The basic instruction program shall include the courses required for each grade level by the State Department of Education.  The instructional approach will be nonsexist and multicultural.

Students enrolled in kindergarten (K) shall attend school all day everyday.  The basic instruction program shall be designed to develop healthy emotional and social habits, language arts and communication skills, the capacity to complete individual tasks, and the ability to protect and increase physical well-being with attention given to experiences relating to the development of life skills and human growth and development.

The basic instruction program of students enrolled in grades one (1) through six (6) shall include English-language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, physical education, traffic safety, music, visual arts, technology, and character education.

The board may, in its discretion, offer additional courses in the educational program for any grade level.

Each instructional program shall be carefully planned to obtain its benefits.  Each instructional program’s plan should describe the program, its goals, the effective materials, the activities and the method for student evaluation.

It shall be the responsibility of the administration to develop administrative regulations stating the required courses and optional courses for kindergarten (K) and grades one (1) through six (6).

Legal Reference:  29 U.S.C. §§624-634.
                                       42 U.S.C. §§2000e-11.
                                       Iowa Code §§279.8, 280.3-.14, 601A.9 (1991).
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.5.

Cross Reference:  103    Equal Education Opportunity
                                       505    Student Scholastic Achievement
                                       602    Curriculum Development
                                       603    Instructional Curriculum

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  4-18-19              
Revised:  4-09-07

The Bennett Community School District recognizes the importance of ongoing learning opportunities for students. As such, the district shall offer summer school instruction in accordance with the following:

The board, in its discretion, may offer summer school for one or more courses and student activities for students who need additional help and instruction or for enrichment in those areas.  Upon receiving a request for summer school, the board will weigh the benefit to the students and the school district as well as the school district’s budget and availability of licensed employees to conduct summer school.

If a child, who is eligible for special education, has been determined to need extended school year services as necessary to receive a free appropriate public education, as determined according to state and federal law, such services shall be provided as described in the child’s individualized education program.

In additional instances as provided by law.

The superintendent may develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§279.8, 280.3, 282.6
                                       281 I.A.C. 41.106

Cross Reference:  410.2   Summer School Licensed Employees
                                       505.2   Student Promotion – Retention - Acceleration
                                       603      Instructional Curriculum
                                       711.4   Summer School Transportation

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  4-08-19              
Revised:  1-08-18

The board recognizes some children have different educational needs than other children.  The board shall provide an opportunity for an appropriate educational program and related services to children identified in need of special education.  The special education services shall be provided from birth until the appropriate education is completed or to age twenty-one (21).  The board shall provide a free and an appropriate education for a child in need of special education but the board is not required to provide the best possible option or to maximize the potential of the child commensurate with the opportunity provided to nondisabled children.  The appropriate education for each student shall be written in the student’s Individual Education Program (IEP).  The IEP may state that a special education student’s interests are best served by the student attending school on a different school calendar than regular education students.

Special education students shall be required to meet the requirements stated in board policy for graduation, or the requirements stated in their individual education plans.  Discipline of special education students shall be through their individual education plan.

It shall be the responsibility of the administration and the area education agency director of special education to administer the special education program.  While the administration shall be custodian of school records, the building principal shall be responsible for maintaining records of the children in need of special education.  These records may be viewed by authorized school personnel and in accordance with the requirements of board policy.

Legal Reference:  Board of Education v Rowley, 102 S.Ct. 3034, 458 U.S. 176 (1982).
                                       Springdale School District #50 v Grace, 693 F.2d 41 (8^th Cir. 1982).
                                       Southeast Warren Community School District v Department of Public Instruction, 285 N.W.2d 173 (Iowa 1979).
                                       20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq. (1988).
                                       34 C.F.R. 300 et seq. (1990).
                                       Iowa Code §§256.11(5)-(26), 273.1, .2(5), .9(2)-(3), 280.28,
                                       281 (1991).
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 41.

Cross Reference:  502    Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       603    Instructional Curriculum

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  4-08-19              
Revised:  11-12-12

Enrolled children in the school district community shall have an equal opportunity for a quality public education without regard to race, color, creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, national origin, religion, age, or disability.

The educational program shall be free of such discrimination and provide equal opportunity for the participants.  The educational program shall foster knowledge of and respect and appreciation for, the historical and contemporary contributions of diverse cultural groups, as well as men and women, to society.  It shall also reflect the wide variety of roles open to both men and women and provide equal opportunity to both sexes.

Inquiries regarding compliance with equal education opportunity shall be directed to the compliance officer by writing to Title IX, Title VI and Section 504 Compliance Officer, Bennett Community School District, Box D, Bennett, Iowa 52721; or by telephoning at 563-890-2226; or by writing to the Director of the Region VII: Office of Civil Rights, Chicago Office, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczynski, Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37^th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60604; telephone (312)730-1560; facsimile (312) 730-1576; email OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.  Further information and copies of the procedures for filing a grievance are available in the central administrative office and the administrative office in the attendance center.

Legal Reference:  29 U.S.C. §§624-634.
                                       42 U.S.C. §§2000e-11.
                                       Iowa Code §§279.8, 280.3-.14, 601A.9 (1991).
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.5 (8).

Cross Reference:  103    Equal Education Opportunity
                                       505    Student Scholastic Achievement

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  4-08-19              
Revised:  4-08-13

Students in grade levels kindergarten through six (6) shall receive, as part of their health education, instruction about personal health, food and nutrition, environmental health, safety and survival skills, consumer health, family life, substance use and non-use, including the effects of alcohol, tobacco, drugs and poisons on the human body, human sexuality, self-esteem, stress management, and interpersonal relationships, emotional and social health, health resources, prevention and control of disease, and the characteristics of communicable diseases, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

While the areas stated above shall be included in health education, the instruction shall be adapted at each grade level to aid understanding by the students.

Parents who object to health education instruction in human growth and development may file a written request that the pupil be excused from the instruction.  The written request shall include a proposed alternate activity or study acceptable to the administration.  The administration shall have the final authority to determine alternate activity or study.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§256.1, 279.8, 280.3-.14 (1991).
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.5(3)(e), .5(4)(e), .5(5)(e).

Cross Reference:  502    Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       503    Student Discipline
                                       603    Instructional Curriculum

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  5-13-19              
Revised:  4-11-16

Students in grades kindergarten through six (6) shall be required to participate in physical education courses unless they are excused by the principal of their attendance center.

Students may be excused from physical education courses if:

• the student presents a written statement from a doctor stating that such activities could be injurious to the health of the student; or
• the student is enrolled in academic courses not otherwise available; or
• the student has been exempted because of a conflict with the student’s religious beliefs

Students who will not participate in physical education, related to the above exemptions, must have a written request or statement from their parents.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §256.11 (1991).
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.5(3)(f), .5(4)(f), .5(5)(f), 4.5(6).

Cross Reference:  502    Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       603    Instructional Curriculum

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  5-13-19              
Revised:  4-11-16

Preparing students for careers is one goal of the educational program.  Career education will be infused into the educational program for grades kindergarten (K) through six (6).  This education shall include, but not be limited to, awareness of self in relation to others and the needs of society, exploration of employment opportunities, experiences in personal decision-making, and experiences of integrating work values and work skills into their lives.

It shall be the responsibility of the administration to assist licensed personnel in finding ways to provide career education in most courses.  Special attention should be given to courses of vocational education nature.  The board, in its review of the curriculum, shall review the means in which career education is combined with other instructional programs.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§256.11, 280.9 (1991).
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 11.5(7), .5(9).

Cross Reference:  603    Instructional Curriculum

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  5-13-19              
Revised:  4-09-07

The school district is required to keep the practice of religion out of the school curriculum.  The board recognizes the key role religion has played in the history of the world and authorizes the study of religious history and traditions as part of the curriculum.  Preferential or derogatory treatment to a single religion shall not take place.

It shall be the responsibility of the administration to ensure the study of religion in the schools in keeping with the following guidelines:

• the proposed activity must have a secular purpose;
• the primary object of the activity must not be one that advances or inhibits religion; and
• the activity must not foster excessive governmental entanglement with religion.

Legal Reference:  U.S. Const. Amend. I.
                                       Lemon v Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971).
                                       Graham v Central Community School District of Decatur County,     
                                       608 F. Supp. 531 (S.D. Iowa 1985).
                                       Iowa Code §§279.8, 280.6 (1991).

Cross Reference:  502    Student Rights and Responsibilities-
                                       603    Instructional Curriculum

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  5-13-19              
Revised:  6-10-96

The board believes students should have an opportunity to reach their own decisions and beliefs about conflicting points of view.  Academic freedom is the opportunity for educators and students to study, investigate, present, interpret, and discuss facts and ideas relevant to the subject matter of the classroom and appropriate to and in good taste with the maturity and intellectual and emotional capacities of the students. 

It shall be the responsibility of the instructor to refrain from advocating partisan causes, sectarian religious views, or biased positions through classroom or school methods.  Instructors are not discouraged from expressing personal opinions as long as students are aware it is a personal opinion and students are allowed to reach their own conclusions independently.

It shall be the responsibility of the principal to ensure academic freedom is allowed but not abused in the classroom.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§279.8, 280.3, .6 (1991).

Cross Reference:  502    Student Rights and Responsibilities
                                       603    Instructional Curriculum

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  5-13-19              
Revised:             

Because of our growing interdependence with other nations in the world, global education shall be incorporated into the educational program for grades kindergarten (K) through six (6) so that students have the opportunity to acquire a perspective on world issues, problems, and prospects for an awareness of the relationship between an individual’s self-interest and the concerns of people elsewhere in the world.  Global education, in the educational program, is the lifelong growth in understanding, through study and participation, of the world community and the interdependency of its people and systems – social, cultural, racial, economic, linguistic, technological, and ecological.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §256.11 (1991).
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.5(11).

Cross Reference:  602     Curriculum Development
                                       603.7   Career Education

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  5-13-19              
Revised:  4-9-07

The administration shall provide an audit of the availability of instructional time for students.  Considerations in the audit shall include, but need not be limited to, the patterns of employment and assignment of instructional professional staff; the relationship of the school organization and instructional methods to the availability of instructional time; identification of the responsibility for organizing and managing the instructional program, with specific attention to the effect of curriculum sequencing and integration on instructional time availability; and the effect of co-curricular and extracurricular activity programs on availability of instructional time. 

The audit shall be conducted at least once each year.  The administration shall provide an annual report to the board on the availability of instructional time for students.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §256.11 (1991).
                                       281 Iowa Admin. Code 12.3(5).

Cross Reference:  602     Curriculum Development
                                       603.1  Basic Instructional Program
                                       605        Instructional Materials
                                       606        Instructional Arrangements

Approved:  4-13-92              
Reviewed:  5-13-19              
Revised:  6-10-96