We know that parents are interested in information about the policies of the district as they pertain to their child. The general information provided below may answer questions you have regarding those policies. If your questions are not answered here, or if you need additional information, we encourage you to visit with the principal of your child's school or contact the district office.
Adequate Yearly Progress Notification
September 2006
Dear Parent and Patrons:
Twin Falls School District 411 is dedicated to providing a quality education necessary for students to be successful in life. To ensure your child’s success, we continually work to improve our curriculum and teaching methods, and set high standards for ourselves and our students.
As required by federal and state laws and rules, the progress of our schools in meeting reading and math goals for all students is evaluated each year by designated targets in multiple categories. While all of the schools within the Twin Falls School District continue to achieve and exceed in multiple academic target areas, there are various schools which are currently striving to meet the State and Federal standards in individual areas.
The following schools in our district have been identified as needing improvement in a targeted area:
Twin Falls High School Vera C. O’Leary Junior High
Magic Valley High School Robert Stuart Junior High
Under federal and state laws and regulations, students at the schools listed above may apply for transfer to same-district schools that have met state academic goals. However, due to the status of each of the targeted schools, the option for transfer is unavailable at this time. The TFSD is committed in providing excellence in education and is continually taking the necessary steps to ensure a high quality education for all students. Designated schools will continue implementation and monitoring of the building improvement plan to target student achievement for all students. To assist efforts in achieving all academic goals each building SCIP School/Continuous Improvement Plan focuses on Reading/Math proficiency/participation, utilization of scientifically based materials/strategies, targeted professional development, and parent involvement.
Parent involvement is essential to our improvement efforts. We invite you to participate in the following ways:
Attend school functions and activities, particularly Parent-Teacher conferences. Committees created to work on school improvement will need parent involvement. You will want to let your school office know of your interest; please contact the school your where your child attends.
If you have any questions regarding the identified schools, the improvements being made, or your options as a parent, please feel free to contact your child’s school.
Sincerely,
Twin Falls School District Administration
Please contact your child’s principal regarding the number of absences a student can accumulate before jeopardizing school credit or advancement to the next grade.
Absences
Students will be excused from school due to illness or death in the family. Students
who miss school because of athletics or other approved off-campus activities (activity
absences) are not regarded as absent. Oral or written communication from the parent(s) or
legal guardian(s) is required within two days of the absence, except for activity
absences. All class work, homework, and exams can be made up within the guidelines for
make-up work. In the event of an unexpected absence, parents are requested to notify the
school by 9 a.m. If parents have not arranged an absence or notified the school office, a
member of the school staff may call the parent to determine the reason for absence.
Tardies
Strict policies exist regarding the accumulation of tardies. Please check with your
child’s school personnel for this information.
Truancy
Any student attending school in the Twin Falls School
District is deemed truant from school or class if the student is absent from
school without the consent of the student's parent/guardian or school officials,
or is absent from school with the consent of the parent for an invalid reason.
Valid reasons for being absent from school include illness, purposes considered
essential to the family operation (e.g., death or divorce), and other reasons
deemed significant by the family and school officials. Truancy includes absence
from school or from class after arrival at school and departure from school
during the school day without permission of school officials. Class work,
homework, and exams missed while truant will not be allowed to be made up for
credit. Truancy is a major disciplinary violation, and as such, will result in
parent(s)/guardian(s) being notified. Please contact your child's school personnel for
further information on
truancy policies.
Accidents
In the case of an accident, school personnel will administer emergency care, and
parents will be notified. If a parent cannot be reached, the physician listed on the
enrollment card will be notified. All serious accidents are reported to the
superintendent.
Boundaries established by the district determine school attendance areas. The primary residence of the parent or legal guardian determines which school the child will attend. Gray zones are those areas adjacent to school attendance boundaries that may change as student populations fluctuate. The district may transfer students in those zones from their home school to another school in order to maintain the student/teacher ratios adopted by the district and state. You may check with the district office if you have questions regarding school zone boundaries as they pertain to your child's school, or you may click for elementary or junior high zones.
There may come a time when a parent/student needs assistance meeting their basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, counseling or other social/emotional needs. Click here to connect to community resource information or call 737-2065
Computer Use
Policy
The Twin Falls School District provides open access to computers and the Internet via
a wide area network. In return, every user has the responsibility to act in a responsible,
ethical, and legal manner. Using the district’s network is a privilege, not a right,
and the privilege may be revoked at any time for unacceptable conduct. A Computer Use
Policy has been created to inform parents and students of their responsibilities as
users of our network and computers. Each parent and student will be asked to read the
policy, as well as to read and sign the agreement, before
the student will be allowed access to computers. Parents may sign on behalf of younger
children. Click
here to
view the policy.
It is the desire and intent of the Twin Falls School District to adopt a dress code to create an environment in our schools that is conducive to learning and free of potential distraction or danger. The Dress for Success code supports workplace norms for appropriate attire. It is our belief that schools are in the business of learning which necessitates discipline by the individual student in all areas such as language, behavior, attendance, and dress.
Students are to observe the following guidelines regarding student attire:
Shirts must have a modest neckline (no cleavage) and be long enough to cover the midriff (front and back). No spaghetti straps, tank tops, tube, off-the-shoulder, halter tops, or muscle shirts will be allowed. No backless, strapless, or half tops are to be worn.
Clothes must conceal undergarments (boxers, thongs, undergarment straps, etc.) at all times. No see-through, excessively tight, or revealing attire is permitted.
Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than mid-thigh in length. No spandex clothing is allowed.
Pants must be worn at hip-level or higher (no excessive bagging or sagging).
No pajamas, slippers, or sleepwear of any kind is allowed.
Hats or head coverings (including sunglasses) of any kind are not allowed.
Shoes must be worn at all times.
Clothing, accessories, and visible tattoos with words/pictures that contain any of the following are prohibited: alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sex, death, destruction, hate groups, racial separation, or obscenity.
Visible body piercing or magnetic/glued jewelry on face, eyes, arms, hands, tongue, and feet is prohibited. Earrings are allowed. Spikes, chains, wallet chains, studs, bolts, dog collars, needles, pins, sharp objects, or other jewelry deemed unsafe is not allowed at school.
Excessive or extreme make-up is not allowed.
There may be exclusions to the dress code policy for religious or health reasons.
For your elementary child's safety, please remember that there is no adult supervision on school grounds before 8:30 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m. For specific school starting times, please contact the school your child attends.
To receive a diploma from the Twin Falls School District, students who plan to graduate must earn a minimum of 48 credits. This is subject to change. Core credit requirement information may be obtained from the high school office at 733-6551.
Definition: Any action or situation created that causes or is reasonably likely to cause harassment, bodily danger, or physical harm, severe mental or emotional harm, extreme embarrassment or ridicule, or personal degradation or loss of dignity to any student or other person associated with a school. NOTE: In order for hazing to be harassment, the actions must be directed at an individual or group on the basis of race, national origin, religion, color, disability, age, grade level, or sex, or the unwelcome
The district serves breakfast and lunch on a daily basis. Click here for meal prices. Please contact the School Food Service Program at 733-0134 if you need further assistance or would like information on Free and Reduced Meals or the nutritional content of meals.
Before any over-the-counter or prescription medication can be dispensed, the school must have on file a Physician's Medication Order for School Administration. This form must be signed by the parent/legal guardian and physician and be renewed each year, or when there is any change in the type of dosage of medication to be dispersed. The forms are available from the office personnel at your child's school. Students may self-administer specific medication provided that the following conditions are met: A physician or dentist provides a written order for self-administration of medication; there is written authorization for self-administration of medication from the student's parent or guardian; the principal and appropriate teachers are informed that the student is self-administering prescribed medication.
Before students can matriculate from the junior high, they must have successfully earned eight credits. Four of the eight credits must include successful completion of ninth grade English (2 semesters), Speech, and Reading. Two of the remaining four credits must be in the areas of Math, Geography, or Science. The remaining two credits may be in any elective area. Students who fail to fulfill these requirements during their ninth grade year may fill them in summer school, by examination, by correspondence, or by attending one of the alternative schools in the area. If they have not fulfilled these requirements by the beginning of the school year subsequent to their ninth grade year, they will remain at their respective junior high school for at least one semester. For exceptions or special circumstances, please consult the principal of the junior high school your child attends.
The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is based on the educational premise: “Students who receive help and support to deal with pressing personal concerns will be able to focus their remaining energy more efficiently on their school work and important tasks of developing academically, socially and emotionally.”
The Program is a comprehensive primary prevention and early intervention program
for students K-12th grade. It includes a systematic effort to educate, identify,
assess, refer and support students with emotional issues, substance abuse
problems, and other high risk behaviors which may interfere with a student’s
education and life development.
Program components include but are
not limited to the following:
* Student Support Groups (some examples)
Anger Management Coping with Divorce
Stress Management Grief/loss
Family Concerns Healthy Choices
Alcohol and Drug Awareness and Education
* Parent Support and Education Classes
* Cultural Diversity Activities
* Life Skills Training
* Student Leadership Projects
* Elementary School Mentors (Harrison, Lincoln and Bickel
Elementary)
* Student Assistance Counselors (secondary schools)
For more information contact:
Sherri Molina, Safe and Drug-Free Schools Coordinator
Twin Falls School District
301 Main Ave. West
(208) 733-8456 ext. 3763
molinsh@tfsd.k12.id.us
Information regarding school closures due to inclement weather is sent to local television and radio stations for broadcast. In the event of a natural disaster or emergency, information will be released from the district office as soon as it becomes available. If it becomes necessary to close school during the day, normal transportation arrangements (i.e., busing, walking, etc.) will be followed. This information will be relayed to the media.
Educational records kept on file at each school may include reports of grades and credits, testing results, results of individual psychological tests and interviews, records of student activity participation, attendance and health data, family background information, teacher and counselor observations, or verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior problems. Parents and students may access these records. Other personnel who may have access to student records include: professional staff members for school use, secretarial staff for record keeping, school officials for record inspection, or authorized educational representatives for record inspection/research. Student records will be released with the written consent of the parent, legal guardian, or eligible student, or under specific conditions as provided by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Please contact school officials for further information.
As every parent knows, not all children learn in the same way or at the same rate. Some students may be accelerated learners. Some students may have disabilities or limitations that delay their rate of success. The Support Services Department of the Twin Falls School District plays a vital role in meeting the individual needs of all of these students. The professionals in the department are skilled at identifying specific needs and arranging for services to promote your child's learning and development.
Programs and assistance may include helping your child at home, assisting students of varying abilities, applying intervention techniques for children with high levels of need, or training teachers on effective classroom strategies.
If you believe your child demonstrates behaviors (learning, social, or developmental) that are not typical of his or her peers, you may want to consult our office to learn more about what we may be able to do to help. Our goal is to assist children and families in overcoming barriers to learning. You may contact the Support Services Department at 733-8456 for assistance.
Idaho
Standards Achievement Test (ISAT)
Important information about your
child's education
Important information about your child's
education - Espanol
Students enrolled in public schools in Idaho participate in state-directed testing programs. Students in grades K-3 participate in the Idaho Reading Indicator testing three times per year (fall, winter, and spring testing). Students also participate in the Direct Math and Writing assessments and the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT), a state-mandated test for students in grades K-10. In addition, college-bound students are encouraged to take the SAT or the American College Test (ACT).
NOTE: The information provided here is in summary format only and not intended to be a complete listing of district/state policy regarding student transfer information. Parents are responsible for obtaining a complete copy of the transfer form and policy from the district office (733-6900) or any school. This policy outlines procedures, conditions which must exist for transfer approval and revocation of transfers.
Any parent of a student requesting to attend a school other than the home school must complete a student transfer request. In-district transfer requests must be submitted to their child's home school for processing. Out-of-district transfer requests must be submitted to the school of their choice. Parents will be informed if space is available as soon as possible. In the event that an in-district parent moves from one school attendance area to another after the first nine weeks, the parent may complete a Transfer Request form to allow their child to remain at the school they are currently attending for the balance of that school year. Requests are valid only during the school year in which they are issued and remain valid only while the conditions stated in the policy (available from the district office or school site) are maintained. Parents who enrolled a student within a particular school under a false address will not be allowed to request a transfer and will be expected to enroll the child at the proper school or district. Parents are responsible for transportation and regular attendance of transfer students.
Transportation is provided to students who live at least one and one-half miles from school, or for those students who require transportation as part of a specialized program. Due to high traffic in some areas, the district has authorized safety bus routes. For information the availability of these routes or other information regarding busing, contact Western States Busing at 733-8003. Students with a valid Idaho license may drive to the high school, the alternative high school, and the junior high/alternative middle high schools. Please check with school officials for rules regarding this privilege.