ENGLISH GUIDE TO THE BOSTON PUBLIC

ENGLISH

GUIDE TO THE

BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2019-2020 0

FOR STUDENTS & FAMILIES

2019?2020 DISTRICT CALENDAR

2019

August 6-7...................... New Leader Development August 13-16.................August Leadership Institute August 19-21.................... Teacher Summer Institute August 19 ........... Dever Elem.: New teachers report August 21 ... Dever Elem.: Returning teachers report August 21 ........Up Academies: Boston, Dorchester,

and Holland, all grades - first day of school August 22-23.. English Learner Summer Symposium September 2........................... Labor Day: No school September 3-4 ........... All teachers and paras report September 5............Students in grades 1-12 report,

including grade 1 in ELCs and EECs September 9.............. Kindergarten students report,

including EECs, ELCs, and special ed. October 14 ......................Columbus Day: No school November 11.....................Veterans' Day: No school November 27 .....Early release for students and staff November 28-29 ... Thanksgiving Recess: No school December 23 -January 3... Winter Recess: No school

2020

January 2 ................... All teachers and paras PD day January 6 ....................... Students return from recess January 20 ...................M.L. King Jr. Day: No school February 17 .................... Presidents' Day: No school February 18-21 ..............February Recess: No school February 24 ................... Students return from recess April 10................................Good Friday: No school April 20 ................................Patriots' Day: No school April 21-24........................ Spring Recess: No school April 27.......................... Students return from recess May 25.............................. Memorial Day: No school June 5 (or day 170)..................... Last day for seniors June 18 (or day 179)..........Early release for students June 19 (or day 180)...... Last day of school if no days

are lost due to cancellations, early release for students. June 26 is the 185th day required for calendar

purposes.

Major Religious & Cultural Holidays

2019 Aug. 10......... Eid al-Adha Sep. 29-Oct. 1 .................

Rosh Hashanah Oct. 8-9 ........ Yom Kippur Oct. 27-31 ............. Diwali Nov. 28 .......Thanksgiving Dec. 22-30 .......Hanukkah Dec. 25 ............ Christmas Dec. 26 - Jan. 1 ..Kwanzaa

2020 Jan. 1 ...... New Year's Day Jan. 6 .... Three Kings Day Jan. 25 ....Lunar New Year Feb. 26 ..Ash Wednesday Apr. 8-16............Passover Apr. 10 .........Good Friday Apr. 12 ...................Easter Apr. 19 .. Orthodox Easter Apr. 22 ............. Earth Day Apr. 23 ...Ramadan begins May 10........Mother's Day May 23............. Eid al-Fitr June 21........ Father's Day July 3 ..Independence Day

(observed)

w All BPS offices and Welcome Centers closed.

AUGUST 2019

S M T W Th F S

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4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

SEPTEMBER 2019

S M T W Th F S w

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8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

OCTOBER 2019

S M T W Th F S

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6 7 8 9 10 11 12 w

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

NOVEMBER 2019

S M T W Th F S

12

3456789 w

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ww

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

FEBRUARY 2020

S M T W Th F S

29 30

DECEMBER 2019

S M T W Th F S

1234567

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 w

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

MARCH 2020

S M T W Th F S

27 28 29 30 31

JANUARY 2020

S M T W Th F S w

1234

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 w

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

APRIL 2020

S M T W Th F S

1 2345678

1234567 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1234 w

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 w

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

MAY 2020

S M T W Th F S

12

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

SM 1

31

JUNE 2020

T W Th

234

FS

56

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 w

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

JULY 2020

S M T W Th F S w

1234

3456789 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24

w

31 25 26 27 28 29 30

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Extenuating circumstances and/or inclement weather may necessitate changes to the calendar during the year.

Visit calendar for current information.

2019?2020 Guide to the Boston Public Schools for Students & Families

Produced by: The Boston Public Schools Communications Office

Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building 2300 Washington Street, Roxbury MA 02119

617-635-9265 communications@



Cover Artwork Under the direction of Toni Nurse and the ABA Program Directors, created by Chris Hall from the Joseph Lee K-8. This "Acceptance" piece is a collaborative effort with the Applied Behavior Analysis department, including students in the ABA-Strand and Inclusion programs across Boston Public Schools. Students were given a 5 x 7 piece of paper and asked to answer the prompt, "What is your superpower?" or "What makes you special?" Each school was given a different color. Chris Hall used the sheets of paper to create the final piece. This is truly a wonderful piece highlighting our student's

individuality and ABA programs, both sub-separate and inclusion, across the district!

The Guide to the Boston Public Schools is available in Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

This publication summarizes many laws, policies, regulations, and practices that are important to Boston Public Schools (BPS) students and their parents and guardians. It is not intended to be a complete directory of all laws and policies concerning students and parents.

Federal and state laws, BPS policies, regulations, and practices at the district and school building levels are subject to change. Some information may have changed since the Guide was printed in July 2019.

2019?2020 Guide to the Boston Public Schools for Students & Families

City of Boston

Martin J. Walsh, Mayor

Boston School Committee

Michael Loconto, Chair Alexandra Oliver-D?vila, Vice-Chair

Dr. Hardin Coleman Michael O'Neill Dr. Lorna Rivera Jeri Robinson Quoc Tran

Boston Public Schools

Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent

September 2019

Our Mission

As the birthplace of public education in this nation, the Boston Public Schools is committed to transforming the lives of all children through exemplary teaching in a world-class system of innovative, welcoming schools. We partner with the community, families, and students to develop in every learner the knowledge, skill, and character to excel in college, career, and life.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics, or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or biasbased intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals' dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

2019?2020 School Calendar Inside front cover Parent and Student Information Form

33-36

A Message from the Superintendent

4

Directory of Services for Families

5

Family/School Partnership

The Home/School Connection

6

The School Parent Council

6

School Site Council

6

Welcome Centers

7

Parent University

7

Outreach to Families

7

School Access for Visitors

8

Communications Policy

8

Advocating for your Child: Problem-Solving Checklist

9

Preparing for a Productive Parent-Teacher Conference

10

The Home Connection: Simple Ways to Encourage Learning 11

Math and Reading Tips for Parents

12

Promotion and Assessment

The BPS Promotion Policy

13

The Promotion Policy and School Attendance

14

Support for Students Who Need Extra Help

15

Assessment: Measuring Student Achievement

16

MCAS

16

The MCAS Graduation Requirement

17

ACCESS for ELLs

17

Elementary School: Summary of Promotion,

Testing, and Homework Requirements

18

Middle School: Summary of Promotion,

Testing, and Homework Requirements

20

High School: Summary of Promotion,

Testing, and Homework Requirements

22

Special Programs

Special Education and Student Services

24

English Learners

24

Students Who Are Experiencing Homelessness

25

Alternative Education

26

Advanced Work Class & Excellence for All

26

The Exam Schools

27

Home and Hospital Tutoring

27

Homeschooling

27

Services for Students

Health and Wellness

28

Behavioral Health Services

28

Health Services

28

Health Education

30

Physical Education

31

Health Program Surveys

32

Healthy and Safe Environment

32

Guidance Counseling

32

Food and Nutrition Services

37

Transportation

38

BPS Policies

Student Safety and Emergencies

40

Non-Discrimination and Civil Rights

42

The Code of Conduct

43

Using Technology in School

46

Residency Requirement for Students

47

School Registration and Assignment

48

Student Records

50

Graduation Ceremonies

52

Homework

52

Tardiness

52

Student Lockers

52

Mobile (Cell) Phones

53

Personal Property

53

Report Cards

53

Athletics

54

School Cancellations

54

School Uniforms

55

Drinking Water Availability

55

Tobacco-free Environment Policy

55

Care of Books and Other Materials

55

Expectant and Parenting Teen Policy

55

Student Engagement and Governance

55

More Resources for Families

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

56

School Accountability

56

Early Childhood Education

56

School and District Report Cards

57

School-based Health Centers

57

Parent Engagement Policy

58

The Home-School Compact

59

Quality School Plan

59

English Learners

60

School-Community Partnerships

60

Organizations that Provide Parent Training

and Professional Development

61

Directory of Boston Public Schools

64

2019?2020 Marking Periods and

Report Card Schedule

Inside back cover

BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS GUIDE FOR STUDENTS & FAMILIES 2019?2020



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