The scope and size of the staff will be adequate to provide the best possible education according to class size.  The size of each class will depend upon the type of instruction needed to assist each student to develop academic and occupational capacities to the utmost. Effective staff utilization will also be considered in organizing and scheduling classroom instruction.

The recommended class size for each level of instruction should be:

1. Primary grades (K-3) should strive to maintain a range of 20-24 students to every one teacher for instruction.

2. All other grades (4-12) should not exceed 30 students per class with class range from 25-30 for conventional academic classes.

3. In Middle and High School the average total number of students per teacher per day should not exceed 30 per class. (Exception may occur in classes such as physical education, band, choir, etc.)

4. In cases where a heavy concentration of pupils occurs, an occasional class size may be above the suggested recommendation for a temporary time.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.3 (2013).

Cross Reference:  606.6 Insufficient Classroom Space

Approved:  Feb. 11, 1985, March 16, 2020    
Reviewed:  Aug. 24, 2005, Jul 27, 2015, October 21, 2019
Revised:  Oct. 9, 2000, Jan. 20, 2020      

 

The school district will continue school ceremonies and observances that have become a tradition and a custom of the education program.  These include, but are not limited to, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and observance of holidays, such as Christmas, Halloween and Easter, by programs and performances.  Such ceremonies or observances will have a secular purpose and will not advocate or sponsor a particular religion.

Students who do not wish to participate in these activities may be silent during the ceremony or observance or receive permission from the principal to be excused from the ceremony for religious reasons in compliance with board policy.

 

 

Legal Reference:  U.S. Const. amend. I.
                                      Lee v. Weisman, 112 S.Ct. 2649 (1992).
                                      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 (2013).

Cross Reference:  603    Instructional Curriculum
                                      604.5 Religious-Based Exclusion From A School Program

Approved:  Nov. 10, 1997, March 15, 2021    
Reviewed:  Aug. 24, 2005, Jul 27, 2015, February 15, 2021    
Revised: 

 

Live animals will not be allowed in school district facilities except under special circumstances and only for an educational purpose.  Permission from the principal will be required of anyone wishing to bring an animal into school district facilities.  Appropriate supervision of animals is required when animals are brought into the school district facilities.

The person bringing the animal must furnish transportation for the animal brought to school.  Animals will not be allowed to travel to and from the student's attendance center on the school bus without prior approval from the principal.

It will be the responsibility of the principal to determine appropriate supervision of animals in the classroom. This policy is not intended to address the use of service animals, assistive animals, therapy animals or emotional support animals on district property.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 279.8

Cross Reference:  105 Assistance Animals
                                     507 Student Health and Well-Being

Approved:  Nov. 10, 1997, Sep 21, 2015, Aug. 20, 2018, March 15, 2021     
Reviewed:  Aug. 24, 2005, Jul 27, 2015, July 9, 2018, February 15, 2021      
Revised:  Jul 27, 2015, July 9, 2018

 

Materials and services produced by students at the expense of the school district are the property of the school district.  Materials and services produced by students at the student's expense, except for incidental expense to the school district, are the property of the student.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to determine incidental expense.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 279.8 (2013).

Cross Reference:  408.2 Licensed Employee Publication or Creation of  Materials

Approved:  Nov. 10, 1997, Sep 21, 2015     
Reviewed:  Aug. 24, 2005, Jul 27, 2015      
Revised:  Jul 27, 2015

 

The principal may authorize field trips and excursions when such events contribute to the achievement of education goals of the school district.  The school district will provide transportation for field trips and excursions within the state.  Field trips and excursions outside of the state that do not meet the four criteria will be made on alternate transportation.  The four criteria are:

1. The operation or trip must be directly connected with and contribute to the educational development of the students;

2. The operation must be sponsored by the school and supervised by the school authorities;

3. The trip must be considered an official school function; and

4. The school district transportation vehicle must be transporting students, teachers and a reasonable number of parents as chaperones.

In authorizing field trips and excursions, the principal will consider the financial condition of the school district, the educational benefit of the activity, the inherent risks or dangers of the activity, and other factors deemed relevant by the superintendent.  Written parental permission will be required prior to the student's participation in field trips and excursions.  The superintendent's approval will be required for field trips and excursions outside the state.  Board approval will be required for field trips and excursions which involve unusual length or expense.

Field trips and excursions are to be arranged with the principal well in advance.  A detailed schedule and budget must be submitted by the employee.  The school district will be responsible for obtaining a substitute teacher if one is needed.  Following field trips and excursions, the teacher may be required to submit a written summary of the event.

 

 

Legal Reference:  390 C.F.R. Pt. 390.3(f) (2012).
                                      Iowa Code § 279.8 (2013).
                                      281 I.A.C. 43.9.

Cross Reference:  503.1 Student Conduct
                                      503.4 Good Conduct Rule
                                      603    Instructional Curriculum
                                      711    Transportation

Approved:  Feb. 11, 1985, March 15, 2021   
Reviewed:  Aug. 24, 2005, Jul 27, 2015, February 15, 2021      
Revised:  Sep. 21, 1992            

 

Insufficient classroom space will be determined on a case-by-case basis.  In making its determination whether insufficient classroom space exists, the board may consider several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the education program, the grade level, the available licensed employees, the instructional method, the physical space, student-teacher ratios, equipment and materials, facilities either being planned or under construction, facilities planned to be closed, financial condition of the school district and projected to be available, a sharing agreement in force or planned, a bargaining agreement in force, laws or rules governing special education class size, board-adopted school district goals and objectives, and other factors considered relevant by the board.

This policy is reviewed by the board annually.  It is the responsibility of the superintendent to bring this policy to the attention of the board each year.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code § 282.18(13) (2013).
                                      281 I.A.C. 17.6(3).

Cross Reference:  103      Educational and Operational Planning
                                      501.15 Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Receiving District
                                      606.1   Class Size - Class Grouping

Approved:  June 12, 1989, Sep 21, 2015, March 15, 2021   
Reviewed:  Aug. 24, 2005, Jul 27, 2015, February 15, 2021      
Revised:  Jul 27, 2015

 

The Board of Directors recognizes that one of the greatest resources of the school system is to be found in the people of the community who have special knowledge and particular talents to contribute to the school program.  The Board of Directors, therefore, encourages the use of community resources and citizens to assist in furthering the educational program.  Use of outside personnel and resources is under regulations as approved by the superintendent.

 

 

Approved:  Feb. 11, 1985, Sep 21, 2015, May 17, 2021    
Reviewed:  Aug. 24, 2005, Jul 27, 2015, April 12, 2021      
Revised:  Jul 27, 2015

 

In meeting the needs of the students, the board may grant credit to a student that meets the following requirements in this policy.  These requirements will take the place of the standards and curriculum.  Students wishing to receive credit for grade acceleration in the High School will need to start with the approval of the Superintendent and the Curriculum Director. Students may not be required to meet the same High School credits or standards based on criteria that includes:

• Completion of an Associate of Arts Degree
• Acceleration of an entire / whole grade
• Meets the qualifications for Fairfield TAG program

 

 

Approved:  June 12, 1989, November 26, 2018        
Reviewed:  Aug. 24, 2005, Jul 27, 2015, Oct. 15, 2018      
Revised:   Oct. 15, 2018      

 

Purpose:  The Fairfield Community School District is committed to ensuring the integrity of the information obtained from the use of educational assessments, ensuring security of test content and upholding professional ethics. This policy is intended to apply to all Federal and State mandated assessments, including but not limited to:  Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment Systems (DLM), English Language Proficiency for the 21st Century (ELPA21), Iowa Statewide Assessments of Student Progress (ISASP), National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), all District designated Early Literacy Assessments (e.g., FAST), and GOLD

This policy is to identify test security practices and administration procedures that align to ESSA and Iowa Code that can ensure assessment results are truly representative of the achievement of students in our district. Everyone who is involved in student testing is responsible for test security.  This includes, but is not limited to district administrators, school administrators, school assessment coordinators, teachers, test administrators (TA), proctors, students, and parents.  It is also our intent to create awareness of the potential negative impact that inappropriate assessment practices might produce, to outline processes to be followed, and to identify the potential consequences of violating the policy. If test scores become questionable because of inappropriate practices in either preparing students or in administering tests, the meaning of the scores will be distorted and their value for their original purpose will be diminished or lost.

Appointment of District Test Coordinators

The district will appoint the Curriculum Director as the District Test Coordinator for each Federal and State assessment, who may in turn delegate responsibility for testing-related functions to one or more Building Test Coordinators. The District Test Coordinator is responsible for developing; rules for storage and/or access of secure materials; rules for administration; rules for monitoring; rules for reporting; and the requirements for protecting student personal information (FERPA).

Materials Handling

Each Federal and State assessment has materials handling procedures specific to the defined assessment.  It is the responsibility of the District Test Coordinator to develop procedures congruent to test type based on the test developer’s or vendor’s test administration manual.  Only personnel identified and authorized in District procedures will have access to the tests or testing system before, during and after the identified testing window. 

Test Preparation

As a function of educating students, staff may prepare students for assessments by providing instruction in the content areas to be assessed. Staff may also prepare students for assessments by teaching general test-taking skills that are applicable to any test or test format.

Staff will only conduct reviews or drills that use the supplied online practice test supplied by testing company or vendor.  Staff will not develop their own “practice” test items to mimic those supplied by the testing company or vendor.

Security Violations:

In the administration of standardized tests, it is a violation of test security to do any of the following:

1. Provide inappropriate test preparation such as any of the following:

a. Copy, screenshot, reproduce, or use in any manner any portion of any secure test, for any reason.

b. Share an actual test instrument in any form.

c. Use test preparation materials or strategies developed specifically for Annual Assessment

D. Scheduling that doesn’t comply with State and/or District guidelines

2. Deviate from the test administration procedures specified in the test examiner’s manual.

3. Provide inappropriate assistance to students during the test administration.

4. Make test answers available to students.

5. Change or fill in answers on student answer documents.

6. Provide inaccurate data on student answer documents.

7. Engage in any practice to artificially raise student scores without actually improving underlying student achievement.

8. Participate in, direct, aid, counsel, assist, encourage, or fail to report any of the acts prohibited in this policy.

 

Consequences of Policy Violations

If a violation of this policy occurs, as determined by the superintendent following an investigation of allegations of irregularities, the superintendent will determine whether the integrity of the testing program has been jeopardized, whether some or all of the test results are invalidated, and whether a teacher or administrator has violated the Code of Ethics of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners as found at 282-Iowa Administrative Code chapter 25.

Reports of students cheating on assessments will be submitted to the building principal for investigation and disciplinary procedures.

A staff member found to have committed testing irregularities will be subject to discipline in accordance with law and board policy. If the staff member is a licensee of the Board of Educational Examiners, the superintendent shall make a timely report to that board.

If the superintendent believes that assessment results are invalid, the superintendent will make a timely report to the Iowa Department of Education.

 

 

Approved: May 20, 2019      
Reviewed: April 15, 2019
Revised: May 20, 2019