FREDERICKSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

210 Ferdinand Street
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401
Telephone: (540) 372-1130

Office of the Superintendent

Marceline R. Catlett, Ed.D.

25 July 2023

TO: Parents and Students of Fredericksburg City Public Schools
FROM: Marceline R. Catlett, Ed.D., Division Superintendent
SUBJECT: ANNUAL NOTICES

In accordance with policies and procedures of the Fredericksburg City Public Schools and state and federal law, several items must annually be provided for the information of all parents and students. In addition to the following summaries, more detailed information for many of the notifications may be reviewed online at the links shown. If a parent/guardian wishes to obtain a hard copy of any documents, please contact the principal of your child’s school.

1. Standards of Student Conduct — Each student has the right to learn in a safe environment. The Standards of Student Conduct is designed to define the basic rules and major expectations of students in Fredericksburg City Public Schools. Policy JFC –Student Conduct and the Standards of Student Conduct explain the rules for student behavior and provide for responsibility and authority of school personnel to exercise reasonable judgment in enforcing the Standards of Student Conduct. A series of corrective actions is also included in the Standards of Student Conduct. Parents/guardians are encouraged to review the Standards of Student Conduct with your child. [Policy JFC, Regulation JFCC-R]

2. Acceptable Computer System Use Policy — The Fredericksburg City School Board offers your student the use of electronic communications through the Fredericksburg City School Division's computer system. Your student will be able to communicate with other schools, colleges, organizations and individuals around the world through the Internet and other electronic information systems/networks. Please review Policy IIBEA/GAB - Acceptable Computer System Use.

3. Student Fees — Included with this packet is the school division's policy JN - Student Fees, Fines, and Charges. The policy and the accompanying regulation JN-R list student fees which are approved by the Fredericksburg City School Board. Fees are reduced or waived for economically disadvantaged students and students whose families are undergoing economic hardships and are financially unable to pay them. An Application for Fee Waiver may be obtained from your child’s school. [Policy JN, Regulation JN-R]

4. Compulsory Attendance Law — In accordance with Code of Virginia § 22.1-254, all parents are provided with a copy of the compulsory attendance laws.

5. Student Attendance — School Board Policy JED and Regulation JED-R – Student Absences/ Excuses/Dismissals address attendance requirements for all schools. Parents and students are encouraged to review this information. Expectations for attendance as well as information describing excused absences or excessive absences are included in the material.

6. Student Records Information — School Board Policy JO - Student Records provides detailed information concerning student records including a listing of designated Directory Information, the procedure to inspect education records, disclosure of education records, and correction of education records. [Policy JO, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Notice of Directory Information]

7. Military Recruiters and Institutions of Higher Learning — Fredericksburg City Public Schools will provide, on request made by military recruiters or an institution of higher education, access to secondary school students’ names, addresses, and telephone listings. A secondary school student or the parent of the student may request that this information not be released without prior written parental consent. The school division hereby notifies parents of the option to make a request and will comply with any request. The school division will provide military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as is provided generally to post-secondary educational institutions or to prospective employers of those students. Please note the availability of an Opt-Out Form for Published Student Information for use if parents do not give permission for your child’s name to be published, for photographs/videotapes of your child to be published, for your child’s work or accomplishments to be published, or to allow military recruiters and higher education institutions access to certain student information. If you do not want the school to release specific Directory Information about your child, please notify the school in writing within 15 days of enrolling.

8. Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) and Administration of Surveys and Questionnaires — The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) (20 U.S.C.§ 1232h: 34 CFR Part 98) and School Board Policy JOB – Administration of Surveys and Questionnaires require Fredericksburg City Schools to notify you and obtain consent or allow you to opt your child out of participating in certain school activities as outlined in the Annual Notification of Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA).  School Board Policy JOB provides information regarding the administration of questionnaires or surveys. The policy also addresses the opportunity for the parent (or emancipated student) to opt the student out of participation in various activities as outlined in the document.

9. Parental Involvement — In accordance with federal guidelines for school districts which receive Title I funds, information on parental involvement is detailed in School Board Policy IGBC - Parental Involvement. In addition, Code of Virginia § 22.1-279.3 explains parental responsibility and involvement requirements.

10. Non-Discrimination — Policy AC - Non-Discrimination states that the Fredericksburg City School Board is committed to nondiscrimination with regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, disability, status as a veteran, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. This commitment prevails in all of its policies and practices concerning staff, students, educational programs and services, and individuals and entities with whom the Board does business.

11. Equal Educational Opportunities/Non-Discrimination — School Board Policy JB - Equal Educational Opportunities/Non- Discrimination provides for equal educational opportunities to be available for all students. Fredericksburg City Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, disability, ancestry, marital or parental status or any other unlawful basis in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Where necessary, modifications will be made to provide for the handicapped. Specific questions on situations which may require alteration of current practices to accommodate handicapped persons should be directed to the superintendent’s office, 210 Ferdinand Street (372-1130) or the principal’s office in any city school.

12. Prohibition Against Harassment and Retaliation — Parents are hereby notified of School Board Policy JFHA/GBA – Prohibition Against Harassment and Retaliation. Correspondence is also included at the link below which provides official notice of new regulations affecting Title IX.

13. Notification of Virginia Standards of Learning for K-12, Graduation Requirements, and Promotion/Retention Policies — According to Virginia State Board of Education Regulations, every school must annually provide information to parents regarding Standards of Learning applicable to a child’s grade or course requirements, graduation requirements, and promotion, retention and remediation policies. Please be advised that all of these documents are available online.

14. Homeless Students — School Board Policy JECA - Admission of Homeless Children outlines the educational rights of homeless children and youths.

15. Laws Regarding the Prosecution of Juveniles as Adults — Section 22.1-279.4 of the Code of Virginia requires local school boards to provide information, developed by the Office of the Attorney General, to students regarding laws governing the prosecution of juveniles as adults for the commission of certain crimes. In compliance with this statute, a document entitled “Laws Regarding the Prosecution of Juveniles as Adults”. 

16. Sex Offender Registry Notification —School Board Policy KN - Sex Offender Registry requires the dissemination and use of sex offender registry information to be provided to all parents and employees of the school division. The policy further requires that parents be notified of the availability of information in the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry and the location of the Internet website.

17. Availability of Fredericksburg City Public Schools Policies and Regulation Manual — As required by Virginia Code §22.1- 253:13.7.E, the Fredericksburg City Public Schools Policies and Regulations Manual is available online. A printed copy of the Fredericksburg City Public Schools Policies and Regulations manual is available at the School Administration Building at 210 Ferdinand St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401 for any citizens who do not have online access.

18. Asbestos — Notification is provided that asbestos is contained in materials in portions of the Original Walker-Grant School Annex. The building is inspected annually to look for any deterioration in the containment of the asbestos.  There has been no deterioration noted to date.

19. Misdemeanor to Make False Statements as to Residency — The Code of Virginia provides that under certain circumstances it shall be a misdemeanor for any person to knowingly make a false statement concerning residency.  §22.1-264.1. Misdemeanor to make false statements as to school division or attendance zone residency; penalty. Any person who knowingly makes a false statement concerning the residency of a child, as determined by §22.1-3, in a particular school division or school attendance zone, for the purposes of (i) avoiding the tuition charges authorized by §22.1-5 or (ii) enrollment in a school outside the attendance zone in which the student resides, shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor and shall be liable to the school division in which the child was enrolled as a result of such false statements for tuition charges, pursuant to §22.1-5, for the time the student was enrolled in such school division.

20. Eating Disorders Awareness Information — Every School Board must annually provide information to parents of pupils in grades five through twelve regarding eating disorders. A parent information sheet is available under the heading “Eating Disorders Awareness in the Public School Setting”. 

21. On December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) was signed into law. Section 1112(e)(2) of ESSA states that parents of students in Title I schools have a right to know about state or division policies regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by ESSA, including any policy, procedure, or parental right to opt students out of such assessments. Hugh Mercer Elementary School, Lafayette Upper Elementary School, and Walker-Grant Middle School are Title I Schools. Therefore, if you would like to receive information about this topic, please contact Mrs. Heidi Miller, Director of Assessment and Accountability, either by phone at (540) 372-1130 or in writing at 210 Ferdinand Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401.