11-School-Policies-and-Their-Functions.pdf

SCHOOL POLICIES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS INTRODUCTION Schools are institutions motivated by a shared vision. Necessarily, schools must have policies for them to realize their vision and mission. These policies are a reflection of the values of the people who created them. Whatever policies are f...

SCHOOL POLICIES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS INTRODUCTION Schools are institutions motivated by a shared vision. Necessarily, schools must have policies for them to realize their vision and mission. These policies are a reflection of the values of the people who created them. Whatever policies are formulated must redound to the improved teaching-learning of learners which is the very reason of the existence of schools. In this Chapter, we will focus on school policies that govern school and community partnership. What is school POLICIES? Educational policies are rules that are intended to help schools teach students efficiently, fairly and safely as per the regulatory norms, and the Board to which the Institution is affiliated. School policies are put in place to guide the day-to-day functioning of the school as well as to make it safe and an effective place for learning to occur. School Policies means the policies of the School from time to time, as each may be amended, replaced or otherwise revised from time to time for legal, safety or other substantive reasons, or in order to assist the proper administration of the School. IMPORTANCE OF POLICIES 1. Policies are important because they help a school establish operating procedures and create standards of quality for learning and teaching, as well as set out expectations and accountability. Without these, schools would lack the structure and function necessary to provide the educational needs of students. 2. Schools in partnership with their community have their own picture of what they want to be (vision statement) and so must offer services and must do what they are supposed to do (mission statement) in order to realize what they envisioned themselves to be. For these to happen, policies must be in place. 3. Observance of these policies ensures everyone in the school community to tow the line. If conditions are ideal like when all members of the school community are perfect, school heads, teachers, students, parents, non-teaching personnel and other members of the outside community, there may be no need for a policy. Examples of School Policies 1. Attendance 2. Bullying 3. Bringing of Cellphone 4. Dress code 5. Conduct 6. Discipline 7. Respect to teachers and administrator 8. Grading System 9. Wearing of ID and uniform 10. Collection and contribution  POLICY ON COLLECTION OF CONTRIBUTIONS Cognizant of the need of an organization for adequate funds to sustain its operations, a duly recognized PTA may collect voluntary financial contributions from members and outside sources to enable it to fund and sustain its operation and the implementation of its programs and projects exclusively for the benefit of the students and the school where it operates. The PTA’s programs and projects shall be in line with the School Improvement Plan (SIP). 1. The contributions should be a reasonable amount as may be determined by the PTA Board of Diretors; 2. Non-payment of the contributions by the parent-member shall not be a basis for non-admission or non-issuance of clearance(s) to the child by the school concerned; 3. The contributions shall be collected by the PTA Treasurer on a per parent-member basis regardless of the number of their children in school; 4. No collection of PTA contributions shall be done during the enrollment period; and 5. No teacher or any school personnel shall be involved in such collection activities. 6. Safekeeping of Funds All collections of contributions or proceeds of fundraising activities shall be deposited in a reputable banking institution as determined by the Board of Directors. The PTA’s Treasurer or a duly authorized representative shall undertake the collection and shall issue official receipts/acknowledgement receipts. In no case shall any school official or personnel be entrusted with the safekeeping and disbursement of collections made by the PTA. All disbursements of funds shall be in accordance with generally accepted accounting and auditing rules and regulations.  PTAs ARE PROHIBITED FROM: 1. Interfering in the academic and administrative management and operations of the school, and of the DepED, in general; 2. Engaging in any partisan political activity within school premises; 3. Operating a canteen/school supplies store, or being a concessionaire thereof inside the school or nearby premises, or offering these services to the school as its client either directly or indirectly; 4. Selling insurance, pre-need plans or similar schemes or programs to students and/or their parents; and 5. Such other acts or circumstances analogous to the foregoing. 6. PTA Officers and members of the Board of Directors are prohibited from collecting salaries, honoraria, emoluments or other forms of compensation from any of the funds collected or received by the PTA. 7. PTAs shall have no right to disburse, or charge any fees as service fees or percentages against the amount collected pertinent to the School Publication Fee, Supreme Student Government (SSG) Developmental Fund and other club membership fees and contributions. 8. In no case shall a PTA or any of its officers or members of the Board of Directors call upon students and teachers for purposes of investigation or disciplinary action. Example of Grading Scale Importance of Grading System  School’s policy on the grading system is important for everyone concerned to know how grades are computed. Both students and parents know how grades are derived objectively. Percentage weights for each component are clear.  Teachers are guided in their assessment practices. The grading policy ensures objective assessment practice. Without the grading policy, grading may become highly subjective.  Similarly, if there are no policies on students’ tardiness and absenteeism, students may just come in late or absent.  Teacher avoid biases in giving high grades and honors. EFFECTIVE POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION IN A SCHOOL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. EFFECTIVE POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION IN A SCHOOL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. 1. The policies on grading, student tardiness an absenteeism came from above, DepEd Central office. At times there is need for policies from above. But policies do not need to come from above all the time. 2. There are times when a school formulates a policy to address a local problem. In fact, this is how it should be in a school- community partnership. 3. Ideally, a policy must not be formulated by the school head by himself/herself. The school head must lead in the policy formulation process. 4. The word “lead” implies that an effective policy formulation process must be participatory. This means that it is best that the rest of the school and community be involved. Two good heads are better than one. 5. Aside from involving the school and community in policy formulation, a school head must ensure wide dissemination and correct and clear understanding of the policy.