Parent Handbook

1. Students will improve their English language skills and confidence (specifically: oral language, reading, and writing).
2. Students will improve their mental math skills and confidence (specifically: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).
3. Students will improve their life skills and confidence.
4. Students will have fun while improving their skills and confidence.
5. Students will participate in “real-life” experiences while improving their skills and confidence.

THE EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAM COMPONENTS
The ELP will provide a safe, caring, and engaging learning environment for students in Transitional Kindergarten through eighth grades. The program is offered on regularly scheduled school days, during before and after school hours and maintains a staffing ratio of one adult to 20 students. The ELP is funded through the California Department of Education (CDE).  The grant is called the “After School Education and Safety” or “ASES.” grant, and is provided at no cost to all participating families. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

• The ELP is open to Transitional Kindergarten through eighth grade students who are enrolled in the Lemon Grove School District.

• Students who have been disenrolled from the ELP from a previous year due to a behavior infraction are not  recommended for the program. Admission to the program will only be considered following a parent/guardian and staff planning meeting that will outline the daily expectations and behavior support plan.

EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
The program includes a nutritious meal, homework support, academic and enrichment activities.  The academic portion of the program directly supports the instruction occurring in the classroom during the school day and links to the Common Core State Standards in the curricular areas. Using a wide range of data including the Starter Balanced Assessment Consortium results and classroom based assessments, the courses are specifically identified by the principal and staff to help students achieve their academic learning goals. Course offerings at each site reflect the needs of the students enrolled in the ELP and available funding.

• Examples of academic courses include, but are not limited to: Homework Support, English Language Development, Language Arts Support; Math Support, and Reading Support.

• Examples of enrichment courses include, but are not limited to: Physical Activities, Visual & Performing Arts, Gardening, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math),  & Health & Wellness.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Working together, students, their parents/guardians, teachers, and staff members will provide engaging after school activities that will support our students’ academic needs. Through this process, we will meet the instructional requirements of the student in an empowering manner that ultimately leads to increased academic achievement.

Please be mindful of the ASES grant’s regulations that require the After School Program to provide a balance of intervention and enrichment activities. The ELP will support and assist students with their assigned homework from the regular school day; however, the ELP does not guarantee homework completion. It is recommended parents/guardians check their student’s homework to review the assignment for accuracy and completion.

CUSTODY AGREEMENTS
The parent/guardian must provide both the school and the ELP any court-ordered custody arrangements that are applicable to your student. Please speak with the ELP Supervisor to confirm student pick-up procedures.

ENROLLMENT GUIDELINES
The ELP registration packets were distributed at the open registration sessions hosted in the Spring. The final rosters were determined by your student’s age, the duration of time the family committed to utilizing the program, the total points accrued on the application, and the space available in the program per the grant’s level of funding. Enrollment is on a year-to-year basis. Please note, transferring your student to a different school within the district does not guarantee enrollment.  It is very likely your child will be placed on the waitlist until a spot becomes available at the alternative school. 

MINIMUM ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
It is the intent of the California Legislature that students participate in the Before School and/or After School ELP every day school is in operation from opening (site specific) until closing hours (6:00 pm). All students must have a current Late Arrival and/or Early Release Form on file in the event the student is not able to participate fully in the program. Priority will be given to families who will fully utilize the ELP full-day, every day.

Priority for enrollment will be given to students who attend the ELP for the entire duration the program is in operation. To comply with the intent of the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Education Code and under advisement of the California Department of Education’s After School Partnerships Office and county auditors; any student with an approved Early Release/Late Arrival Form who does not meet that time and/or does not attend at least half of the Before and/or After School Program (hours may not be a combined total) will not count for attendance purposes.  This action may cause the district to have a reduction in ASES funding.

• Upon dismissal of the regular school day, students who are enrolled in the After School ELP must immediately scan into the program or a truancy will be recorded.

• Students are expected to attend the ELP every day they are present at school or an unexcused absence may be recorded. Upon a student’s fifth unexcused absence, he or she will be disenrolled from the program. If your student is present during the regular school day, but will not attend ELP, please call the “ELP Phone Number” at the school your student attends to report his or her absence.

• If a student leaves the regular day early for an excusable reason, the ELP will honor an excused absence. However, if an unexcused is recorded from the regular school day, the same attendance violation will be recorded at the Expanded Learning Program.

• A student’s absence shall be excused for the following reasons: Personal illness, quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer, medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic appointments, attendance at funeral services of an immediate family member, and/or appearance in court.  A valid form of evidence must be provided to an ELP staff member within 24 hours of absence to verify the absence is excusable.

• Students may not attend the ELP if they are absent or have been suspended from the regular school day.

• Once a student exits campus during the ELP’s operating hours, the student may not return to the ELP for the remainder of that day.

• Please visit www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ba/as/pgmdescription.asp to learn more about the California Department of Education’s ASES attendance regulations.

HOURS OF OPERATION

• The ELP is open every day that school is in session.

•  The Before School Program opens one-hour and 30 minutes before the regular school day is scheduled to start.

•  The After School Program begins immediately after school is dismissed and closes at 6:00p.m.sharp! Pick up at 6:01pm is considered LATE. 

• Minimum Days: The ELP will immediately begin at the designated early dismissal time and will close at 6:00 p.m. Students are still required to meet the minimum attendance requirements on Minimum Days or an unexcused absence may be recorded.

THE EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAM CALENDAR
The ELP will operate on all days that school is regularly scheduled.  Lemon Grove School District employees receive holidays pursuant with the California Education Code, plus local holidays set by the Governing Board.  Please see the current school year Student Calendar to plan alternative childcare arrangements on the days school is not in session. Alternative childcare resources may include the YMCA (619) 462-9622, and the Lemon Grove Recreation Center (619) 825-3816 that provide Intersession and Summer Camps.

EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAM SUPERVISION
For families who need supervision for their children before and/or after school, the ELP provides this service at no cost to all families.  The ELP employees are hired based on a combination of education and experience that demonstrates a strong understanding and sensitivity to the educational and social needs of school-age children. All employees have passed a pre-employment test in accordance with the employment policy of the Lemon Grove School District, and meet minimum qualification for Instructional Aides.  For additional information regarding the training and certifications required to fulfill a position within the ELP, please visit our website.

VOLUNTEERS
The Superintendent or designee may authorize the use of volunteers and shall establish procedures to protect the safety of students and adults in accordance to laws related to tuberculosis testing, fingerprinting, and criminal records checks. Volunteers shall act in accordance with District policies, regulations, and school rules. The Principal or designee may ask any volunteer who violates a school rule to leave the campus. The Board nevertheless encourages volunteers to work on a short term project to the extent that they enhance the classroom or school, meet a specific need, comply with established building and safety code, do not significantly increase maintenance workloads, and comply with employee commitments and contracts.

Please Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic on-site volunteers opportunities have been paused at this time.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
The ELP has three behavior guidelines: 

1. BE SAFE.
2. BE RESPECTFUL
3. BE RESPONSIBLE

The goal of the ELP is to provide a safe, fun, and educational environment for all participants.  We understand that providing a motivating and engaging program encourages good behavior.  In
general, the same rules that apply to students during the school day, apply to students at the ELP.

We expect all students, staff, and adults to show respect for one another.  Failure to adhere to this rule will cause the student and/or adult to be removed from the Expanded Learning Program. Staff members will be held accountable per the Lemon Grove School District’s policies and procedures. Please refer to the Professional Standards & Expectations for Students, Staff, & Guardians for the Board Policies and Regulations regarding the working relationships that must be in place amongst all parties.

Conduct that disrupts the operation of the ELP, interferes with the rights of others, endangers the safety of any person, or damages property will not be tolerated. The ELP has a zero tolerance policy for bullying and/or physical harm.  Lemon Grove School District’s policies regarding alcohol, tobacco, and any form of weapons or drugs will be adhered to completely.  Major behavior infractions such as those described above will lead to immediate disenrollment from the Expanded Learning Program. These disciplinary measures have been established to ensure each student’s right to a safe, fun, and educational environment.

A Parent/Guardian Communication Report may be issued to better support the communication of a behavior that needs to be modified.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS: ELEMENTARY
The behavior system works like a stop light and all children start on the color Green each day. Whenever a student chooses to break a rule, a staff member will discuss the behavior with the student, followed by the corrective measure of changing the color. When an extreme infraction occurs a student can immediately skip from the color Green to Red or Blue.  When positive behavior is displayed that goes above and beyond the expectation, a student may move up to the color Purple. When picking up your student, please ask an ELP staff member to review your student’s behavior for the day.

Example of an ELP Color System: Elementary

Sample Color Chart System Purple= Outstanding Green= Satisfactory Yellow= Caution (Verbal Warning: Recurring yellow leads to red) Red= STOP! Needs Improvement. Complete Behavior Agreement Form) Blue = Serious/Severe Behavior. (Lose entire free-play; Complete a Behavior Agreement Form; Extended suspension or immediate expulsion from the Before and/or After School ELP)

In an effort to align the ELP with the regular school day, colors may vary depending on the school your student attends.

Following these initial steps, contact with the parent/guardian will be made. If inappropriate behavior continues to persist, the student may be disenrolled from the Before and After School ELP for the remainder of the school year. Generally, upon a student’s fourth Red or third suspension, he or she will be disenrolled from the Expanded Learning Program. The first expulsion from the ELP will result in the child losing the privilege of being enrolled in the program. To be enrolled in the Expanded Learning Program is a privilege, not a right. Participants are expected to demonstrate satisfactory behavior at the Expanded Learning Program!

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS: MIDDLE SCHOOL
Similar to elementary schools, the goal at our middle schools is to offer a program that engages the students while minimizing behavior concerns. The ELP will offer positive incentives for good behavior; however, the following are a series of consequences in the event a student is unable to manage himself/herself:

• Warning: The student will be given a verbal warning and suggestion to correct the inappropriate behavior.

•  Student Write-Up with a Parent/Guardian  Notification: This is a written Behavior Declaration and is an opportunity for students to reflect on their choices and write a plan for success.  A discussion between staff, parent/guardian, and student will be held to support the student’s success as a team.

• Suspension: This is a set period of time the student will not be able to attend the Expanded Learning Program.

Following these initial steps, contact with the parent/guardian will be made.  If inappropriate behavior continues to persist, the student will be disenrolled from the Before and/or After School Program.  Upon the first serious/ severe behavior infraction, an extended suspension may be implemented. The first expulsion from the Expanded Learning Program will result in the child losing the privilege of being enrolled in the program.  To be enrolled in the Expanded Learning Program is a privilege, not a right. Participants are expected to demonstrate satisfactory behavior at the Expanded Learning Program!

CELL PHONES/ELECTRONICS 
Students may possess electronic signaling devices, including but not limited to pagers, and cellular/digital telephones. Electronic signaling devices shall be put away during ELP program hours.  The Expanded Learning Program is a no cell phone zone area. If an electronic signaling device disruption occurs, the employee will direct the student to put the device away and/or confiscate the device until the student’s parent/guardian picks up the student and the device from the Expanded Learning Program. If you need to contact your student please call the ELP cell phone. The ELP is not responsible for the loss or damage of electronics brought to the program.

BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM
The Lemon Grove School District participates in the School Breakfast Program. The school breakfast model chosen by the Lemon Grove School District is the innovative Breakfast in the Classroom. This program ensures that students have breakfast by making it part of class time. The school breakfast meets the USDA’s New Meal Patterns and state and local nutrition standards.  Breakfast is provided to every student in the district at no cost.

NUTRITIOUS MEAL
A nutritious after school meal is provided for every ELP student at no cost who are enrolled in the After School Program. This meal is provided by the District’s Nutrition Services Department and is in compliance with federal regulations and the District’s Wellness Policy. Therefore, parents/guardians are asked not to send additional snacks with their student to consume at the Expanded Learning Program.  If your student has an allergy to peanuts or any other food, please contact your school’s Health Clerk to complete the Special Dietary Needs Form.  Some of the ELP meals may contain peanuts and/or peanut ingredients.  If you would like further information, please contact: Holly Bauer, Director of Nutrition Services at (619) 825-5693.

PERSONAL POSSESSIONS
The ELP is not responsible for lost or stolen property.  Even though students are responsible for their own personal belongings, the staff will do their best to ensure that items are safe.  We suggest parents/guardians monitor the personal possessions that students bring with them to the ELP to avoid the possibility of lost or stolen items.  Personal accessories, toys, sports equipment, electronics, food, candy, etcetera, should not be brought to the Expanded Learning Program. Additionally, no pets or animals are permitted on campus.

CHILD ABUSE REPORTING AND CONFIDENTIALITY
The ELP staff, in compliance with the policies and procedures of the Lemon Grove School District, are required by law to report known or suspected instances of child abuse to the Child Protective Service Agency.  Information shared with the ELP staff by a student or parent/guardian remains confidential and will be disclosed only for purposes legally permissible or directly related to the administration of the Expanded Learning Program. Information for any other reason is released only with written permission of the parent/guardian.

MEDICATIONS/PROCEDURES

Medication/Illness:

• The ELP staff is not permitted to administer any medication to students.

•  Students with illnesses are required to remain at home (24 hours fever-free without any fever reducing medication).

•  Children who vomit during the night or in the early morning should stay home until free from symptoms for 24 hours.

• It is the parent/ guardian’s responsibility to promptly pick up their student when notified by an ELP staff member that their student is ill or soiled himself. Failure to adhere to this procedure could result in disenrollment from the program.

•  In case of an emergency, school procedures will be followed. Please communicate with your student’s Site Leader to learn more about the emergency procedures directly related to the ELP your student attends.

•  In an extreme situation where the building is determined unsafe, staff will remove students to safety and immediately contact parents or emergency contacts.  It is critical for parents/guardians to update their contact information with an ELP staff member any time it changes.

• In case of fire, students will evacuate the building through designated doors to assigned holding areas until the signal is given that the emergency is over. 

•  “Lockdown” procedures are initiated when there is a potential outside threat to the safety of the staff and students. This means that all staff and students remain locked inside a building until local law enforcement directs us otherwise. In a medical emergency, staff will make every effort to contact the parent/guardian or designee.  If unable to do so, the parent/guardian signature on the registration form gives permission for the administration of first aid and/or emergency treatment that is in the student’s best interest. 

•  In an emergency, staff will adhere to the following procedures: Injury–Call the primary parent/guardian; Call 911 as appropriate.

SIGN-IN AND SIGN-OUT PROCEDURES

• Parents/guardians will be required to show a valid form of identification to authorize the ELP staff to release the child from the program.

• Scan the student’s card and then write the exact time (per the electronic web based attendance system) the child entered or exited the program. Falsifying the time will lead to the student being disenrolled from the Expanded Learning Program.

• A parent/guardian signature is required on the Attendance every day the student attends ELP.

• Open lines of communication are critical among the parent/guardian, staff, and student. This is the ideal opportunity to find out what activities your student participated in, and how your student performed at the Expanded Learning Program. Please ask questions to get updates about what is taking place at the ELP upon signing your student in and/or out from the program.

• Parents may not call the ELP phone or school office to request that their child be released from the program.  Please note that calling the front office before school is dismissed to release your student is considered a non-compliance, unless student is leaving early for an excused reason (see page 4 for list of excused absences).

• Although not encouraged, students who are in middle school have the privilege to sign themselves in/out from the ELP as long as a valid Walking Permission Slip is on file. Upon the middle school student’s first violation of breaching the District’s Walking Permission Slip policies and procedures, a parent/guardian or authorized adult will be required to sign their student in/out from the ELP for the remainder of the school year.

• Parents/guardians may not solicit program staff members to provide student care for their child before or after ELP hours.

A Non Compliance Notice will be issued if sign-in/sign-out procedures are not followed.

BEFORE SCHOOL: LATE ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

• Students may not be dropped off to the Before School ELP before the program opens or the student will be at risk of being disenrolled from the program. Students may not be on school premises unsupervised.

• Parents/guardians with a student enrolled in elementary school are required to sign their student in every morning when they arrive to the Before School Expanded Learning Program.

• Students are required to arrive to the Before School Program before the time that is indicated on their Late Arrival Form and/or remain present in the ELP for at least 50 percent of the program’s operating hours, or an unexcused absence may  be recorded.

•  Unexcused absences may cause a loss of funding for the Expanded Learning Program. Upon a student’s fifth unexcused absence, he or she will be disenrolled from the Expanded Learning Program.

• An accurate Late Arrival Form must be on file at all times. Please fill out an updated Late Arrival Form should your schedule change in the upcoming year.
  
  

  Please note: If you consider updating your student’s Early Release Form to an earlier time, the overall amount of points your student will score on their application will immediately decrease that would cause the District to potentially exchange your student’s Enrolled status to being Waitlisted to include another student from the waitlist that scored more points on their application.   Please allow five business days for the new time to be recorded in the web based attendance system. The updated time will not be in effect until it is accurately reflected on the Sign-In Record Sheet.

•  An unexcused absence is recorded when the child does not meet the Minimum Attendance Requirements. A valid form of evidence must be provided to an ELP staff member within 24 hours of the absence to verify the absence is excusable.

AFTER SCHOOL: EARLY RELEASE PROCEDURES

• Students are not released from the ELP until a parent/guardian or authorized emergency contact is present to sign them out with a valid form of identification. Please have a photo I.D. readily accessible to show our staff when signing the student out from the program.

• Your student is required to be present at the After School Program later than the time that is indicated on the Early Release Form and/or remain present in the ELP or an unexcused absence may be recorded. 

• Please fill out a new Early Release Form if your schedule should change in the upcoming school year.  Please Note: If you consider updating your student’s Early Release Form to an earlier time, the overall amount of points your student will score on their application will immediately decrease that would cause the District to potentially exchange your student’s Enrolled status to being Waitlisted to include another student from the waitlist that scored more points on their application.   Please allow five business days for the new time to be recorded in the web based attendance system. The updated time will not be in effect until it is accurately reflected on the Sign-In Record Sheet.

• Please allow five business days for the new time to be recorded in the web based attendance system.  The updated time will not be in effect until it is accurately reflected on the Sign-Out Record Sheet. 

Parents/Guardians picking up their student past 6:00 p.m. risk losing the privilege of having their student enrolled in the Expanded Learning Program. Please arrange for an authorized person to pick up your child prior to closing time.  Upon a student’s third late pick up, he or she will be immediately disenrolled from the program for the remainder of the school year.

• In the event a parent/guardian or authorized emergency contact is not able to pick up the student from the program. by 6:30 pm, the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Department will be contacted.

• Your student’s safety is our priority. Should a designated adult arrive to pick up a student and appear to be in any condition that might endanger the student, staff will contact another authorized adult to pick up the student. However, if no one else is available, and this occurs after the regular operating hours of ELP, staff will be required to contact Child Protective Services.
  
  Thank you for taking the time to review this handbook to help us maintain effective learning environments.