Upon arrival on school grounds, students may possess a personal communication device (cell phone)with written permission from their parents.  This permission will be kept on file in the school office.

For a trial period of thirty (30) days, students are going to be allowed to use cell phones between 8:00 and 8:30 am, between classes and during lunch.  Students may not use cell phones during instructional time or school functions - i.e. - pep rallies, plays, etc.  Students who are caught using a personal communication device at other times will have the phone confiscated for seven (7) days for the first offense and thirty days (30) for each offense thereafter.  The device will be subject to search. 

If the 7th or 29th day occurs during a school break (Christmas or Spring Break, etc.), the phone will be returned the first day that school resumes.  If the device is confiscated within 6 days before the end of the school year, it will be returned on the last day of school. 

This trial period may be re-examined at any time during the thirty (30) days and if it seems to be more problematic than beneficial, the Cocke County School Board will re-convene to set a new policy which could be as simple as going back to the prior policy that was in place. 

By signing and returning the permission form, parents/guardians are stating that they are aware of the policy and that they are aware that the student(s) in their household have their permission to carry a personal communication device (cell phone) and will comply with the wishes of the Cocke County School Board and understand the consequences should a violation occur, even if it is a borrowed device.

Should the parent/guardian decide not to sign and return the permission form, and should the student be caught using a communication device, that device (cell phone) will be confiscated and held in the office for thirty (30) calendar days for each offense, even if it is a borrowed device.

**Approved by the Cocke County School Board on July 8, 2010.

1.  Shirts/blouses must not be cut below the normal arm pit and must not come below the
     top of the breast.  All shirts/blouses must reach below the top of the pants or skirt when standing.
     (no skin showing when standing)

2.  Shirts/blouses must have sleeves.  Halter, midriff, or tank tops are not permitted.  The
     student is in violation of this code if any amount of cleavage is visible.

3.  Students may wear shorts that either have at least a seven (7) inch inseam or are no
     shorter than four (4) inches above the knee.

4.  Opaque tights and/or leggings (opaque tights/leggings are not transparent : skin color is unable to  
      be detected) may be worn beneath skirts and dresses, but skirts and dresses must be finger tip 
      length.  Skirts and dresses worn without opaque leggings or tights may be no more than four (4) 
      inches above the knee. 

5.  Bike shorts are not permitted.  Pajamas are not permitted.

6.  Shorts or leggings my be worn beneath holey jeans; holes are allowed above the knee as long as
      no flesh or undergarments can be seen, and the hole is not located in the crotch area.

7.  Clothes may not be worn with patches on or around the genital area.

8.  Galluses are to remain on the shoulders.

9. Excessive baggy pants are not permitted. Pants are to be secured at the waist, not worn
      below the hips.

10. All necessary undergarments are to be worn and must not be visible.

11. Clothing with crude, poorly worded, suggestive language or suggestive pictures is not
      permitted.

12. No clothing may have alcohol, tobacco, drug labels or symbols written or printed on
      them. 

13. No clothing may have pictures or the rebel flag or Malcolm X.

14. Hats, caps, or other head coverings may not to be worn inside the buildings.

15. Bandannas are not permitted either as clothing or as hair accessories.

16. Visible body piercings are limited to the ear only.  Eyebrow, nose, lip, tongue, belly
      button, etc. piercings are not permitted.

17. Anything in question will be at the discretion of the administrator.

Parking on school property is a privilege afforded to students.  Certain conditions are attached to this privilege.  Students who fail to uphold those conditions will be subject to loss of driving privileges as well as other determined discipline.

The conditions are as follows:
    1.  Students must register all vehicles they intend to drive to school.
    2.  A valid Tennessee driver's license must be presented.
    3.  A registration fee of $5.00 must be paid for each permit issued.  (Non-refundable)
    4.  The permit must be attached to the rear view mirror with the number facing outside.
    5.  All school rules involving driving, parking, parking lot, tardies, leave earlies, attendance, etc.,
         must be obeyed.
    6.  Report to the guard and show driver's license if no parking permit has been issued.  Report to
         the office immediately to purchase the permit.

One permit may be purchased but used on more than one vehicle.  (The student would be responsible for moving the permit from vehicle to vehicle as needed.)

Driving privileges will be suspended for violation of any of the following rules:  (In addition, other discipline may be issued for certain offenses.)
     1.  Loitering in the parking lot - Students are to exit the parking lot and enter the school upon
          arrival.  Students are to exit the parking lot immediately following dismissal time.
     2.  Returning to parking lot without authorization
     3.  Speeding/reckless driving in the parking lot and/or school zone - The speed limit on Hedrick Drive
          is 15 mph; the speed limit on campus is 5 mph.
     4.  Failure to obey all traffic signs and markings on campus
     5.  Excessive unexcused tardies (The sixth unexcused tardy per semester will result in loss of
          driving privileges for the semester.)
     6.  Violation of parking rules -  Students are to park in the student parking lot only.  Students are
           NOT to park in the visitors' (lower) parking lot (except assigned spaces), faculty parking areas
           or the vocational school.
     7.  Giving or selling parking permits to other students
     8.  Possession of a lost or stolen parking permit  (plus disciplined for stealing)
     9.  Driving on campus without a permit - Report to the guard if a parking permit has not yet been
           issued or if you forget the permit.  Failure to report to the guard will result not only in loss of
           driving privileges but ISS will also be assigned for that day as well as two (2) days ISS/OSS.
    10.  Leaving campus without permission or before dismissal time -  (Dismissal times are 1:30 for
            work study/co-op students and behind buses following school dismissal.)  Once driving on
            campus, students must have office permission to leave unless it is the student's dismissal
            time.  This includes before 8:30.
    11.  Transporting another student off campus without that student having office permission to
            leave early
    12.  Fifteen (15) or more unexcused absences the previous semester
    13.  Failure to pass at least two (2) courses the previous semester -  (A student's driver's license
            will be revoked by the State Department of Transportation for violation of rule 13 or 14 unless
            the student is 18 years old.
    14.  Disrespectful or insubordinate to guard or other school employees
    15.  Fighting in the parking lot or encouraging other students to fight - (Plus additional discipline
            for fighting/instigating a fight)

Students driving and parking at CCHS should be aware of the following:
    1.  The school is not liable for lost/stolen items or accidents.
    2.  Student drivers should have vehicle insurance.  The vehicle should be registered to you or your
          parents or legal guardian.
    3.  Teachers cannot give students permission to leave campus.  Permission must be obtained from
          the office, who will contact your parent or legal guarding before leaving campus.
    4.  Vehicles parked on school property are subject to search at any time while on campus.  The
          purchase of a parking permit does NOT relinquish this.
    5.  Lost or stolen permits must be replaced.
    6.  Parking spaces are not assigned (except in the lower parking lot for leave-early students);
          spaces will be taken on a first-come-first-serve basis.
    7.  Additional discipline besides suspension of driving privileges may be issued for violation of
         any of the parking/driving rules.

Proof of insurance must be shown at the time of vehicle registration.  The student must show proof of insurance with the registration form.

Policy Components:

 1.       The Cocke County Board of Education will ensure that all families are represented in the policy
            development process by providing attention to cultural, economic, language, and demographic
            issues that allow for total access by all to the process.

A.        District and school-based action teams will consistently ensure varied and diverse involvement (exs. School Improvement Teams, advisory members to curriculum development projects, parent-teacher teams, Consolidated Plan Total Team, etc.)

            B.        Representatives of all families will be able to express their ideas and concerns by 
                        responding to surveys and other information gathering devices.

 2.         The Cocke County Board of Education will provide necessary support to ensure
              understanding and implementation of Federal, State, and local standards for family
              engagement.

 A.       Staff development will be provided for individual schools on effective practices
           that lead to measurable family engagement.

 B.        Each school will develop and implement a plan of effective practices that lead to     
                        measurable family engagement.

3.        The Cocke County Board of Education supports clear articulated goals for the extent and type of
            family engagement.

A.        Measurable goals for increasing the level and quality of family engagement are
                        required as part of each School Improvement Plan.

B.         Each school’s efforts to increase the level and quality of family engagement are well documented, monitored, and evaluated, and best examples of what works are shared. 

 4.      The Cocke County Board of Education will conduct the necessary evaluation to promote     
             continuous improvement of the engagement of all families.

A.        The school will conduct an annual assessment of the family engagement policy.

            B.         The relationship of the academic achievement of students and the involvement
                         of their families will be assessed and reviewed annually.

            C.        All assessments will be comprehensive and not limited to Title I schools.

 5.         The Cocke County Board of Education requires family engagement at all school sites.

           A.        Each school will develop, implement, and evaluate a policy and plan to promote
              family engagement activities with an emphasis on student learning.

  B.        Each year’s plan will include an annual measurement that will determine
  progress toward the specific goals of the plan.

  C.        Each school’s yearly assessment will be reviewed by the Board.

  D.        Each school will have a designated person or team to coordinate activities
  and document parent engagement.

 6.         The Cocke County Board of Education will provide procedures for parents to access and
              understand course of study or curricular materials as well as Federal, State and local standards.

  A.        Parents will be provided specific training to ensure their understanding of topics such
  as State Curriculum Frameworks, State Performance Indicators, achievement
  standards, assessment procedures, and other topics that build the capacity for
  families to understand and be meaningfully involved in their children’s academic 
  experiences.

B.         The district will maintain a parent/family resource person that assists in the distribution
 of information to parents.

C.         Each teacher will do a monthly letter on units of study, explaining how the unit fits
 into the curriculum and why it is important to the student’s education.

D.         The district and schools will utilize effective communication to share information
 about curriculum, achievement standards, and assessment to parents (newspaper,
 newsletters, "opportunities to learn," etc.).

7.         The Cocke County Board of Education recognizes that parenting skills are of utmost importance to success of school achievement.

A.        Professional development will be provided to all staff to build the capacity to create
           and sustain  effective parenting practices.

B.         Parenting classes will be offered throughout the school district to assist and support  
             parents in becoming effectively engaged in their children’s education.

C.        Through effective communication procedures, the Family Resource and ESL personnel
            will provide services and assistance to parents (exs. newsletter, parent meetings,
            personal contacts, etc.).

 8.        The Cocke County Board of Education incorporates family involvement in decision-making and
governance.

           A.        Through representation on committees such as the Consolidated Planning Total Team, all
              families will have meaningful involvement in district governance and decision making.

  B.        The district will acquire community input on pending policies, practices, and decisions       
              which affect students and families.

               C.        Individual schools will formulate plans which include families in the decision making
               process

   D.        Individual schools will maintain an active school improvement team which is inclusive of   
               representation from all families.

9.         The Cocke County Board of Education endorses the concept that on-going and meaningful
            professional development is an essential element in the engagement of all families.

           A.   Professional development on family engagement will be provided to all professional and  
                    support staff.

             B.    Professional development on family engagement will be provided to families including specific
                    programs identified as necessary and appropriate by the district.

10.      The Cocke County Board of Education will specify district and site budget lines to the effective development, implementation, and measurement of district and school based family engagement programs.

           A.    Each school will be given a specified amount of funds (Title I), which are earmarked monies
          for family engagement programs. 

 B.     Through annual reports, the district will ensure that Title I funds are spent in accordance
with program assurances.

11.       The Cocke County Board of Education will require system supervisors to work with school administrators, teachers, and parents to design improvement strategies at all schools in the system.

          A.        System supervisors will help school administrators to develop strategies so they
             can work with teachers and parents to develop individual strategies based upon
            student performance data to produce homework assignments that are parent friendly.

 B.        System supervisors will work with school administrators to assist them in developing strategies for involving parents in developing ways to improve student attendance at each school.

 C.       System supervisors will work with school administrators, teachers, and parents to develop strategies that will lead to better discipline among students at all schools.

12.       The Cocke County Board of Education endorses and will work to involve all family groups in family engagement activities to be offered at the district and school levels.

            A.       System wide and individual school meetings and activities will be scheduled so that
              they will be more accessible to parents.
      
   B.       The system and local schools will work on helping to arrange transportation for
              families or family members who notify the system or school prior to the meeting
              that they are unable to attend the meeting due to a need for transportation.

              C.       The system and individual schools will use a program format that is easy for everyone
             to understand.

           It is the policy of the Cocke County School System not discriminate on the basis of
sex, color, race, national origin, creed, age, marital status, or disability in its
educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by Title VI
and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments
and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973."
 

Contact:
Paul Cogburn, Affirmative Action Coordinator
Telephone (423) 623-7821 extension 26
or (423) 623-7179 extension 26
FAX (423) 625-3947
Cocke County School System
305 Hedrick Drive
Newport, Tennessee 37821
cogburnp@mail.cocke.k12.tn.us

The following policy applies both to tardies to class and to school :

    Tardies one, two, and three will be recorded by the teacher (dates required).
    Tardies four and five will be punished by assigning detention and a call to the parent by
        the assigning administraton.
    Tardy six will be punished by :
        1 - detention
        2 - parents must attend meeting with the administration
        3 - driving privileges will be revoked if the student drives to school
    Tardies seven and more will be punished by ISS or corporal punishment

The Cocke County School System attendance goal is perfect attendance for each student.  Our interest is to keep students in class so that we can assist them in their educational growth the personal responsiblity toward their own success.  A secondary goal is to meet State requirements for school attendance by students, and graduation of students from Cocke County Schools.  This School Board Attendance Policy is intended to achieve these goals, while holding students responsible for attending school as required by the state law. 

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERY STUDENT ATTEND SCHOOL EVERY DAY.

It is the responsibility of all students to insure that they attend school every day, that they make up all missed work, and they meet all requirements to pass in each of their classes.

I.      Attendance Requirements
        A.  All school work which a child misses will be made up within a period of time designated by the    
             classroom teacher and the content will be mastered before the student receives credit for the
             course.  Make-up work for unexcused absences will be at the discretion of the student's teacher,
             who  will considered the student's aptitude, participation, behavior, etc., in the class.

        B.  For each day absent from class, students are required to provide documentation stating the
              reason for the absence(s).  The following are acceptable reasons for excused absences:

             1.  documented doctor or dentist appointment (with a statement specifying the time period
                  covered by the excuse)
             2.  death in the family (documented by a funeral pamphlet)
             3.  a required court appearance (documented by court paperwork)
             4.  a standard traditional religious observance
             5.  circumstances which in the judgment of the principal create emergencies over which the
                   student has no control

        C.  A student may be tardy to class no more than five (5) minutes to be considered in class.  Students
             who are tardy in excess of five (5) minutes will be counted absent, and will be required to provide
             documentation stating the reason for the absence to receive an "excused absence" from that
             class.  Tardy is defined as arriving in class after the tardy bell.

        D.  Students who fail to make up required work shall receive as a final term grade an "I" on their
              grade card.  A grade of "No Credit" will appear on their school transcript.

II.      Truancy Policy
          A.  After five (5) unexcused absences per semester, per class, a student may be considered
                truant from school and truancy proceedings may begin.  NOTE :  Truancy usually involves a
                court appearance, which results in court costs and fines; fines and court costs can be very
                expensive.

          B.  Leaving school early - - Unexcused "Leave Earlies" from school will result in the same action
                as unexcused tardies to school.

          C.  Driving Privileges - - After five (5) unexcused absences per semester, per class, students may
                lose current and/or future driving privileges.  In addition, after five (5) tardies to school each
                semester, students may lose current and/or future driving privileges. 

          D.  Any absence that the classroom teacher regards as questionable may be reported to the
                Attendance Office and may be regarded as a truancy matter. 

III.      Make-up Work Policy
           A.  It is the responsibility of each student to make up all missed work.

           B.  Teachers will insure their make-up work policy is clearly outlined in their class curriculum/
                 outlines, and will insure that the policy is clearly posted in their classrooms to insure there is
                 no misunderstanding on the student's part about the policy.  Teachers will NOT use make-up
                 work as a disciplinary measure toward the student.  Policy is to be directed toward the
                 student's aptitude in class. 

Tardies - - A tardy is defined as arrival to the student's class after the tardy bell.  When tardy to class, the student is to report to the assigned class and sign in.

Leave Earlies - - Students needing to leave school early must bring a note from home to the attendance office by 8:15 am.  The note must have a local telephone number for verification.  If the parent is unavailable for a phone call during the day, he/she may call the school starting at 6:30 am.  Students who are to be picked up by a parent should remain in class until the office calls for the student.  A student who drives should show his teacher the leave-early slip at the beginning of class and should remain in class until the time listed on the slip.