Policies & Reports

School Policies

At Pride Academy Charter School we live by a set of policies designed to support our high expectations for behavior and academic standards.

Student Code of Conduct

An introduction to our philosophy, policies, and procedures is given in our Student Code of Conduct. We hope that this guide will answer many of your question about Pride Academy.

Please read this handbook completely and discuss it with your Pride Academy students. It is intended to help you understand how we operate, the commitments we make, and the expectations that we have for our students. It is important that your child be familiar with our philosophy, adhere to our core values, and follow the code of conduct to be successful in school. We also hope that this guide will help you to support and reinforce our expectations at home.

 

Harassment

Pride Academy expects pupils and staff to treat others with civility and respect. A safe and civil environment in school is essential for students to learn and achieve high academic standards. Harassment, intimidation, and bullying like other disruptive or violent behaviors, interfere with pupils’ ability to learn, the school’s ability to educate, and employees’ ability to work in an environment where all are safe and feel welcome.

The Pride Academy Student Code of Conduct and our Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Policy prohibit such acts.

If you are a student victim, a witness, or the parent or guardian of a student victim and wish to report an incident of alleged harassment, intimidation or bullying, complete a Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Incident Form and return it to the school principal or our Anti-Bullying Specialist.

Incident form for families …

Incident form for Pride staff …

Our Anti-Bullying Specialist and Coordinator is:

Ms Robin Brower
973 672-3200 extension 203

Please contact her for any additional information or assistance at any time.

 

 

Anti-Bullying Reports

Beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, the State Department of Education required that districts complete a HIB Self Assessment and post the resulting grade to the district website.

Read our annual self assessments and find anti-bullying resources ….

The NJDOE’s State School Climate Coordinator can be contacted at hib@doe.nj.gov

 

 

Dress Down Expectations

Please review the following guidelines for dressing down so that students can make appropriate dress down choices.

PRIDE students may not wear clothing that contains language or messages that are vulgar, offensive, obscene, or libelous; that denigrate others on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability; that promotes alcohol or drug use or violence; or that are otherwise contrary to the school’s educational mission.

  • Students may not wear clothing that reveals undergarments,or that exposes the buttocks, back, cleavage, chest, belly, upper thighs, abdomen.
  • NO SKIRTS OR DRESSES of any kind.
  • NO EXTREMELY SKINNY OR TIGHT PANTS or LEGGINGS.
  • No spaghetti strap tops, tank tops, leggings,
  • No extremely loose sagging jeans may be worn.
  • NO RIPPED OR FRAYED JEANS OR CLOTHING that exposes skin.
  • No sandals, slides, high heels or flip flops.

Students may wear earrings on dress down day; however they must be removed if they become a distraction.

 

 

Student Supplies

students are asked to bring the following items to school for in-person learning in a backpack that they will keep with them in the classroom in an area designated by the teacher:

  • Face masks: It is recommended that students wear a washable 2-ply cotton mask and bring extra masks with them.
  • Ear or headphones.
  • Clear plastic water bottles.
  • Notebooks and pens/pencils.

 

Promotion and Graduation Requirements

To ensure that students at Pride Academy meet the required benchmarks of learning in their current grade, are prepared to take on the academic challenges of the next grade and be successful, the administration and faculty have developed a set of promotion and graduation standards. Please review them carefully with your child.
Read our graduation requirements…

 

 

Safe Return to In-Person Instruction

Pride Academy has continued with in-person instruction for the 2022-2023  school year. Our in-person instruction plan is designed to provide educational services while keeping students, parents, and staff safe.
Read the plan (English)…

 

Remote Instruction Plan

Pride Academy has planned for situations where remote or virtual learning is necessary. Our plan is designed to support all of our students as equitably as possible given the range of different circumstances represented in our community.
Read the plan…
Resolution for Virtual Remote and Virtual Instructional Plan
Pride CS
Guidance_and_Checklist_ Virtual_or_Remote_Instruction_Plans

 

Gifted and Talented Policy

Pride Academy is working to address the needs of students who excel in a one or more areas of study.
Read our gifted and talented policy…

 

Algebra 1 and Continuum of Services

As a part of the continuum of academic services provided to enhance differentiated learning, Pride Academy offers Algebra 1 to qualified students.
Read about Algebra 1 and our continuum of services …

 

 

COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Plan–

Pride Academy has implemented a COVID-19 emergency preparedness plan designed to service and support all of our students as equitably as possible given the range of different circumstances represented in our community.
Read our preparedness plan…

 

 

Wellness Policy

Pride Academy supports and encourages practices that promote the health and wellness of all members of our school community.
Read our wellness policy…

 

 

Computer and Internet Use Policy

Pride Academy believes that the use of technology and computer-assisted communications is vital to our students’ success. Preserving access to computers and the Internet is a community effort that requires each student, parent, and teacher to act responsibly and guard against abuses. Therefore, both the school community as a whole and each user have an obligation to abide by our standards of acceptable and ethical computer and internet use. Please read and review these policies.
Read our computer and internet use policy…

Title IX

Pride Academy Charter School does not permit harassment or discrimination of any type. Ms. Brower, Dean of Students, is our designated Title IX Coordinator. She administers all aspects of Federal Title IX compliance and serves as the primary contact for conducting investigations into alleged sexual discrimination, sexual assault and sexual harassment for individuals attempting to access the educational programs of Pride Academy Charter School.

Please report any concerns regarding allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or gender-based discrimination to Ms. Brower at 973.672.3200, extension 203.

You may also report concerns anonymously by mailing a statement detailing the allegation to Robin S. Brower, Title IX Coordinator, Pride Academy Charter School.

 

 

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity

PRIDE Academy Charter School adheres to the laws and regulations set forth in N.J.A.C. 6A:7- 1.8; Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972; N.J.S.A. 10:5, and Equal Pay Act 1973, and is committed to ensuring equality in Educational, Employment, and Contract Practices for all persons, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status.

The following staff member has been appointed our Affirmative Action Officer and designated to handle inquiries regrading our non-discrimination policies:

Ms Robin Brower

She can be reached at:

117 Elmwood Avenue
(between Shepard Ave & Madonna Place)
East Orange, New Jersey 07018
Phone: 973-672-3200
Fax: 973-672-3207

Gender Identity and Expression Policy

Pride Academy believes that a school culture that supports student achievement, respects the values of all students and fosters understanding of gender identity and expression within the school community is a safe learning environment. New Jersey law and school policy require that all programs, activities, and employment practices be free from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Therefore, in keeping with these mandates, Pride Academy is committed to creating a safe learning environment for all students and to ensuring that every student has equal access to all school programs and
activities.
Read our gender identity and expression policy…

 

 

Technology Plan

Pride Academy has produced a Technology Plan for the period from 2010 to 2013. The plan describes how technology will be used to inspire and sustain learning and improve student academic achievement at Pride.

 

 

Lead Testing Results

In April 2016, in response to reports in the media about high lead levels in the drinking water at some local schools in Newark, we took samples of water from all our drinking stations, sent them away for lab testing, and received passing results in 2017. We followed up with another test in 2022. The conclusion of the report states:

“It was determined that no lead violations or lead hazards were found. All interior and exterior surfaces of the property were found to be intact and property well maintained.”

 

Grievance Policy

Pride Academy’s grievance policy is described in the following document.
Read our grievance policy…

Plan for use of ESSER III Grant Funds

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the Federal American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Fund, Public Law 117-2, into law. As with the previous ESSER funds available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), the purpose of the additional funding is to support local educational agencies (LEAs) in preparing for and responding to the impact of COVID-19 on educators, students, and families.

The LEA Plan for Use of ESSER III Funds contains a summary of how our school intends to use the funds according to the NJDOE guidance and regulations.

Read the plan…

 

District Policies

Our district policies are available here for your review.