We are required to provide the following notifications to the public and our students and families.
Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR)
Child Abuse Hotline Notification
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Non-Discrimination Notice: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security
Parents’ Bill of Rights for English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Release of Student Directory Information
School Meals (Free and Reduced-Price Meals and Breakfast After The Bell)
Water Testing in New York Public Schools
Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR)
Under state law, school districts and BOCES are required to conduct an Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) for each teacher and principal, resulting in a rating of “highly effective,” “effective,” “developing” or “ineffective.” The requirement does not apply to teaching assistants, teacher aides or pupil personnel titles.
All parents/guardians have the right to obtain the APPR composite for their child’s teacher(s) and principal(s) once the rating scores are officially available.
To request a teacher/principal(s) rating, contact the appropriate individual:
- Caralee Kardash, Director of Special Education
518-464-6310, caralee.kardash@neric.org - Jeff Palmer, Director of Career & Technical Education
518-862-4800, jeff.palmer@neric.org
New York State Education Law requires school districts to post their APPR plans to their district website. Find the APPR plan here.
Asbestos Management Plan
As required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Capital Region BOCES maintains asbestos management plans for district buildings. The plans are on file in the principal’s office of each school. They are also kept collectively and available for viewing during normal business hours at the office of LEA Designee Jennifer Bennett. As required, periodic surveillances are conducted every six months. The next three-year re-inspection is required to be performed by Sept. 1, 2022. Currently, there are no projects scheduled that will disturb asbestos-containing building material. For more information, contact LEA Designee Jennifer Bennett at 518-464-5118.
Child Abuse Hotline Notification
If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling 1-800-342-3720, a toll-free 24-hour hotline operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department. Information about reporting child abuse and maltreatment (neglect) is also available online at http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps/.
Mandated reporters must also file, within 48 hours of an oral report, a signed, written report, Report of Suspected Child Abuse or Maltreatment (LDSS-2221A). This written report is to be filed with the appropriate local CPS.[ST1]
Codes of Conduct
- Board Policy – Code of Conduct (Policy #5300)
- Special Education Code of Conduct
Continuity of Operations Plan
New York state requires school districts to develop a continuity of operations plan and make it available. Capital Region BOCES is providing the following plan so stakeholders are aware of the district’s plans in the event of an ongoing public health emergency involving communicable disease.
View Capital Region BOCES’ Continuity of Operations Plan.
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) seeks to provide public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.
Capital Region BOCES has invested much time and energy into improving anti-bullying procedures and staff training, and ensuring our schools meet DASA requirements.
We are committed to providing an educational and working environment that promotes respect, dignity and equality for all students, staff and parents.
Our policies condemn and prohibit all forms of discrimination, such as harassment, hazing and bullying on school grounds, on school buses, at school bus pick-up sites, and at all school sponsored activities, programs and events.
Our schools cannot effectively address bullying if incidents are not reported. Anyone (including students) who feels he or she has been bullied or harassed, who wants to report an incident of someone else being bullied, or who has questions on this topic should contact the relevant school Dignity Act Coordinator.
Education Law 2-d
New York State Education Law 2-d gives parents/guardians the right to information about how Capital Region BOCES is safeguarding student and staff data. Learn more about Data Privacy and Security and access our online complaint form.
Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security
The Capital Region BOCES is committed to ensuring student privacy in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and district policies. To this end and pursuant to U.S. Department of Education regulations, the district is providing the following Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security:
- Students’ personally identifiable information (PII) will be collected and disclosed only as necessary to achieve educational purposes in accordance with State and Federal Law.
- A student’s personally identifiable information cannot be sold or released for any marketing or commercial purposes by BOCES or any a third party contractor. BOCES will not sell student personally identifiable information and will not release it for marketing or commercial purposes, other than directory information released by BOCES in accordance with BOCES policy.
- Parents have the right to inspect and review the complete contents of their child’s education record (for more information about how to exercise this right, see 5500).
- State and federal laws, such as NYS Education Law §2-d and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, protect the confidentiality of students’ personally identifiable information. Safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices, including but not limited to, encryption, firewalls and password protection, must be in place when data is stored or transferred.
- A complete list of all student data elements collected by the State Education Department is available for public review at http://nysed.gov/data-privacy-security or by writing to: Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234.
- Parents have the right to have complaints about possible breaches of student data addressed. Complaints should be directed to: Data Protection Officer KellyRose Yaeger at kellyrose.yaeger@neric.org or 518-862-5239.
- Complaints to SED should be directed to: Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234; e-mail address is privacy@nysed.gov.
- Parents have the right to be notified in accordance to applicable laws and regulations if a breach or unauthorized release of their student’s PII occurs.
- Parents can expect that educational agency workers who handle PII will receive annual training on applicable federal and state laws, regulations, educational agency’s policies and safeguards which will be in alignment with industry standards and best practices to protect PII.
- In the event that BOCES engages a third-party provider to deliver student educational services, the contractor or subcontractors will be obligated to adhere to state and federal laws to safeguard student PII. Parents can request information about third-party contractors by contacting the Data Protection Officer, 518-862-5239, DPO@neric.org, 900 Watervliet Shaker Rd., Albany NY 12205.
- This bill of rights is subject to change based on regulations of the commissioner of education and the SED chief privacy officer, as well as emerging guidance documents from SED.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides parents/guardians and students who are 18 years of age or older (known as “eligible students“) with certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. Parents/guardians and eligible students have the right to:
- Inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day a request for access is received by the school. These requests should be submitted to the school principal;
- Request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights;
- Provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent as outlined below:
File a complaint with the USDOE concerning alleged failures by the 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.
Fire Inspection Report
Notice is hereby given that the annual fire inspection was conducted in 2021. All reports have been sent to the State Education Department, and Certificates of Occupancy have been received for the Feb. 1, 2021 deadline. The annual inspection of Capital Region BOCES buildings is for fire hazards which might endanger the lives of students, teachers, and employees therein; has been completed and the report thereof is available at the office of the facilities director, at Capital Region BOCES, 900 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12205, for inspection by all interested persons.
Flu Facts for Families
Each year, schools are required by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to share information with students/families and staff about influenza, or the “flu.” Influenza/flu is a contagious illness caused by flu viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs.
Learn how you can protect your family from the flu.
Hand Sanitizer Use
Capital Region BOCES will be making alcohol-based hand sanitizers available in its school buildings. If parents wish to opt their child out of using it, they should send a written notice to their child’s principal or school.
Non-Discrimination Notice: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
The Capital Region BOCES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions; and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Director of Human Resources, at hrdirector@neric.org, 518-862-4910, or 900 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12205. Inquiries concerning the application of the Capital Region BOCES non-discrimination policies may also be referred to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), 32 Old Slip, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005, phone: 646-428-3900, fax: 646-428-3843, TDD: 800-877-8339, or email: OCR.NewYork@ed.gov.
Parents’ Bill of Rights for English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners & ELL Parent Hotline
The New York State Education Department’s Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) English Language Learner Parents’ Bill of Rights summarizes critical rights concerning educational access and programming for English Language Learners (ELLs) and their parents. These key rights have been translated into 26 languages.
Parents and students with questions about their rights and the delivery of services for their children based on state regulations or complaints can contact the Office of of Bilingual Education and World Languages via its Parent Hotline (operated by the New York State Language Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network).
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
This New York State Department of Education publication provides information for parents, guardians and other family members about laws, regulations and policies affecting special education programs and services. It is available in English and Spanish language versions.
Release of Student Directory Information/Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
From time to time, student directory information is published on the Capital Region BOCES website, in school publications, social media and/or released to the media to recognize student achievement or depict educational activities of the Capital Region BOCES. Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can be disclosed to outside organizations, by law, without a parent or guardian’s prior consent.
Directory information includes:
- Student’s name
- Major course of study
- Participation in school activities
- Dates of attendance
- Degrees and awards received
- Home school attended
- Student’s photograph (examples may include: school yearbooks; school video; honor roll or other recognition lists; graduation programs; photo of students in BOCES publications that depict them at work in a classroom.)
Parents/guardians or eligible students have until September 15 of each school year to notify the BOCES of any objections they have to the release of any of the above listed directory information for that school year.
To opt-out, send written notification to the BOCES principal or program supervisor for the program your child attends.
Please Note: While the BOCES will honor the request of any parent/guardian who has submitted written notification to opt their child out of publicity efforts, the BOCES is not responsible for media that covers news happenings, graduations or other public events.
Pesticides
New York State Education Law Section 409-h and State Education Department Commissioner’s Regulation 155.24 requires all public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools to provide written notification to all persons in parental relation, faculty and staff regarding the potential use of pesticides periodically throughout the school year. Capital Region BOCES is required to maintain a list of persons in parental relation, faculty and staff who wish to receive 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications. Sign up to receive 48-hour prior notification of pesticide application.
School Meals
Free and Reduced-Price Meals
Because many of our students’ families struggle economically, Capital Region BOCES participates in a federal program that allows each student who attends Airline Drive Academy and the Maywood Academy to receive breakfast and lunch for free each day.
The program is known as the Community Eligibility Provision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
Children/teens attending our schools can participate in the program without having to pay a fee. Prior to the start of the school year, or when a child enters the BOCES’ program, their family will be asked to complete a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)/Household Income Eligibility Form. While students will not be denied meals if the form is not completed, the answers provided on this form will be used to help determine the level of state and federal funding the school district receives each school year.
Breakfast After The Bell
Airline Drive Academy and Maywood Academy both provide a “Breakfast After the Bell” program. This enables students to pick up and eat breakfast when and where it is most convenient for them. Breakfast is available for all students in the morning, once school is in session.
A complete breakfast and lunch are available for free each school day for children/teens attending Airline Drive Academy and the Maywood Academy.
Student Privacy
Under the Protection of the Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), parents have the right to inspect and opt their child out of any student survey that reveals information about personal attitudes, behaviors or beliefs. Parents also have the right to receive notice of and opt their child out of any activities that involve the collection, disclosure or use of a student’s personal information for marketing purposes and out of any non-emergency, physical exam or screening, except for hearing, vision and scoliosis screenings or as permitted or required by state law.
Student Wellness Policy
Capital Region BOCES recognizes that a nutritious, well-balanced, reasonably-portioned diet is essential for student wellness. To help students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to make nutritious food choices for a lifetime, BOCES ensures that all foods and beverages available in school promote good nutrition, balance and reasonable portion sizes. BOCES ensures that all foods and beverages available for students on our school campus during the school day meet or exceed the requirements and nutrition standards found in federal regulations.
To accomplish this, BOCES will serve healthy and appealing foods and beverages at its schools, following state and federal nutrition guidelines, as well as safe food preparation methods. Read the complete Student Wellness Policy (#5405).
Water Testing In New York State Schools
In September 2016, a state law went into effect that requires all public school districts in New York to test water for lead. The law requires school districts to sample all water outlets currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking purposes in buildings that may be occupied by students and to submit those samples to a state-approved lab for analysis. This testing took place in 2020 and will happen again in 2023 unless the state Commissioner of Health requires testing sooner. Learn more about water testing in Capital Region BOCES’ schools.