Student Handbook – IAPO
IAPO
The Indiana Academy Parent Organization is a group of parents/guardians and alumni whose goal is to help improve the educational and social atmosphere of the Academy and to help provide funds for extracurricular and scholarly activities. Parents/guardians and alumni can participate by joining the IAPO.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against persons with a disability in any program receiving federal financial assistance. In order to fulfill obligations under Section 504, University Schools has the responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. No discrimination against any person with a disability should knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices of the school system.
University Schools has responsibilities under Section 504 which include the obligations to identify, evaluate, and, if the student is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to afford access to appropriate educational services.
If the parent or guardian disagrees with a determination made by the professional staff of the school district, the parent or guardian has a right to a hearing with an impartial hearing officer.
Additional information about prohibited discrimination based on disability or other protected categories, including the process for filing complaints of prohibited discrimination can be found in the Academy’s Non-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment Policy contained in this handbook and on the Academy website. The Assistant Director of Academic Advising and Guidance Meg Wright (765-285-7407; rmewright) coordinates Section 504 for the Indiana Academy.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) specifies rights related to educational records. This Act gives the parent or guardian the right to 1) inspect and review their child’s educational records; 2) ask for an amendment to any report on the grounds that it is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the child’s rights; 3) request a hearing on the issue if the school refuses to make the amendment; and 4) consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records. The Academy has established the following information about each student as “directory information” and will make it available upon a legitimate request unless a parent, guardian, or adult student notifies the Director of Academic Affairs within twenty days from the date of this notification that they will not permit distribution of any or all of such information: name, participation in officially recognized activities or athletics, dates of attendance, date of graduation; honors and awards received; and any other information the school considers would not be harmful or an invasion of privacy, if disclosed.
The law allows schools to disclose records, without consent, to the following parties:
- Parents/guardians of a dependent student;
- School officials with legitimate educational interest;
- Other schools to which a student is transferring;
- Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
- Specified officials for audit or evaluations purposes;
- Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
- Accrediting organizations;
- Individuals who have obtained judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas after notice given to families;
- Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific state laws.
Parents/guardians and/or students over the age of 18 may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the School to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605
If there are questions or concerns, please contact the Assistant Director of Academic Guidance, 765-285-8108.
Mandatory Reporting
Under Indiana law any individual who has a reason to believe (IC 31-33-5-1) a child is a victim of abuse or neglect has the duty to make a report; therefore, each citizen of Indiana is considered a “mandated reporter.” While reporting child abuse is everyone’s responsibility, Indiana law requires a more stringent standard of reporting in some professions. These professional reporters are staff members in a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility, or agency. These reporters are legally obligated by their profession to report alleged child abuse or neglect immediately.
For additional information please refer to the Indiana Department of Child Services website: https://www.in.gov/dcs/2971.htm
Parental Notification Regarding Identification
Per IC 20-33-7.5 schools shall notify in writing at least one parent/guardian of a student, if the student is an unemancipated minor, of a request made by the student to change the student’s:
- Name; or
- Pronoun, title, or word to identify the student.
Notification to a parent/guardian will occur no later than five business days after the date on which a school receives the request. Per the state code, this may not be construed to require a school psychologist, a school nurse, a school social worker, or a school counselor to violate a federal law or regulation.
Diversity Statement
The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics & Humanities’ diversity mission is to create, support and sustain a community that genuinely demonstrates the value of diversity for all its members. Our vision is to support and encourage an environment of trust and sensitivity to all cultures, beliefs and viewpoints regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, geographic origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, nationality and/or abilities. The Indiana Academy’s diverse cultural groups also include political orientations, statewide regional cultures and the multiplicity of beliefs, ideas and visions that are critical to fostering an educational environment where students, faculty and staff exchange ideas freely, encourage critical thinking, and reexamine their personal perspectives. It is important that community members be effective at respectfully interacting across all cultures and perspectives. The affirmation, appreciation, and inclusion of multiple cultures is vital to ensure that all students, faculty, staff and the wider Indiana Academy community will be able to thrive in a multicultural academic and residential environment.
Non-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment
The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities (the “School”) does not discriminate or tolerate harassment on the basis of a protected class including but not limited to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, genetic information, or disability in the programs or activities which it operates or the employment therein or admission thereto.*
The School has designated a faculty member as coordinator of non-discrimination and anti-harassment. The identity and contact information for this staff member is listed below.
Associate Director of Equity and Engagement
Indiana Academy
Stephanie Nagelkirk
sanagelkirk
EL 007
765-285-7411
Harassment or discrimination of students and guests is prohibited at all academic, residential, extra-curricular, and school-sponsored activities. Behavior prohibited by this policy also includes conduct in any school program or activity taking place in school facilities, residential facilities, on school transportation, or any off-campus conduct that has a continuing effect on campus or in a school program or activity.
Anyone who believes that a student or guest of the school has possibly been the target of discrimination or harassment is encouraged to immediately report the situation to an appropriate staff member such as a teacher, counselor, administrator, or to a Coordinator designated herein.
Any employee who observes, suspects, or is notified of discrimination or harassment must promptly report the behavior to his/her immediate supervisor. Supervisors must promptly report the behavior to a Coordinator designated herein.
The School will respond to all allegations of harassment and discrimination. In those cases where discrimination is substantiated, the School will take action reasonably calculated to end the harassment and discrimination, prevent its recurrence, and provide for a free appropriate public education. Individuals who are found to have engaged in unlawful discrimination or harassment may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including, expulsion from school or termination of employment.
Harassment is defined as unwelcome and unacceptable behavior toward a student or visitor on the basis of a protected class including but not limited to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, genetic information, or disability.
Harassment and discrimination may take many forms including verbal acts and name-calling; graphic and written statements; derogatory, demeaning or stereotyped remarks; sexual violence or unwanted sexual contact; or other conduct that may be harmful, humiliating, or physically threatening. Harassment and discrimination do not have to include intent to harm, be directed at a specific target, or involve repeated incidents, but may be present in peer-to-peer, staff-to-student, or student-to-staff, interactions involving guests or third parties. Harassment and discrimination may be any act, speech, or gesture sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent so as to interfere with or limit the ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities provided by the School.
The School community can download the complete Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and Procedures or contact a coordinator as listed above. A hardcopy of the policy is also available upon request.
*Faculty and staff members seeking information and procedures for filing a complaint of unlawful discrimination may visit: https://www.bsu.edu/about/administrativeoffices/general-counsel.