The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law in 2015 and replaced the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. It reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, the national kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) education law emphasizing equal educational opportunities for all students. The law maintains a focus on equity for all students while giving states and local school districts much more ownership over systems of school accountability and support.
ESSA requires states to develop comprehensive plans for accountability and support, identify schools for support and improvement (Comprehensive and Targeted), and publish school report cards reflecting performance. Iowa’s system for accountability and support under ESSA was developed with broad public input, fits the state’s context, and focuses on helping schools find solutions that work for them.
Iowa’s new report cards, called the Iowa School Performance Profiles, include each school’s scores on a set of accountability measures, such as state assessments. The reports display results based on a school’s overall performance and the performance of subgroups of students, such as children from low-income backgrounds.
ESSA FACT Sheet - https://educate.iowa.gov/media/4568/download?inline
Common Questions - https://educate.iowa.gov/media/4570/download?inline
A free or reduced lunch consists of bread, protein, vegetable, fruit, and one carton of milk. The State of Iowa allows only one meal per day. If a student wants two cartons of milk, they must pay for the second carton. If the child brings lunch from home, they must bring a drink, buy a carton of milk for $.45, or get a drink from the water cooler. If parents have a question, please feel free to call the kitchen at Van Allen Elementary (641)774-5048
If at any time during the school year, there is a change of income, you may fill out a free/reduced application to help you and your children with lunch and breakfast needs. Applications are available online www.charitonschools.org. All information is kept confidential.
The Chariton Community School District Board of Directors has authorized the use of video cameras on school district buses. The video cameras will be used to monitor student behavior, to maintain order on the school buses, to promote and maintain a safe environment. Students and parents are hereby notified that the content of the videotapes may be used in a student disciplinary proceeding. The content of the videotapes are confidential student records and will be retained with other student records. Videotapes will only be retained if necessary for use in a student disciplinary proceeding or other matter as determined necessary by the administration. Parents may request to view videotapes of their child if the videotapes are used in a disciplinary proceeding involving their child.
Iowa’s open enrollment law allows students residing in one school district to request transfer to another school district upon the parents’ request. Students wishing to open enroll to another school district must apply for open enrollment by March 1 for the following school year for 1-12th grade, and September 1 for incoming Kindergarten students. The application & process for open enrollment are outlined in the open enrollment application. Please mail, email, or fax copies of the application to your resident and attending school district. You can find the application on our website, https://www.charitonschools.org/files/20242025_amp_20252026_open_enrollment_application_96901.pdf You may reference Chariton Board of Education policies on open enrollment on the Chariton Community School District website. Please contact Business Manager for open enrollment questions at 641-774-5967.
With regard to the requirement of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, a copy of the Asbestos Management Plan for each school building is available for review in each school’s office of the principal of each respective facility. A complete set of management plans is available for review in the district’s administrative office at 140 E. Albia Road, Chariton, IA.
The Board of Education is responsible for locating, identifying and educating homeless children and youth found within the Chariton Community School District.
Definition of Homeless Child/Youth
The Chariton Community School District will make available to homeless children and youth all services and assistance including, but not limited to, compensatory education, special education, ELL, vocational courses or programs, programs for the gifted and talented, health services, transportation, and food and nutrition programs on the same basis as those services provided to resident students. You can find homeless information on our website at www.charitonschools.org under the Curriculum tab. Please contact Blaine Connelly, Homeless Liaison, at 641-774-5066 ext 2108 regarding specific questions and/or issues. For more information please click on this link - https://nche.ed.gov/
The Chariton Community School District will take steps as are necessary to ensure that no qualified handicapped person is denied the benefits of, excluded from participation in, or otherwise subjected to discrimination because of the inaccessibility of educational programs and activities operated by the Chariton Community School District. To obtain information as to the existence and location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible to handicapped persons, interested persons should contact Larry Achenbach, Superintendent; Chariton Community School District, 140 East Albia Road, P.O. Box 738, Chariton, IA 50049, 641-774-5967.
It is the policy of the Chariton Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator/Title IX Coordinator, Jayme Braida, 1215 Linden, Chariton, IA 50049, 641-774-4712, jayme.braida@chariton.k12.ia.us.
Students, parents, employees, and other doing business with or performing services for the Chariton Community School District are hereby notified that this school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (except students), religion, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment in, its programs and activities.
The school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (except students), religion, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment in, its hiring and employment practices. Any person having inquiries concerning the school district’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), §504 or Iowa Code§ 280.3 are directed to contact: The Title IX Coordinator/Equity Coordinator, 1215 Linden Avenue, Chariton, Iowa 50049, (641) 774-4712, who has been designated by the school district to coordinate the school district’s efforts to comply with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), §504 or Iowa Code § 280.3 (2007).
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."
Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.
Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
PPRA affords parents certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:
• Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED)
1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
•Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of –
1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and
3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.
•Inspect, upon request and before administration or use –
1. Protected information surveys of students;
2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.
These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.
Chariton Community School District will/has develop[ed"> and adopt[ed">"> policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. [School District"> will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. [School District"> will also directly notify, such as through U.S. Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey. [School District"> will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys. Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this requirement:
•Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution. •Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.
•Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.
Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
