Rights & Responsibilities

Every student of this school district will have equal educational opportunities through programs offered in the school district regardless of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family composition, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. See Board policy AC-E-1 for more information.

Accordingly, no otherwise qualified student, employee, applicant for employment, or member of the public may be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to unlawful discrimination under any district program or activity on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. (Ref. Policy AC, AC-R-1, AC-R-2, AC-R-3)

The district is committed to maintaining a learning environment that is free from sexual harassment. It is a violation of policy for any staff member to harass students or for students to harass other students through conduct or communications of a sexual nature, or to retaliate against anyone that reports sexual harassment or participates in a harassment investigation. (Ref. Policy JBB)

The process of education requires a regular continuity of instruction, classroom participation in learning experiences and study in order to reach the goal of maximum educational benefits for each individual. Student success in school is directly linked to attendance. The expectation of the Hanover School District is that attendance in school is a student’s primary responsibility.

As a general policy, students are dismissed from school during school hours only in case of emergency or medical appointments. Please come to the office to sign out before taking your child from school. Again, parents are encouraged to schedule appointments during non-school times or on Mondays. Students are never sent home during school hours without first contacting home. If dropping off your child before school or picking your child up after school, please do not park in front of the school. This is strictly for buses loading and unloading of students. Buses will be parked at the school for the entire day. Non-bus riders are dismissed at approximately 4:10pm. All students should go home immediately unless participating in after-school activities.

Students are expected to follow the student code of conduct while in class. Students shall be in their classes prior to the tardy bell, ready to begin the lesson. Each teacher will have expectations for their classroom and the expectation is that students will learn and follow these rules. Teachers are accountable for holding students responsible to learn their classroom rules and will assist students in practicing these expectations on a regular basis.

Each classroom period is a planned experience designed to help improve the skills and knowledge of each student. The teacher is the director/ facilitator of these activities and is responsible for ensuring each student the opportunity to learn as much as possible. All students are expected to behave in a manner that will permit everyone in the class to take advantage of these learning experiences.

A safe and disciplined learning environment is essential to a quality educational program. District-wide standards on student attire are intended to help students concentrate on schoolwork, reduce discipline problems, and improve school order and safety. The Board recognizes that students have a right to express themselves through dress and personal appearance; however, students shall not wear apparel that is deemed disruptive or potentially disruptive to the classroom environment or to the maintenance of a safe and orderly school. (Ref. Policy JICA)

Any student deemed in violation of the dress code shall be required to change into appropriate clothing or make arrangements to have appropriate clothing brought to the school immediately.

If the student cannot promptly obtain appropriate clothing, on the first offense, the student shall be given a written warning and an administrator shall notify the student's parents/guardians. On the second offense, the student shall remain in the In-School-Suspension room for the day and do schoolwork and a conference with parents/guardians shall be held. Classes missed as a result of the second offense are considered unexcused.

On the third offense, the student may be subject to suspension or other disciplinary action in accordance with Board policy concerning student suspensions, expulsions and other disciplinary interventions.

Continued offenses will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

The following items are deemed disruptive to the classroom environment or to the maintenance of a safe and orderly school and are not acceptable in school buildings, on school grounds, or at school activities:

• Shorts, dresses, skirts or other similar clothing shorter than 3 inches above the knee
• Any form of sleepwear including pajamas, pajama tops, pajama bottoms and bathrobe
• Baggy or loose pants, shorts, or skirts lower than the normal waistline
• Exposure of garments that serve as undergarments, such as but not limited to, bra straps, thongs, and underwear
• Sunglasses and/or hats worn inside the building
• Inappropriately sheer, tight or low-cut clothing (e.g., midriffs, halter tops, backless clothing, tube tops, garments made of fishnet, mesh or similar material, muscle tops, etc.) that bare or expose traditionally private parts of the body including, but not limited to, the stomach, buttocks, back and breasts
• Tank tops or other similar clothing with straps narrower than 3 inches in width
• Chains that are worn as, but not limited to, a lanyard, belt, wallet protector, keys or any chain that can be used as a weapon.
• Any clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, hair coloring, accessories, or body adornments that are or contain any advertisement, symbols, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that:
  • Refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons
  • Are of a sexual nature
  • By virtue of color, arrangement, trademark, or other attribute denote membership in gangs which advocate drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior
  • Are obscene, profane, vulgar, lewd, or legally libelous
  • Threaten the safety or welfare of any person
  • Promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct
• Otherwise disrupt the teaching-learning process

The following items are NOT ACCEPTABLE in the school building, on school grounds, or at school activities:

• Items of clothing that have holes in them, either designed by the manufacturer or intentionally made by the student or other similar clothing, shorter than 3-inches above the knee. Holes revealing pockets or undergarments will not be allowed.
• No leggings, jogging pants, yoga pants, spandex, etc. that by nature is tight and/or revealing unless accompanied by clothing that meets the no shorter than 3-inches above the knee requirement.
• Sunglasses and/or hats worn inside the building. These items should be stored in lockers. Hats may be worn outside during school athletic and activity events.
• Inappropriate sheer, tight, low-cut, baggy clothing or any clothing that bares or exposes traditionally private parts of the body, mid-drift, or undergarments.
• Tank tops or similar clothing with straps narrower than 3 inches
• Any clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, hair coloring, accessories, or body adornments that are or contain any advertisement, symbols, words, slogans, patches, or pictures which:
  • Refer to drugs, tobacco, or weapons
  • Are of sexual nature
  • By virtue of color, arrangement, trademark, or other attributes denote membership in gangs, which advocate drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior.
  • Are or presume obscene, profane, vulgar, lewd, or are legally libelous including words, phrases, pictures, or acronyms.
  • Threaten the safety or welfare of any person
  • Promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct
• Otherwise, disrupt the teaching-learning process
• Chains of any kind which are unattached or attached to clothing, wallets, or accessories, including jewelry.
• Pants that sag below one’s waistline.
• Student apparel will follow the district policy pertaining to allowing flags in classrooms (IMDB- Flag display), including being worn as a cape or other article of clothing.

Hanover School District 28 shall promote a healthy environment for students by providing education, support and decision making skills in regard to alcohol, drugs and other controlled substances and their abuse. In order to accomplish this goal, a cooperative effort must be made among the schools, parents/guardians, community and its agencies.

It shall be a violation of Board policy and considered to be behavior which is detrimental to the welfare or safety of other students or school personnel for any student to possess, use, sell, distribute, or exchange or to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other controlled substances. The unlawful possession or use of alcohol or controlled substances is wrong and harmful to students.

This policy shall apply to any student on district property, being transported in vehicles dispatched by the district or one of its schools, during a school-sponsored or district-sponsored activity or event, off school property when the conduct has a reasonable connection to school or any district curricular or non-curricular event, or whose conduct at any time or place interferes with the operations of the district or the safety or welfare of students or employees.

Students violating this policy shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions which may include suspension and/or expulsion from school and referral for prosecution.

Disciplinary sanctions and interventions for violations of this policy shall be in accordance with this policy's accompanying regulation. (Ref. Policy ADC, JICH)

All personal electronic devices, including cell phones, smartwatches, earphones, earbuds, and other personal electronic equipment, must remain secured in lockers throughout the school day and may only be accessed during the designated lunch period. These devices are strictly prohibited in hallways, classrooms, and during passing periods between classes. This includes keeping earphones and earbuds disconnected and stored away, not worn around the neck or left hanging from pockets. School-issued electronic devices, such as Chromebooks and tablets, are exempt from this policy and should be used according to classroom teacher instructions.

Violations of this personal device policy will result in progressive consequences: first offense results in immediate device confiscation until the end of the school day; second offense requires device confiscation with mandatory parent pickup to be returned; third offense results in complete loss of all personal electronic device privileges on campus for the remainder of the academic year. This policy ensures our learning environment remains focused and free from digital distractions, similar to how professional workplaces maintain device-free zones to promote productivity and engagement while still allowing access to necessary work tools.

Since education is a lifelong process, which extends beyond the school, it is important that students recognize that learning occurs in the home community. Homework is one means of teaching the necessary skills of independent study and learning outside the school. A broad definition of homework is considered, for our purposes, to include not only written work, but also related activities such as viewing specific television programs, news reporting, recreational reading, and other activities which are related to classroom work, but which are assigned to be completed at home.

As a general policy, picking up students early from school is discouraged. However, if a student must leave school early, send a note to the teacher stating the time the child should be dismissed from school. Please come to the office to sign out your child. Parents must sign their child out, school personnel cannot sign a student out. The office will then notify the classroom teacher. All staff members have been instructed not to release students without notification from the office. For the sake of student safety and security, office personnel will ask for a photo I.D. for any parents/guardians that they do not already know. Again, we do highly encourage the scheduling of appointments to take place on Mondays or during other non-school hours.

ALL VISITORS MUST CHECK IN AT THE OFFICE. Visitors will be required to sign in at the office and receive a visitor pass that is to be worn at all times while on the school premises. Visitors that are not familiar to the administrative staff will be required to show a picture ID. Upon leaving the school, visitors are required to sign out in the office and return their visitor pass. Please note that the school staff has the right to refuse entrance to the school. Friends and prior students will not be permitted to attend classes or lunch without prior administrator approval.

Parents are encouraged to visit classes at any time with prior arrangements with staff. Visitations are not only to provide an opportunity to observe a particular classroom or group situation but also to present an opportunity to observe your child’s work habits and personal interaction with groups of classmates. Short visits are sometimes more informative than one long visit. (Ref. Policy KI)

Volunteers are a valuable part of our education program. Staff utilize volunteers to assist in the classroom by doing clerical support work, preparing copies, cutting out items, reading with students, supporting students in math, and a myriad of other things.

If you are interested in being a volunteer contact your student’s teacher for details. During Back-To-School Night teachers will have a volunteer sign-up sheet as well.

You can also stop by the office to share your interest in volunteering. All volunteers will be given a volunteer packet to fill out or download here. The district completes a Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) background check on all volunteers before they can work with children. This is to keep our students safe.

Parents or guardians are responsible for making sure their child arrives at school/bus stop at the proper time and should encourage their child to remain in school the entire day. Should a student be absent or late to school, parents/guardians are responsible for calling the School Attendance Line: 719-683-2247 ext. 400 for Elementary or 250 for Jr/Sr High or bringing a note to the front office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the same day to report that your child will be absent or late to school. If the attendance office does not receive a phone call or note from the parent/guardian by 4 p.m., the absence will be considered unexcused. Phone calls notifying the school of an absence does NOT justify an “excused” absence. Parents are encouraged to schedule appointments during non-school times or on Mondays to maximize student attendance.

Colorado law requires daily attendance records for students.  Parents are notified if they have not called in the absence of their child. As part of our duty to enforce compulsory school attendance, communication will be sent home to parents informing them of excessive absences. Parents of students with attendance issues may need to develop a contract with the Administration and may further be taken to court to force compliance with Colorado’s mandatory attendance laws.

Attendance at the Jr/Sr high school is taken hourly, as opposed to being taken daily. Therefore, each class period missed counts as one hourly absence. In order for an absence to be excused, the parent or legal guardian must notify the school the day of the absence by 4:10 pm or send a signed note. The student and their parents/legal guardian should be prepared to show documentation of illnesses, medical or other “appointments”, or other extenuating circumstances. Perfect attendance will be based on the communication with parents and office staff to verify attendance via phone calls, emails, doctor’s notes, or notes from the parent/guardian.

Precautions: Students should take care not to miss school for unnecessary reasons because they may become ill or have an emergency later in the semester that would cause them to receive a grade deduction or loss of credit.

Definitions of Attendance Terms (Ref. Policy JH)

Excused Absence shall only be excused for the following reasons:

1. Illness or injury
2. Extended absence due to a physical, mental or emotional disability
3. Medical appointments
4. Court appearances
5. Family emergency
6. Attendance of a school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by school administration. Attending a school-sponsored co-curricular activity as a spectator is not considered a school activity and the student may be counted as an unexcused absence.
7. Suspension or expulsion
8. Unusual or extenuating circumstances excused by school administration for reasons not defined above and approved in advance.
9. If the word “appointment” is used in the excuse, the nature of the appointment must be specified, i.e., court date, doctor’s office, etc. “Appointments” for haircuts, tanning, fitting of tuxedos or dresses, etc., are not excused. All appointments should be documented by the business or place where the appointment took place.

If either the student or the parent misrepresents the reason for an absence, the student will receive a daily grade of zero for each day misrepresented. The student may also receive consequences as indicated on the discipline plan, under the offense named “lying or giving false information.”

Students may miss three (3) days of their senior year for college visits. These absences will not be counted among the allowable number of absences. The student will be expected to present documentation of the college visit, from the college, when he/she returns to school.

Unexcused Absence is defined as an absence not covered by one of the foregoing excused absences. Any absence for any reason other than the above will be labeled as unexcused or truant, depending on the circumstances. (See definition below)

Student removal from class is a serious measure and should not be imposed in an arbitrary, casual or inconsistent manner. Behavioral expectations are always more constructive and more likely to be followed when they are communicated as clearly as possible to students. However, it is neither possible nor necessary to specify every type of improper or inappropriate behavior, or every circumstance that would justify removal from class under this policy. Teachers are expected to exercise their best professional judgment in deciding whether it is appropriate to remove a student from class in any particular circumstance. All instances of formal removal from class shall be documented. (Ref. Policy JKBA, JKBA-R)

A teacher is authorized to immediately remove a student from the teacher's classroom if the student's behavior:

1. violates the code of conduct adopted by the Board;
2. is dangerous, unruly, or disruptive; or
3. seriously interferes with the ability of the teacher to teach the class or other students to learn.

A student with a disability may be removed from class and placed in an alternative educational setting only to the extent authorized by state and federal laws and regulations.