Student and Family Handbook 2024-2025 - School Policies, Academics, and Family Partnership

Sep 15, 2026

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Student and Family Handbook 2024-2025 outlines expectations and support for students and families within Uncommon Schools and North Star Academy Charter Schools. It presents school profile priorities, educational excellence goals, and a family partnership model to strengthen academic and social-emotional growth. The handbook covers welcoming, safe, and supportive environment commitments, core values, and academic learning practices, then details operational guidance such as attendance, homework, health policies, enrichment, discipline, technology use, and complaint procedures, supporting consistent school-community alignment.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages54

Reading Time2 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

Welcome to Uncommon Schools!

School Profile

Educational Excellence

Family Partnership

Welcoming, Safe, and Supportive Environment

Core Values

Academics & Learning

Report Cards

Promotion and Retention Policies

Homework

Student Accommodation Policy

Student Attendance & Tardiness Policy

Logistics, Facilities, & Schedule

School-day Hours

Friday Dismissal

Snow Closings

Student Meals

Student Belongings

Enrichment Programs

Events & Celebrations

Health Policies

Illness and Return Policy

Administration of Care and Medication Policy

Immunization Policy

Additional Policies

Uniform

Social Media

Bus Behavior

Visitors

Family Communication

Student Records

High School and Conduct Policies

High School Enrollment

Public Display of Affection

Code of Conduct

Disciplinary Procedures

Procedures For Certain Types of Discipline

Gun Free Schools Act

Bullying

Harassment and Discrimination

Reporting and Investigation of Complaints

Substance Abuse Policy

Discipline of Students with Special Needs

Student Interviews and Searches

Technology Policies

Use of Technology, Electronic Devices and Phones at School

Student Technology Acceptable Use Policy

Student Use of Technology Agreement

Appendix

High School Graduation Requirements

College Placement Program

Informal Complaint Procedures

Formal Complaint Procedures

Board of Trustees

Title I Family Involvement Policy

Nondiscrimination and Title IX Policy

Student and Family Handbook 2024-2025 Table of Contents Welcome to Uncommon Schools! 6 School Proﬁle 6 Educational Excellence 6 Family Partnership 6 Welcoming, Safe, and Supportive Environment 7 Core Values 7 Academics & Learning 8 Report Cards 8 Promotion and Retention Policies 9 Homework 11 Student Accommodation Policy 12 Student Attendance & Tardiness Policy 13 Logistics, Facilities, & Schedule 13 School-day Hours 13 Friday Dismissal 13 Snow Closings 13 Student Meals 13 Student Belongings 14 Enrichment Programs 15 Events & Celebrations 15 Fire Alarm 15 Health Policies 15 Illness and Return Policy 15 Administration of Care and Medication Policy 16 Immunization Policy 16 Additional Policies 17 Uniform 17 Social Media 17 Bus Behavior 17 Visitors 17 Family Communication 18 Student Records 18 High School Enrollment 20 Public Display of Affection 21 Code of Conduct 21 Introduction 21 Disciplinary Procedures 21 Procedures For Certain Types of Discipline 24 Gun Free Schools Act 27 Bullying 28 Harassment and Discrimination 28 Reporting and Investigation of Complaints 29 Substance Abuse Policy 30 Discipline of Students with Special Needs 30 Student Interviews and Searches 33 Student Use of Technology Policies 34 Use of Technology, Electronic Devices and Phones at School 34 Student Technology Acceptable Use Policy 35 Student Use of Technology Agreement 38 Appendix 41 High School Graduation Requirements 41 College Placement Program 41 Informal Complaint Procedures 42 Formal Complaint Procedures 42 Board of Trustees 42 Title I Family Involvement Policy 43 Nondiscrimination and Title IX Policy 46 4 Welcome to Uncommon Schools! Uncommon Schools (or “Uncommon”) starts and operates outstanding urban public schools that close the opportunity gap and prepare students from low-income communities to graduate from college. Our goal is to lead the best and highest performing K-12 schools in the nation. School Proﬁle North Star Academy Charter Schools (“North Star Academy” or the “School” when referring to individual schools) is a not-for-proﬁt network of free, public charter schools that serve over 6, 600 K-12 students in Newark. Each school shares the same mission of preparing students to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college. Believing that every child has a right to high-quality education and that a bachelor’s degree should be within reach for every young person in the nation, North Star Academy builds uncommonly great schools that offer a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum that cultivates our students’ passions and interestsand is infused with joy, love, and learning. Students are randomly selected by public lottery in grade K, and we maintain waiting lists through grade 12. Educational Excellence Uncommon Schools believes our students’ potential is limitless and we are proud of all our alumni have accomplished and become. We support our students to meet high standards of academic achievement through culturally responsive practices that ensure a joyful and rigorous academic learning environment. We meet our students where they are at and help them develop intellectually and emotionally, and through their own hard work and dedication. Our college acceptance and graduation rates are among the top in the country. Family Partnership Uncommon Schools is a community of students, families/guardians, teachers, staff, and school leaders. We believe in the importance of working together to make a positive impact on the academic and social-emotional growth of every child. Although the job of making decisions about school policy belongs to the Board of Trustees and the School Leader, family involvement is absolutely critical to the success of our students and the school. We appreciate our families’ active involvement in the education of their child. Uncommon Schools families/guardians are asked to: ● Prov

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Student and Family Handbook 2024-2025?

It provides guidance on expectations, policies, and support for students and families, including academic goals and community commitments within Uncommon Schools and North Star Academy Charter Schools.

How does the handbook describe the family partnership with the school?

It emphasizes shared responsibility among families, students, teachers, staff, and leaders, noting that family involvement is critical to students’ academic and social-emotional growth.

What areas of student policies are covered besides academics?

The handbook includes attendance and tardiness, homework, health and medication policies, enrichment and events, discipline procedures, technology use, and complaint procedures, along with related conduct and safety requirements.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Graffin