File: CHCA

APPROVAL OF HANDBOOKS AND DIRECTIVES

The law directs that in each school building containing the grades nine to twelve, inclusive, the principal, in consultation with the school council, shall prepare and distribute to each student a handbook setting forth the rules pertaining to conduct of students. The school council shall review the handbook each spring to consider changes in the disciplinary policy to take effect in September.

It is essential that the contents of all handbooks conform to school committee policies. It is also important that all handbooks bearing the name of the school system or one of its schools be of a quality that reflects credit on the school department. Therefore, the committee expects all handbooks to be approved prior to publication by the committee and/or the superintendent.

Committee approval will be necessary for any handbooks that pertain to required standards of conduct for employees or students so that their contents may be accorded the status of committee-approved policy or regulation. The superintendent will use his/her judgment as to whether other specific handbooks need committee approval; however, all handbooks published will be made available to the committee for informational purposes.

[Adopted: June 8, 1998]

[Reviewed: March 2002]

Source: Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc.

LEGAL REFS.:

M.G.L. 71:37H