So, then, the question becomes, how do I refer a student to the Middle School Learning Center?
The Middle School Learning Center student is referred by the School-Based Alternate School Committee. This committee shall determine that all alternatives (i.e., ALC, alternate scheduling, counseling, "time outs", etc.) have been exhausted in the traditional school setting before referral to the alternative school program has been requested. The committee composition shall be determined by the school.
A referral may be initiated by a teacher, parent, principal, or counselor. A referral form (found in the Referral Procedures Handbook) is to be completed by the person(s) referring and submitted to the principal.
The principal shall then form a committee and notify the members of the meeting date and time. The School Committee shall then consider each case on the referral form's criteria ONLY. A decision to refer the child to the Alternative School Governance Committee should reflect the thinking of the majority of the committee. In necessary cases, the principal may exercise authority to defer or to direct additional information to be gathered for further consideration. If the decision is to keep the student at his/ her home school, then an action plan must be formulated.
Upon reaching a decision to refer the student to the Middle School Learning Center Governance Committee, the principals shall notify, in writing, their respective Directors of Pupil Personnel who will coordinate the convening of the Middle School Learning Center Governance Committee only after the principal has completed the referral packet. Documentation supporting the referral must be sent to the Director of Pupil Personnel at this time for distribution to the Governance Committee members prior to the hearing.
The Governance Committee shall then decide each case on the criteria presented in the Procedures Handbook ONLY. A decision to place a student at the Middle School Learning Center shall be reached by consensus of the members. The chairperson, if upon determining that a consensus is not clear, may direct that additional information/ documentation be collected and presented to the committee.
If the Governance Committee's decision is to NOT place the student in the Middle School Learning Center, then the committee may take suggestions relative to the further intervention strategies of said student.
After receiving a decision for placement by the Governance Committee, the Middle School Learning Center Director shall convene a committee for orientation to the Middle School Learning Center program by meeting with the student, parents, and S.A.F.E. counselor to attend to details of transportation, curriculum, schedule, student policies, and an orientation to the facility and staff.
The Bowling Green and Warren County Boards of Education shall additionally retain the authority to directly place students into the Middle School Learning Center.
Placement into the Middle School Learning Center will be for an indeterminate length of time. The length of placement will vary according to the individual's progress. Periodic review of all placements will be conducted after one year. If the student does not show significant progress, then he/ she could be considered by the home district's Board of Education for expulsion.
After a minimum of 45 instructional days, a referral for
release may be initiated by the Middle School Learning Center
staff. The referral is to be submitted in writing to the Middle
School Learning Center Central Office Supervisor, along with
appropriate documentation. The Supervisor will then meet with
the staff in order to review the referral. If consensus to
release is reached, the recommendation shall be
forwarded to the Governance Committee for consideration. If
the Governance Committee approves the recommendation of the Middle
School Learning Center, then the student will be readmitted to his/
her home school.
If the Governance Committee concurs and recommends that the student returns to his/ her home school, then the student, the Director of the Middle School Learning Center, the student's S.A.F.E. counselor, and the principal and/or counselor of the home school shall meet with the parents and student to complete readmission to their home school. The orientation shall include a review of schedule, curriculum, transportation, student policies for pupils, and the school handbook.
The Governance Committee has the authority to set a date
after which no student may be considered for readmittance into his/
her home school or sent to the Middle School Learning Center.
The committee also has the authority to hold students at their home
school or at the Middle School Learning Center until such a time as
the committee feels the student can be oriented smoothly
academically.
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