Parent involvement is extremely important to the success of our students. Columbus County Schools views parents as important partners with a needed voice to help guide our decisions for the betterment of our children’s education. We will always encourage parents to voice concerns, be an advocate for their child, and help shape the direction of our school and district.

Recently, a new law was passed (North Carolina General Statute § 115C-76.25) that puts many of our initiatives in writing, and helps parents understand their rights and how they can be more involved in their child’s education. We are excited that this new law recognizes the many opportunities that parents have for meaningful involvement. As you see below, all of these rights have been in our board policies for many years, but we now want to remind parents of these rights, and encourage parents to become actively engaged in the many positive changes happening in our schools.

The rights are as follows:

a. The right to consent or withhold consent for participation in reproductive health and safety education programs, consistent with the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 115C-81.30. Board Policy 3540.

b. The right to seek a medical or religious exemption from immunization requirements, consistent with the requirements of N.C.G.S. §§ G.S. 130A-156 and 130A-157. Board Policy 4110.

c. The right to review statewide standardized assessment results as part of the State report card. Board Policies 1310/4002.

d. The right to request an evaluation of their child for an academically or intellectually gifted program, or for identification as a child with a disability, as provided in Article 9 of Chapter 115C of the North Carolina General Statutes. Board Policies 1310/4002 and 3520.

e. The right to inspect and purchase public school unit textbooks and other supplementary instructional materials, as provided in Part 3 of Article 8 of 21 Chapter 115C of the North Carolina General Statutes. Board Policy 3210.

f. The right to access information relating to the Board's policies for promotion or retention, including high school graduation requirements. Board Policies 1310/4002.

g. The right to receive student report cards on a regular basis that clearly depict and grade the student's academic performance in each class or course, the student's conduct, and the student's attendance.

h. The right to access information relating to the State public education system, State standards, report card requirements, attendance requirements, and textbook requirements. Board Policies 1310/4002.

i. The right to participate in parent-teacher organizations. Board Policy 5010 .

j. The right to opt-in to certain data collection for their child, as provided in § 115C-76.65. Board Policy 4720.

k. The right for students to participate in protected student information surveys only with parental consent, as provided in N.C.G.S. § 115C-76.65. Board Policy 4720.

i. The right to review all available records of materials their child has borrowed from a school library as set forth in Board Policy 3210.