SPECIAL ED IN GEORGIA

Senate Bill 10 Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act -
From the GCASE website:
It is the position of the Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education (GCASE)to strongly oppose Senate Bill 10- Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act as being contrary to the best interests of children with disabilities and their families, Georgia’s local school systems and their local communities and taxpayers. Further, G-CASE believes that a voucher option would both contradict and undermine central purposes of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act provides for the distribution of public state and federal education dollars in the form of monetary vouchers to parents of school-age children with disabilities to be used toward the cost of tuition at private schools, both sectarian and nonsectarian. While G-CASE acknowledges the historic and continuing contribution of private schools, G-CASE does not support the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act for at least the following reasons: • The private schools are not held to the same standards of accountability as those required of Georgia’s local school systems – including all federal and state rules and regulations – along with on-going public monitoring, full transparency of private programs, and regular reporting to parents and the public; • The private schools are not required to provide a complete program of special education, related services, and supplementary aids and services in the context of full implementation of the student’s individualized education program (IEP); • Fiscal protections to guarantee that public education funds are not diverted to a voucher program at the expense of the students remaining in the public schools. • This bill is discriminatory in that it only addresses students with special needs and is only beneficial to affluent families; • Private schools are not required to provide civil rights protections or the range of services required under state and federal law for students with disabilities; • There is no existing data to substantiate that private schools offer better instruction in the core content approved by the Georgia DOE; • There is no appropriate data to determine if the voucher system is working in other states such as Florida. Florida DOE has not collected data on how many students return to public schools, the reasons why and in what time frame, how many of the students are taught by teachers that would meet Highly Qualified criteria, how many teachers have training in disabilities, etc. • There is no existing data to prove students attending private schools perform equal to or better than students attending public schools because they are not required to participate in state or federal accountability testing; • Teachers in private schools are not required to be highly qualified. • No on-going general supervision of the educational program is conducted by the state and local education agency, thus providing no assurance that special education and related services are being fully provided. • Segregation within the private school: A fundamental tenet of IDEA is the requirement of education within the least restrictive environment (LRE). Since private schools are not subject to this tenet, the potential for in-school segregation of students with special learning needs predictably accelerates. • No guarantee of equal access: Private schools receiving vouchers are allowed to pick and choose whom they will enroll. Parents may not choose any private school. The private school chooses them. Private schools may also choose which children they will retain even after initial enrollment. • In the event that the private school fails to provide an appropriate education, parents of “scholarship Students” would have no remedy, except to return to the public school. • Families opt out of procedural protections. Parents discard their due process and other rights by accepting vouchers. • Families are not guaranteed a free, appropriate, public education (FAPE). Evidence indicates that the voucher approach fails to guarantee an at no cost education for a student’s family. This reality ultimately makes voucher programs quite appealing to middle and upper middle income families, but at the same time effectively eliminates lower income families and single-parent families. • Families are not guaranteed all procedural safeguards under the IDEA, Section 504, the ADA, and other relevant civil rights laws of the United States; • Families must assume full financial responsibility for the education of their child, including transportation to and from the private school. • Fly by night schools are created to take advantage of securing state and federal dollars. • The transfer of FTE and federal IDEA funds to private schools at a time of extreme economic stress is bad policy. • Parents of children currently enrolled in private schools will not be able to access the funding. • Parents may place undue pressure on local school systems to evaluate and determine eligibility for their child under IDEA. The parent request may be to access the voucher for private school tuition rather than based on a suspected disability. • Private schools are not required to evaluate or request an evaluation to determine continued eligibility. This certainly conflicts with IDEA's requirement to consider eligibility a minimum of each three years.
Naturally the organization GCASE would be opposed to the voucher idea! No surprise.



WHICH IS IT - GUNS OR NO GUNS?

In the Forsyth Herald June 1st edition there was an article on guns on school grounds - that were stolen and brought to school  -- Here is the article:
Central HS students arrested after guns found on campus Two also charged with burglary by Patricia Hansen - 
June 01, 2006 Two Central Forsyth students were arrested and charged with three counts of having weapons on school grounds Friday, May 18. Matthew Tyler Phillips, 17, of Cumming and a 16-year-old, whose name is being withheld due to his age, were also charged with seven counts of entering an auto and one count of burglary. School officials were alerted to the presence of alcohol contained in a cooler sitting in the back of a truck the pair had taken to school. School Resource Officer Alan Seabolt obtained permission to search the vehicle and confirmed the presence of alcohol in the cooler. He also uncovered a cache of stolen goods that included three guns, ammunition, tools and cameras. "The students were immediately placed under arrest and the Forsyth Sheriff's Office removed them for questioning," said Forsyth County Schools spokesperson Jennifer Caracciolo. "Both were also suspended from school and will face a tribunal." Tribunals are disciplinary hearings held by the schools to decide if a student will be allowed to continue in the general school population. At the time of the incident, there was no perceived threat to other students and the school did not deem it necessary to take any further security measures, Caracciolo said. Along with the school tribunal, both are now facing criminal trials. The investigation traced the stolen property back to a series of car break-ins on Post Road the evening of May 17, according to Capt. Paul Taylor of the Sheriff's Office. "It seemed that these two left the cooler sitting out in the truck in plain sight and some others came along and decided to take a look," he said. "When they saw the beer it seemed best to let an administrator know." According to Taylor, the cooler was also stolen. "They just took the cooler as well and threw that in the truck along with everything else." Both suspects were released on bail.

THEN IN NOVEMBER A FORSYTH HERALD ARTICLE APPEARED STATING THERE HAS BEEN NO GUNS SINCE 1997  ----- CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE AS STATED IN THE HERALD FROM THE FORSYTH SCHOOL SYSTEM:

Security in the schools: 'It could happen here'  - WRITTEN BY Liz Alverson -

School administrators meet problem head on by Liz Alverson write the author Amy Davis, principal of Chestatee Elementary School, role-plays a 911 call about a "code red lockdown" of a school, while Kristan Morse, assistant principal, right, listens in. -
LIZ ALVERSON/Herald November 02, 2006

With the tragic and murderous rampage by a gunman at a Pennsylvania Amish school still lingering on the collective mind of the public, school administrators no longer assume "it could never happen here." Dealing with school security planning head-on, principals and assistant principals from 49 Forsyth County schools gathered for a fourth meeting in a series of school safety preparedness trainings. The School Safety Coordinators training, held Oct. 26 at the county's new emergency operation center, helped administrators think through real-life scenarios that could occur on school grounds. "We want the right response, to the right location, every time," said Capt. Mark Hoffman of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office. Public safety representatives from Forsyth's Fire Department, the Forsyth Sheriff's Office, the 911 Emergency Call Center and Georgia's Department of Homeland Security offered up critical "incident response" and pre-planning information to school principals, who are the primary respondents in the event of a school emergency. In a mock 911 emergency call that eerily mimicked a gunman on school grounds, Amy Davis, principal of Chestatee Elementary School, phoned in a code red school lockdown to the 911 center. The situation might have been make-believe, but the 911 call was real. "What is the description of the perpetrator? Did you see a gun? How many people are involved?" asked the 911 operator. The call center had been notified there would be a drill, but Hoffman said this was a means of testing schools' emergency plans and evaluating the school's response to an emergency. Capt. Jason Shivers, the county's fire inspector general, said there could be 1,000 or more different outcomes to any emergency situation, but explained the fire department's protocol rescue response for a typical scenario. "We are charged with two critical things," said Bruce Wagar of school safety for Forsyth County Schools. "Teach our kids well, and protect their safety and well-being." Wagar said the public should be reassured there are safety plans in place for each school, and in the event of a school emergency, parents would directed to where they could meet their children. He said the natural instinct in an emergency is for every family member to head towards the school property, but an alternative safe meeting place would be announced to the media through public safety officials. One of the tenets of each school safety plan is to break the "code of silence" when people know something is going on that shouldn't be.

He said the last recorded incident of a gun on school property was 1997. Wagar said helping children and parents come forward with information is a good thing. "It would be a tragedy if there is some knowledge of an event beforehand," said Wagar. Tod Keys of Georgia's Homeland Security Department talked to school principals about family reunification plans in the wake of an emergency situation and told administrators to create a "To Go" box with critical data. "Everything you need to operate [in an emergency situation] needs to [be] with you," said Keys.


THE QUESTION IS - GUNS OR NO GUNS - AND WHAT WAS REPORTED TO THE STATE DEPT OF ED?

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WHAT IS GOING ON IN GAINESVILLE SCHOOLS?

The goings-on at Gainesville Schools -- look out Hall County residents -- as reported from the I-team investigation - the school system is ignoring its own drug policies for employees. 
Here is the report: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=1086898&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.1.1

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FORSYTH COUNTY
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSES

The Forsyth County Public School system
currently does not have cameras on the buses.
This currently is causing problems in our middle
and high schools.  It is impossible to advocate
for a victim of harassment, beat-downs, sexual
assaults or any other violence because there
are no cameras.  In addition there are few
administrators that take the time to manage a
bus problem.  How can they if there are no
cameras on the buses.   Children who face
altercations on the bus are likely to face
further altercations during the school day.

Forsyth County Schools must provide a comprehensive
safety and security plan so we do not have a
tragedy here.

IS YOUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
IGNORING ITS OWN
STUDENT RULES AND
REGULATIONS?

PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS AND THE RANGE OF ACCEPTABLE CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATIONS Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to infringe on any right provided to students pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. In compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act, the Forsyth County School System will facilitate the transfer of discipline records to any public or private school in which a student is enrolled or seeks, intends, or is instructed to enroll on a full-time or part-time basis in the school.
1. A. Alcohol and other drugs: Actual or attempted possession, sale, use in any amount, distribution, or being under the influence of any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, alcoholic beverage, any other intoxicant, any substance represented or believed to be alcohol or another drug, or various forms of drug paraphernalia, including but not limited to hypodermic needles, “roach clips”, rolling papers, pipes, scales, improvised smoking devices, etc. B. Intentional misuse of prescribed medications, non-prescription medications, inhalants or any other chemical; also to include their sale, purchase, distribution or possession for the purpose of misuse: (Consequences apply to both A and B) Parent/Guardian conference, counseling, ISS, OSS, tribunal, referral to law enforcement. Second or Subsequent Offense: Mandatory referral to tribunal.
2. Violation of school medication control procedures: First Offense: Documented warning and parent/guardian notification. Second Offense: Parent/Guardian Conference, ISS, OSS. Third Offense: Tribunal referral.
3. Weapons, explosives and fireworks: Actual or attempted possession, sale, purchase, transmission or use of any real or facsimile weapon, bomb, other explosive device, or explosive material as defined by this code, board policy, state or federal law: Confiscation, parent/guardian conference, detention, ISS, OSS, tribunal, referral to law enforcement. Weapon related law violations will be referred to tribunal and law enforcement. The minimum expulsion for possession of a firearm or other destructive device, excluding firecrackers, is one calendar year subject to the provisions of Board Policy JCD and Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. 20-2-751.1 and 16- 11-127.1).
4. Threats or Acts of Violence against the person or personal property of a teacher, administrator, school bus driver, other school official or employee: Examples include any verbal assault, threat of violence; threat or act of unwanted physical touching; sexual harassment; physical violence, assault or battery; attempt to ‘frame’ or entrap through deceit; stalking; intentional damage to personal property, etc.: Parent/Guardian conference, ISS, OSS, threat assessment, tribunal, referral to law enforcement.
5. Disrespectful conduct toward teachers, administrators or other school personnel, including use of vulgar or profane language: Parent/Guardian conference, ISS, OSS, tribunal.
6. Disrespectful conduct toward other students, school visitors or persons attending school-related functions: Examples include use of vulgar or profane language; verbal assault, including threat of violence; verbal or physical taunting; any threat or act of unwanted physical touching; sexual harassment; intentional damage to personal property; stalking; reckless endangerment; attempt to ‘frame’ or entrap through deceit; any threat or act of verbal or physical violence, assault, battery or fighting; sexual, racial or ethnic harassment; or any other violent act.: Counseling, parent/guardian notification/conference, ISS, OSS, tribunal, referral to law enforcement.
7. Tobacco: Actual or attempted possession, sale, purchase, transmission or use of tobacco, any substance represented or believed to be tobacco, or tobacco related paraphernalia: Parent/Guardian notification, ISS, OSS. Mandatory tribunal referral for third and subsequent offenses.
8. Off-Campus Behavior: A student who is alleged to have committed an offense off-campus on the way to or from school, or any time if the offense is a felony or would be a felony if the student were an adult, may be disciplined at school or excluded from school if his or her continued presence at school poses a potential danger to persons or property or is likely to disrupt the educational process: Parent or guardian contact, counseling, ISS, OSS, tribunal.
9. Vandalism or Arson: Actual, attempted or threatened willful or malicious damage to personal property, school property or school busses, to include the marking, defacing or destruction of property: Cleanup detail, community service, parent/guardian conference, restitution, ISS, OSS, tribunal, referral to law enforcement.
10. Breaking and entering, burglary, theft, entering a school event without paying, bribery, possession of stolen property, possession or use of forged or photocopied money, extortion: Restitution, parent/guardian conference, ISS, OSS, tribunal referral, referral to law enforcement. Mandatory referral to tribunal for theft of tests, answer keys or other restricted materials.
11. Bullying, harassment (sexual, racial, ethnic, other), hazing, intimidation, verbal or non-verbal taunting or stalking: Counseling, reprimand, warning, parent/guardian notification, parent/guardian conference, physical separation from the victim via assignment to another class or situation, ISS, OSS, tribunal, law enforcement referral. Notice Regarding Bullying: The Forsyth County School District prohibits conduct which may be construed as bullying. Upon a finding by a tribunal that a middle or high school student has committed the offense of bullying for the third time in a school year, at a minimum the student shall be assigned to an alternative education program. Ref. O.C.G.A. §20-2-751.4
12. Gang related activity: Parent or guardian conference, detention, ISS, OSS, tribunal referral, law enforcement notification and/or referral.
13. Terroristic threats or acts, false public alarms or prank 911 calls: Mandatory parent or guardian conference, mandatory threat assessment for terroristic threats, OSS, tribunal referral, law enforcement referral. Warning Statement: Threats of violence toward persons or property will not be tolerated, whether the threat is made in seriousness or in jest. Any comment, statement, threat, situation or condition that indicates the possibility of becoming a lifethreatening situation is a serious matter, and will be investigated and dealt with accordingly.
14. Disrupting public school, class disruption, disorderly conduct, insubordinate or disrespectful behavior, willful disobedience (school rules, regulations, or directives), or entering an unauthorized area or event: Removal from a school bus, class, activity, event or other situation; conference with teacher, parents or counselor; and/or detention, Saturday School, restitution, ISS, OSS, tribunal referral, law enforcement referral.
15. Language and Sexual Behavior Restrictions: Use of lewd, profane, vulgar or obscene words or gestures; use of speech or gestures that are perceived to demean or threaten the well-being, safety, or dignity of another person; possession or transmission of obscene or pornographic pictures, materials or objects; indecent exposure; and all forms of sexual contact are prohibited.: Parent conference, detention, ISS, OSS, tribunal referral, law enforcement referral. Note: The General Assembly of Georgia requires that this code of conduct include language encouraging parents and guardians to inform their children of the consequences, including potential criminal penalties, of underage sexual conduct and crimes for which a minor can be tried as an adult.
16. Electronic Communication Device Restrictions: All electronic communication devices, including cell phones, must be turned OFF and kept out of sight during regular school hours and while riding a school bus.: Confiscation, Parent or guardian conference, detention, ISS, OSS, tribunal referral. 5 Notice Regarding Private Property: The school and school system discourage bringing valuable private property items to school; will not be held accountable for lost or stolen private property; and will not investigate thefts of personal property to the extent that the investigation substantially interferes with the educational mission of the school. Personal items brought to school will be at the owner’s risk.
17. Public displays of affection that are inappropriate for a school setting: Parent or guardian conference, detention, ISS, OSS, tribunal.
18. Gambling: Parent or guardian conference, detention, ISS, OSS, tribunal.
19. Giving false information to school officials, dishonesty or forgery: Parent or guardian conference, detention, ISS, OSS.
20. Cheating, Plagiarism, Altering record, or other Fraudulent Act on school assignments, exams, records, or college entrance examinations: Mandatory consequences: (1) Parent or guardian conference; (2) Grade of zero, except on college entrance examination; (3) Tribunal hearing for theft of tests, answer keys or other restricted materials, altering school records or fraudulent acts. Additional, optional consequences: ISS, substitute assignment, detention, tribunal.
21. Bus misconduct: See School Bus Code of Conduct for specifics.: Warning, seat assignment, parent or guardian conference, detention, ISS, OSS, loss of transportation privilege (bus suspension), tribunal referral.
22. Lunchroom misconduct: Warning, silent lunch, assigned seat, isolation, detention, ISS, OSS, tribunal. 23. Violation of School Attendance Requirements: Violations include unexcused absence from school or class; unexcused late arrival (tardy) to school or class; unexcused early dismissal from school or class; and leaving school or class without permission (skipping).: Parent/Guardian conference, detention, Saturday School, ISS, loss of parking or other privileges, social worker referral, juvenile court referral, tribunal referral. See definition of Truant for additional information.
24. Dress and Grooming Code: Clothing and accessories that materially interfere with the work of the school or impinge upon the rights of other students are prohibited. Apparel or appearance that tends to draw attention to an individual rather than to a learning situation must be avoided. The school administration is authorized to determine what constitutes appropriate or inappropriate dress for the school setting. The principal is authorized to require or allow adjustments to this code on a case-by-case basis. In matters of opinion, the judgment of the principal shall prevail. Questions regarding the dress code should be addressed with a school administrator, who may take into consideration the student purpose in wearing the item and/or the reaction of other students. Penalty for violation of the dress code may include: warning, requirement to secure appropriate dress, detention, parent/guardian conference, ISS, OSS, and tribunal. Prohibited items and practices include, but may not be limited to the following: A. Articles that may reasonably be considered to be a safety hazard or potential weapon; B. Any tattoo, hair style, hair color, clothing, inappropriately worn clothing, jewelry, or body decoration that interferes with or disrupts any legitimate function of the school; C. Visible body piercing jewelry or other ornamentation is limited to two items per ear; all other body piercing jewelry or ornamentation that is visible or pierces the tongue is prohibited. D. Obviously oversized, over-length or baggy clothing items (Pants must be worn at the waist. No sagging allowed); E. Garments that expose the midriff or cleavage, seethrough or mesh clothing, halter or tank tops, pajamas, sleep or loungewear (Shirts, blouses and dresses must cover the abdomen, cleavage, back and shoulders. Shirts or tops must cover the waistband of pants, shorts or skirts, with no midriff or cleavage visible while standing, sitting, with arms extended above the head or while bending over); F. Running shorts, tennis shorts, running tights, short shorts (Exceptions may be made by the principal for vigorous, physical activities); G. Hats, caps and other head apparel may not be worn inside the school building except for religious or medical purposes; H. Coats and jackets exceeding fingertip length may not be worn in a building; I. Footwear is required and must be safe and appropriate for indoor and outdoor activities; Notice: Cleats may be worn in a field house or locker room as approved by a coach, but may not be worn inside any other building. J. Clothing and accessories such as jewelry, patches, backpacks and notebooks must not display (1) racial or ethnic slurs, (2) hate speech, (3) gang affiliations or (4) vulgar, obscene, subversive, sexually explicit, implicit or suggestive language or images; nor should they promote products that students may not legally buy such as alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, etc.; K. Garments, jewelry, body art and tattoos that communicate gang allegiance may not be worn at school, and no item may be worn in a manner that communicates gang affiliation; L. Skirts, dresses or shorts must be beyond fingertip length with arms extended downward by the sides of the body (Note: The privilege of wearing shorts will be revoked upon a second violation); M. Prohibited items include: large, long or heavy chains; studded or chained accessories; dog collars; baby pacifiers; sunglasses inside the building except for health purposes; sleepwear; skin-tight outer materials such as spandex; and tattered, torn or cut garments. 6
25. Violation of the Appropriate Use Policy for Computer Hardware, Software, Network and Internet Access, to include any unauthorized entry into a computer network secured site: Revocation of privilege, parent/guardian notification, detention, ISS, OSS, tribunal, referral to law enforcement. Warning Statement: The act of entering or attempting to enter a computer network secured site (hacking) is a very serious offense that warrants a very serious consequence that may include permanent expulsion from the school system.
26. Willful and persistent violation of the Code of Conduct, to include failure to abide by a Chronic Disciplinary and Behavioral Correction Plan: Counseling, warning, loss of privileges, detention, parent/guardian contact, community service, ISS, OSS, tribunal.
27. Trespassing on a school campus while suspended or during non-school hours without cause or need to conduct legitimate school business: Warning, parent/guardian notification or conference, ISS, OSS, tribunal, law enforcement referral. Ref. O.C.G.A. §20-2-1180
28. Traffic or parking violations: Parent or guardian conference, revocation of driving or parking privileges, detention, ISS, OSS, notification of law enforcement.
29. Instigating rule violations: A student shall not advise, counsel, urge, encourage, incite, cause or attempt to cause any other person to engage in a prohibited act or violate the school’s student handbook, this code of conduct or any Forsyth County Board of Education policy.: Parent or guardian conference, detention, ISS, OSS, tribunal, referral to law enforcement. VIOLENCE AGAINST A TEACHER, ADMINISTRATOR, BUS DRIVER OR ANY OTHER SCHOOL EMPLOYEE A disciplinary tribunal hearing will be held following any alleged assault or battery upon a teacher or any other school system employee, if such teacher, other school system employee or the principal requests (O.C.G.A. §20- 2-753). In cases involving an alleged intentional act of physical violence by a student against a teacher, school bus driver, or other school official or employee, the student shall be suspended pending a hearing by a tribunal (O.C.G.A. §20-2-751.6). A student found by a tribunal to have committed an intentional act of physical violence against a teacher, school bus driver, school official, or school employee that results in physical harm to that person shall be referred to juvenile court with a request for a petition alleging delinquent behavior, and also shall be expelled from the public school system by the tribunal for the remainder of the student’s eligibility to attend public school, subject to appeal to the board of education. The school board at its discretion: (1) may permit the student to attend an alternative education program for some or all of the period of expulsion; and, if recommended by a tribunal, (2) may permit a student in a grade K-8 to re-enroll in the regular public school program for grades 9-12; and/or (3) may also permit a student in a grade K-6 to re-enroll in the public school system. Ref. O.C.G.A. §20-2-751.6; §16-3-21 In addition, a disciplinary tribunal hearing will be held following any substantial damage intentionally caused by a student on school premises to the personal property of a teacher or any other school system employee, or at the discretion of the principal, to the property of another