Admission and Enrollment Policy
With respect to admission and enrollment, Evolution Academy Charter School prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; national origin; ethnicity; religion; disability; academic, artistic, or athletic ability; or the district the child would otherwise attend in accordance with TEC § 12.111(a)(5). However, Evolution Academy Charter School may exclude a student who has a documented history of a criminal offense, a juvenile court adjudication, or discipline problems under Subchapter A, Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code, as authorized by TEC § 12.111(a)(5)(A).
All prospective students are required to complete our basic Application for Admission form. If more applications are received than there are seats available in a particular grade or class, the school will conduct an admissions lottery. Applicant names will be drawn and placed onto a waiting list based on the order of their draw for each class or grade subject to the lottery. Once the lottery has placed all eligible applicants in order on the admission list or waiting list, and all available seats have been filled, all subsequent applicants will be placed on the waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis.
Parents of each applicant will be notified of their position on the admission list and/or waiting list. Parents must provide a phone number, email address, or alternate contact method so that information about admission offers may be communicated by the school. Students offered admission will be informed of an orientation session at which enrollment paperwork will be provided.
Upon invitation, all prospective students offered admission are required to attend a pre-scheduled orientation session (generally lasting two hours); during this session, parents and students will be required to complete the school’s enrollment packet. Students are required to be present with a parent or guardian for the entire orientation. Adult students who are 18 years of age or older may attend without a parent or guardian. Late arrival, early leaving, or non-attendance will result in the applicant being placed back in the lottery.
Questions regarding the application process, the enrollment process, or upcoming orientations should be directed to the scheduling office at each campus: Beaumont (409) 239-5553, Houston (281) 907-6440 or Richardson (972) 907-3755.
Bullying Policy
Evolution Academy strives to provide a safe, positive learning climate for students in the school. Therefore, it shall be the policy of the school to maintain an educational environment in which bullying and cyber bullying in any form are not tolerated. All forms of bullying and cyber bullying by school students are hereby prohibited. Anyone who engages in bullying or cyber bullying in violation of this Policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action which may include suspension, expulsion or notification to the appropriate authorities. Complaints of bullying or cyber bullying shall be investigated promptly, and corrective action shall be taken when a complaint is verified. Neither reprisals nor retaliation shall occur as a result of the submission of a complaint.
Bullying shall mean unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct directed at a student by another student that has the effect of:
- Physically, emotionally or mentally harming a student;
- Damaging, extorting or taking a student’s personal property;
- Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical, emotional or mental harm;
- Placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to or loss of personal property; or
- Creating an intimidating or hostile environment that substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities.
All forms of bullying are unacceptable and, to the extent that such actions are disruptive of the educational process of the School, offenders shall be subject to appropriate staff intervention, which may result in administrative discipline.
If you have concerns that your student may be a victim of bullying, please report it to your campus administrator immediately. Bullying Reporting Forms in English and Spanish can be accessed below.
Website Incident Report Form
Website Incident Report Form (Spanish)
Child Nutrition Policy
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Harassment Policy
Harassment of any type has no place in the school setting. The school will endeavor to maintain a learning and working environment that is free of harassment. Evolution Academy Charter School expects administrators and supervisors to make it clear to students and staff that harassment in the school building, on school grounds, or at school-sponsored functions will not be tolerated and will be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion of students and termination of employment for employees. Harassment may include but is not limited to sexual harassment, racial harassment or harassment because of a physical condition or disability. It may also include but is not limited to hostile, demeaning or intimidating behavior or conversation.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Evolution Academy Charter School does not discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, religion, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, and/or national origin in educational programs or activities, which it operates, and it is required by Title IX, Section 504, and Title VI, not to discriminate in such a manner. This policy not to discriminate extends to employment and admission to such programs and activities.
Evolution Academy Charter School offers career and technology education programs in Health Science, Business Management and Administration and Human Services. Admission to these programs is based on interest and aptitude, age appropriateness and class space availability.
It is the policy of Evolution Academy Charter School not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or age in its vocational programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Evolution Academy Charter School will take steps to ensure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational programs.
For information about your rights or grievance procedures, contact the Title IX and 504 Coordinator at 1101 South Sherman Street Richardson, TX 75081, (972) 907-3755.
Sexual Harassment Policy
Sexual harassment is a violation of policy for any student or member of the Evolution Academy Charter School staff to harass another student or staff member through conduct or communications of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sex-oriented verbal “kidding,” repeated remarks to a person with sexual or demeaning implications, unwelcome touching, patting, pinching, or repeated brushing against another’s body. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which violates Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is the policy of the school to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from sexual harassment. Evolution Academy Charter School prohibits any form of sexual harassment. Evolution Academy Charter School will act to investigate all complaints and discipline any student or employee of the school accordingly.
Wellness Policy
Wellness Policy Assessment Tool Triennial
Policy Purpose:
Evolution Academy is committed to providing an environment that enhances learning, the development of life-long wellness practices and wellness initiatives for students. EVOLUTION ACADEMY will follow nutrition guidelines that advance student health and reduce childhood obesity. The general wellness of all students shall be promoted through nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities.
Policy Intent: EVOLUTION ACADEMY’s Wellness Committee, consisting of employees, parents, and students, will develop nutrition guidelines and wellness goals for EVOLUTION ACADEMY’s students. The Wellness Committee will develop a Wellness Plan that establishes wellness goals and objectives and provides action steps and methods for measuring implementation of each goal.
Wellness Committee
The Chief Executive Officer or designee will be responsible for implementing the school wellness policy and reporting on its status to the Board.
The Wellness Committee, on behalf of EVOLUTION ACADEMY, shall review and consider evidence-based strategies and techniques and shall develop nutrition guidelines and wellness goals as required by law. In the development, implementation, and review of these guidelines and goals, the Wellness Committee shall be comprised of at least five people from the following stakeholder groups: parents, teachers, school health professionals, members of the Board, and school administrators. A Student Wellness Council will also be formed to provide input for the wellness plan. The Wellness Committee may also gather input from other interested parents, staff, and members of the public.
The Wellness Committee shall develop a wellness plan to implement EVOLUTION ACADEMY’s nutrition guidelines and wellness goals.
The wellness plan shall, at a minimum, address:
- Strategies for soliciting involvement by and input from persons interested in the wellness plan and policy;
- Objectives, benchmarks, and activities for implementing the wellness goals;
- Methods for measuring implementation of the wellness goals; and
- The manner of communicating to the public applicable information about EVOLUTION ACADEMY’s wellness policy and plan.
Policy Adopted 5/18/19
Nutrition Guidelines
EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall ensure that nutrition guidelines for reimbursable school meals and all other foods and beverages sold, otherwise made available, or marketed to students during the school day shall be designed to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity and shall be at least as restrictive as federal regulations and guidance, except when EVOLUTION ACADEMY allows an exemption for fundraising activities as authorized by state and federal rules.
EVOLUTION ACADEMY will implement a coordinated school health program with a nutrition education component. EVOLUTION ACADEMY’s nutrition promotion activities shall encourage participation in the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, and any other supplemental food and nutrition programs offered by the district. EVOLUTION ACADEMY establishes the following goals for nutrition promotion:
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY’s food service staff, teachers, and other EVOLUTION ACADEMY personnel shall consistently promote healthy nutrition messages in cafeterias, classrooms, and other appropriate settings.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall share education nutrition information with families and the general public to promote healthy nutrition choices and positively influence the health of students.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall ensure that food and beverage advertisements accessible to students during the school day contain only products that meet the federal guidelines for meals and competitive foods.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall deliver nutrition education that fosters the adoption and maintenance of healthy eating behaviors.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall make nutrition education a priority and shall integrate nutrition education into other areas of the curriculum, as appropriate.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall provide professional development so that teachers and other staff responsible for the nutrition education program are adequately prepared to effectively deliver the program.
Physical Activity EVOLUTION ACADEMY will implement a coordinated health program with physical education and physical activity components and shall offer at least the required amount of physical activity for all grades. EVOLUTION ACADEMY establishes the following goals for physical activity:
Policy Adopted 5/18/19
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall provide an environment that fosters safe, enjoyable, and developmentally appropriate fitness activities for all students, including those who are not participating in physical education classes or competitive sports.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall provide appropriate staff development and encourage teachers to integrate physical activity into the academic curriculum where appropriate.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall make appropriate before-school and after-school physical activity programs available and shall encourage students to participate.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall make appropriate training and other activities available to employees in order to promote enjoyable, lifelong physical activity for employees and students.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall encourage parents to support their children’s participation, to be active role models, and to include physical activity in family events.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall encourage students, parents, staff, and community members to use the school’s facilities that are available outside of the school day.
EVOLUTION ACADEMY establishes the following goals to create an environment conducive to healthful eating and physical activity and to promote and express a consistent wellness message through other school based activities:
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall allow sufficient time for students to eat meals in lunchroom facilities that are clean, safe, and comfortable.
- EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall promote wellness for students and their families at suitable campus activities. 3. EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall promote wellness activities and involvement at suitable district and campus activities.
Evaluation
EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall comply with federal requirements for evaluation of this policy and the wellness plan, as well as EVOLUTION ACADEMY’s and each campus’s level of compliance with this policy and the plan. At the conclusion of each school year, the Wellness Committee shall assess and prepare a report of each campus’s progress toward meeting the goals listed in this policy and in the wellness plan, including a summary of each campus’s major activities and events tied to the wellness program and the extent to which the wellness policy and plan compare with any state or federally designated model wellness policies.
Public Notification
EVOLUTION ACADEMY shall inform and update the public about the content and implementation of the wellness policy, including posting on its website a copy of the wellness policy and the wellness plan, as well as a copy of the annual report.
Policy Adopted 5/18/19