Students at AHS are well into the school year, and that means questions beyond what is covered in class orientations are starting to surface. These are questions the ASD Handbook should be able to answer, but too often it only creates more confusion. While the school calendar is easy to locate, other important information is buried in 150 pages with an inconsistent table of contents. Families who turn to the ASD Handbook expecting clarity instead find a document with poor organization that makes it frustrating, time-consuming, and at times infuriating to navigate.

The ASD handbook can be found on the school’s website or by searching for it directly on Google; however, it can still be hard to open. Sometimes clicking on the document title or the image won’t open it, and you have to select “view in Drive.” Even if you manage to open the document, it is still 150 pages long without hyperlinks in the table of contents, which sometimes lists incorrect page numbers.

Below, I have compiled some of the information I have found myself searching for, so hopefully it can answer questions you may have and save you at least 20 minutes of navigating page numbers and jargony topic titles.

Student Dress Code

Although a dress code is hardly ever enforced, there are different ones for the elementary, middle, and high schools. This information can be found on pages 8-11, with the AHS section located on page 11. I will include a summary of the AHS dress code below.

The dress code is designed to prevent distractions in classrooms while still allowing students to express themselves. There is a three-strike policy, which becomes increasingly harsh with each subsequent violation of the dress code. On the first strike, students will be asked to change, and if they cannot do so in a timely manner, their parents will be contacted. For the second offense, students will be required to work from the front office for the day, and a conference will be held with their parents. The third time, the student will face suspension or other disciplinary action. Notable rules within the dress code are that students must wear shoes and may not wear anything with offensive or inappropriate connotations, such as pictures of substances or offensive language. Additionally, they may not expose an inappropriate amount of skin.

Drug and Alcohol Involvement

Beginning on page 27, this section details what the school considers a drug and school jurisdiction. Also, the possession of drug paraphernalia is punishable. The document also outlines the disciplinary actions for possessing and distributing such substances. On the first offense of substance possession, the student will be suspended for 3-10 days, depending on whether or not they complete a drug/alcohol education or intervention program at their family’s expense. The second offense has a maximum suspension of 10 days and the possibility of expulsion. The suspension can be reduced to a minimum of five days if the student undergoes a drug/alcohol evaluation and completes a treatment plan. On the third offense, the student will be recommended for expulsion. The actions taken regarding the distribution of substances are much more severe, with the first offense involving a minimum 5-day suspension, a recommendation for expulsion, and a report to local law enforcement.

Overall, the handbook stresses a zero-tolerance policy and the necessity of parents and the community being involved in the prevention of underage substance abuse for the health and safety of the whole district.

Student Use of Cell Phones and Other Personal Technology Devices

Pages 41 and 42 will be mostly a review for students at AHS; however, a few things I found interesting were:

A personal device is referred to as a “PTD”.

A walkie-talkie is considered a personal device and not technically allowed…

The principal is authorized to designate specific times and locations where students may use their personal devices.

Before the phone ban, devices with the potential of being used for recording were not allowed in restrooms, which is ironic because now the restroom is the main place people use their personal devices.

Grading/Assessment Systems

Despite what the table of contents states, the sections on Grading and Assessment Systems actually begin on page 94 (not 96) and go through page 97. This section is somewhat counterintuitive because it primarily defines State testing. The main takeaways are that the school is required to administer State Assessments in English language arts, math, science, and social studies, and that the parent exemption must be renewed annually.

Many people may think this is where they should look to find the high school’s grade scales (what is the difference between an A and an A-); however, they are nowhere to be found. Grade boundaries are in the course of study and defined (in percentages) as such:

A=94-100

A-=90-93

B+=88-89

B=83-87

B-=80-82

C+=78-79

C=73-77

C-=70-72

D+=68-69

D=63-67

D-=60-62

F=50-59

Attendance

The next biggest concern for students, after grades, is attendance. The section “STUDENT ABSENCES AND EXCUSES,” which actually starts on page 102, not page 104 as stated in the table of contents, explains why the district and state find attendance important and explains what an excused absence is.

An excused absence could be:

“1 . A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance on a prearranged basis. Prearranged absences shall be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only, which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours.

2. A student who is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental, or emotional disability.

3. A student who is pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of the school.

4. A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by the administration.

5. A student who is suspended or expelled.” Said the Aspen School District Handbook

An unexcused absence is anything that does not fall under one of the definitions above.

Calendar

The calendar is on the third page of the handbook and has its own tab on the school website. The big dates to know are:

Winter break for students begins on December 19, and they return to school on January 5.

Spring Break is March 30th-April 6th.

The last day of school for seniors is May 15th.

The last day of school for the rest of the high school is May 22.

Graduation is on May 23.

It is important to recognize that the handbook is a state requirement and is updated every year. The state requirements explain the confusing section titles since they are following a state outline that is based in law requirements. Law terminology can be difficult for most people to read. The yearly updates could also explain the inconsistent page numbering; however, that also shows a lack of effort. Now, hopefully, you have a better understanding of what the school expects from students, without having to navigate 150 mismarked pages.