< Handbook Overview

The Roosevelt School District highly values our families and the greater South Phoenix community. As our vision states, we are a community united to create better futures for all through education.

We welcome visitors to all Roosevelt District schools and value partnerships with our families and community. For the safety of our students, all visitors must respect the campus’s visitor guidelines and procedures. This includes signing in at the front office, providing identification when requested, wearing a visitor’s badge, and following the direction of school staff regarding entering campus.

Roosevelt schools utilize a digital visitor management system, which screens all visitors through the sex offender database and student information system to ensure their safety on campus.

If a parent or guardian intends to visit their child’s classroom, it is recommended that they arrange their visit with the teacher or school office staff at least one day in advance to ensure there are no conflicts. Visitors who are not listed parents or guardians must have the school principal's permission before entering campus.

Campus volunteers are valuable to our schools because they support student success. For the safety of our students, all volunteers who are not the parent or guardian of a student at the school must complete a volunteer application and background check.

During the school year, specific dates have been set aside for parents to schedule official conferences. Specific dates can be found on the district calendar. Roosevelt teachers will be happy to discuss your child’s progress whenever you feel it is necessary. Please contact your child’s teacher or the school office staff to schedule an appointment.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords parents and students over 18 years of age (eligible students) certain rights concerning the student’s education records. They are:

The District hereby elects to refrain from designating personally identifiable information in a student’s education records as “directory information.”

In addition, the district must comply with a request by a military recruiter or an institution of higher education for a secondary student’s name, address and telephone number unless the parent or eligible student has opted out of providing such information by giving written notice to the district that such information should not be made public without prior consent.

FERPA affords outside agencies certain rights concerning the student’s education records. They are:

The student file contains a student’s educational records, which consist of two significant areas: permanent records (e.g., grades, attendance, health records) and discipline records. A student’s academic records will be forwarded to any school that requests those records if the student seeks or intends to enroll in that school. The records will be forwarded to schools inside and outside the district. Student disciplinary records for any suspension or expulsion, as state and federal law require, will be included.

The district destroys all psychological and special education records of students five years after those students have been removed from special education, have been withdrawn from the district, or have graduated. The parent or emancipated student may obtain these records, rather than having them destroyed, by submitting a written request to the Roosevelt School District.

In cases where a student’s parenting plan affects the district, the school will follow the most recent court order on file with the district. It is the responsibility of the persons with legal decision-making to provide the district with the most recent court order. Schools should not be placed in the middle of disputes regarding parenting time and parenting plans.

All Roosevelt schools welcome students from out-of-area provided there is space available in classrooms or specialized programs. As part of the Open Enrollment process, the family and student agree to the following:

• Prompt and regular school attendance

• Adherence to district and school rules

• Safe and appropriate transportation to and from school is provided by the family

The Roosevelt School District website provides current capacities of a school’s classrooms and specialized programs, along with Open Enrollment resources. Families must sign and return the Open Enrollment Agreement each year prior to the first day of school.

The Roosevelt School District does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment, in its educational programs or activities. Inquiries concerning Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504, and the Americans with Disabilities Act may be referred to the:

Office for Civil Rights
US Department of Education
1244 Spear Boulevard
Denver, C.O. 80204

If you think your preschool-age child may have speech or other delays, please call 602-243-4866 to make an appointment for screening. Children as young as two-and-a-half years old may participate in hearing, vision and developmental screening to determine if further evaluation is necessary. Eligible children with significant delays will be offered enrollment in free special education programs in the district.

Roosevelt School District partners with families to address concerns and solve problems. When issues cannot be resolved informally, families are encouraged to contact the school and schedule an appointment to meet with an administrator. A scheduled meeting ensures that the appropriate amount of time is protected for a productive conversation.

If the school cannot resolve the concern, the Roosevelt School District has a formal complaint process. Families can call or visit the district office or visit their child’s campus to obtain a Parent and Community Complaint Form. Completed forms can be emailed or hand-delivered to the district office, where the formal complaint process will be initiated. Whenever possible, the first step in the formal resolution process will be with the school or department where the complaint originated. This allows the people directly involved in the situation to be part of the resolution.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvement Act of 2001 defines homeless children and youth as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Eligible students may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act. In the Roosevelt School District, we are committed to supporting all students, including students and families experiencing homelessness. Roosevelt provides an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect. Every student experiencing homelessness shall have access to the same free and appropriate educational opportunities as students who are not homeless. We work diligently to ensure students have everything they need to be successful and strive to eliminate barriers. If you believe your student may be eligible or need assistance, please contact our District McKinney-Vento coordinator at 602-243-4834.

State law requires all employees who, when acting in the scope of their employment, develop a reasonable belief that a child is or has been a victim of child abuse to immediately report it to the Arizona Department of Child Safety or police. Reports of child abuse are confidential records.

There may be a time when a law enforcement officer or Department of Child Safety official may ask to interview a student at school. If the purpose of the interview is to investigate child abuse or neglect, the school cannot notify the parent without law enforcement or DCS authorization. In all other cases, the school will reasonably inform the parent. After reasonable efforts to notify the parent, the school will allow the interview unless the student does not wish to be interviewed or wishes to speak with the parent first. The school must comply with the request if the officer or DCS official wishes to take a student into custody. The school will notify the parent unless directed to refer the parent to law enforcement or DCS.