CLASSROOM VISITATION FOR PARENTS/CUSTODIANS

It is the belief of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education that parents should be actively involved in the education of their children. The Board further believes that the involvement should be constructive, related directly to the educational needs of students, and implemented in an orderly manner. It is expected that parents/custodians will request visits to classrooms regarding the instructional program. For this reason, the guidelines listed below will be followed:

Guidelines for Classroom Visitation

1. All students and school personnel will be protected under the Family Rights to Privacy Act.
2. Classes will not be disrupted and the visit will be made in an orderly manner.
3. All visitations will be scheduled with the principal and teacher prior to the anticipated date requested by the parents.
4. If parents/custodians wish to observe their child, they will notify the principal and schedule the appointment a minimum of 24-hours prior to the anticipated visit.
5. To insure the safety and security of students, each visitor will be required to register through the office and receive a visitor's badge.
6. Parents/Custodians will be permitted to visit classroom when approval is given through the principal's office.
7. Parents/Custodians will show proof of nontraditional or legal custody upon request from the principal.

School Administrative Procedures

1. Schedule appropriate appointments based upon guidelines and procedures.
2. Work with parents, teachers and students to insure a productive climate for visitation.
3. Follow all guidelines related to Due Process and the Family Right to Privacy Act.
4. Communicate with parents regarding matters related to curriculum, instruction and school administration.
5. Seek to involve parents in appropriate school activities.
6. Involve the teacher in the visitation process.
7. Provide visitation badges for parents who are scheduled for classroom visitation.
8. Keep appropriate records/documentation of all classroom visits and follow-up conferences.

Delegation of Parental Rights to Others

Existing policies and procedures encourage parents to be involved in the education of their children through conferences, classroom observation, and other activities. Although the Board believes it is best for parents to participate in these activities themselves, it recognizes that parents may sometimes be unavailable or may believe that they need assistance in carrying out these activities. Therefore, the Board adopts the following guidelines concerning the delegation of parents' rights to others.

1. Current Alabama law provides a procedure for the temporary delegation of parent rights to another person when a custodial parent will be unavailable for an extended period. The Board will honor such a delegation if it determines that the delegation conforms with that law. This determination must include a finding that the custodial parent is unavailable for an extended period due to travel, emergency or other cause.
2. If a parent delegates parent rights in a manner that does not come within paragraph one of this policy, the Board will honor such a delegation under the following conditions:
   • The intent of the delegation must be presented in writing and must show, to the Board's reasonable satisfaction, that the parent has signed it and intends to make the temporary delegation of parents' rights to another person.
   • The delegation must designate one individual authorized, as delegates, to act on behalf of the parents.
   • The delegation must describe the specific tasks or rights that the delegate is authorized to perform.
   • The delegation must identify an effective date and termination date, with the period covered by the delegation not to exceed six months or the end of the current school year, whichever comes first.
   • The delegation must specify whether the delegate is authorized to act without the parents' presence.
   • The delegate will not have rights greater than the parent and must comply with all policies and procedures while exercising the delegated rights.
   • The Board's recognition of the delegation is subject to any existing or future legal restrictions on its right to permit such a delegation. These restrictions specifically include limitations of the disclosure of records and other information about children.
   • The Board may refuse to honor the delegation, or withdraw its earlier consent to the delegation, whenever it determines, to its reasonable satisfaction, that the delegation is no longer in the best interest of the child.
3. A person who receives a delegation under either paragraph, one or two, may disclose any information obtained while using the delegated power only to the parent and child covered by the delegation. A person who receives delegations from more than one parent may not used information obtained about one child while exercising rights relating to another child.
   

Go back