Policies
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Acceptable Use Policy
The School Committee recognizes that as telecommunications and other new technologies shift the ways that information may be accessed, communicated and transferred by members of the society, those changes may also alter instruction and student learning. The School Committee generally supports access by students to rich information resources along with the development by staff of appropriate skills to analyze and evaluate such resources. All users, including students, teachers, support staff, and administrators are covered by this policy and are expected to be familiar with it provisions.
Attendance Policy
The Lawrence Public Schools recognizes that regular attendance in class, participation in class activities and interaction between student and teacher are an essential and integral part of the learning process. Classroom participation is vital to the instructional process and must be considered in evaluating the performance and content mastery of students.
- View PK - 8 Attendance Policy (Click here for Spanish) (Bilingual)
- View High School Attendance Policy (Click here for Spanish) (Bilingual)
Attendance Record Keeping Policy
We know that attendance in school is part of the student success equation and, to the extent possible, it is incumbent on the school community to support consistent attendance, thus making accurate and timely attendance recording all the more essential.
Bully Prevention and Intervention Plan
The Lawrence Public Schools' Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan was developed in consultation with teachers, administrators, school nurses, counselors, parents, police department representatives, students, and community representatives. The district is committed to providing all students with a safe learning environment that is free from bullying and cyber bullying. This commitment is an integral part of our comprehensive efforts to promote learning, and to prevent and eliminate all forms of bullying and other harmful and disruptive behavior that can impede the learning process. This Plan is the district's blueprint for enhancing capacity to prevent and respond to issues of bullying within the context of other healthy school initiatives. As part of the process, the planning group assessed the adequacy of current programs, reviewed current policies and procedures, reviewed data on bullying and behavioral incidents and assessed available resources including curricula, training programs, and behavioral health services.
- View Bully Prevention and Intervention Plan (Click here for Spanish)
- More on Bully Prevention and Intervention
Bullying in Schools Policy
A safe learning environment is one in which every student develops emotionally, academically, and physically in a caring and supportive atmosphere free of intimidation and abuse. Bullying of any type has no place in a school setting; therefore, the Lawrence Public Schools will work to ensure a learning and working environment free of bullying for all students, staff, and families. The Lawrence School Committee and the Lawrence Public Schools shall not tolerate bullying in any form by students, staff members, family members, or community members in any of its facilities or at any school-related or sponsored events.
Drug-Free Schools Policy
The Lawrence Public School district is committed to providing a drug and alcohol free learning environment and workplace. Drug and/or alcohol use at school or in connection with school sponsored activities on or off school grounds threaten the health and safety of our students and our employees and adversely affect the educational mission of the school district. The use of illicit drugs and the unlawful possession and use of alcohol are harmful to an individual’s health and well-being in addition to being illegal.
Educational Philosophy Policy
It remains the philosophy of the Lawrence Public Schools to educate its children to realize their total physical, social, emotional, and intellectual potential -- to make them responsible contributing citizens, adaptive to their environment and capable of changing it where change would benefit themselves and their community.
Educational Opportunities for Children in Foster Care
The purpose of this policy is to ensure the educational stability of students in foster care. Educational stability has a lasting impact on student's academic achievement and wellbeing, and, as such, the District is committed to ensuring that students in foster care have equal access to high-quality, stable educational experiences from preschool through high school graduation.
Educational Opportunities for Military Children
To facilitate the placement, enrollment, graduation, data collection, and provision of services for students transferring into or out of the District because of their parents or guardians being on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services, the District supports and will implement its responsibilities as outlined in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. As such the district strives to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families resulting from frequent moves required by parents' or guardians' military deployment.
Emergency Closings Policy
The Superintendent shall have the authority to close the schools or dismiss them early when severe weather or other emergencies threaten the safety of the children and staff members. In making this decision, he/she will check with the Director of Facilities and Plant Management, Transportation Manager, and other knowledgeable authorities.
Entrance Age and Grade Change Policy
Lawrence Public Schools, in keeping with Massachusetts State Board of Education regulations on permissible school entrance age, establishes the age at which children shall be allowed to enter school. The State Board requires that children be permitted to enter kindergarten in September of the calendar year in which they turn five years of age. Accordingly, initial admission to pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and grade 1 shall be based solely on chronological age. Admission to grades other than these shall be based on chronological age, transcript, academic readiness, or other relevant factors, as laid out in the linked policy, and as shall be deemed appropriate by the school administration.
- Entrance Age and Grade Change Policy (Click here for Spanish) (Bilingual)
- Grade Change Recommendation Form (Click here for Spanish)
Equal Educational Opportunities
The right of a student to participate fully in classroom instruction and extracurricular activities shall not be abridged or impaired because of age, gender, gender identity, genetic information, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, parenthood, marriage, handicap, housing status or sexual orientation or for any other reason not related to the student's individual capabilities.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Lawrence Public Schools subscribes to the fullest extent to the principle of the dignity of all people and of their labors and will take action to ensure that applicants are employed, assigned, and promoted without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, gender identity, housing status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or ancestry. Every available opportunity will be taken in order to assure that each applicant for a position is selected on the basis of qualifications, merit and ability.
Facilities Rental Policy
The School Committee believes that its schools are "owned" by the citizens of Lawrence and as such, community use of school facilities is to be encouraged. However, given the level of responsibility in opening the schools to the public, the Committee shall establish specific rules, regulations, and procedures which all such non-school groups must adhere to in order to use school buildings and/or school grounds. Such rules, regulations, and procedures may include: strict limitations on timely notification, the collection of monetary deposits and fees, requirements to hire police, custodians, or other supervisory staff, or other restrictions which the School Committee or the Superintendent of Schools may from time to time promulgate. Smoking and alcoholic beverages shall not be allowed in any school facility or on school grounds.
Family and Student Engagement Policy
The Lawrence Public Schools believes that family and student engagement is an integral part of the student success equation. Families, students and schools need to be in partnership to maximize opportunities for students to achieve their full potential. To that end, this policy fosters proactive communication, student voice, education and support for the roles families can play that best support their students’ learning, as well as collaboration and shared decision making among all stakeholders. It also provides guidance on capacity building in schools and with families in order to realize high quality engagement.
Home School Policy
The Lawrence Public Schools recognize the right of parents to educate their children outside of a school setting as provided by General Laws Chapter 76, Section 1. The law requires, however, that a child being educated outside of school must also be instructed in a manner approved, in advance, by the superintendent or his/her designee. The Lawrence Public School district does not approve home education programs for anything less than a full-time instructional program.
Parents/guardians must obtain approval annually from the superintendent of schools or his/her designee prior to beginning a home education program. Please send completed applications via email or mail to the contact information below.
- View Home School Notice Policy (Click here for Spanish)
- Notice of Intent to Pursue a Program of Home Education Form (Click here for Spanish)
Homeless Students’ Enrollment Rights and Services
The district will work with homeless children and youth and unaccompanied youth (collectively, “homeless students”) as well as their families or legal guardians to provide stability in school attendance and other services. Special attention will be given to ensuring the enrollment and attendance of homeless students not currently attending school. Homeless students will be provided district services for which they are eligible, including preschool programs, Title I and similar state programs, special education, bilingual education, vocational and technical education programs, gifted and talented programs, school nutrition programs, summer programming, and extracurricular activities.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Requests Policy
To address growing concerns over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, and to reinforce the school district’s commitment to equal access to public education for all students, the following policy has been created.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The Lawrence School Committee is committed to a policy of non-discrimination in relation to race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation. This policy shall prevail in all of its policies concerning staff, students, educational programs and agencies, and with individuals with whom the School Committee does business.
Physical Restraint Policy
The Lawrence Public Schools is committed to the use of de-escalation techniques as a means of resolving difficult situations; however, there are situations where these techniques may not be effective in resolving the situation and there will be a need for further intervention, such as physical escort or physical restraint.
Safe Schools Policy
The Lawrence Public Schools shall maintain a safe and nurturing educational environment where students and others can meet and recreate without fear. The Lawrence Public Schools will not tolerate violence or injury to staff or students, nor will weapons (as defined in Weapons in Schools Policy) be tolerated at any school activity or on any school district property. The Lawrence Public Schools Committee policies pertaining to school safety and student discipline shall be fairly and firmly enforced, criminal misconduct shall be reported to the proper law enforcement authority, and school district staff shall cooperate with any subsequent criminal prosecution. The provisions of M.G.L. 71:37H & 71:37L, prohibiting firearms on school property shall be strictly enforced.
School Admissions
All school-age children legally residing in the City of Lawrence, shall be entitled to attend Lawrence public schools free of tuition, as will certain children who do not reside in the City of Lawrence, but who are admitted under specific district policies relating to homeless students, students in foster care, or other students who may qualify under active district policies. This policy outlines requirements and rights.
School Assignment Policy
School assignment within Lawrence Public Schools, preschool through grade 8, are made based on neighborhood residence, using an index of street addresses and associating them to a proximity school. While the goal is to have students attend the schools closest to their homes, in some cases adjustments are made to respond to school or program capacity.
View Street Address Index
View Feeder School List
- Frost Elementary and Frost Middle
- Guilmette Elementary and Guilmette Middle
- Parthum Elementary and Parthum Middle
- South Lawrence East Elementary and SPARK Academy
School Leadership Team Policy
The district’s governing body believes that the school is the key unit for educational improvement and change and that successful school improvement is best accomplished through a school-based decision-making process. By involving those directly affected by any action or decision of the School Leadership Team in the process of determining that action or decision, it helps to strengthen the commitment of those decisions by those most affected by its implementation.
Social Media Policy
Lawrence Public Schools (LPS) values, school, classroom, parent, student and community voice and engagement. To that end, LPS supports, as one of many tools for communication, the responsible use of social media. District employees who engage in work-related or personal use of social media are responsible to read, understand and adhere to this policy.
For the purposes of this policy, social media shall be defined as any online-based tools and applications used to share and distribute information, including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.™
This policy provides guidance for professional and personal use, including training and community participant guidelines. Additionally, LPS staff and student Code of Conduct, Non-Discrimination, and Acceptable Use policies apply to all social media activity, as do student and staff confidentiality laws and guidelines.
Student Rights and the Code of Conduct
According to the General Laws of Massachusetts and Department of Education regulations, each school and school district is required to adopt a set of rules that ensures a safe school climate for effective learning. This handbook not only meets this requirement but also highlights our commitment to providing all students with a welcoming and supportive learning community, where our youth are encouraged and supported to develop their full potential – academically, socially and emotionally.
Student Involvement in Decision Making Policy
The Student Involvement in Decision Making Policy promotes student voice and leadership by providing guidance to both schools and students on governing opportunities at the school and district level, while effectively ensuring inclusion of the district's high school students on district level governing bodies.
Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy
It is the policy of the Lawrence Public School (the "District") to maintain an environment that is free from all forms of discrimination and harassment, including all forms of sex-based harassment. The District does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any of its educational programs or activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its regulations requires The District to not discriminate in such a manner. This requirement not to discriminate extends to admission and employment. Inquiries regarding Title IX and its regulations should be addressed to the District's Title IX Coordinator:
Maricel Goris, Assistant Superintendent
237 Essex Street, Lawrence, MA. 01840
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
978-722-8262
Inquiries may also be made externally to:
Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Boston Office
U.S. Department of Education
5 Post Office Square, 8th floor
Boston, MA 02109-3921
Telephone: (617)289-0111
Facsimile: (617) 289-0150
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: http://www.ed.gov/ocr
- ACA Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy (Click here for Spanish)
- ACA-R Title IX Grievance Procedure (Click here for Spanish)
Tobacco-Free Schools Policy
The Lawrence School Committee endorses the philosophy that every student, staff person and visitor to a School Department facility ought to have the right to breath clean air. Scientists have now identified passive smoking, the smoke that nonsmokers involuntarily inhale, as a contributing factor in the leading causes of avoidable fatal illness, such as heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and chronic pulmonary disease. Passive smoking kills more people per year than all other carcinogens currently regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency combined.
Transportation Policy
The major purpose of school transportation is to get students who live an unreasonable walking distance from home to school and back in an efficient, safe, and economical manner. Other purposes include the provision of transportation for academic field trips in direct support of the curriculum, and transportation for the support of the co-curricular program (e.g., athletics, music, drama, and the like.)
Uniform Policy
Responding to community input, LPS institutes a uniform policy in its schools, K-12, to enhance the learning environment and reduce socio-economic challenges. While the policy of wearing a uniform is districtwide, individual school communities have the opportunity to vote each year on the specifics of the uniform. Please see the links below for specific requirements for each school. Schools will also send communications during August regarding their requirements.
Variance Policy
The school assignment policy for Lawrence Public Schools is based on neighborhood schools, assigning students to the schools closest to their homes, with minimal exceptions for substantially separate specialized learning programs, or when a school reaches maximum capacity for any grade. While our district schools deliver instructional services to meet the diverse needs of students in our neighborhoods, this policy provides an orderly and thoughtful process for variances to the assignment policy to address transition grade, sibling, or proximity from home issues.
Variance applications will be accepted from May 1 through June 14, for the following school year and can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Late applications will not be considered.
- PK-K Enrollment and Variance Process for SY23-24 Letter to Parents Bilingual
- View Variance Policy (Click here for Spanish)
- Variance Form Bilingual
Wireless Access Policy
Due to the increasing demands for wireless access to LPS network, this policy acts as an addendum to the General Acceptable Use Policy by including specific information regarding the use of wireless networking and Internet access. Please note that many items listed here may already be in the General Acceptable Use Policy for the redundant purposes. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to let us know. This policy is designed to protect wireless users and to prevent inappropriate use of wireless network access that may expose LPS to multiple risks including viruses, network attacks and various administrative and legal issues.
Head Injuries and Concussions
Wellness Policy
The Lawrence School Committee supports lifelong healthy eating habits and positive physical activity for all students and staff in the Lawrence Public Schools. The School Committee is committed to addressing the increasing rates of diet-related health consequences among these groups ensuring that the Lawrence Public Schools takes a comprehensive approach to reviewing and incorporating changes in policy, curriculum and operating procedures to promote healthy lifestyles and appropriate nutritional practices for all students. In doing so, the Lawrence Public Schools recognizes the important relationship between wellness and academic success. Using Section 204 of Public Law 111-296: Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act and the recommendations of the Massachusetts Department of Education, the following approach will guide our efforts.
