No student in the Little Rock School District shall, on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, age, or disability be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity sponsored by the District. The District has a limited open forum granting equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other youth groups.

Inquiries on nondiscrimination may be directed to:
     Human Resources:
     810 West Markham St.
     Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (501)447-1100.

Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, to the Title IX Coordinator in person or by using the mailing address, telephone number, or email address provided above. A report may be made at any time, including during non-business hours, and may be on the individual’s own behalf or on behalf of another individual who is, the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment.

For further information on notice of non-discrimination or to file a complaint, visit http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm; for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.

Legal References
A.C.A. § 6-18-514
A.C.A § 6-10-132
28 C.F.R. § 35.106
34 C.F.R. § 100.6
34 C.F.R. § 104.8
34 C.F.R. § 106.8
34 C.F.R. § 106.9
34 C.F.R. § 108.9
34 C.F.R. § 110.25

Date Adopted: August 27, 2017
Last Revised:

This section of the Student Handbook is provided so that students and their parent/guardian(s) are knowledgeable of District policies and procedures that govern students during the educational process.  Please note this section is not all-inclusive and many other policies and procedures are contained in other LRSD publications.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Little Rock School District does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Cub Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

For Title II, Title VII, ADA for Section 504 and Title VI for Title IX

Robert Robinson-Director of Human Resources, 810 W. Markham St. Little Rock, AR 72201  501.447-1054
Cassandra Steele-Director of Special Programs, 810 W. Markham St. Little Rock, AR  72201  501.447.1106
Dr. Frederick Fields-Senior Director of School Services, 501 Sherman St. Little Rock, AR  72201  501.447.2950

Non-Discrimination Policy

The commitment of the Little Rock School District to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity and human dignity requires that decisions involving students and employees be based on individual merit and be free from discrimination in all its forms.

It is the policy of the Administration there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or handicap/disability in the placement, instruction and guidelines of pupils; the employment, assignment, training or promotion of personnel; the provision and maintenance of physical supplies and equipment; the development and implementation of the curriculum, including the activities program; and in all matters relating to the instruction, supervision, administration and Board policy development.

Verbal and/or written civil rights questions should be directed to the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee, 810 West Markham Street, or 447-1000.

It is the policy of the District to maintain a learning environment that is free from harassment.  The District prohibits all forms of harassment because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, religion, disability or protected activity (i.e. opposing unlawful harassment or discrimination or participating in an investigation).   Any such conduct will result in disciplinary action and notification of the proper authorities.

It will be a violation of District policy for any student, teacher, administrator or other school personnel of the District to harass a student through conduct of a sexual nature or regarding race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, religion, disability or protected activity as defined by this policy.

It will also be a violation of District policy for any teacher, administrator or other school personnel of the District to tolerate sexual harassment or harassment because of a student’s race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, religion, disability or protected activity as defined by this policy, by a student, teacher, administrator, other school personnel or by any third parties who are participating in, observing or otherwise engaged in activities, including sports events and other extracurricular activities, under the auspices of the District.  For the purpose of this policy, the “school personnel” includes school Board of Education members, school employees, agents, volunteers, contractors or persons subject to the supervision and control of the District.

The District will act to promptly investigate all complaints, either formal or informal, verbal or written, of harassment because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression age, marital status, national origin, religion, disability or protected activity; to promptly take appropriate action to protect individuals from further harassment; and, if it determines that unlawful harassment occurred, to promptly and appropriately discipline any student, teacher, administrator or other school personnel who is found to have violated this policy and/or to take other appropriate action reasonably calculated to end the harassment.

This policy will be broadly interpreted as evidence of the District’s commitment to equality of opportunity, human dignity, diversity and academic freedom.  No person will retaliate or threaten retaliation against another person for reporting, testifying or otherwise participating in any investigation or proceeding relating to a complaint of harassment.

The following procedure will be used to address a complaint from a student, parent, or guardian.  Complaints can include, but are not limited to, discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, handicap, age or gender, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, the handicap/disability in the placement, instruction and guidance of pupils; employment, assignment, training, or promotion of personnel; provision and maintenance of physical supplies and equipment, the development and implementation of the curriculum, including the activities program; and in all matters relating to the instruction, supervision, administration, and Board policy development:

1. Report the alleged incident to the principal as soon as possible after the event(s) has occurred.  If the complaint involves the principal, the report of the alleged incident should be made to the appropriate Assistant Superintendent as soon as possible after the event(s) occurred.

2. The complaint will be investigated, and the individual bringing the complaint will be advised of the outcome of the investigation within ten (10) days. 

3. If the individual bringing the complaint is not satisfied with the principal’s resolution, he/she may appeal to the appropriate Assistant Superintendent.  The appeal must be made in writing within ten (10) days from receipt of the principal’s decision.

4. If the individual is not satisfied with the Assistant Superintendent’s resolution of the complaint, he/she may appeal to the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee. The Superintendent of Schools, following a documented investigation, may direct the notification of law enforcement authorities, where appropriate.

Complaint Procedure:

First Contact: Appropriate building principal

• Follow-Up Contact: Appropriate Assistant Superintendent, 810 West Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201;

  • Assistant Superintendent High Schools 501-447-1137

  • Assistant Superintendent Middle Schools 501-4471136

  • Assistant Superintendent Elementary Schools 501-447-1133

• Appeal:  Superintendent of Schools, 810 West Markham, Little Rock, AR; 501-447-1000

COMPLAINT RESOLUTION FOR TITLE II, TITLE VI, TITLE VII, TITLE IX, ADA, SECTION 504, OR OTHER SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS

The specific purposes to be served by these procedures are:

• To ensure that a complaint is considered fairly, with all due speed, and without prejudice or reprisal to the aggrieved person;

• To encourage student expression regarding conditions that affect him/her;

• To provide a specific procedure that will facilitate the understanding of district policies affecting students;

• To build confidence in the sincerity and integrity of the complaint resolution procedure as a means to establish the facts upon which a complaint is based, a problem is stated, and a fair conclusion or solution is reached.

Definitions

• A “complaint” is an allegation of action or inaction by the District or its representatives in violation of Title II, Title VI, Title IX, ADA or Section 504, or the implementing regulations, or other similar requirements.

• The “complainant” is the student, patron, or employee bringing the complaint.

• "Employee" means a person who is a full or part-time employee who is on the payroll of the District.

• “Patron” means any student’s parent or other resident in the LRSD.

• The "responsible official” means the employee designated by the District to coordinate its efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under the above mentioned requirements.

• "Student" means a person enrolled in one of the schools operated by the corporation.

• "Superintendent" means the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee.

Process

The following process will be used in the review and resolution of complaints regarding compliance with Title II, Title VI, Title IX, ADA, Section 504, or other similar requirements of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended:

Step 1 (Informal Resolution)

The complainant is encouraged to try to resolve any issues relating to implementation and compliance with any of the aforementioned legal requirements at the lowest administrative level possible.  The complaint should be brought to the administrator/supervisor at the point where the possible violation exists.  Within ten days after receipt of the complaint, the administrator will attempt resolution with the complainant in an informal manner.  If a satisfactory informal resolution cannot be reached, the complainant and/or the administrator may seek the assistance of the District’s responsible official

Step 2 (Formal Complaint)

If the complainant is unable to secure a satisfactory resolution through informal means at step 1, the complainant may file a formal complaint.  The complaint should be filed with the LRSD official, who has district level responsibility for that area.  The complaint must be filed within ten days of the response of the administration at step 1.  The complaint should be in writing and give a concise but thorough overview of the alleged problem or violation and indicate the specific relief requested.  All relevant documents should also be included.  The responsible official will investigate the complaint and collect whatever information is needed to make an informed decision.  The responsible official will issue a written finding within fifteen days of the receipt of the complaint or inform the complainant of the reasons that it is not possible to issue a finding in that time frame.  If a finding cannot be issued within fifteen days, it will be issued as soon as practicable.

Step 3 (Appeal to the Board of Education)

If the complainant is not satisfied with the finding at step 2, he/she may request a hearing with the Board of Education.  The request for the hearing must be made within ten days of the written finding issued at step 2.  The request for the hearing must include a statement of the complaint, the finding of the responsible official from step 2, and any response to the finding that the complainant wishes to present.  It should include the reasons that the complainant believes the finding is in error.

The individual members of the Board will review the information presented with the written request for the hearing prior to the following month’s Board agenda meeting.  The Board will decide at the agenda meeting whether or not to place the appeal on the agenda for a hearing.  If the Administration decides not to hear the complaint, the written finding of the District’s responsible official will be the position of the LRSD. 

Timelines
The failure of the complainant to comply with the identified timelines will be considered an abandonment of the complaint.

Effect of Settlement
Any settlement of a complaint will be applicable to that complaint only and will not be binding authority for the disposition of any other complaint.

Anonymous Complaints

The LRSD is committed to compliance with its legal obligations.  As a result, anonymous complaints will be thoroughly investigated and handled in a serious manner.  However, anonymous complaints are more difficult to substantiate and investigate.  Therefore, complainants are encouraged to be open, forthcoming, and identify themselves to assist in a satisfactory resolution to the complaint.

The LRSD recognizes that some students, patrons, and employees will not come forward with legitimate complaints because of a fear of retribution.  The LRSD will not condone or tolerate reprisals against complainants by any of its employees.  Employees who exercise retaliatory behavior against any complainant will be appropriately disciplined.

Reporting Outside the Process

In instances where there is a genuine sense of potential reprisal and it is not realistic to report the complaint at the lowest administrative level, the complaint may be made with the District’s responsible official.  The responsible official may refer the complaint to another administrator in the department’s organizational structure to attempt a resolution.

The District respects the rights of its students against arbitrary intrusion of their person and property. At the same time, it is the responsibility of school officials to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all students enrolled in the District in order to promote an environment conducive to student learning. The Superintendent, principals, and their designees have the right to inspect and search school property and equipment. They may also search students and their personal property in which the student has a reasonable expectation of privacy, when there is reasonable and individualized suspicion to believe such student or property contains illegal items or other items in violation of Board policy or dangerous to the school community.1 School authorities may seize evidence found in the search and disciplinary action may be taken. Evidence found which appears to be in violation of the law shall be reported to the appropriate authority.

School property shall include, but not be limited to, lockers, desks, and parking lots, as well as personal effects left there by students. When possible, prior notice will be given and the student will be allowed to be present along with an adult witness; however, searches may be done at any time with or without notice or the student’s consent. A personal search must not be excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the infraction.

The Superintendent, principals, and their designees may request the assistance of law enforcement officials to help conduct searches.  Such searches may include the use of specially trained dogs.

A school official of the same sex shall conduct personal searches with an adult witness of the same sex present.

State Law requires that Department of Human Services employees, local law enforcement, or agents of the Crimes Against Children Division of the Division of Arkansas State Police, may interview students without a court order for the purpose of investigating suspected child abuse. In instances where the interviewers deem it necessary, they may exercise a “72-hour hold” without first obtaining a court order. Other questioning of students by non-school personnel shall be granted only with a court order directing such questioning, with permission of the parents of a student (or the student if above eighteen [18] years of age), or in response to a subpoena or arrest warrant.

If the District makes a report to any law enforcement agency concerning student misconduct or if access to a student is granted to a law enforcement agency due to a court order, the principal or the principal’s designee shall make a good faith effort to contact the student’s parent, legal guardian, or person having lawful control of the student, or person standing in loco parentis The principal or the principal's designee shall not attempt to make such contact if presented documentation by the investigator that notification is prohibited because a parent, guardian, person having lawful control of the student, or person standing in loco parentis is named as an alleged offender of the suspected child maltreatment. This exception applies only to interview requests made by a law enforcement officer, an investigator of the Crimes Against Children Division of the Division of Arkansas State Police, or an investigator or employee of the Department of Human Services.

In instances other than those related to cases of suspected child abuse, principals must release a student to either a police officer who presents a subpoena for the student, or a warrant for arrest, or to an agent of state social services or an agent of a court with jurisdiction over a child with a court order signed by a judge. Upon release of the student, the principal or designee shall give the student’s parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of the student, or person standing in loco parentis notice that the student has been taken into custody by law enforcement personnel or a state’s social services agency. If the principal or designee is unable to reach the parent, he or she shall make a reasonable, good faith effort to get a message to the parent to call the principal or designee, and leave both a day and an after-hours telephone number.

The District respects the rights of its students against arbitrary intrusion of their person and property. At the same time, it is the responsibility of school officials to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all students enrolled in the District in order to promote an environment conducive to student learning. The Superintendent, principals, and their designees have the right to inspect and search school property and equipment. They may also search students and their personal property in which the student has a reasonable expectation of privacy, when there is reasonable and individualized suspicion to believe such student or property contains illegal items or other items in violation of Board policy or dangerous to the school community.1 School authorities may seize evidence found in the search and disciplinary action may be taken. Evidence found which appears to be in violation of the law shall be reported to the appropriate authority.

School property shall include, but not be limited to, lockers, desks, and parking lots, as well as personal effects left there by students. When possible, prior notice will be given and the student will be allowed to be present along with an adult witness; however, searches may be done at any time with or without notice or the student’s consent. A personal search must not be excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and the nature of the infraction.

The Superintendent, principals, and their designees may request the assistance of law enforcement officials to help conduct searches.  Such searches may include the use of specially trained dogs.

A school official of the same sex shall conduct personal searches with an adult witness of the same sex present.

State Law requires that Department of Human Services employees, local law enforcement, or agents of the Crimes Against Children Division of the Division of Arkansas State Police, may interview students without a court order for the purpose of investigating suspected child abuse. In instances where the interviewers deem it necessary, they may exercise a “72-hour hold” without first obtaining a court order. Other questioning of students by non-school personnel shall be granted only with a court order directing such questioning, with permission of the parents of a student (or the student if above eighteen [18] years of age), or in response to a subpoena or arrest warrant.

If the District makes a report to any law enforcement agency concerning student misconduct or if access to a student is granted to a law enforcement agency due to a court order, the principal or the principal’s designee shall make a good faith effort to contact the student’s parent, legal guardian, or person having lawful control of the student, or person standing in loco parentis The principal or the principal's designee shall not attempt to make such contact if presented documentation by the investigator that notification is prohibited because a parent, guardian, person having lawful control of the student, or person standing in loco parentis is named as an alleged offender of the suspected child maltreatment. This exception applies only to interview requests made by a law enforcement officer, an investigator of the Crimes Against Children Division of the Division of Arkansas State Police, or an investigator or employee of the Department of Human Services.

In instances other than those related to cases of suspected child abuse, principals must release a student to either a police officer who presents a subpoena for the student, or a warrant for arrest, or to an agent of state social services or an agent of a court with jurisdiction over a child with a court order signed by a judge. Upon release of the student, the principal or designee shall give the student’s parent, legal guardian, person having lawful control of the student, or person standing in loco parentis notice that the student has been taken into custody by law enforcement personnel or a state’s social services agency. If the principal or designee is unable to reach the parent, he or she shall make a reasonable, good faith effort to get a message to the parent to call the principal or designee, and leave both a day and an after-hours telephone number.

Each school in the District shall broadcast The Star-Spangled Banner at:

• The commencement of each school-sanctioned sporting event; however, if two (2) or more school-sanctioned sporting events occur on the same day at the same school, then the broadcast of The Star-Spangled Banner may be performed at only one (1) of the events; and

• At least one (1) time each week during school hours.

The broadcast of The Star-Spangled Banner shall be selected from any recording that adheres to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Rules, or, when appropriate, performed from original sheet music that adheres to DESE rules by:

• A school-sanctioned band program;

• A school-sanctioned chorale program, vocal group, or vocalist; or

• The attendees of a school-sanctioned event led by a vocalist selected by the principal of the school hosting the school-sanctioned event.

Students shall not be compelled to participate in the performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, but students who choose not to participate in the performance of The Star-Spangled Banner shall not disrupt those students choosing to participate in the performance of The Star-Spangled Banner. Students choosing not to participate in the performance of The Star-Spangled Banner who do not disrupt the participation of performance of The Star-Spangled Banner shall not be subject to any comments, retaliation, or disciplinary action.

Legal Reference:       A.C.A. § 6-10-135
Date Adopted:

The Pledge of Allegiance shall be recited: During the first class period of each school day;

1. At the commencement of each school-sanctioned after-school assembly; and

2. At the commencement of each school-sanctioned sporting event; however, if two (2) or more school-sanctioned sporting events occur on the same day at the same school, then the Pledge may be recited at only one (1) of the school-sanctioned sporting events.

Students choosing to participate in the recitation of the Pledge shall do so by facing the flag with their right hands over their hearts, or in an appropriate salute if in uniform, while reciting the Pledge. Students choosing not to participate shall either stand or sit quietly while the other students recite the Pledge.

Students shall not be compelled to recite the Pledge, but students who choose not to recite the Pledge shall not disrupt those students choosing to recite the Pledge. Students choosing not to recite the Pledge who do not disrupt those students who choose to recite the Pledge shall not be subject to any comments, retaliation, or disciplinary action.

Following the recitation of the Pledge, there shall be an observance of one (1) minute of silence. During the one (1) minute of silence, each student may reflect, pray, meditate, or engage in any other silent activity that is not likely to interfere with or distract another student. Students who do not disrupt the one (1) minute of silence shall not be subject to any comments, retaliation, or disciplinary action. 

Legal References      
A.C.A. § 6-10-115
A.C.A. § 6-16-108

Date Adopted: August 27, 2017
Last Revised: