals

Required Policies Depend Required Policies Depend On:On:

Type of Charter School (Types 1-5)Type of Charter School (Types 1-5) Number and ages of studentsNumber and ages of students Number of Employees Number of Employees

– Example:Example: *Student admission requirements*Student admission requirements *Teacher certification *Teacher certification *Relevant state and federal employment *Relevant state and federal employment

lawslaws

Designated ContactsDesignated Contacts

Encourage Open CommunicationEncourage Open Communication– Best to resolve complaints internallyBest to resolve complaints internally

Alternative avenues for Alternative avenues for grievancesgrievances– School LeaderSchool Leader– PrincipalPrincipal– Human Resources Human Resources

Student/Parent Policies:Student/Parent Policies:Commitment to MissionCommitment to Mission(Charter School Law*)(Charter School Law*)

– Mission StatementMission Statement– Description of Charter School and Description of Charter School and

FacultyFaculty– Parent/student ContractParent/student Contract– AttendanceAttendance– Academic curriculum and homeworkAcademic curriculum and homework– Yearly Calendar eventsYearly Calendar events– BehaviorBehavior– Honor codeHonor code

Student/Parent Policies:Student/Parent Policies:Performance Performance Expectations*Expectations*

– GradesGrades Grading systemGrading system Report cardsReport cards Promotional standardsPromotional standards Parental actionParental action

– Attendance policyAttendance policy Excused and unexcusedExcused and unexcused Makeup workMakeup work

– Remedial ProgramsRemedial Programs TutoringTutoring Extended dayExtended day

– Extracurricular activities Extracurricular activities

Student/ Parent Student/ Parent Policies:Policies:Behavioral Behavioral Expectations*Expectations*– Honor codeHonor code

Honesty, integrity, respectHonesty, integrity, respect

– Dress codeDress code– In-school disciplineIn-school discipline

Provide examplesProvide examples ConsequencesConsequences

– Short and long term suspensionShort and long term suspension– ExpulsionExpulsion

Student/Parent Student/Parent Policies:Policies:DisciplineDiscipline *Due Process Requirements *Due Process Requirements

MandatedMandated Dependent on length/type Dependent on length/type

punishment punishment – ConferenceConference– HearingHearing– Legal representationLegal representation– Consistent treatmentConsistent treatment

Student/Parent Policies:Student/Parent Policies:“Harassment” Free “Harassment” Free EnvironmentEnvironment

– *Mandatory abuse *Mandatory abuse reportingreporting

– *Harassment policy*Harassment policy– *Anti-discrimination *Anti-discrimination

policy (special ed)policy (special ed)– *Violence*Violence– Drugs/alcoholDrugs/alcohol– Damage to School Damage to School

propertyproperty

Employee Handbook:Employee Handbook:Initial EmploymentInitial Employment

– *Equal Opportunity Employer*Equal Opportunity Employer– *Teacher Certification Requirements*Teacher Certification Requirements– AcknowledgementAcknowledgement– Disclaimer about handbookDisclaimer about handbook– ““At will” employmentAt will” employment– *Conditions of employment, i.e. *Conditions of employment, i.e.

criminal background check, drug criminal background check, drug testing testing

Employee Employee Professional StandardsProfessional Standards

– Outline professional expectations Outline professional expectations and consequencesand consequences

– Outside employmentOutside employment– Conflict of interestConflict of interest– NepotismNepotism– GiftsGifts– Conviction/arrestConviction/arrest– Alcohol/drugsAlcohol/drugs

Employee Employee Performance Performance ExpectationsExpectations

– Describe primary responsibilitiesDescribe primary responsibilities– Teaching policiesTeaching policies– Participation in communityParticipation in community– AttendanceAttendance– Work productWork product– Evaluation processEvaluation process– Promotional standardsPromotional standards

EmployeeEmployeeProgressive Performance Progressive Performance ManagementManagement Train principals, school leader and Train principals, school leader and

supervisorssupervisors To effectively convey expectationsTo effectively convey expectations How to manage performanceHow to manage performance

Fair and Consistent treatmentFair and Consistent treatment Similarly situated employeesSimilarly situated employees Treated the sameTreated the same Cannot violate state or federal employment Cannot violate state or federal employment

lawslaws Grievance procedureGrievance procedure

*Workplace Free of *Workplace Free of Harassment/DiscriminatiHarassment/Discriminationon Equal employment Equal employment Whistleblower lawWhistleblower law Workplace violenceWorkplace violence Conflict resolutionConflict resolution Abuse/neglectAbuse/neglect Student disciplinary procedureStudent disciplinary procedure

Health and SafetyHealth and Safety

*Immunization and Health *Immunization and Health RequirementsRequirements

*In-school medication policy*In-school medication policy Field TripsField Trips *Abuse/Neglect Reporting *Abuse/Neglect Reporting Occupational safetyOccupational safety Crisis prevention and managementCrisis prevention and management Environmental concernsEnvironmental concerns

Salary and BenefitsSalary and Benefits

Employment contracts/termEmployment contracts/term Position/standards/dutiesPosition/standards/duties Employment categoriesEmployment categories Salary structureSalary structure Time ReportingTime Reporting Payroll PeriodPayroll Period DeductionsDeductions InsuranceInsurance COBRACOBRA Worker’s compensationWorker’s compensation

Leave and HolidaysLeave and Holidays

SickSick HolidaysHolidays *Family Medical Leave*Family Medical Leave *Pregnancy/Maternity*Pregnancy/Maternity *Workplace accommodation*Workplace accommodation *Jury duty*Jury duty BereavmentBereavment

School Property and School Property and RecordsRecords *Public information*Public information *Public Meeting law*Public Meeting law *Confidential and Privileged files*Confidential and Privileged files Computer and TechnologyComputer and Technology Search and SeizureSearch and Seizure

RecapRecap

Be aware of legal obligationsBe aware of legal obligations Management discretionManagement discretion CommunicationCommunication Open doorOpen door Fair and consistent application Fair and consistent application Periodic review Periodic review WHEN IN DOUBT CONSULT EXPERTWHEN IN DOUBT CONSULT EXPERT