| WCPS Student Handbook 2025-2026 |
1 |
| Student Handbook |
1 |
| I. Letter from Superintendent of Schools 5 |
2 |
| II. Mission 6 |
2 |
| III. Wicomico County Public Schools 6 |
2 |
| IV. Conduct, Discipline, and Interventions 7 |
2 |
| V. Grading and Academics 31 |
3 |
| VII. School Attendance Area Assignment & Transportation 85 |
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| VIII. Nutrition, Health, & Wellness 88 |
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| IX. Community Engagement 92 |
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| X. General Information 94 |
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| XI. Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Annual Notice 96 |
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| XII. END 97 |
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| Mission |
6 |
| Wicomico County Schools |
6 |
| CONDUCT, DISCIPLINE, AND INTERVENTIONS |
7 |
| WCPS Student Code of Conduct Policy |
8 |
| 11 II. Policy Statement |
8 |
| 19 III. Definitions |
8 |
| ADDITIONAL CONDUCT, DISCIPLINE AND INTERVENTION POLICIES & PROCEDURES |
33 |
| Acceptable Use of Technology Policy |
33 |
| Bullying, Harassment, Intimidation, or Hazing Policy & Procedure |
33 |
| Dangerous Weapons/Instruments in the Schools Policy |
33 |
| Gangs, Gang Activity, and Similar Destructive or Illegal Group Behavior Policy & Procedure |
33 |
| Title IX Complaint Policy and Procedure |
33 |
| Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy & Procedure |
33 |
| Student Alcohol/Controlled Dangerous Substance Policy |
33 |
| Student Dress Code Policy & Procedure |
33 |
| Student Expulsion and Suspension Policy |
34 |
| Tobacco-Free Schools Policy & Procedure |
34 |
| ADDITIONAL CONDUCT, DISCIPLINE, AND INTERVENTION PRACTICES |
35 |
| Detention |
35 |
| Gun Free School Act (GFSA) |
35 |
| School Resource Officers (SRO) |
35 |
| Searches |
35 |
| RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES |
37 |
| Rights and Responsibilities Students |
37 |
| Parents/ Guardians |
37 |
| Principals |
39 |
| Superintendent Of Schools |
39 |
| ADDITIONAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES POLICIES & PROCEDURES |
40 |
| Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy |
40 |
| Section 504/Title II Grievance Procedure |
40 |
| Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press |
40 |
| Collection and Use of Research Data, Protection of Student Privacy Rights Policy & Procedure |
40 |
| Religious Observance Policy & Procedure |
40 |
| Title I Equivalence Policy and Equitable Services Dispute Resolution Policy & Procedure |
40 |
| GRADING AND ACADEMICS |
41 |
| 1 Grading, Promotion, and Retention Systems Policy |
42 |
| 5 I. Purpose |
42 |
| 11 II. Policy Statement |
42 |
| 18 III. Policy |
42 |
| 1 Grading, Promotion, and Retention Systems Procedure |
43 |
| 2 I. Purpose |
43 |
| 7 II. Grading Overview |
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| 51 III. Pre-Kindergarten |
44 |
| VI. Middle School grades 6-8 |
53 |
| 562 VII. High School |
58 |
| POLICIES AND PROCEDURES |
65 |
| Academic Eligibility for Co-curricular and Extracurricular Activities Policy & Procedure |
65 |
| Field Trips Policy & Procedure |
65 |
| Infants and Toddlers Program Policy |
65 |
| Senior Scholastic Recognition Policy |
65 |
| Special Education Services for Children with Disabilities Policy |
65 |
| College Admission Tests |
66 |
| Financial Aid |
66 |
| High Performing Learners |
67 |
| Homework |
67 |
| Honor Roll |
67 |
| Interscholastic Athletics |
67 |
| National Honor Society |
68 |
| Report Cards/Reporting to Parents |
68 |
| Student Service Learning |
68 |
| Summer School |
68 |
| Textbooks |
69 |
| Wicomico County Diploma with Honors |
69 |
| SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES PRACTICES |
70 |
| Career and Technology Education Programs |
70 |
| Choices Academy |
70 |
| Elementary Education |
70 |
| English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) |
70 |
| Evening High School |
71 |
| Middle Schools |
71 |
| Pre-Kindergarten |
72 |
| Title I/State Compensatory Education Program |
72 |
| Wicomico County Early Learning Center (WELC) |
73 |
| Wicomico County Judy Center |
73 |
| ATTENDANCE |
74 |
| Student Attendance Policy |
75 |
| 9 II. Definitions |
75 |
| 54 III. Policy Statement |
76 |
| Student Attendance Procedure |
81 |
| I. Foundation |
81 |
| II. Scope |
81 |
| III. Definitions |
81 |
| IV. Federal and State Regulations |
82 |
| V. Additional Absences not covered by Federal and State Regulations. |
84 |
| ADDITIONAL |
93 |
| Evening High School Attendance Policy & Procedure |
93 |
| Pre-Kindergarten Attendance Policy & Procedure |
93 |
| ATTENDANCE PRACTICES |
94 |
| School Attendance Area Assignment & Special Permission Policies and Procedures |
96 |
| School Delay, Early Dismissal, and Cancellation Policy & Procedure |
96 |
| Student Conduct on School Vehicles Policy |
96 |
| Student Transportation Policy |
96 |
| Tuition and Admission of Non-Resident Students Policy & Procedure |
96 |
| Bus Notes |
97 |
| Closing of School |
97 |
| NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS |
98 |
| Administering Medication to Students Policy |
99 |
| WCPS Student Sunscreen Policy & Procedure |
99 |
| Anabolic Steroids & Human Growth Hormone Policy |
99 |
| Communicable Disease and Bloodborne Pathogen Policy |
99 |
| Concussion Policy & Procedure |
99 |
| Unpaid School Meal Charges Policy |
99 |
| Wellness through Nutrition and Physical Activity Policy & Procedure |
99 |
| PRACTICES |
100 |
| Food Service |
100 |
| COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
103 |
| Board of Education Meeting with Parent Advisory Council Policy |
103 |
| Community Use of School Facilities Policy & Procedure |
103 |
| Family Engagement Policy & Procedure |
103 |
| GENERAL INFORMATION |
104 |
| GENERAL INFORMATION |
105 |
| (FERPA) |
106 |
| ANNUAL NOTICE |
106 |
| Student Handbook |
107 |
| SFS_GEN_PR_008 Student Code of Conduct Procedure |
10 |
| Importance of Good Behavior |
11 |
| Addressing Unacceptable Behavior |
11 |
| Responses and Interventions |
12 |
| Levels of Responses and Interventions for Violations of the Code of Conduct |
14 |
| Exclusionary Discipline Responses |
15 |
| Discipline for Activities Not Occurring on School Premises |
21 |
| Procedure for Appeal of Suspension of Ten (10) Days or Less |
21 |
| A parent or guardian may appeal the decision for the suspension by requesting reconsideration of the decision by the principal within five (5) school days of the first day of suspension. The purpose of the review by the principal is to provide opport... |
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| If not satisfied with the review decision, the parent/guardian may appeal the principal’s decision within five (5) days of the date of the principal’s response to the Director of School Climate and Safety who will work with the appropriate Director of... |
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| The parent/guardian may appeal the decision of the directors to the Assistant Superintendent for Student & Family Services within five (5) school days of issuance of the decision of the directors. The assistant superintendent will issue a decision wit... |
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| If the parent/guardian is not satisfied with the outcome of this appeal decision, they may further appeal to the Superintendent of Schools within five (5) school days of issuance of the decision of the Assistant Superintendent for Student & Family Ser... |
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| Procedure for Appeal of Suspension of More Than Ten (10) Days or Expulsion |
21 |
| A parent or guardian may appeal the decision for the suspension of more than ten (10) school days or expulsion as set forth in Md. Code Ann. Ed. Art. § 7-305(c)(5)-(8) and as detailed in the Student Suspension/Expulsion Procedure if filed within ten (... |
21 |
| Disciplinary Appeals Process |
21 |
| Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act |
22 |
| SFS GEN PR 029 Student Expulsion Suspension Procedure |
24 |
| I. Purpose |
24 |
| II. Definitions |
24 |
| III. Policy |
25 |