The Board recognizes the central role parent(s)/guardian(s) play in the education of their children, and supports active parent(s)/guardian(s) involvement in the educational process. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are encouraged to maintain regular contact with their child’s educators. To familiarize themselves with their child’s learning environment, parent(s)/guardian(s) are also encouraged to come to planned conference evenings, school open houses, and visitation days.
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) may also visit their child’s classes on other days, subject to the approval of school administration and the following guidelines. Parent(s)/ Guardian(s) are asked to understand the Board’s responsibility to safeguard the learning environment for all scholars and be sensitive to the disruption that can be caused by having strangers frequently observe the classroom and place demands on teacher time. The Board also has an obligation to protect the privacy rights of all scholars and their families by ensuring that the frequency of visitations by one parent/guardian does not allow that parent/guardian to develop inappropriate knowledge of the behavior or academic progress of other scholars.
The Board adopts the following regulations for parent(s)/guardian(s) visitations:
- All parent(s)/guardian(s) visitations are subject to the approval of the school principal or designee, who is charged by the Board with the responsibility of guaranteeing the learning environment and privacy of scholars.
- Parent(s)/Guardian(s) desiring to visit a classroom shall make a request to the principal or designee prior to the date of the visit. The principal or designee should consult with the teacher and respond to the parent(s)/guardian(s) in a timely manner.
- The principal or designee may accompany the parent(s)/guardian(s) on the visit if the parent(s)/guardian(s) so desire(s).
- Visitors are required to check in at the school office prior to the start of the class that they wish to observe, and to follow individual school procedures for visitor sign-in, passes, escorts, etc.
- Parent(s)/Guardian(s) in classrooms are there as guests and are asked to follow the norms and expectations of the classroom activities, unless specifically requested otherwise by the classroom teacher.
- The building principal or designee may limit the number of visitors that shall be permitted in a classroom on any given day.
- Visitation is prohibited during tests or other scholar examinations or evaluations.
- Visits are for becoming acquainted with school instruction, programs, personnel, operation, and/or the facility. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will refrain from giving directions or making evaluations of personnel or operating procedures during their visits. If a school visit leaves the parent(s)/guardian(s) with a concern, this concern should be discussed with the building principal or designee.
- To protect the privacy of all scholars, visiting scholar parent(s)/guardian(s) are to refrain from using classroom observations for impromptu parent/guardian-teacher conferences either during or outside of class time. An appointment should be made with the teacher if the parent(s)/guardian(s) wish(es) to discuss their child’s educational progress. The behaviors or achievements of other scholars shall not be discussed with visiting parent(s)/guardian(s).
- Board members and District employees who have scholars in the schools and therefore have parental/guardian opportunities to converse with their scholar’s teacher, counselor, or administrator will make clear that they are speaking and/or visiting as the parent(s)/guardian(s) and not as a member of the Board or employee of the District.
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) who fail to abide by these regulations or who disrupt the educational process of the school may be asked to leave and/or be denied permission for future visits.
The Superintendent or designee will ensure that the provisions of this policy are published in the appropriate handbook(s) and copies are provided to parent/guardian visitors.
