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Student or Parent Complaints and Concerns

How do I raise a concern or file a complaint or grievance with the school?

LTS values the opinions of its students and parents, and the public it serves. Parents and students have the right to express their views through appropriate informal and formal processes. The purpose of this complaint and/or grievance policy is to resolve conflicts in an efficient, expeditious, and just manner.

The Board of Directors encourages parents and the public to discuss their complaints and grievances through informal meetings with the principal or designee. Complaints and grievances should be expressed as soon as possible to allow early resolution at the lowest possible administrative level.

Neither the Board of Directors nor any school employee shall unlawfully retaliate against a parent or student for voicing a complaint and/or grievance.

The superintendent or designee shall ensure that the school’s complaint and grievance procedures are provided to all parents and students. The formal complaint and grievance procedure shall provide for any complaint and grievance to ultimately be considered or heard by the Board of Directors or its designee in accordance with Commissioner of Education rules.

For purposes of this policy, “days” shall mean school days, and announcement of a decision in the student’s or parent’s presence shall constitute communication of the decision.

Informal Conferences

A parent or student may request an informal conference with the principal or designee, teacher, or other campus administrator within seven school days of the time the parent or student knew or should have known of the event(s) giving rise to the complaint and/or grievance. If the parent or student is not satisfied with the results of the informal conference, he or she may submit a written complaint and/or grievance form to the principal or designee. Complaint and grievance forms may be obtained from the principal’s office.

Formal Grievance Process

The formal complaint and grievance process provides all persons with an opportunity to be heard up to the Board of Directors if they are dissatisfied with an administrative response. Once all administrative procedures are exhausted, a parent and/or student can bring complaints and/or grievances to the Board of Directors, as outlined below.

A complaint and/or grievance must specify the harm alleged by the parent and/or student, and the remedy sought. A parent or student should not submit separate or serial complaints and/or grievances regarding the same event or action. Multiple complaints and/or grievances may be consolidated at the school’s discretion. All time limits shall be strictly complied with; however, if an administrator determines that additional time is needed to complete a thorough investigation of the complaint and/or grievance and/or to issue a response, the administrator shall inform the parent or student in writing of the need to extend the response time and provide a specific date by which the response will be issued. Costs of any complaint and/or grievance shall be paid by the complainant and/or grievant.

Level One Complaint – Principal Review

A parent or student shall submit a written Level One Complaint or Grievance Form to the principal or designee within the later of (1) five school days from the time the event(s) causing the complaint and/or grievance were or should have been known, or (2) within five school days following an informal conference with the principal or designee. The school reserves the right to require the complainant and/or grievant to begin the complaint and/or grievance process at Level Two.

The principal or designee will meet with the complaining and/or grieving parent within 10 school days of the principal or designee’s receipt of the complaint and/or grievance. The principal or designee will provide the complaining and/or grieving parent with a written Level One Decision within 10 school days of the Level One Grievance meeting.

Note: A complaint and/or grievance against a campus principal shall begin at Level Two.

Level Two Complaint – Superintendent Review

If the parent or student is not satisfied with the Level One Decision, or if no Level One Decision is provided, the parent or student may file a written appeal to the superintendent or designee. The appeal must include a signed statement of the complaint and/or grievance, any evidence supporting the complaint and/or grievance, and a copy of the written Level One complaint and a copy of the Level One Decision, if issued.

The appeal shall not include any new issues or complaints and/or grievances unrelated to the Level One complaint. The appeal must be filed within 10 school days of the Level One Decision or the response deadline if no Level One Decision is made. The superintendent or designee will meet with the complaining and/or grieving parent or student within five school days of receiving the written appeal. The superintendent or designee will provide the complaining and/or grieving parent with a written Level Two Decision within 10 school days of the Level Two Grievance meeting.

Note: A complaint and/or grievance against the superintendent shall begin at Level Three.

Level Three – Board of Directors Review

If the student or parent is not satisfied with the Level Two Decision, or if no Level Two Decision is provided, the parent or student may submit to the superintendent a written appeal to the Board of Directors. The request must be filed within 10 school days of the Level Two Decision or the response deadline if no Level Two Decision is made. The superintendent or designee will inform the student or parent of the date, time, and place of the Board of Directors meeting at which the complaint and/or grievance will be placed on the agenda for consideration by the board.

The Board of Directors will consider the appeal, and may allow a presentation by the parent or student and the school administration. The appeal will be limited to the issues and documents considered at Level Two, except that if the administration intends to rely on evidence not included in the complaint and/or grievance record, the administration shall provide the student or parent notice of the nature of the evidence at least three days before the Board of Directors’ meeting.

LTS will determine whether the appeal will be presented in open or closed session, in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and other applicable law.

The presiding officer may set reasonable time limits and guidelines for any presentation of evidence, including an opportunity for the student or parent and administration to each make a presentation and provide rebuttal and an opportunity for questioning by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall hear the complaint and/or grievance and may request that the administration provide an explanation for the decisions at the preceding levels.

The Board of Directors shall communicate its decision, if any, orally or in writing before or during the next regularly scheduled board meeting. If no decision is made by the end of the next regularly scheduled board meeting, the decision being appealed shall be upheld. The Board of Directors may not delegate its authority to issue a decision, and any decision by the Board of Directors is final and may not be appealed.

Additional Complaint Procedures

This Parent and Student Complaints and Grievance process does not apply to all complaints and/or grievances:

  • 1. Complaints alleging Prohibited Conduct (discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and similar matters) shall be submitted as described in “Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation,” section 2.17 of this Handbook.
  • 2. Complaints concerning decisions of an accelerated learning committee and/or Legacy Traditional School’s implementation of a student’s accelerated learning plan shall be submitted as described in “Accelerated Learning Committees,” section 3.17 of this Handbook.
  • 3. Formal complaints alleging sexual harassment shall be submitted as described in “Freedom from Sexual Harassment,” section 2.18 of this Handbook.
  • 4. Complaints concerning bullying or retaliation related to bullying shall be submitted as described in “Freedom from Bullying,” section 2.19 of this Handbook.
  • 5. Complaints and grievances concerning loss of credit on the basis of attendance shall be submitted as described in “Attendance for Credit or Final Grade,” section 1.12 of this Handbook.
  • 6. Complaints and grievances concerning disciplinary long-term suspensions and/or expulsions. Shall be submitted as described in “Conferences, Hearings, and Appeals” as described in the Student Code of Conduct.
  • 7. Complaints concerning the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of a student with a disability within the scope of Section 504 shall be submitted as described in “Student or Parent Complaints and Concerns” above, except that the deadline for filing an initial Level One complaint and/or grievance shall be 30 calendar days and the procedural safeguards handbook.
  • 8. Complaints concerning the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or discipline of a student with a disability within the scope of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act shall be submitted in accordance with applicable Board policy and the procedural safeguards provided to parents of all students referred to special education.
  • 9. Complaints regarding the Free and Reduced Price Meal Program. In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, the school is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, political beliefs, age, disability, national origin, or limited English proficiency. (Not all bases apply to all programs.) Reprisal is prohibited based on prior civil rights activity. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which is available online at the following website: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter by mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usada.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339, or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.