Propel is a not-for-profit school organization founded to bring new, high performance schooling options to Western Pennsylvania families. Propel operates its schools as a regional federation, a new kind of non-geographic district, that blends the most effective elements of current school district governance with the innovative potential and entrepreneurial spirit of small, independent schools.

1. they must accept all students who wish to enroll
   (subject to space availability);
2. they are free, charging no tuition to families; and
3. they are non-sectarian.

What will it cost me to send my child to a Propel school?
Propel schools are free and open to all.

Is there a dress code?
Propel has a uniform student dress code in order to provide an environment where the focus is on learning and the distractions of dress are kept to a minimum. All students are expected to be properly dressed in the school uniform every day. All parents and guardians are expected to support their children by ensuring that students are properly dressed when they leave for school each morning.

Students must be properly dressed throughout the school day and during all school activities, including before and after school activities and field trips. Parents and guardians will be notified in advance of any exceptions to this rule (field trips requiring old clothes, for example).

Acceptable Clothing
• SHIRTS: Solid yellow, navy or pale blue or solid white dress shirt with collar, polo style knit shirt with collar, button down oxford or turtleneck, long or short sleeves. Any shirt worn under uniform shirt must be solid white with no visible design/color.
• PANTS: Solid navy blue or solid khaki dress pants (Dockers or Dickies style, for example). Cargo style pants and patch pockets are not allowed. No denim of any color.
• SKIRTS, SKORTS, or JUMPERS: Solid navy blue or solid khaki, knee length or longer. No denim of any kind.
• SWEATERS: Solid blue or solid white sweaters. No sweatshirts except those sold by the school with the school logo. No jerseys of any kind.
• HATS: No hats, bandanas, sweatbands or scarves.

• First Offense: Letter home; warning
• Second Offense: Parents need to bring a change of clothes that day for student (students will not be permitted to attend class without a uniform)
• Third Offense: Student is sent home until they return in uniform

General Instructions
1. Shirts must be buttoned to the second button.
2. Pants must be worn at the waist.
3. Sweaters must be worn over uniform shirts.
4. Clothes must be in good repair, clean, and without writing or markings.
5. No coats or jackets may be worn in the classrooms.
6. Attempts to violate the intent and purpose of the school dress code will not be permitted.



Consequences
Violations of the dress code are considered violations of the school’s Code of Conduct and repeated violations will be treated as described in the section Serious or Repetitive Violations.

Any child who is not dressed appropriately will be sent home to change.

Students wearing clothes in an inappropriate manner (sagging pants, shirt unbuttoned, etc.) will be addressed through the steps outlined above in the section School Wide Behavior Support Plan.

Serious or Repetitive Violations
These incidents are of a more serious nature and require the immediate attention of the administration of the school. These activities include, but are not limited to:

1) Repeated minor violations handled through the behavior support plan;
2) Failing to serve a consequence assigned by a teacher through the behavior support plan;
3) Refusing to turn over a prohibited item;
4) Unauthorized/unexcused absence from school;
5) Repeated tardiness;
6) Leaving class without permission;
7) Leaving school without permission;
8) Skipping class;
9) Vandalism or graffiti;
10) Theft or extortion;
11) Fighting, harassment, or assault;
12) Intimidation (including ethnic or gender);
13) Verbal or physical aggression directed at students, staff, volunteers, or other adults at the school;
14) Possession, distribution or use of drugs (including unauthorized use of prescription and over the counter drugs), drug paraphernalia, or alcohol;
15) Under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
16) Possession of weapons.

After considering the incident, the administration is empowered to take any reasonable action, which may include, but is not limited to:

1) Parent/guardian conference;
2) Saturday school;
3) School service;
4) Community service;
5) Exclusion from school activities;
6) Exclusion from parts of the school program;
7) Out-of-school suspension (up to 10 days);
8) Referral to law enforcement;
9) Referral to the Board for further disciplinary action that may include permanent expulsion from school.

Is there a code of conduct?
Code of Conduct
Discipline is an integral part of teaching and learning. Young people must develop good work habits and attitudes if they are to be successful students and become successful members of the larger community.

Because one of the primary goals of Propel is to promote constructive and respectful behavior, the procedures and consequences described in this Code are designed to modify unacceptable behavior, not to punish.

Propel's Board has authorized the school administration to make reasonable and necessary rules and procedures for guiding student conduct. The intent of the rules, procedures, and consequences that follow is to explain how students will be held accountable for their behavior.

School wide Behavior Support Plan
Propel has developed a school wide behavior support plan designed to encourage positive and productive behaviors and handle relatively minor infractions in a consistent and fair manner with a constant goal of returning the student to active engagement in the classroom.

Guidelines
The following serves as a framework for behavior expectations throughout the school. Additional rules may be established in each area (acting responsibly, being prepared, etc.) by school staff to guide student behavior in classrooms and elsewhere in the school.

Respect yourself and others by...
acting responsibly
being prepared
listening carefully
expressing yourself clearly and appropriately
asking permission

Consequences and Procedures
All classroom rules and expectations will be posted and discussed with all classes. In the event that a student acts inappropriately, he or she shall become subject to the following steps:

STEP 1: Student receives redirection/warning from the teacher.
STEP 2: If the student continues to act inappropriately, the teacher will assign a consequence. Each consequence will consist of two parts: 1) a discussion with the teacher about what the problem is (after class, after school, or before school); 2) a penalty assigned at the time of that discussion. Consequences may include but are not limited to after school detention and/or exclusion from class activities that are not part of the curriculum. Teachers may assign detentions on the same day as the infraction if the child has transportation to his or her home.
STEP 3: If the inappropriate behavior persists, the student will be directed out of the classroom to the school’s support specialist. This staff member will work with the student with the goal of returning the student to class as soon as possible. The student will be returned to class when the student is considered ready to return with appropriate behaviors and positively contribute to the class. The student will still be responsible to fulfill the teacher consequence assigned during Step 2.
STEP 4: If a student returns to class and continues inappropriate behaviors, he/she will be referred immediately to the school administration. The consequences for this kind of repetitive behavior are described below under Serious or Repetitive Behaviors.

Exclusion from School Activities
Students who have recently been out of class with the Support Specialist may be excluded from some school activities.

Support Compacts
Students who exhibit a pattern of inappropriate behaviors and who have frequently recorded visits to the Support Specialist may be subject to an individual Support Compact. Parents or guardians will be requested to participate in a planning meeting with the student and staff members. Behavior strategies, incentives, and consequences will be planned and monitored by this group.

Prohibited Items
A student may not have in his or her possession any of the following items:
• Beepers and paging devices;
• Items associated with gambling;
• Pornographic or obscene material;
• Tobacco and tobacco products;
• Prescription and over-the-counter medicines;
• Drugs and weapons (see Serious or Repetitive Behavior for consequences)
• Other items that the administration may from time to time find are disruptive to the learning environment;

Consequences
Possessing a prohibited item is considered a violation of the school’s code of conduct and repeated violations will be treated as described in the section Serious or Repetitive Violations.

Prohibited items will be confiscated and will only be returned to a parent or guardian. If a parent or guardian does not come to the school to pick up the item within 30 days, the item will be destroyed.

Cell Phones, Personal radios and electronic games
Personal radios, electronic games and cell phones (turned off) may be left in a designated location upon arrival and retrieved at departure without penalty. If visible at any other time, they will be treated as prohibited items (see above). The school is not responsible for any loss as a result of theft.

Other Policies

Attendance
Immediately upon returning to school after an absence, students are to present a note to the school office containing the dates of absence, the reason for the absence, and a parent/guardian signature. Absences for reasons of illness, funeral, medical and dental appointments, religious observance or court appearances will be considered excused.

After three unexcused absences, students and their families are subject to legal action for truancy from school.

Students with 10 consecutive unexcused absences will be permanently dropped from the school’s rolls and will not be able to return.

Tardiness
Those students who are not in their seats and prepared to learn when the first class begins are considered tardy to school.

Students who are tardy to school will be asked for a written excuse upon their arrival at the school office. Tardiness for reasons of illness, funeral, medical and dental appointments, religious observance or court appearances will be considered excused.

After 3 unexcused tardies the school district that you reside in will be notified.

Early Dismissals
Early dismissals may be requested for funerals, doctor appointments, and court appearances. Such requests must be made no later than the morning of the requested early dismissal. Students are to present a note to the school office listing the date, time and reason for dismissal, and including a parent/guardian signature. At the time of dismissal, the student must report to the front office to sign out of the building.

Students will only be allowed to leave the school after phone verification of the dismissal from a parent/ guardian on the day of the dismissal.

Criminal Activity
Propel will report to the appropriate authorities any criminal act upon suspicion that such an act has been committed. The school shall also cooperate with the authorities in the prosecution of such offenses.

Weapons Policy
Any instance of possession or suspicion of possession of a weapon will be reported to the appropriate authorities. A weapon shall include, but not be limited to, any knife, cutting instrument, cutting tool, nunchaku, firearm, shotgun, rifle and any other tool, instrument, or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily injury. Propel will cooperate with the authorities in the prosecution of such offenses. Possession of a weapon will be grounds for expulsion from the school. Any object used in a threatening manner shall be considered a weapon even if its normal use is not as a weapon.

Smoke Free/Tobacco Free Policy
Propel is committed to providing a healthy and productive environment for staff, students, student families and community members. We believe that education has a central role to play in establishing healthy habits for children; we also believe it is appropriate to take measures to help students resist the use of tobacco.

Students shall not be permitted to use or possess tobacco products of any kind or any form while in a school building, on school property, in a school vehicle, in a school bus, or while attending any school sponsored function at any time.

Prescription and Non-Prescription Medication
Medication for students will be kept in a central location under the control of the school administration. Prescription medication will be given only if the school has on file an authorization signed by a parent or guardian, and the prescription bottle with the student’s name, name of drug, dosage, and time of administration. Non-prescription medication must be sent in the original container from the drug store with a note from the parent or guardian explaining dosage and time to be given. If dosage exceeds the manufacturer’s recommendation, a physician’s note must verify dosage

Telephone Use
Students are not permitted to use the school telephones to make phone calls during the school day. If there is an emergency an adult will make a phone call home.

Lost and Damaged School Property
Students are responsible for taking care of and returning school property provided for their use—including but not limited to locks, lockers, lab equipment and books. Families will be billed for lost or damaged items. Students with outstanding balances may be excluded from school activities.

Complaints
Students and parents or guardians should direct complaints to the building principal. If the complaint is not resolved it should be directed to a Propel Schools administrator. Should the complaint remain unresolved it should be directed to the President of Propels Board of Trustees.