Legal and Official Notices

Section 504 & ADA Coordinator: Addresses questions or concerns of disability discrimination, including Section 504 or accessibility. 

No formal incident reporting form is required. Please address your concerns to our compliance officer, Nicole Fitch, or to (425) 831-8015. Written concerns can be sent to P.O. Box 400, Snoqualmie, WA 98065

Right to review teacher qualifications:  As a parent of a Title I student in the Snoqualmie Valley School District, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child. Federal law allows you to ask for certain information about your child’s classroom teachers and requires us to give you this information in a timely manner if you ask for it. Specifically, you have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers:

• Whether the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.
• Whether OSPI has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances.
• The teacher’s college major; whether the teacher has any advanced degrees and, if so, the subject of the degrees.
• Whether any instructional assistants provide instructional services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications.

If you would like to receive any of this information, please call SVSD Human Resources, 425-831-8000.

Complaints Related to Federal Programs: 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.

To file a citizen complaint, visit the OSPI website to learn more. Information is provided on steps to file a citizen complaint against:

• a school district, educational service district (ESD), or other school service provider (subgrantee); and,
• Washington State’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

Snoqualmie Valley School District Policy 3210  prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; race; creed; color; religion; ancestry; national origin; age; economic status; sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity; pregnancy; marital status; physical appearance; the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability; honorably discharged veteran or military status; or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal. The grievance/ prescriptive complaint process is outlined in 3210P.

Policy Link(s): 3210, 3210P, 3211, 3211P

Incident Reporting Form

What is discrimination? 

Discrimination is unlawful treatment of a person or group because they are part of a defined group, known as a protected class. Discrimination may include treating a person differently or denying someone access to a program, service, or activity because they are part of a protected class, or failing to accommodate a person’s disability. Discriminatory harassment is verbal or physical harassment based on a protected class.

What is a protected class?

A protected class is a group of people who share common characteristics and are protected from discrimination and harassment by federal, state, or local laws. Protected classes in Snoqualmie Valley School District are those groups identified in the Non-Discrimination Statement above, such as sex, race, etc.

How do I file a complaint about discrimination?

For students, parents/guardians, and members of the public questions and/or complaints of alleged discrimination, including sexual harassment, should be directed to: Office of Student Civil Rights, Snoqualmie Valley School District, P.O. Box 400, Snoqualmie, WA 98065: or phone (425) 831-8015. For employee questions about or requests and/or complaints of alleged discrimination, including sexual harassment, should be directed to: Executive Director of Human Resources, Snoqualmie Valley School District, P.O. Box 400, Snoqualmie, WA 98065; or phone (425) 831- 8001. In addition to filing this complaint, you have the right to file a similar complaint with an external agency, such as local law enforcement agencies, the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) or the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights. If you have already filed the same complaint with another entity or court, the District may postpone its investigation pending the outcome of an earlier filed complaint. The full discrimination complaint procedure can be found in SVSD3210P.

Will my complaint be kept confidential?

Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.  We often need to disclose the complainant and/or student’s identity to investigate complaint allegations.  We will attempt to maintain as much confidentiality as possible with all of the information provided by sharing information only with those persons who are considered essential to the investigation and disposition of your complaint.  Due process requirements for the person(s) complained about may also require that the District release information regarding the complaint to the accused.  Therefore, requests that the accused not be informed of the complaint may limit our ability to respond to, investigate, and resolve your formal complaint concerns.  A request that your identity remain confidential or anonymous from the accused may prevent the District from resolving the complaint to your satisfaction due to the limitations placed on the investigation by confidentiality and/or anonymity request.  Anonymous complaints will be treated as informal complaints under the District’s discrimination complaint procedure. 

In the Snoqualmie Valley School District, we believe we have an important responsibility to our students to take necessary steps to prevent chemical use. Further, we believe that the use of chemical substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs interferes with the learning process of students. Because the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by children and adolescents is harmful and illegal, we will not condone their use. We support chemical abstinence for all children and adolescents so that they can reach their full intellectual, emotional, social, and physical potential. Additionally, we recognize that students suffering from untreated chemical abuse and dependency impair the educational environment by serving as a conduit of substances into the school population and by rationalizing substance consumption to other impressionable youth.

Possession, use, or being under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco is strictly prohibited on or about the school grounds and at all school-sponsored activities, whether at school or at some other location. A student who has been found in violation of these standards will be suspended, pending the completion of a drug/alcohol assessment. A list of District-approved Chemical Dependency Services will be provided for scheduling the follow-up drug and alcohol assessment. Compliance with these standards is mandatory.

Our District’s Chemical Dependency Counselor is available to provide intervention services to all students and their families. Please call the Counseling Center at 425-831-8150 for information and appointments.

Other Resources:

• 24-Hour Alcohol/Drug Help Line - 206-722-4222
• Friends of Youth - 425-392-6367
• Group Health—Eastside - 425-883-5151 Lakeside Milam - 425-392-8468
• Raging River Recovery Center -425-831-5425

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the District received a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
    
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask the Snoqualmie Valley School District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the school principal (or appropriate school official,) clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
    
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate education interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his/her professional responsibility. Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the student of the records request.
    
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the School District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
   
   Family Policy Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW
   Washington, DC 20202-5901

No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity.

To provide a safe and healthy environment for students, staff and those who use school properties, the District uses an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to suppressing undesirable weeds and pests on school grounds. Where possible, alternative controls are implemented, before chemical controls are used, to keep vegetation and pests at acceptable levels with environmentally safe methods.

When school is in session and a chemical application is planned, parents and staff at that site will be notified in writing at least 72 hour prior. In the case of an emergency application (i.e. stinging insects), individuals will be notified as soon as possible after the application. Signage regarding any application will remain posted at the site for 24 hours after a treatment.

Parents who do not have email or internet access to receive their school’s E-News communication can write the IPM Coordinator, Maintenance and Operations Office, Snoqualmie Valley School District, PO Box 400, Snoqualmie, WA 98065; or call 831-8031, to request a hard copy of notifications.

To access language and hearing interpreters, please contact the Snoqualmie Valley School District office at 425-831-8000 by 4:30 pm, three days prior to any public meeting.

The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that makes sure children and youth who do not have permanent housing can go to school and preschool.  It gives children and youth rights to enroll in school, stay in school, get transportation to school, and gives these same children access to school lunch programs. 

If you become aware of students who may qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Act, or are in need of services for students in your family, please contact the principal of your school or Nicole Fitch, Executive Director of Student Services.

Students and school employees who are subjects of threats of violence or harm shall be notified of the threats in a timely manner. Parents shall be included in notifications to students who are subjects of those threats. Timing and details of the notice will be as extensive as permitted by the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act other legal limitations, and circumstances of the situation. (Policy 4314)

The Office of Education Ombuds is an independent state agency that helps to reduce educational opportunity gaps by supporting families, students, educators, and other stakeholders in communities across WA by sharing information about the K-12 public school system and resolving concerns collaboratively.  OEO services are free and confidential. Anyone can contact OEO with a question or concern about the school.

OEO listens, shares information and referrals, and works informally with families, communities, and schools to address concerns so that every student can fully participate and thrive in our state’s public schools. OEO provides support in multiple languages and has telephone interpretation available.

OEO Information

• Website:  www.oeo.wa.gov/en
• Email: oeoinfo@gov.wa.gov
• Call: 1-866-297-2597 (interpretation available)

OEO has many publications available on the OEO webpage, including new flyers in the following languages: Amharic, Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Dari, French, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Marshallese, Punjabi, Russian, Samoan, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

 

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) gives parents the right to:

1. Consent before students are required to take 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):
    
   • Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent
   • Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family
   • Sex behavior or attitudes
   • Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior
   • Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships
   • Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, physicians, or ministers
   • Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student's parents
   • Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program)
      
2. Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of:
    
   • Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding
   • 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
   • Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others
      
3. Inspect, upon request and before administration or use:
    
   • Protected information surveys of students
   • Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes
   • Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum

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

Snoqualmie Valley School District has developed processes regarding these rights. The district has made 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. Snoqualmie Valley will directly notify parents of these policies after any substantive changes, in addition to this yearly notice. The district 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 student out of participation of the specific activity or survey.

Snoqualmie Valley 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 will be provided an opportunity to opt their student out of such activities and surveys. Parents will also be given a chance to review any pertinent surveys.

Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this requirement:

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

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

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

The Snoqualmie Valley School District is committed to a positive and productive education free from discrimination, including sexual harassment.  This commitment extends to all students and staff involved in academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs or activities of the school, whether that program or activity is in a school facility, on school transportation or at a class or school training held elsewhere. 

SVSD policy 3205 prohibits sexual harassment of students by other students, employees, or third parties involved in school district activities.  The grievance/ prescriptive complaint process is outlined in 3205P. For staff SVSD policy 5011 prohibits sexual harassment and 5011P outlines the grievance/ prescriptive complaint process.

Policy Link(s): 3205, 3205P, 5011, 5011P

Incident Reporting Form

1. Complete the Standard Tort Claim Form by downloading the form below 
   
   Mail or Deliver the Original Claim:
   Snoqualmie Valley School District #410
   Attn: Business Office                                                                                                                     
   Street Address: 8001 Silva Ave SE, Snoqualmie, WA 98065
   Mailing Address: PO Box 400, Snoqualmie, WA 98065
   Business Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed on weekends and official school holidays)
    
2. Tort Claim Form must be typed or printed clearly in ink.
3. Provide all requested information and any available documents supporting your claim.
4. If the requested information cannot be supplied in the space provided, please use additional blank sheets so your claim can be easily read and understood.
5. Sign by an authorized party.
6. Present properly completed and signed Tort Claim Form in one of the following manners:
   1. Personal delivery to the registered agent or authorized person in the office of the registered agent during above business hours.
   2. Deliver by registered mail to the registered agent.
   3. Deliver by certified mail (with return receipt) to the registered agent.

STANDARD TORT CLAIM FORM

Federal law (see FERPA above) permits a school district to identify certain information as directory information that may be released publicly without the permission of the parent.  The Snoqualmie Valley School District identifies this information as the following: name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, grade level, major field of study, participation in activities and sport, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of enrollment, diploma and awards received, schools attended, and parent/guardian(s) name and email. The district may also release photographs or video of students taken in school-related circumstances not generally considered harmful or an invasion of the privacy of the students. 

Directory information or photos may be used for purposes such as publication of a student directory, school-related fundraising (Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation, PTSAs), parent organization mailing lists, school yearbook, newspapers, commencement programs, and publishing honor rolls.  Photos, videos, and information about students may be used in school and district newsletters, email, websites, social media sites, or released to the news media, as there are many opportunities to recognize student accomplishments and activities throughout the year.  Information will not be released for commercial use. 

Parents who DO NOT want directory information or photographic images released must submit an Opt-Out request via Skyward Family Access. 

A note about School Portrait Photography:  The school portrait photographer, regardless of whether a parent/guardian plans to purchase a photo package, will take photographs of all students. The student photograph (digital and physical) will be provided to the school district and to classroom teachers for internal use related to the student’s education.  Student photographs are uploaded into the district’s student information system, library system, lunch system, transportation system and other systems for operational efficiencies, and to enhance student safety and security.

Snoqualmie Valley schools use an automated mass notification system (ParentSquare) to contact families by phone regarding emergencies, unexcused absences, and other school-related information. The Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) allows parents to opt-out of receiving general information calls from the District and schools.