7570 - Safe Public School Choice Option to Students who are Victims of a Violent Criminal Offense

Policy: Safe Public School Choice Option to Students who are Victims of a Violent Criminal Offense	Policy Number: 7570
Date of Original Policy: 07/10/2002	Date Revision Adopted: 07/08/2020
Reviewed by Policy Committee: 06/17/2020	Date of Next Review: 04/26/2023
Replacement of Policy Number:

Any District student who is a victim of a violent criminal offense, as defined pursuant to Education Law and Commissioner's Regulations, that occurred on the grounds of the District elementary or secondary school that the student attends, shall be allowed to attend a safe public school within the School District to the extent required by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and state law and regulations.
 
In accordance with Commissioner's Regulations, a "safe public school shall mean a public school that has not been designated by the Commissioner [of Education] as a persistently dangerous public elementary or secondary school."
 
Violent Criminal Offense
 
The Superintendent shall determine if the student has been the victim of a "violent criminal offense."  "Violent criminal offense" means a crime that:
   
Determination Whether Student is a Victim
 
Procedures shall be established for determination by the Superintendent of whether a student is a victim of a violent criminal offense that occurred on school grounds of the school the student attends. The Superintendent shall, prior to making any such determination, consult with any law enforcement agency investigating the alleged violent criminal incident and consider any reports or records provided by such agency. However, a criminal conviction is not required prior to the Superintendent's determination that a student has been a victim of a violent criminal offense. The Superintendent may also consult with the school attorney prior to making such determination.
 
The Superintendent's determination may be appealed to the Board of Education. However, this determination will not preclude any student disciplinary proceeding brought against the alleged victim or perpetrator of such violent criminal offense.

Notice to Parents/Persons in Parental Relation
 
A school district that is required to provide school choice in accordance with applicable provisions of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Education Law and Commissioner's Regulations, shall establish procedures for notification of parents of, or persons in parental relation to, students who are victims of violent criminal offenses of their right to transfer to a safe public school within the District and procedures for such transfer. Such notice shall be, to the extent practicable, provided in the dominant language or mode of communication used by the parents or persons in parental relation to such student. The School District shall so notify the parents of, or persons in parental relation to, such student within twenty-four (24) hours of the determination that the student has been the victim of a violent criminal offense on school grounds at the school he/she attends.
 
Written notice shall be provided by personal delivery, express mail delivery, or equivalent means reasonably calculated to assure receipt of such notice within twenty-four (24) hours of such determination at the last known address or addresses of the parents/persons in parental relation to the student. Where possible, notification shall also be provided by telephone if the school has been provided with a telephone number(s) for the purpose of contacting parents/persons in parental relation.
 
However, such notification shall not be required where there are no other public schools within the District at the same grade level or a transfer to a safe public school within the School District is otherwise impossible.  Similarly, procedures for such notification of parents/persons in parental relation to students who are victims of violent criminal offenses shall not be required where the School District has only one public school within the District or only one public school at each grade level.
 
Designation of Safe Public School
 
It shall be the responsibility of the School District, based on objective criteria, to designate a safe public school or schools within the District to which students may transfer.  However, the District is not required to designate a safe public school where there are no other public schools within the District at the same grade level or transfer to a safe public school within the District is otherwise impossible.  Similarly, if the District has only one public school within the School System or only one public school at each grade level, the School District shall not be required to designate a safe public school.
 
Any student who transfers to a safe public school, in accordance with the provisions of this policy and applicable law and regulation, shall be enrolled in the classes and other activities of the public school to which such student transfers in the same manner as all other  students at the public school.  The receiving school shall be identified by the District and must be at the same grade level as the school from which the student is transferring.

To the extent possible the School District shall allow transferring students to transfer to a school that is making adequate yearly progress and has not been identified as requiring school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring. The District shall provide transportation for any student permitted to transfer to the safe public school within the District designated by the School System within the transportation limits established pursuant to Education Law Sections 3635 and 4401(4). Any student who transfers to a safe public school shall be permitted to remain in such safe public school until the student has completed the highest grade level in the school transferred to, or for such other period prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education, whichever is less.
 
While the parents/persons in parental relation to the student must be offered the opportunity to transfer their child, they may elect to have the child remain at the school he/she currently attends.
 

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Education Law Section 2802(7)
8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations
(NYCRR) Section 120.5