Notifications

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law that is designated to eliminate disability discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal funds.

The district shall provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities program without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district will provide equal access to all outside youth groups. District programs shall be free from sexual harassment.

For more information, check the resources below or contact the district’s 504 Coordinator and K-12 Student Services Director Brian Leavitt at (509) 222-5003 or brian.leavitt@ksd.org.

Your Child’s Education

Your child has the right to:

• Receive a free and appropriate public education.

• Participate in and benefit from the district’s educational programs without discrimination.
• Be provided an equal opportunity to participate in the district’s nonacademic and extracurricular activities.
• Be educated with students who do not have disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate.
• Be educated in facilities and receive services that are comparable to those provided to students without disabilities.
• Receive accommodations and/or related aids and services to allow your child an equal opportunity to participate in school activities.
• Receive educational and related aids and services without cost, except for those fees imposed on the parents of children without disabilities.
• Receive special education services if needed.

Your Child’s Educational Records

You have the right to:

• Review your child’s educational records and to receive copies at a reasonable cost. You will not be charged if the cost would keep you from reviewing the records.
• Ask the district to change your child’s education records if you believe that they are wrong, misleading, or are otherwise in violation of your child’s privacy rights. If the district refuses this request, you have the right to challenge the refusal by requesting an impartial hearing.
• A response to your reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of your child’s education records.

The Section 504 Process

Your child has the right to an evaluation before the school determines if he or she is eligible under Section 504.

You have the right to:

• Receive notice before the district takes any action regarding the identification, evaluation, and placement of your child.
• Have evaluation and placement decisions made by a group of persons, often called a “504 team,” including persons who know your child, the meaning of the evaluation information, and the placement options available.
• Have evaluation decisions based on a variety of sources, such as aptitude and achievement tests, teacher recommendations, physical conditions, medical records, and parental observations.
• Refuse consent for the initial evaluation and initial placement of your child.

If your child is eligible under Section 504, your child has a right to periodic re-evaluations, including re-evaluations before any significant change is made in your child’s placement.

If You Disagree with the District

If you disagree with the district’s decisions regarding your child’s identification, evaluation, educational program, or placement under Section 504, you may request mediation or an impartial due process hearing. You and your child have the right to take part in the hearing and have an attorney represent you. Hearing requests and other concerns can be made to your district’s Section 504 Coordinator:

Brian Leavitt
K-12 Student Services Director
1000 W. 4th Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 222-5003 | brian.leavitt@ksd.org

You have the right to file a complaint of discrimination with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), or to file a complaint in federal court. Generally, an OCR complaint may be filed within 180 calendar days of the act that you believe was discriminatory. The regional office is located at 915 Second Ave, Room 3310, Seattle, WA 98174-1099.

Phone: (206) 607-1600 | TDD: (206) 607-1647

Website: http://www.ed.gov/OCR

Associated Student Body (ASB) funds are public monies raised on behalf of students and used for optional extra-curricular events of a cultural, athletic, recreational or social nature. In general, carryover amounts from one year to another are due to anticipated expenditures for student activities which take more than a year of fundraising. These funds are not available for curricular or graded student activities.

Visit www.ksd.org/departments/business to view a record of ASB funding at each school and ASB activity club reports, as required by the State of Washington. Please contact the Business and Finance Department at (509) 222-5040 for more information.

Each year, the Kennewick School District notifies staff and the parents/guardians of students of its Asbestos Management Plan (AMP). The district has established an AMP for each school and building within the district. Every three years, facilities are re-inspected by an accredited asbestos inspector. The most recent three-year inspection results are available by contacting Facility Services at (509) 222-5070.

A citizen complaint is a written statement that alleges a violation of a federal rule, law or regulation or state regulation that applies to a federal program. Click here for information on filing a citizen complaint related to a federal program offered in the Kennewick School District.

Kennewick School District is a sponsor of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services’ (FNS) Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) at all schools in the district. The Kennewick School District provides benefits to all eligible individuals without discrimination in accordance with federal civil rights laws and USDA policy, as governed by FNS Instruction 113-1. The USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs, are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, and disability.

Program participants who feel they have been discriminated against while participating in the Child Nutrition Programs, including during the serving of meals, will be instructed to contact the executive director of business services at (509) 222-5040 for procedures to voice their complaint. All complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability, either written or verbal, must be processed within the established time frames.

Right to File
Any person or representative alleging discrimination based on a prohibited basis has the right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action. Only the Secretary of Agriculture may extend this time under special circumstances. The complainant must be advised of confidentiality and Privacy Act applications. The executive director of business services will not attempt to resolve the complaint themselves, without first providing the complainant with information on how they can file a complaint.

Forms
The executive director of business services will provide all persons wishing to file a complaint with instructions on where to obtain the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form online or where they can obtain a hard copy. However, use of this form will not be a prerequisite for acceptance of the complaint.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish) for assistance in filing a complaint.

Filing a Complaint
The executive director of business services will provide instructions to the complainant on where to forward the completed USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form by:

• Mail: 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

• Fax: (202) 690-7442; or

• Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

Verbal Complaints
In the event a complainant wishes to make the allegations verbally or in person and refuses or is not inclined to place such allegations in writing, the executive director of business services will write up the elements of the complaint for the complainant utilizing the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form.

Acceptance of Written or Verbal
All complaints received by the executive director of business services, written or verbal, will be forwarded to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OCR). Anonymous complaints will be handled as any other complaints, to the extent feasible, based on available information. Complaints will be forwarded to OCR via:

• Mail: 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

• Fax: (202) 690-7442; or

• Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

State Agency Notification
If the executive director of business services is notified that a program participant has filed a civil rights complaint or they have filed a complaint on behalf of a program participant, they will notify their program specialist at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Child Nutrition. The executive director of business services will provide information as requested by OSPI during the OCR investigation of the complaint.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Kennewick School District elementary and middle schools (except for Highlands and Park middle schools) dismiss early on Wednesdays to provide teachers time for training and collaboration. High schools have early release about once a month.

During these teacher collaboration sessions, teachers work together to improve their instructional skills, implement new instructional practices and share ideas that will improve student achievement. Research shows that improving instruction is the single most effective factor for improving student achievement.

For questions, please contact your school. 

Winter may bring ice or snow to roadways around the district. To keep students, staff and families safe during inclement weather, we may close schools and delay or cancel classes and activities. 

Road conditions can vary throughout the district, depending on where you live. The district supports a parent’s or guardian’s decision to pick their child up early or not send their child to school. Absences due to winter weather will be considered excused with parent permission.

For information about school closures, visit the district website, tune in to local news and radio stations, and sign up for school alerts. If there is no mention on the district website of delays or closures, schools are running on time.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA provides parents and eligible students certain rights in regard to the student’s education records, including:

• The right to inspect and review the student’s education record
   
• The right to request amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes is inaccurate or misleading. If the district decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the district will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
   
• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent (See Directory Information). One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by Kennewick School District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom Kennewick School District has outsourced services or functions it would otherwise use its own employees to perform (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
   
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA
   
• The right to information about who to contact to seek access or amendment of education records

Policy 2151 Education of Students with Disabilities According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA) and WAC 392-172 (Revised 9/07)
2151 R Procedure (Revised 3/21)

Education of Students with Disabilities (IDEA)

Education of Student with Disabilities Policy and Procedure 2151 (Policy 2151 and Procedure 2151) addresses education of students with disabilities as it pertains to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Questions pertaining to IDEA and Section 504 should be directed to the Special Services Department at (509) 222-5026. 

ChildFind

A child with a disability may be eligible for services through Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or special education and related services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004. If you have reason to suspect your child or another child may have a disability which affects his/her education, please contact the school or Special Services Department at (509) 222-5026 for additional information or to refer the child for an evaluation to determine eligibility for services. (WAC 392-172A)

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Individuals with disabilities who may need a modification to participate in a school-related meeting or activity need to contact the school or district office location no later than three (3) days before the meeting, or as soon as possible so that arrangements for the modification or accommodations can be made.

The Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has information regarding the Learning by Choice law. The booklet contains answers to the most commonly asked questions about the law, options created by the No Child Left Behind Act, descriptions of programs that may be available to students if they meet program eligibility criteria, and other enrollment options available to students in public, private and home-based instruction. 

Any child or youth, including unaccompanied youth, who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence is considered homeless and McKinney-Vento eligible for assistance and services. This includes children and youth who are temporarily sharing housing with others due to economic hardship; those who are living in motels, campgrounds, emergency shelters, cars, or other similar settings; those in transitional housing programs, and those awaiting permanent foster care. Contact a school counselor or (509) 222-5031 for additional information.

The Kennewick School District participates in the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), the largest nationally representative assessment of students across the country. Administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education, NAEP provides a common measure of student achievement across the country. 

The results of NAEP are released as the Nation's Report Cards, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the public. 

3210 Non-Discrimination (Revised 4/15)
3210 R Procedure (Revised 5/15)

The Kennewick School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights & Equity: Douglas Christensen - (509) 222-5010 (doug.christensen@ksd.org)
Section 504, Title IX: Brian Leavitt - (509) 222-5003 (brian.leavitt@ksd.org) 

You can report discrimination and discriminatory harassment to any school staff member or to the district’s civil rights coordinator, listed above. You also have the right to file a complaint (see below). For a copy of the district’s nondiscrimination policy and procedure, see links above or contact your school or the district office: Kennewick School District 1000 W. 4th Ave Kennewick, WA 99336.

Complaint Options: Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

If you believe that you or your child have experienced unlawful discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment at school, you have the right to file a complaint.

Before filing a complaint, you can discuss your concerns with your child’s principal or with the school district’s Section 504 coordinator, Title IX officer, or civil rights coordinator, who are listed above. This is often the fastest way to resolve your concerns.

In most cases, complaints must be filed within one year from the date of the incident or conduct that is the subject of the complaint. A complaint must be in writing. Once the district receives your written complaint, the coordinator will give you a copy of the complaint procedure and make sure a prompt and thorough investigation takes place. 

File a Complaint of Discrimination with Your School District

Anyone can file a formal complaint that alleges discrimination in a Washington State public school—based on a protected class. Anyone could include parents, students, teachers, administrators, and advocates. We encourage you to follow the complaint procedure closely. If you have questions, go directly to your district or and ask for the information you need to move forward.

Step 1 Write Out and Send Your Complaint

• Describe the conduct or incident. Use facts: what, who and when.
• Explain why you believe discrimination has taken place.
• Describe what actions you believe the district or charter school should take to resolve the problem.

Send your written complaint—by mail, fax, email, or hand delivery—to the district superintendent, charter school administrator, or civil rights coordinator. OSPI maintains a list of websites for all state school districts. Contact information should be on these district websites.

Deadline for Filing a Complaint

School districts can adopt a filing deadline for complaints. This deadline must be at least one year after the incident or conduct — the subject of the complaint — took place. Find out if your district has a deadline for filing a complaint related to discrimination.

Step 2 School District Investigates Your Complaint

Your civil rights coordinator has an important role to play once the school district receives your written complaint. 

The coordinator must:

• Give you a copy of the procedure to follow for discrimination complaints
• Make sure a prompt and thorough investigation takes place

Important! At this point, you could decide to resolve your complaint immediately instead of proceeding with the investigation.

30 Calendar Days to Respond to Your Complaint

Once the district receives your written complaint, the superintendent or administrator must respond to you in writing within 30 calendar days — unless you agree on a different time period.

If your complaint involves exceptional circumstances that demand a lengthier investigation, the district or charter school must notify you in writing with (1) why staff need this time extension and (2), a new date for their written response.

Step 3 School District Responds to Your Complaint

In its written response, the district or charter school must include this information:

• Summary of the results of the investigation
• Determination that states clearly whether or not the district or charter school failed to comply with civil rights law
• Notification that you can appeal this determination: how and where to file a appeal, and to whom it must addressed
• Any measures, determined through the investigation, necessary to bring the district or charter school into compliance with civil rights law

Important! Any necessary corrective measures must be put into effect within 30 calendar days after this written response—unless you agree to a different time period.

RCW 28A.320.165 
RCW 17.21.415[2]

State law requires school districts to notify parents/guardians of students and employees of the school’s pest control policies and methods. The Kennewick School District uses only licensed sprayers to make applications as needed for weed and pest control. For more information regarding the use of pesticides in the school district, please contact Facility Services at (509) 222-5070.

 

4340 Disclosure of Public Records (Revised 8/17)
4340 R Procedure (Revised 6/15)

State law requires school districts to provide parents/guardians with information regarding their rights under the Washington Public Records Act to request public records regarding school employee discipline. (RCW 28A.320.160).

To make a public records request, please see 4340 Disclosure of Public Records and 4340 R Procedure.

 

Student Prices	Elementary	Secondary	Adult
Full Price Lunch	$3.00	$3.30	$4.00
Reduced Price Lunch (K-3)	Free*	N/A	N/A
Reduced Price Lunch (Pre-K, 4-12)	$0.40	$0.40	N/A
Full Price Breakfast	$1.90	$2.00	$2.50
Reduced Price Breakfast	Free*	Free*	N/A
Milk	$0.55	$0.55	$0.55

*Students qualifying for reduced-price meal benefits in these meal categories are not charged due to a grant through the State Child Nutrition Program. 

3413 Student Immunization and Life-Threatening Health Conditions (Revised 2/20)
3413 R1 Verifying Immunizations (Revised 2/20)
3413 R2 Life Threatening Conditions (Revised 2/20)
3416 Medication at School (Revised 9/19)
3416 R Procedure
3416 R-F1 Parental Request Form

Policy and Procedure 3413 (see above) explain that it is the affirmative obligation of each parent to provide the necessary immunization and medical information. This information must be current and up-to-date. 

As a condition for attending schools, students shall present evidence of their having been immunized against all of the diseases identified by the State of Washington in WAC 246-105-030. 

On enrollment, a certificate of immunization status, distributed by the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), shall be completed by the student’s parent. The certificate shall be made a part of the student’s permanent record. 

Exemptions from one or more vaccines shall be granted for medical reason upon certification by a physician that there is a medical reason for not administering the vaccine. Exemptions for personal or religious reasons require a “Certificate of Exemption,” signed by a parent or guardian and a licensed health care provider. 

Prior to attendance at school, each child with a life-threatening health condition shall present a medical or treatment order addressing the condition. A life threatening health condition means a condition that will put the child in danger of death during the school day if a medication or treatment order and health plan are not in place. Following submission of the medication or treatment order, a health plan shall be developed.

Vision and hearing screenings may be conducted at schools. Parents or guardians will be notified and provided with a copy of the test results when their child’s screening shows that there are possible problems with the student’s vision and/or hearing. 

Policy and Procedure 3416 allows school personnel to administer oral medication during school hours under limited conditions which include a written request by a parent/guardian and the student’s LHP. All medication must be accompanied by a form which may be obtained at any school office or at ksd.org. Additional requirements are mandated for students who self-carry/administer medication for asthma or severe allergy (RCW 28.A.210.370). These requirements will be provided to parents upon request at each school.

The requirements for ensuring educational stability for children in foster care under section 1111 (g)(1)(E) apply to all children in foster care enrolled in public schools. Consistent with the Fostering Connections Act, “foster care” means 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents, but is not limited to placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, child care institutions, and pre-adoptive homes.  A child is in foster care in accordance with this definition regardless of whether the foster care facility is licensed and payments are made by the state, tribal or local agencies for the care of the child, whether adoption subsidy payments are being made prior to the finalization of an adoption, or whether there is federal matching of any payments that are made.  (45 C.F.R.  1355.20 (a)).

FOSTER CARE STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

• Attend school in the area they are currently living.
• When in the best interest of the child, attend the school of origin (the school they attended at the time they entered care), or the school in which they were last enrolled.
• Immediate enrollment and support from district foster care liaison in obtaining school records and coordinating services.
• Transportation to their school, if necessary.
• Free school meals.
• Services for English Language Learners, Special Education, and/or Highly Capable Education.
• Tutoring services focusing on academic assistance.
• Support with on-time grade progression and graduation of students.

For more information, call your child’s school or the Health & Social Services Department at 206-631-3011.

ESSA/Sec. 1111 (h) (6) (A);34C.F.R. 200.61

Under federal law, parents and guardians are entitled to request information about the professional qualifications of their child’s teachers. Such requests can be made to the school principal or the associate superintendent of human resources at (509) 222-6547.