District Notices

In compliance with Washington Administrative Code 392-400, this is to notify parents that a complete copy of Student Rights and Responsibilities is available upon request from the principal of each school in the district. This document includes student responsibilities and duties, student rights, attendance policies, corrective actions, suspension and expulsion procedures, appeals procedures, sexual harassment, bullying, and other prohibited conduct. The NTPS Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook is also available on the NTPS website at https://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/handbook. Contact your school for a printed copy. All district policies are available on our website at https://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/policies.

North Thurston Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights Coordinator
studentachievement@nthurston.k12.wa.us
360-412-4466

Title IX Officer
executivedirectorHR@nthurston.k12.wa.us
360-412-4457

Section 504 Coordinator
504@nthurston.k12.wa.us
360-412-4465.

Address: 305 College Street NE, Lacey, WA 98516.

In compliance with Washington Administrative Code 392-172A-02040, this is to notify district parents about Child Find. Child Find activities are conducted to locate, evaluate, and identify students who reside in the district and who have a suspected disability, including children experiencing homelessness, regardless of the severity of the disability. If you have a child from birth through age 3, please contact South Sound Parent to Parent for an initial intake interview. If you have a child aged 3-5 who you suspect may have a disability, they may be eligible for special education services through North Thurston Public Schools. For more information about these programs, contact 360-412-4485 or visit https://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/childfind. If you have a student from kindergarten through age 21 who has a suspected disability, call the school psychologist or principal at your local school for more information.

NTPS maintains comprehensive school safety plans, allowing each site to deal effectively with a wide range of hazards – everything from power outages to major earthquakes. Each school has its own emergency plan developed by building staff with input from law enforcement and other emergency responders based upon careful analysis of safety needs. For a major disaster, schools are prepared to care for students for up to 48 hours if necessary. Please contact your school or the Facilities Department at 360-412-4525.

NTPS has a policy of involving the parents or legal guardians of students in Title I programs. For further information, please contact your child’s school principal.

The District shall provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities program without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory or mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal (see Policy 3210) by a person with a disability. (see Policy 3210) In particular, students with disabilities have the right to a free and appropriate public education. Please contact the Special Education Department at 360-412-4482 or the student’s building school psychologist to receive information on (a) the way to refer a student, who, because of a disability, may need or is believed to need, special education or related services, and (b) the rights of parents and students with disabilities in identification, evaluation, and placement (see Policy 2161 and Procedure 2161P). To refer a student with a disability for Section 504 Services: A parent, teacher, counselor, or administrator who believes he/she is observing a student who is exhibiting substantially limited performance in one or more major life activities that are believed to be caused by a physical or mental impairment may refer the student. The concerned individual should complete a Referral Form and give it to the school principal. The Referral Form is available from the school office or school counselor. For a complete description of the process that follows a referral for Section 504 services, please see District Policy 2162 and Procedure 2162P. The 504 Compliance Officer is Sarah Rich and can be contacted at 360-412-4465. To see your rights, visit https://www.k12.wa.us/policy-funding/equity-and-civil-rights/nondiscrimination-law-policy

If, due to a lack of housing, you must double-up with relatives or friends, live in a shelter, motel, vehicle, campground, on the street, or in abandoned buildings or trailers, then, according to the McKinney-Vento Act, your preschool-aged and school-aged children have certain rights and protections. Please contact Brenda McAferty, Homeless Liaison, at 360-412-4902 or bmcaferty@nthurston.k12.wa.us for further information and assistance and/or visit https://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/homeless 

Washington State Law requires all students attending public schools, preschool through 12th grade, to provide medically verified proof of immunization. Religious or medical exemptions from immunizations must be signed by a licensed healthcare provider on a Certificate of Exemption (COE). A completed religious membership exemption form can be accepted only if you are a member of a religion that seeks no medical care. All students, regardless of age or the school they attend, must comply in order to attend school. To view an immunization chart, visit https://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/immunizations. There is no longer a personal exemption for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) shots, but other immunizations can have a personal/philosophical exemption which must be signed by an appropriate medical professional. Please fill in and submit the Certificate of Exemption (COE) form signed by the parent/guardian and a licensed healthcare provider. 

Parents or legal guardians of students in Title 1 funded buildings or activities have the right to request information from NTPS concerning the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher. For more information, contact Human Resources at 360-412-4450.

As you may be aware, some buildings still have some asbestos in them. Asbestos-containing materials are present or assumed to be present in some district school buildings and portable classroom-type units; however, none of these materials require immediate attention as all are in good/safe condition at this time. The vast majority of the asbestos-containing materials in the district are in floor coverings or floor adhesive used in the attachment of flooring materials - either VAT (vinyl asbestos tile) or asbestos sheet vinyl. Both of these are very stable products. Lesser quantities of other types of asbestos-containing materials are also present. Types, quantities, and locations are outlined in each respective school/facility book. There is no reason for concern because custodians and district maintenance personnel have been trained to inform the district Designated Asbestos Person immediately if there have been any disturbances or if there is any question of a disturbance. Each school facility containing asbestos has an Asbestos Management Plan book located in the front office. Per AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response) requirements, CSD facilities are periodically surveyed to inspect the condition of the Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM). Inspections are performed regularly by the district Designated Asbestos Person. Every three years, an inspection is also done by a non-district person to ensure the district stays in compliance with all State and Federal laws. The last three-year inspection was performed in 2022 by ESD 113. In addition to these measures, any construction activity believed to have questionable material requires a Good Faith Survey by a qualified testing agency before work can commence. NTPS District’s Designated Asbestos Persons are Facilities Director Cyrus Overbey and Grounds and Maintenance Supervisor Jacob Cornwall. If you have any questions about our asbestos situation, please call Facilities at 360-412-4525. 

NTPS has an active Integrated Pest Management Program designed to provide a safe and healthy environment for our students, staff, and users of the properties. Pesticide applications (including insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides, and fungicides) are limited in our schools and are only taken when thresholds are reached that are unacceptable and can adversely impact the school environment. The applications may be made in or on school structures or on school grounds such as playfields, classrooms, greenhouses, etc. Key elements of the program are identified: All pesticide applications made to District sites will be by WSDA licensed applicators. The District will establish a registration system to notify parents, staff, and students who express an interest in the proposed applications. See the District website or contact the Grounds Department at 360-412-4525 for more info. Pre-notification requirements do not apply to any emergency applications that need to be immediately applied or if the school grounds or facilities will not be occupied for two days following the application. When an emergency application is made, notification consistent with the registration system shall occur as soon as possible. For indoor and structure applications, a pre-notification posting will be displayed at a prominent place at the site of the application, 48 hours in advance of the application. If you have any questions or would like pesticide application records and an annual summary of pesticide use, please contact Corey Hert, IPM Coordinator, at 360-412-4525 or 360-239-5745 (cell) or by e-mail at chert@nthurston.k12.wa.us. 

The district offers English language development instruction to qualifying English language learners, students for whom English is not their primary language. Multi-Language Learners (MLL) focus on learning the English language skills necessary for full participation in learning and academic success in school. Elementary MLL students receive MLL instruction at their neighborhood elementary school. Multi-language learners in secondary schools who are beginning to learn English attend either Chinook Middle School (grades 6-8) or North Thurston High School (grades 9-12). More advanced multi-language learners attend their neighborhood high school or middle school and attend one period of MLL class daily. All multi-language learners, grades K-12, attend both MLL and core curriculum classes. For more information, please contact the school office at your neighborhood school. Additional information is also available at the NTPS Equity & World Languages Office at 360-412-4562. 

In an effort to keep parents informed about the qualifications of a teacher, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) allows parents to inquire at school whether their child(ren)’s teacher(s) have met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject taught.

Parents may inquire whether a teacher is under an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived, and they may request information about undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area (s) of concentration.

North Thurston Public Schools annually conducts an audit of teacher assignments to assure that no teachers are assigned to areas for which they do not meet Washington State certification and/or endorsement requirements. Only on rare occasions does the District seek a waiver to for certification.

Parents can also ask about paraprofessionals working with their child(ren) in reading, writing, or mathematics. We can tell you whether your child receives help from a paraprofessional and whether he/she meets state qualifications or licensing requirements. All of our paraprofessionals that assist children in reading, writing, or mathematics meet state qualifications.

The following is an overview of the citizen complaint process. It is described fully in Chapter 392-168 WAC, Special Service Programs — Citizen Complaint Procedure for Categorical Federal Programs. Find this WAC online: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=392-168 

 A citizen complaint is a written statement that alleges a violation of a federal rule, law or regulation, or state regulation that applies to a federal program. 

Anyone can file a citizen complaint. 

• There is no special form.
• There is no need to know the law that governs a federal program to file a complaint.

Follow steps 1 and 2 to complete the citizen complaint process. 

1. File a Citizen Complaint with North Thurston Public Schools. Policy 4312 and Procedure 4312P outline NTPS’ process.
2. If you are unable to reach a satisfactory solution, file a Citizen Complaint through OSPI.     

The Office of the Education Ombuds (OEO) is a state agency that works with families, communities, and schools to address problems and resolve concerns collaboratively, helping reduce educational opportunity gaps and ensure K-12 students thrive. OEO services are free and confidential. Anyone can contact them with questions or concerns about school. They aim to listen, share information and referrals, and provide support in multiple languages (telephone interpretation is available). To get help or learn more about what OEO does, please visit their website: https://www.oeo.wa.gov/en, email oeoinfo@gov.wa.gov, or call: 1-866-297-2597 (interpretation available). Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.oeo.wa.gov/en/about-us/frequently-asked-questions

High school graduates must fulfill minimum graduation requirements, including meeting a graduation pathway, credits, a High School and Beyond Plan, and community service. To view the most current requirements, visit https://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/gradrequirements. 

PPRA affords parents of elementary and secondary students certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include, but are not limited to, the right to:

Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED)– 

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; or
8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of – 

1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and
3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others. (This does not apply to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating, or providing educational products or services for, or to, students or educational institutions.)

Inspect, upon request and before administration or use: 

1. Protected information surveys of students and surveys created by a third party; 
2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.

North Thurston Public Schools has developed and adopted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. North Thurston Public Schools will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. North Thurston Public Schools will also directly notify, such as through U.S. Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey. North Thurston Public Schools will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys. Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this direct notification requirement:

• Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing, sales, or other distribution. 
• Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.
• Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.

Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Student Privacy Policy Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202

Safety Study Fall is a library of information created by the Department of Health in partnership with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and other organizations. It contains resources on several health and safety issues for schools, students, and families/caregivers. It includes information on opioid overdose prevention strategies, secure storage of prescription and over-the-counter medication, and secure storage of firearms and ammunition.

Safety Study Hall