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Annual Notices

TITLE IX INFORMATION - NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX IN DISTRICT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

Notification of Policy
The Highland Local School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs or activities, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX and its implementing regulations not to discriminate in such a manner. Inquiries regarding Title IX and its implementing regulations to the District may be referred to the District’s Title IX Coordinator (see below), to the Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both.

Notification of Grievance Procedure
The District has adopted a grievance procedure to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee complaints alleging any action that would be prohibited by Title IX and its implementing regulations. This procedure describes how to report or file a complaint of sex discrimination, how to report or file a complaint of sexual harassment, and how the District will respond.

  • Board Policy 2266 - Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in District Programs or Activities
  • The District’s Policy and Procedures may be found on Board Docs at this link.

District Title IX Coordinator
Laurie Boedicker, Director of Curriculum & Instruction
boedicker@highlandschools.org
330-239-1901, ext. 1218

Title IX Coordinator and Other Personnel Training:

APPROVED ONLINE CONTENT
Highland Local Schools has an extensive vetting process used to make sure all online software and apps comply with federal FERPA and COPPA laws. Links to approved software and the vetting process can be found on highlandschools.org. The requests are evaluated twice a year by our Data Privacy Committee. More information on COPPA and FERPA can be found at Privacy Technical Assistance Center of the U.S. Department of Education: http://ptac.ed.gov/.

NOTICE OF PARENTAL RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a nondiscrimination statute barring discrimination based on one’s disability. It is the policy of the district not to discriminate based on disability in its educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by the Act. The Act requires the district to locate, evaluate and determine if the student is a qualified individual requiring accommodation necessary to provide access to educational programs. Parents are entitled to have the opportunity to review relevant educational records under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Parents or guardians disagreeing with the decisions reached by school personnel for accommodations necessary for access to educational programming and/or facilities may request a hearing before an impartial officer by notifying the school principal. 

The District 504 coordinator is the Director of Pupil Services, 3880 Ridge Rd., Medina. Phone: 330-239-1901, ext. 1256.

CHILD FIND
Local educational agencies are required under Federal Regulation 34 CFR 300.220 to initiate an awareness campaign to locate, identify and evaluate children with disabilities who may need special education or related services. This campaign is known as “Child Find.” Parents, relatives, public and private agencies and concerned citizens can help school districts find any child, age birth through 21 years, who may have a disability and need special education or related services.

If you are aware of a Highland child who may have special needs and is currently not being served, please call 330-239-1901, ext. 1256.

NOTICE: IDEA PART B
All states making application for funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are required to make available for public review and comment the application packet for those federal funds. These funds support provision of Special Education services to children ages 3 to 21 in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Education’s Office for Exceptional Children has developed a draft application packet for IDEA Part B funds, and, by this notice, is making the application available for review and comment.

Click the following link to view the proposed application or for additional information. http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Special-Education/Special-Education-Data-and-Funding/Special-Education-Part-B-Allocations

RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION AND SUPPORTS (PBIS) IN OHIO SCHOOLS
As of September 2021, Ohio law requires school districts to provide yearly notice to parents about their procedures related to the requirements of positive behavior intervention and supports (PBIS) and the emergency use of physical restraint and seclusion, including the local complaint process. This law applies to all K-12 students, both general education students and students with disabilities, and requires using proven practices to reduce and eliminate restraint and seclusion practices. Part of this law requires that parents in Ohio’s public schools must be given the following information at least one time per year. Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS), Restraint and Seclusion

NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER FERPA FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years old certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are:

  • The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
  • The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.

If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

  • The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
  • One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
  • A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
  • Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
  • The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District 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, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.

ASBESTOS NOTIFICATION
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act was signed into law on October 22, 1986. This act requires all school systems to develop an asbestos-containing material management plan. The Highland Local Schools’ plan was completed, approved and implemented in accordance with the law by August 1988. One aspect of this plan is an annual notice of the plan’s availability for public review. The Highland Asbestos-Containing Management Plan was developed by Hall-Kimbrell, an asbestos management planner, accredited by the State of Ohio. A copy of this plan is available for public inspection at the Highland Board of Education, 3880 Ridge Rd., Medina, OH, and at all school buildings, during normal business hours. This plan may be reviewed by making a written request five days in advance.

NOTE: Additional notices and Board of Education policies are available on the District website. To review specific notices and policies, click HERE.