Taft High School
School Policies
August 2012
Dress Code
Taft High School Students are expected to select clothing that is appropriate for the “business” of learning. Students must wear attire suitable for a workplace or business. Clothing must fit properly and not be disruptive to the educational process. The following is a list of requirements agreed upon by a committee of students, parents and staff.
1. PANTS/SHORTS must be worn at the waist/hips, not too long or too big, and be able to stay up with a belt. No short shorts.
2. SHIRTS must cover the midriff/torso area; the bottom of the shirt must meet the top of the pants/skirt at all times. Shirts should not advertise or promote alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gangs, violence, foul/obscene images or language, and must not be culturally insensitive. Shirts/Blouses can not have open backs or sides, no see through/opaque material, straps must be a minimum of 2 inches wide, no “muscle”/”wife beater” shirts, and show minimal or no cleavage. (REV.)
3. UNDERGARMENTS are to be worn as designed; under clothing and should not be exposed. This includes the wearing of shorts under pants with the top of the shorts extending above the waist of the pants.
4. ACCESSORIES must be safe.
· ONLY Taft logo hats or beanies can be worn outdoors with the bill facing forward. Non-Taft hats and beanies will be confiscated and will have to be picked up by the legal parent or guardian within one week, after that they are subject to donation to a charitable organization. No phone requests or non-parent/guardian requests will be honored for the return of confiscated items.
· Shoes must be worn at all times, designed for safety, comfort and ease of movement. NO HOUSE SLIPPERS.
· Chains must be of reasonable length and connected from the belt loops to the wallet.
· Spiked collars, wristbands and other dangerous items are not allowed.
Students in violation of the dress standards will be instructed to remove the item or to replace it with something more appropriate. Parents may be required to come to school to bring appropriate clothing for students who need to adhere to the class code. The school does have t-shirts for those students in violation of the dress code, if parent is unavailable.
Dress Code Violations are acts of Defiance and may result in an in- house suspension, Afterschool Detention, Out of School Suspension, Opportunity Transfer to another school for a minimum of one complete school year.
Student Code of Conduct
The following Code of Conduct is designed to maintain a positive learning environment. Teachers, administrators and other staff members have authority to enforce this code.
1. Students must behave courteously & cooperatively toward teachers, staff and peers at all times.
2. Students must carry TAFT IDENTIFICATION at all times in order to receive services and must present it politely when asked by any school personnel.
3. Students may not leave class at any time without proper teacher authorization. Students may not leave class without their school ID.
4. Students must remain on campus during the school day. Students may only leave campus with a pass from the Attendance Office. Students requesting an early leave must do so in advance. See attendance policy for further information.
5. Students are not to loiter on neighborhood shopping areas, residential areas or other school campuses.
Electronics Policy
It is the policy of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to prohibit the use of cellular phones or any electronic signaling device by students on campus during normal school hours. Students are permitted to possess cellular phones, pagers, or electronic signaling devices on campus provided that any such device shall remain “off” and stored in a locker, backpack, purse, pocket, or other place where it is not visible during normal school hours. Students are permitted to use cellular phones, pagers, or electronic signaling devices on campus before and after school or during school activities that occur outside of school hours. Students must comply anytime a request is made by school personnel to cease the use of a cellular telephone, pager or other signaling device even before or after school. Schools may adopt more stringent cellular phone policies through the School Site Council. Cell phone use on the school bus is for emergency purposes only; driver authorization is required. For more information you may call (800) 522-8737. The District is not responsible for lost or stolen cellular telephones or other personal items of value such as iPods, cameras, electronic games, radios, CD players, computers, etc. Taft High School also does not allow other electronics devices such as iPods, cameras, electronic games, radios, CD players to be used on campus between the hours of 7:50 a.m. and 3:15p.m. This includes the wearing of earphones and ear buds in or out of class during school hours. Students needing to make “emergency” phone calls may go to the Main Office and use the school phone. Confiscated items must be picked up by the legal parent or guardian within one week or they could be donated to a charitable group. No phone requests or nonparent/guardian requests will be honored for the return of confiscated items.
Attendance
Students are expected to arrive at school on time. Classes begin at 8:00 a.m.! The first bell rings at 7:50 a.m. Students are expected to be in all classes on time, ready to work, with the necessary materials.
Students late to class are a major disruption to the instructional program. Students who are tardy to a class are subject to the dean’s tardy policy. Afterschool Detention, Community Service, and In-School Detention will be assigned for students with repeated violations of attendance and tardy policies. Students with excessive tardies (2+) will be subject to referral to in-school penalties or district intervention. Tardies are excused for medical, dental, and legal appointment reasons with a written excuse on the letterhead of the doctor or office. All are subject to verification before excuse is made. All others such as car problems, woke up late, carpool problems are not reasons for excusing a tardy.
Parents are expected to send their children to school daily. Every effort should be made to schedule student medical and personal appointments so that they do not interfere with the instructional program.
For those FEW times that it is unavoidable for a student to be absent from school, a student may be excused with written verification from a parent due to illness observance or attendance at a funeral of an immediate family member. Students who are out of school for illness for 5 or more days must return with a Doctor's note.
If a student must leave school early please send a note (signed by parent) to the attendance office 72 hours in advance. Attendance office personnel will call the parent to approve the leave. Advance notice is required to ensure the student is ready to leave at the appointed time. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE RELEASED AFTER 2:30PM.
Parents may not keep students home to care of family members or other non-emergency related reasons. Students who are absent for non-illness 10 times in a school year may be referred to Pupil Services and Attendance for intervention.
Classroom instruction will not be interrupted by personal deliveries.