WAYNE HIGHLANDS SCHOOL DISTRICT

ANNUAL NOTICE TO PARENTS

I.  NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

To comply with Federal Laws (including Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Amendments of 1974, State Laws, the State Department of Education Regulations concerning Equal Rights and Opportunities, and to assure their implementation, the Wayne Highlands School District declares itself to be an Equal Opportunity Education Institution, and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, handicap or limited English proficiency in its activities, education programs or employment practices.

For information regarding Civil Rights or Grievances Procedures, please contact Dr. Peter Jordan, Title IX Coordinator, at 474 Grove Street, Honesdale, PA  18431.  Telephone:  (570)-253-4661; email pjordan@whsdk12.com.  It is the coordinator's responsibility to make certain that all education programs and activities and all employment procedures are free from discrimination on the basis of these conditions stated in the Policy.

II. TITLE IX POLICY STATEMENT

The Wayne Highlands School District has created policies which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in both education and employment.  Board Policy and Administrative Practices and Procedures prohibits sex bias in such educational areas as treatment of students, course offerings and instruction, counseling practices, financial assistance, awards, physical education, interscholastic and intramural athletics, extracurricular activities and disciplinary procedures.  Board Policy and Administrative Practices and Procedures prohibits sex bias in such employment areas as applications, recruitment, hiring, upgrading and promotion, rates of pay, fringe benefits, job assignment and classification, leaves of absence, training and all other terms, conditions or privileges of employment.

For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact Dr. Peter Jordan, Title IX Coordinator, 474 Grove Street, Honesdale, PA  18431.  Telephone: (570)-253-4661; email pjordan@whsdk12.com.  It is the coordinator's responsibility to make certain that all education programs and activities and all employment procedures are free from discrimination on the basis of these conditions in the policy.

III.  NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records.  These rights are:

1. 1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the School receives a request for access.

Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect.  The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

1. 2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the school to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed.  If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.  Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

1. 3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.  A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a volunteer, contractor or consultant  or company with whom the school has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using its own employees or committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.  A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

1. 4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the School District to comply with the requirements of ERPA.  The name and address of the Office that administrates FERPA:

Student Privacy Policy Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC  20202-5920

IV.  NOTICE FOR DIRECTORY INFORMATION

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that Wayne Highlands School District, with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child's education records. However, Wayne Highlands School District may disclose appropriately designated "directory information" without written consent, unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the Wayne Highlands School District to include this type of information from your child's education records in certain school publications. Examples include:

• • A playbill, showing your student's role in a drama production;
  • The annual yearbook;
  • Honor roll or other recognition lists;
  • Graduation programs; and
  • Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team  members

Directory information is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released.  Parents of students or eligible students are given the opportunity to notify the school in writing on a yearly basis of their wish to not be included in the release of directory information.  This notification must be renewed in writing to the individual building principal wherein the student is enrolled on a yearly basis.  Directory information includes information relating to the student as follows:  the student's name, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees, honors and awards received, the most recent previous school attended by the student, homeroom lists released to local newspapers, e-mail address and photograph.

Directory information can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent's prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require school districts receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories - names, addresses and telephone listings - unless parents have advised the Wayne Highlands School District that they do not want their student's information disclosed without their prior written consent.

If you do not want the Wayne Highlands School District to disclose directory information from your child's education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the District in writing via the process set forth above.

V.  WAYNE HIGHLANDS SCHOOL DISTRICT PPRA NOTICE AND

CONSENT/OPT-OUT FOR SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), 20 U. S. C. section 1232h, requires Wayne Highlands School District to notify you and obtain consent or allow you to opt your child out of participating in certain school activities. These activities include a student survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns one or more of the following eight areas ("protected information surveys"):

Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas ("protected information survey") if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U. S. Department of Education.

                        1.         Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student's parent;

                        2.         Mental or psychological problems of the student or student's family;

                        3.         Sex behavior or attitudes;

                        4.         Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior,

                        5.         Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family     

                                    relationships;

                        6.         Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;

                        7.         Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or

                        8.         Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of-

            1.         Any other protected information survey regardless of funding;             

            2.         Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a               

                                     condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not      

                                     necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for   

                                     hearing, vision or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening

                                     permitted or required under State law; and

            3.         Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information, including student or parents first and last name, address, phone number and social security number,

                        obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the  

                        information to others.

Inspect, upon request and before administration or use-

                        l.           Protected information surveys of students; 

            2.         Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the

                                     above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and

                        3.         Instructional material, except academic tests and academic assessments, used as part of the educational curriculum.

These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.

The Wayne Highlands School District has developed and adopted Policy (#235) in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. The Wayne Highlands School District will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. The Wayne Highlands School District will also directly notify, such as through U. S. Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey. The Wayne Highlands School District will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this requirement:

• Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other   

                        distribution.

• Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by  

                         Department of Education.

• Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.

 Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Student Privacy Policy Office

U. S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, D. C. 20202-5920

If you wish to review any survey instrument or instructional material used in connection with any protected information or marketing survey, please submit a request to the school principal. The principal will notify you of the time and place where you may review these materials. You have the right to review a survey, instrument and/or instructional materials before the survey is administered to a student.  ​​​​​

VI. Title I Parents’ Right to Know Regulations

The Wayne Highlands School District receives Title I funding under the Every Student Succeeds Act(ESSA) [Section 1112(e)(1)(A)]and to assist students in meeting state standards.  The purpose of the funds are to assist student is meeting state standards.  Throughout the school year, you will be provided with important information about this law and your child’s education.  This notice serves as notice of your right to request information about the professional qualifications of their children’s teacher(s) or paraprofessional(s) to include;

•  Whether Pennsylvania has licensed the teacher for the grades and          

    subjects he or she teaches. 

•  Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional  

    status through which Pennsylvania licensing criteria have been waived. 

•  The teacher’s baccalaureate degree major and whether the teacher has

    any advance degrees, and if so, the subject of the degrees. 

•  Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so,

    their qualifications.   

ESSA, which was sign into law into December 2015 includes additional right to know requests.  At any time, parents/guardians and family members can request:

•  Information on policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out, if applicable and

•  Information on required assessments that include:

• Subject matter tested,
• Purpose of the test,
• Source of the requirement (if applicable),
• Amount of time it takes students to complete the test and
• Time and format of disseminating results

If you would like to receive specific information about your child’s teacher or paraprofessional, or assessment information  please contact your school principal.  Our district is fully committed to the success of your child.   We appreciate your partnership in our efforts to provide the best education for your child.   

VII. WAYNE HIGHLANDS SCHOOL DISTRICT TESTING PROGRAMS FOR THE 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR

During the 2026-27 school year, the Wayne Highlands School District will administer a variety of tests in order to evaluate student achievement; educational programming; and career selection.

In the primary grades (K-2), the DIBELS Next (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment is given. In the elementary grades (3-5) and middle grades (6-8), the 4Sight Assessment in Math and Reading will be given.   High school students and in some content areas at the middle level, will utilize the Classroom Diagnostic Tool (CDT).  The Pa. State Assessment Test will be given in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8.   Keystone Exams will be administered to 8^th grade and high school students who take Algebra I, Biology and Literature.]

Tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students will also be eligible to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test which will be given on October 13^th, and the Scholastic Aptitude Test which is scheduled for October 2nd, November 6th,  March 12th, and June 4th.  Finally, students in grades eleven and twelve will be able to volunteer to take the Armed Services Vocational Battery of tests on September 29th.

For more information on the District's testing program, contact any of the school principals, or the Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Peter Jordan.

VIII.  SPECIAL EDUCATION

Wayne Highlands School District offers a continuum of services for children who are identified as having special needs.  Eligibility for services is based upon a multidisciplinary team evaluation, in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  If a student is determined to be eligible for special education services, services are planned and provided through an Individualized Education Program (IEP).  Services are provided through the District or through the Wayne County Consortium of Special Education.   For further information, please contact the guidance counselor at your child’s school or the Special Education Director who may be reached at (570) 253-3402. A referral for a multidisciplinary evaluation may be made by  school personnel working with the student or by the student’s parent/guardian.  If a parent suspects his/her child may be gifted and wants to request a multidisciplinary evaluation, the parent may do so at any time.

Potential indicators that a child may have a disability that warrants an evaluation under IDEA include, but are not limited to, difficulty with the following:

• • • • Academic performance in school (reading, math, writing)
      • Understanding and following directions
      • Paying attention and remaining focused on a task or topic
      • Controlling impulsive behaviors
      • Communicating with others (speaking, carrying on conversations)
      • Solving problems
      • Understanding social rules and body language
      • Remembering things
      • Expressing need and/or wants
      • Maintaining positive relationships with peers and adults
      • Physical movement
      • Independent living and/or self-help skills

Source:            Department of Health and Human Services

                        Centers for Disease Control Prevention

                        National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

EARLY INTERVENTION

Early Intervention Classes, for children ages 3-5, are operated through the Wayne County Consortium.   These classes run for 2 ½ hours per day, four days per week.  The purpose of these classes is to assist students with developmental delays and/or other areas of need identified in state and federal regulations.  Classes provide developmentally appropriate activities to strengthen students’ skills.  Eligibility for this program is based upon a multi-disciplinary evaluation.  For further information on this program, please contact the Early Intervention Coordinator at (570) 969-6711.

DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS

Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “Bye Bye” are called developmental milestones.  Children reach milestones in playing, learning, speaking, behaving, and moving (crawling, walking, etc).  A developmental delay is when a child does not reach these milestones at the same time as other children the same age. 

Source:            Department of Health and Human Services

                        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

                        National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR GIFTED STUDENTS

              The Wayne Highlands School District provides services for students who are identified as being gifted and in need of specially designed instruction.  The District has developed procedures to identify such students and provide appropriate educational programs for them.  A referral for a gifted multidisciplinary evaluation may be made by a school personnel working with the student or by the student’s parent/guardian.  If a parent suspects his/her child may be gifted and wants to request a gifted multidisciplinary evaluation, the parent may do so at any time.  Such a request should be made to the guidance counselor at your school or the Special Education Director who may be reached at (570) 253-3402.

STUDENT RECORDS ACCESS POLICY

 The Wayne Highlands School District, upon request of a parent, shall permit the parent to inspect, review or copy education records relating to an exceptional child of that parent when the record is collected, maintained or used by the agency.  The agency shall comply with the request without unnecessary delay, but not exceeding  45 days after the request is received.  When the request is made to a school district or an intermediate unit, it shall be compiled prior to a conference regarding an IEP and prior to a hearing relating to identification, evaluation,  placement and discipline of the child, or the provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to the child or a resolution session meeting.

1.         The right to inspect, review or copy education records includes:

i.       The right of a parent to request of and receive from the educational agency a reasonable explanation and interpretation of information contained in the education records of the child.

 

ii.        The right of a parent to be provided, on request, with a copy of all or part of the education records of the child.

 

iii.     The right of a parent to designate a representative, who will inspect and review  the records.

 

2.       If a parent requests copies of education records from the Wayne Highlands School District, the Wayne Highlands School District may charge the parent a reasonable cost which may not exceed the actual expense of the duplication, reproduction or photocopying.  Cost may not be charged to a parent for the search for or retrieval of records.

3.         A parent has the right to request a list of the types and the location of the child's education records collected, maintained or utilized by the Wayne Highlands School District.

4.         At the discretion of the Wayne Highlands School District and for verification and records keeping purposes only, an agency may require the parents to put into writing the following:

Special Ed. - Student Records Access Policy-(Continued)

i.          Their oral requests to inspect, review, copy or receive copies of education records

ii.         Their oral designations of a representative

iii.        Their oral requests for a list

5.         If an education record includes information on more than one child, the parents of those children have the right to inspect and review only the information relating to their child or to be informed of that specific information.

i.       A parent has the right to copy from or receive a copy of an education record originally containing information on more than one child.

ii.      Prior to the parent copying or receiving a copy of a record on more than one child, the agency shall delete, remove or obscure from the record or its copy personally identifiable information concerning any child who is not the child of the parent.

Student access rights.  Whenever a student has attained 18 years of age or is attending an institution or postsecondary education, the rights accorded to and the consent required of the parent of the student shall thereafter be accorded to and required of only the student.

        Programs for Eligible Students

In compliance with state and federal law, notice is hereby given by the Wayne Highlands School District that ongoing identification activities are conducted as a part of its school program for the purpose of identifying students who may be in need of special education and related services (eligible students).  If your child is identified by the Wayne Highlands School District as possibly in need of such services, you will be notified of applicable procedures.  Individualized services and programs are available for children who are determined to need specially designed instruction due to the following conditions:

1.         Autism

2.         Visual impairment

3.         Hearing impairment

4.         Developmental delay

5.         Gifted

6.         Intellectual disability

7.         Multiple Disabilities

8.         Traumatic Brain Injury

9.         Other health impairments

10.       Orthopedic Impairment

11.       Emotional disturbance

12.       Specific learning disability

13.       Speech or language impairment

14.       Deaf/blindness

If you believe that your school-age child may be in need of special education services and related programs, or your young child (age 3 to school age) may be in need of early intervention, screening and evaluation processes designed to assess the needs of the child and his/her eligibility is available to you at no cost, upon written request.  You may request screening and evaluation at any time, whether or not your child is enrolled in the District’s public school program.  Requests for evaluation and screening are to be made in writing to Mrs. Amanda Kerna, Director of Special Education -Wayne Highlands School District - 474 Grove Street - Honesdale, PA 18431, or by calling(570) 253-3402, or emailing at akerna@whsdk12.com.

Programs for Eligible or Protected Handicapped  (Mentally and/or Physically) Students

In compliance with state and federal law, the school district will provide to each protected handicapped  student, without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program, co-curricular and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s abilities.

In order to qualify as a protected handicapped  student, the child must be school age with a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program.  These services and protections for protected handicapped students are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.

For further information on the rights of parents and children, provision of services, evaluation and screening (including purpose, time and location), and rights to due process procedures, you may contact, in writing, the person listed above or any building principal.

Confidentiality: All information gathered about your child is subject to the confidentiality provisions contained in federal and state law.  The District has policies and procedures in effect governing the collection, maintenance, destruction and disclosure to third parties of this information.  For information about these policies and procedures, as well as rights of confidentiality and access to educational records, you may contact, in writing, Mrs. Amanda Kerna, Director of Special Education – Wayne Highlands School District – 474 Grove Street – Honesdale, PA 18431, or by calling (570) 253-3402, or emailing at akerna@whsdk12.com or any building principal.

IX.  WAYNE HIGHLANDS SCHOOL DISTRICT VOCATIONAL PROGRAM OFFERINGS