The Department of Student Services is an integral part of West Point Public Schools. It is responsible for all programs that serve as a support for students and families. We address issues related to homelessness, discipline, truancy, school health, enrollment, early intervention teams, therapeutic day treatment services, and inter-agency support programs.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that West Point Public Schools (WPPS), with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. If you do not want WPPS to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify your child’s school principal in writing by September 30, 2024 or within two weeks of school entry. WPPS has designated the following information as directory information:

• Student’s name

• Address

• Telephone listing

• Email address

• Photograph

• Dates of attendance

• Grade level

• Participating in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of athletic team members

• Degrees, honors, and awards received

• Most recent educational agency or institution attended

• Student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier used to communicate in electronic systems that cannot be used to access education records without a PIN, password, etc. A student’s SSN, in whole or part, cannot be used for this purpose.

Although the above information has been designated as directory information under FERPA, in accordance with Virginia law, the address, telephone number, and email address of a student will not be disclosed unless:

• The disclosure is required by state or federal law; The disclosure is to students enrolled in the school or to school board employees for educational purposes or school business, and the parent or eligible student has not opted out of such disclosure; or

• The parent or eligible student has affirmatively consented in writing to such disclosure.

Students, staff, parents and community members are encouraged to report safety concerns as soon as they become aware of a concern.  When possible, we ask that you report actual or suspected threats directly to a school administrator or trusted staff member.

When reporting a concern, please include as much information as possible.  The more information you can provide, the more helpful this will be in resolving the concern.  Try to answer the following questions:

1. What happened?

2. When and where did it happen?

3. Who was involved?  Do you have their name, age, or grade?

State Law (§22.1-248) mandated consequences are applied to those absences considered truancies.

If a student is truant five days during the school year, then the parent and child must participate with school officials to develop a plan to resolve the child’s nonattendance. If a sixth truancy occurs during the school year, a conference will be scheduled to resolve issues related to the nonattendance.

Finally, if a seventh truancy occurs during the school year, the law specifies that the school may file a complaint with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court alleging the child is in need of supervision. School personnel are also permitted to institute proceedings in this court against the parent(s) if they refuse to participate in the development of the plan to resolve the child’s truancy (at the fifth truancy) or if the parent refuses to participate in the conference (at the sixth truancy).

The McKinney-Vento Act ensures educational rights and protection for youth and children experiencing homelessness.

Anyone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence is considered homeless. You qualify if you are:

• Living in an emergency shelter or transitional housing

• Living in a motel, hotel, or campground due to economic hardship or lack of housing

• Sharing housing with relatives or others due to economic hardship or lack of housing

• Living in a car, park, public place, bus or train station or an abandoned building

If a student is found eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Act, the school district can provide the following services:

• Immediate school enrollment

• Transportation

• Free meals

• Referrals to community resources for food, clothing, shelter, etc.

Parents/Guardians who think they may qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Education Assistance Act should contact our Homeless/McKinney-Vento Liaison, Aimee Buzek, at abuzek@wpschools.net or by phone at 804-843-2030 extension 359

Project Hope is the office of the State Coordinator for Homeless Education in Virginia. Project Hope is located at the College of William and Mary.