FILE:  JBCC

Cf:  JBC, JBCD

STUDENT ASSIGNMENT

ATTENDANCE ZONE REQUIREMENTS

The West Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools are here to primarily serve the children of the residents of West Baton Rouge Parish.  If a resident of West Baton Rouge parish has a custodial child, then that child can also attend school in West Baton Rouge Parish under certain circumstances.

In order for a child to attend the West Baton Rouge Public Schools, that child must actually live in West Baton Rouge Parish and in the zone within the parish of the school that he/she attends.  If a child is the custodial child of a citizen of West Baton Rouge Parish, then that child must actually live with the custodial parent in West Baton Rouge Parish.

The West Baton Rouge Parish School System shall receive complaints regarding people who are in violation of this policy.  Upon receiving a complaint, a member of the West Baton Rouge Parish School System staff shall investigate the complaint by making unannounced home visits.  If the system determines that the child does not actually live in West Baton Rouge Parish, then that child shall be dropped from the school where he/she is enrolled.  The decision by the school system shall be final, and the burden of proof to re-enroll the child shall be placed upon the parent or custodial parent.

When a school official attempts to make a home visit and is denied by the resident of that home, that shall be evidence that the child does not live there and the child will be dropped.

Any child temporarily residing within the district who has no permanent address, or who has been abandoned by his/her parent, or who is in foster care, shall be enrolled and allowed to attend school in the zone appropriate to the special circumstance of the child.  Surrogate parents may be appointed when appropriate for special needs students.

ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES

Unless the Individualized Education Program (IEP) of a student with an exceptionality, except a gifted and talented student, requires some other arrangement, the School Board shall require the student with such an exceptionality to be educated in the school that the student would attend if he/she did not have an exceptionality.  However, if the educational needs of the student cannot be achieved satisfactorily in a regular class setting, the student may be placed in an educational environment designed to meet the appropriate needs of the student, as determined by the IEP committee.

However, a student with an exceptionality, except a gifted and talented student, shall be assigned to a school as requested by the parent, in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:1944, if all the following conditions are met:

1. The parent submits a written request to the School Board responsible for the student and the respective School Board having jurisdiction over the school being requested, by not later than April first of the school year preceding the school year for which the parent is requesting the school assignment.  The request shall include a recommendation from at least two (2) licensed physicians who have treated the student during the year prior to the submission of the request.
   
   

2. The School Board responsible for the student and the respective School Board having jurisdiction over the school being requested by the parent enter into an agreement for the assignment of the student to the requested school.
   
   

3. The requested school is located at least ten (10) miles from the school to which the student is assigned, in accordance with applicable school attendance zone requirements.
   
   

4. The requested school is located at least fifteen (15) miles from the student’s home.
   
   

5. The requested school is not located in a public school district in which fifty percent (50%) or more of the public schools in the district are charter schools and fifty percent (50%) or more of the public schools in the district participate in a single application and enrollment process for public school enrollment.

CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT

Student assignments in K through 8 will be made by the principal of the school.  The placement of a student shall be in accordance with the pupil progression plan.

Selection of classes and courses of study in grades 9 through 12 shall be made by individual students.  Assistance in planning course of study and selection of classes shall be provided by teachers, counselors, and administrators.  Each student shall be furnished a schedule of classes offered and requirements for graduation.  Some classes may have prerequisites for enrollment.

In grades kindergarten through second grade, the parent of twins, triplets, etc. (more than one child at a single birth event) may request that their children be placed initially in the same, or separate, classrooms, if the children are in the same grade at the same school.  Such a request shall be presented to the Superintendent or his/her designee no later than fourteen (14) days either after the first day of the school year or after the first day of attendance if the child enrolls after the fourteenth day of the school year.  Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or School Board policy to the contrary, the request of the parent for initial placement shall be granted subject to further review.

As soon as possible after the end of the student’s first grading period, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall review the initial placement of the child.  If the Superintendent or his/her designee, in consultation with the school principal, the child’s(ren’s) teacher(s), and the parent, determines that the initial placement of the children is disruptive to the school or is not in the best educational interests of the child(ren), the initial placement of the child shall be modified, and the child(ren) shall be placed in accordance with School Board policy otherwise applicable to the child(ren).

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§9:951, 9:952, 9:953, 9:954, 17:81, 17:104.1, 17:221.2, 17:221.4, 17:221.5, 17:238, 17:1944

La. Children's Code, Art. 1511

Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators,Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 3-17-10, 11-28-18

West Baton Rouge Parish School Board