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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: I just moved to the district. How do I register my child for school?
A: Children may be registered for school by their
parent or legal guardian. To enroll in kindergarten, children must
be 5 years old prior to September 1. The district offers early entrance screening for children who turn 5 years old (for kindergarten) or 6 years old (for first grade) by the end of December. If you have questions, or to apply for a screening, please contact Ranae Kauffman at 480-484-8614. In addition,
parents must provide the following information when registering
their children:
-
Verifiable immunization records. The school will notify you if further immunizations are required for compliance with state law.
- Original birth certificate.
- Proof of residency in our attendance area,
such as a utility bill with parent’s name and address or
a rent receipt or lease agreement. A driver’s license or
check book will not be accepted.
- Report card or withdrawal form from previous
school. If you do not have either of these items, a call will
be made to the previous school for grade verification. For high
school students, transcripts from school(s) previously attended
are extremely helpful at the time of registration in order to
properly place students in academic classes.
Q: Where do I go to register my child?
A: Registration takes place at the school office.
Q: What are the dates of registration?
A: Registration is ongoing. During summer months, please
check with the school office for schedules.
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Q: Does my
child need to be immunized to attend school in Scottsdale Unified
School District?
A: Yes. Arizona law requires written proof of immunity
against certain childhood diseases. Registrations will not be accepted
unless all immunizations are up to date and you have proper records.
There are no exceptions. Proof of immunization could include a doctor's
medical records or an immunization booklet.
You may call Maricopa County Health at 602-506-6767
for information on obtaining immunizations.
Q: What are the immunization requirements
for the 2007-08 school year?
A: The 2007-08 immunization requirements are:
Preschool entry:
- At least four Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
(DTaP or DTP or DT).
- At least three Polio (OPV).
- Two Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR).
- Two Hepatitis A (hep A or HAV) or series started.
- Three Hepatitis B (hep B or HBV) or series
started.
- One - four Haemophilus Influenzae type b
(Hib).
- One Varicella or history of chickenpox disease.
Kindergarten, first -12th grade entry:
- At least four Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
(DTaP or DTP or DT)
or three - four Diphtheria/Tetanus Td.
- At least three Polio (OPV).
- Two Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR).
- Three Hepatitis B (hep B or HBV) or series
started.
- One Tdap vaccine at age 11 years and older if 5 year or more have passed since last diphtheria/tetanus dose.
Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th and 9th grades only:
- One Varicella or history of chickenpox disease.
The Arizona School/Child Care Immunization Law
allows exemptions for medical reasons or if immunizations are contrary
to the personal beliefs of the parent or guardian. Medical exemptions
require an exemption form, signed by both the physician and a parent, that is submitted to the school. This form should specify the reason
for and duration of the exemption. Exemption forms may be obtained
from the schools.
Note: Haemophilus Influenzae
type b (Hib), is an infant vaccine required for preschool entry
only. Do not confuse Hib with the hepatitis B vaccine (HBV).
For more information about Heath Services, please
visit: http://www.susd.org/district/studentservices/healthserv.htm
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Q: Does my child’s
school have a Web site I can visit?
A: Yes. All of Scottsdale schools have a school
Web site. You can access the school Web sites at: http://www.susd.org/district/ourschools/index.cfm
Q: Does the district offer free full-day kindergarten?
A: Yes, the district offers free full-day kindergarten at all elementary schools.
Q: Do any of
your schools offer preschool programs?
A: Yes. For the 2007-2008
school year Hohokam, Tavan, Tonalea and Yavapai will offer the Scottsdale
Unified School District Title I Preschool Academy. Below are the
requirements for the program:
- Child resides within the boundaries
of the Scottsdale Unified
School District.
- Child turns four on or before Sept. 1, 2007.
- Child is potty-trained.
- Family qualifies for district free/reduced
meal program.
- Child is currently not enrolled in another
educational program.
- Child must score appropriately on the AGS
assessment.
For more information, please view the the Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/currinstruction/supp.cfm or call
Shelley Pappas, Preschool Academy Coordinator at 484-480-8032.
Q: What time
does my child’s school start and end?
A: Start and release times
are listed on the district Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/forparents/schooltimes.cfm
Q: What day
will school start for 2007-2008 school year?
A: The 2007-2008 school year begins Monday, August 13, 2007, and ends Wednesday, May 28, 2008. The 2008-2009 school year begins Monday, August 11, 2008 and ends Wednesday, May 27, 2009.
Q: Where can
I find elementary and middle school lunch menus?
A: Lunch menus are posted on the district Web site
at: http://www.susd.org/district/nutritionalservices/lunch.cfm
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Q: How do I
know which school my child will attend?
A: You can find your child’s school by visiting
our Web site at:
www.susd.org/district/facilities/boundarymap.cfm.
If you still have trouble locating your child’s school, please
contact the Communications Department at at 480-484-6100.
Q: Which Scottsdale
school would my child attend if we live in the unorganized territory?
A: Your child can attend Copper Ridge Elementary, Copper Ridge
Middle or Saguaro High schools. However, you can choose to send
your child to any school that has space available in your child's
grade by applying for Open Enrollment. For more information about
the Open Enrollment process, please scroll down to the Open Enrollment
section of the FAQs.
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Q: Where is
my child’s bus stop located?
A: Bus schedules are posted on our Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/ourschools/index.cfm and at each school.
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Q: Can I enroll
my child in a school other than his or her designated school?
A: Yes. Please see the Open Enrollment policy for timelines and eligibility. Open enrollment packets will be made available December 1 of each year and thereafter at each school site and online at www.susd.org. The information materials include the enrollment application form and the date in January by which the applications must be submitted.
Q: Does the Open Enrollment process
end with the
January
deadline?
A: No, Open Enrollment does not end with the January deadline. The purpose of the deadline is to ensure a fair and systematic approach to processing applications and selecting students for open enrollment where space is limited.
All applications received by the deadline within each category are evaluated according to the district policy.
After the deadline, applications for Open Enrollment are accepted and approved on a first-come first-served basis as long as space and staffing are available at the grade level.
Q: If my child is accepted at a
school through the Open Enrollment process, will the school district
provide transportation from my home?
A: No, the school district will not provide transportation to and from school if your child attends school outside of his or her designated school.
Q: Once my child is accepted in the
Open Enrollment process, do I have to re-apply every year?
A:
No. Once a student is accepted through Open Enrollment there is no need to reapply. Please see the Open Enrollment policy for more information.
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Q: Does SUSD have a Gifted Program?
A: Yes, SUSD has a Gifted Program. The gifted education
program is designed to provide appropriate services for students
who require differentiated educational programs and/or services
beyond those normally provided by the regular school program. The
program complies with Arizona Law that mandates that school districts
identify gifted students as those scoring at the 97th percentile
on a state approved test of reasoning ability. All students scoring
at the 97th percentile or above on any one of the three batteries
of the Cognitive Abilities Test, or on any other appropriate test
administered by SUSD personnel, will qualify for placement. To learn
more about our Gifted Program, log on to: http://www.susd.org/district/gifted/index.cfm
Q: What is
the test like?
A: This is a timed, multiple choice test with an
electronically scored answer sheet on which students indicate
their choices. The choices are assigned letters A through Z so
that students cannot accidentally skip a question and invalidate
the test results.
The Verbal Battery is made up of three sub
tests: verbal classification (students select the word that belongs
to the same category as the sample words), sentence completion and
verbal analogies (i.e. hat is to head as sock is to foot). This
battery provides a reliable measure of verbal abstract reasoning
and problem solving skills.
The Quantitative Battery is composed of quantitative relations (comparison
of two quantities as greater than, less than or equal… involving money,
measurement, time, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division,
fractions and geometry), number patterns (i.e., 2, 4, 6, 8, _ ),
and equation building (students are given several numbers and signs
in random order and are instructed to put them in a sequence that
will result in one of the multiple choice answers). To a large extent
a student's performance on this battery is dependent upon flexibility
in using quantitative concepts.
The Nonverbal Battery is composed of figure
classification (students select the figure that has a common attribute
from three sample figures), figure analogies and figure analysis
(students look at pictures of a folded piece of paper with holes
punched in it and visualize what it would look like unfolded).
The items on these sub tests involve neither words nor numbers.
This portion of the test provides an opportunity for students who
process information in a holistic way to show how well they reason.
This test is not designed to identify students who have high aptitudes
in the areas of athletics, leadership, creativity, fine arts, performing
arts, music, or interpersonal skills. Many students who score high
on this test have these aptitudes, as do many students who score
low on this test.
Q: If my child
did qualify for the gifted program in a previous school district,
how can I transfer the records to the Scottsdale school my child
is now attending?
A: Please fill out the Release of Confidential Information
form that is available on the Web site under "Gifted Handbook"
forms. Mail it to the former school district, and they will send
the records directly to our district. Gifted records are not sent
with your child's regular file. For more information about the Gifted
Program, please visit our Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/gifted/index.cfm
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Q: Does your school district offer an
International Baccalaureate (IB) program?
A: Yes. Scottsdale school’s IB program offers students
an exciting and rigorous pre-university course of studies in high
school. This is a challenging program which stresses critical thinking and
written and oral communication skills and emphasizes an international
perspective. IB offers the student the opportunity to take honors
classes with weighted grades across all content areas. Students
take exams at the end of their course work and may earn college
credit at their university.
Q: How can
my child qualify for the IB program?
A: To qualify, students within the SUSD boundary
should have completed the following by the end of their sophomore
year:
- Three years of math (some may be taken in
middle school).
- Three years of Spanish or French (the first
year may be taken in eighth grade).
- Two years of science.
- Two years of language arts.
- Two years of electives such as art or music.
- Two years of social studies.
For more information on the IB program, visit
our Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/currinstruction/ibprogram.cfm
Q: Which high
schools offer the IB program?
A: Desert Mountain High School is the only school
in the district that offers the IB program. The school district
does provide transportation to and from school for IB students.
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Q: Does SUSD have a Special
Education program?
A: Yes, SUSD has a Special Education program. Our well-trained
professional special educators effectively serve a broad range of
disabled students through individualized planning and instruction.
Q: What types of specialists serve students
with special needs?
A: Specialists serving our students with disabilities include
special education certified teachers, psychologists, speech-language
pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, music
therapists, teacher specialists, sign language interpreters, and
paraeducators trained to serve students who are at least three
but less than twenty two years of age and who have at least one of the
following conditions: autism/autism spectrum disorder; emotional
disability; hearing impairment; other health impairments; specific
learning disability; mild, moderate or severe mental retardation;
multiple disabilities; multiple disabilities with severe sensory
impairment; orthopedic impairment; speech/language impairment; traumatic
brain injury; visual impairment; preschool moderate delay; preschool
severe delay; preschool speech/language delay.
Q: What types of related services does
the school district offer for special education students?
A: The Special Education Department includes professionals
who specialize in working with students who have various disabilities
and may need related services. Related services may include speech
therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, adapted physical
education and assistive technology. Students must meet eligibility
requirements to enroll in a Special Education program. To learn
more about the Special Education Department, please visit the Web site: http://www.susd.org/district/studentservices/speced.cfm
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Q: What is the curriculum for elementary,
middle and high school?
Elementary School
Curriculum
Each elementary school in the Scottsdale School
Unified District offers its students a challenging academic program,
as well as opportunities for the development of social and leadership
skills. Students learn and apply basic academic skills in language
arts, mathematics, science, health and social studies. They also
participate in physical education, art and music classes each week.
Beginning in the fourth grade, they have the opportunity to participate
in band and orchestra classes.
The district's core curriculum is implemented
in each school using a variety of instructional methods which may
vary from school to school. Additional information concerning the
instructional strategies used at individual school sites is available
at each elementary school.
The elementary schools in the Coronado and Saguaro
complexes include kindergarten through sixth grade, while those
in the Desert Mountain, Chaparral and Arcadia complexes include
kindergarten through fifth grade. The Arcadia Neighborhood Learning
Center (ANLC) and Cheyenne Traditional include kindergarten through
eighth grade.
Middle School Curriculum
The middle school program is designed to meet
the academic, social and emotional needs of the emerging adolescent.
This middle school philosophy is demonstrated through the learning
opportunities at each school.
The following academic courses are essential
for every middle school student:
- Language Arts.
- Mathematics.
- Science/health.
- Social Studies.
- Humanities/reading for sixth, seventh and
eighth graders
In addition, elective and/or exploratory classes
are offered which include chorus, band, orchestra, foreign language,
visual or studio art, life management, yearbook production, computer
technology, industrial technology, drama and dance. Offerings will
vary from school to school depending on student interest, community
needs and availability of staff and facilities.
High School Curriculum
The high schools offer an educational program
that includes advanced placement and honors classes; a comprehensive
core for English, mathematics, science, social studies and history;
foreign languages; computer education; fine arts; physical education;
industrial technology; home economics and business classes.
Twenty-two credits are required for graduation.
More detailed information about individual classes and programs
can be found in the High School Planning Guide.
School clubs, community service activities
and interscholastic sports are also part of the high school experience.
Information about these activities and offerings may be obtained
by calling the individual schools whose numbers are published on
the back of the High School Planning Guide.
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Q: What types of programs does the Community
Schools Department offer?
A: The Community Schools Department has many programs,
including Evening School, High School Academic Summer School, Elementary and Middle School
Summer Camps, Athletic Sports Camps,
SUSD Kids Club and Community Schools after school programs. For
more information about these programs, please visit http://www.susd.org/district/communityschools/index.cfm
or call the Community Schools Department at 480-484-8614.
Summer School
Q: Does Scottsdale
schools offer summer school for students?
A: Yes, Scottsdale schools offer Summer School courses
for students. Each session counts as a semester credit (.5). For
one full credit, both sessions will need to be taken.
Q: Does Scottsdale
schools charge for summer school classes?
A: Yes, SUSD does charge for Summer School.
Evening School
Q: Do you offer
evening school for students who want to earn extra credits or to
catch up?
A: Yes. Community Schools offers evening school
classes for the spring semester. Students can take
additional credit courses or replacement credit courses. The classes
are three hours long and carry a 0.5 high school credit per session.
Athletic Camps
Q: Does SUSD have summer athletic camps?
A: Yes. The Community Schools Department offers summer
athletic camps. These camps are at all five of our high schools:
Arcadia, Chaparral, Coronado, Desert Mountain and Saguaro.
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Q: I’m
a former graduate of Scottsdale Schools. Where can I obtain my transcripts?
A: Graduates from 1996 to present should go to
http://www.docufide.com to request an official transcript. Graduates
prior to 1996 have to contact the Registrar of their high school.
Please note: If you do not have access to the Internet, Registrars
will help you by allowing you to pay at the school bookstore
and look up the transcripts for you.
Q: How much
do transcripts cost?
A: Transcripts for graduates from 1997 to present
cost $5 per transcript. Transcripts for graduates prior to 1997
cost $10 per transcript. Please note: Docufide requires the use
of a credit card. If you do not have a credit card, Registrars will
help you by allowing you to pay at the school bookstore
and look up the transcripts for you.
Q: What are
the phone numbers of the school Registrars?
A: Below is a list of Registrar’s
phone numbers.
- Arcadia: 480-484-6306.
- Chaparral: 484-484- 6516.
- Coronado: 480-484-6812.
- Desert Mountain: 484-484-7020.
- Saguaro: 480-484-7113.
- Scottsdale: 480-484-8661.
Q: I graduated
prior to 1992. Can I get a copy of my immunization records with
my transcripts?
A: No. Unfortunately Scottsdale Unified School District
was not required to keep copies of immunization records prior to
1992.
Q: My child
is transferring to another school district. How do I obtain my child’s
elementary and/or middle school records?
A: The new school will have you sign an authorization
to release records. We will handle the transfer of records by mail.
To enroll your child at any school, you will need to provide a certified
copy of his/her birth certificate and proof of current immunizations
at the time of enrollment.
For questions regarding elementary
and middle school students who have withdrawn, please contact Arlene Tenaglia at 480-484-8661
or atenaglia@susd.org
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Q: Does SUSD offer a program for English Language Learners?
A: Yes. The Scottsdale Unified School District has EIS Resource Teacher(s) at every site. Each teacher has been trained in meeting the individual needs of our English Language Learners.
Q: How does a child qualify for the EIS Program?
A: Every student who has been identified during the registration process as having a primary home language other than English will be tested. The Stanford English Language Proficiency Test will be used to determine whether or not a student qualifies as an English Language Learner.
Q: How does the EIS Program work?
A: Every site has an EIS program. The model for implementation varies from Elementary to Middle to High School, in order to meet the diverse needs of our students. For more information, visit the site: http://www.susd.org/EIS/
Q: Does the EIS program offer classes for parents and activities for families?
A: Yes, there are parenting and English classes available for SUSD parents. In addition, there are several events and activities for SUSD families. More information is available at the site: http://www.susd.org/district/EIS/for_parents.cfm
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