FILE:  JBCC

Cf:  JBC, JBCD

STUDENT ASSIGNMENT

ATTENDANCE ZONE REQUIREMENTS

The Washington Parish School Board shall have authority and responsibility for the assignment, placement, transfer, and continued education of all students attending schools within its jurisdiction.  The School Board shall require a student to attend the appropriate school as determined by the residence (domicile) of the student or the parent, legal guardian or custodian, or if he/she is eighteen years old or has been emancipated by a court order, by the student's own domicile.  However, the School Board reserves the authority and responsibility to assign and/or transfer a student to any of the public schools within its jurisdiction, if circumstances warrant.  The parent or legal guardian of a student may file in writing to the School Board an objection to the assignment of the student, in which case the School Board shall review the assignment and investigate the circumstances in order to render a decision.

The School Board, by statute, shall be required to assign a student to attend any public school requested by a parent or other legally responsible person when the requested school has space available and is of suitable grade level, and the child resides not more than one (1) mile from such school.  Such assignment shall be made if not specifically contrary to the provisions of law, rule, regulation, or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.  Assignment shall also be made without regard to Parish boundaries.

Legal custody is defined as the legal status created by a court order which establishes in a custodian the right to have physical custody of the child or minor, as verified by a certified copy of the court order.  Legal custody shall not include provisional custody by mandate.

Any child temporarily residing within the district who has no permanent address, or who has been abandoned by his/her parent, or who is in foster care, shall be enrolled and allowed to attend school in the zone appropriate to the special circumstance of the child.  Surrogate parents may be appointed when appropriate for special needs students.

VERIFICATION OF RESIDENCE

The School Board shall require verification of residence of those students whose residence is suspected to be outside the attendance zone of the school the student is attending.  When investigating the residence of a student, the School Board shall attempt to verify the primary place of residence of the legal parent or legal guardian.  Such verification of residence shall be based on the following:

1. Proofs of two (2) major utility bills, one being an electric bill, and the other being a gas, water or telephone bill, and
   
   

2. A voter registration card of parent or custodian, or
   
   

3. A property tax statement of parent or custodian showing homestead exemption, or
   
   

4. Any other documentation as may be stipulated by the School Board.

ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES

Unless the Individualized Education Program (IEP) of a student with an exceptionality, except a gifted and talented student, requires some other arrangement, the School Board shall require the student with such an exceptionality to be educated in the school that the student would attend if he/she did not have an exceptionality.  However, if the educational needs of the student cannot be achieved satisfactorily in a regular class setting, the student may be placed in an educational environment designed to meet the appropriate needs of the student, as determined by the IEP committee.

However, a student with an exceptionality, except a gifted and talented student, shall be assigned to a school as requested by the parent, in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:1944, if all the following conditions are met:

1. The parent submits a written request to the School Board responsible for the student and the respective School Board having jurisdiction over the school being requested, by not later than April first of the school year preceding the school year for which the parent is requesting the school assignment.  The request shall include a recommendation from at least two (2) licensed physicians who have treated the student during the year prior to the submission of the request.
   
   

2. The School Board responsible for the student and the respective School Board having jurisdiction over the school being requested by the parent enter into an agreement for the assignment of the student to the requested school.
   
   

3. The requested school is located at least ten (10) miles from the school to which the student is assigned, in accordance with applicable school attendance zone requirements.
   
   

4. The requested school is located at least fifteen (15) miles from the student’s home.
   
   

5. The requested school is not located in a public school district in which fifty percent (50%) or more of the public schools in the district are charter schools and fifty percent (50%) or more of the public schools in the district participate in a single application and enrollment process for public school enrollment.

CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT

Generally, student assignments in K through 8 will be made by the principal of the school.  However, in some cases schools may be structured so that students in higher grades may select classes and courses of study.  The placement of a student shall be based on grades, achievement test scores, and participation in special programs.

High School

Selection of classes and courses of study in grades 9 through 12 shall be uniformly made by individual students.  Assistance in planning course of study and selection of classes shall be provided by teachers, counselors, and administrators.  Each student shall be furnished a schedule of classes offered and requirements for graduation.  Some classes may have prerequisites for enrollment.

Multiple Siblings

In grades kindergarten through second grade, the parent of twins, triplets, etc. (more than one child at a single birth event) may request that their children be placed initially in the same, or separate, classrooms, if the children are in the same grade at the same school.  Such a request shall be presented to the Superintendent or his/her designee no later than fourteen (14) days either after the first day of the school year or after the first day of attendance if the child enrolls after the fourteenth day of the school year.  Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or School Board policy to the contrary, the request of the parent for initial placement shall be granted subject to further review.

As soon as possible after the end of the student’s first grading period, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall review the initial placement of the child.  If the Superintendent or his/her designee, in consultation with the school principal, the child’s(ren’s) teacher(s), and the parent, determines that the initial placement of the children is disruptive to the school or is not in the best educational interests of the child(ren), the initial placement of the child shall be modified, and the child(ren) shall be placed in accordance with School Board policy otherwise applicable to the child(ren).

Teachers with Felony Convictions

At the request of a student’s parent or legal guardian, a student shall be removed from the class of any teacher who has a felony conviction and placed in another class.

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§9:951, 9:952, 9:953, 9:954, 17:15, 17:81, 17:104.1, 17:221.2, 17:221.4, 17:221.5, 17:238, 17:1944

La. Civil Code Art. 38, Art. 39, Art. 41, Art. 43, Art. 44

Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 10-9-08, 1-14-10, 4-22-10, 3-17-11 , 9-13-12, 2-16-17, 3-14-19

Washington Parish School Board