The Administrative Policy Manual began in 2008, when the Board decided to seperate certain policies from the corporate policy manual which the school's adminsitrator could modify without requiring Board action, only Board notification.  Previous versions of the policy manual are available for download from this page.

June 22, 2011

• Throughout the entire document:
  • Clarification was made to refer to the organization as Pinellas Preparatory Academy, Inc. (PPA, Inc.), or to specific  schools (PPA or PPA, Jr.) 
  • All references to the Dean of Students position were removed. 
  • Typos, grammatical and clarification corrections throughout. 
  • Clarified responsibilities regarding which administrator is responsible for specific tasks.  
• Specific Policy Changes
  • Section A – Definitions was added (all other sections were relabeled)
  • C.1.3 Excused Absences –parents are required to notify the school seventy-two hours before the absence for religious holidays or events. 
  • C.1.4 Tardiness – Students are recommended to arive a minimum of 5-minutes prior to the start of the first class. Principal may choose the consequence to be assigned for tardiness in conjunction with the COA for being tardy three times. 
  • C.1.5 Early Removal – We will not call parents down to the office to leave during the last 30 minutes of school, unless prior arrangements have been made with the Principal.
  • C.1.7 Truancy Consequences – Specific steps identified about what will happen when a child is exhibiting a pattern of non-attendance, such as being referred to the Student Success Team, and that specific interventions identified in statute will be attempted. If the parent believes the strategies are inappropriate they may attempt to appeal through the Superintendent. If a parent continues to refuse to participate, the Principal may request that they withdraw. 
  • C.1.8 Excessive Absences – Principal should consider referral to Student Success Team after 15 absences, and the Success Team may consider retention after 20 days of nonattendance. 
  • C.3.1 Grading Policy – Added an “After-School Homework Recovery (AHR) class” for students who do not hand in their homework on time. If assignments are not handed in, the next day the student will be required to attend AHR after school to complete the assignment. Parents will be notified electronically of the missing assignment and requirement to stay after school the following day.
  • C.3.1 Grading Systems – Schools are permitted to use either a traditional grading system based on percentages or a Standards Based Grading System, which is defined in policy C.3.1.2. 
  • C.3.3.1 Approximate Time Guidelines – Took out the chart of examples of how much homework should be expected, maintaining the 10 minutes per grade level guideline. 
  • C.3.3.2 Late Homework – All homework handed in late will receive a one grade letter (10%) reduction unless the student had an excused absence. 
  • C.3.3.3 Posting of Homework – Teachers are required to post homework on the online grading system by 5:00 the day it was assigned. If it is not posted, the student will not be docked for handing work in late, nor will they be assigned AHR the following day. 
  • C.3.4.2 Extracurricular Activities (Open Enrollment) – Policy no longer allows previous students to return to PPA, Inc. schools for extracurricular activities. 
  • C.4.1 Clubs – Students are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA in order to participate in extracurriculars.  Teachers are allowed to create expectations that students must also maintain within club. 
  • C.4.2.1 Approval (Field Trips) – The specific itinerary provided to the administration must be followed. Student to adult ratio is to be determined based upon the specific activity. 
  • C.4.2.2 Behavioral Exclusions (Field Trips) – Students must have a GPA of at least 2.0 for the fourth quarter in order to attend the end of the year field trip.
  • C.4.3 Attendance Required for Extracurricular Participation – In order to participate in extracurricular activities sponsored by the school, students must have been in attendance at school that day, and if they have a pattern of non-behavior they may not participate in extracurricular activities.
  • C.5.4(4) Behavioral Consequences  - Removed the language regarding learning packets. 
  • C.5.4(5) In School Suspension – Removed language regarding specific tasks assigned to students needing to be completed, and that the student will return afterwards.  Instead, a specific time frame will be assigned to a student issued an in-school suspension. 
  • C.5.5.4 Behavior Team Meeting – Superintendent will coordinate the appeal process with the Behavior team.
  • C.5.5.6 Further Appeals – Warning given that Board of Directors meetings are public meetings and that information shared with the Board is a matter of public record. 
  • C.5.6 Teen Dating Violence and Abuse – This entire policy has been added as a result of recent legislation passed in the State of Florida. Policy mirrors (with edits) PCSB proposed policy. Identifies the definition, reporting process and requirements, investigation limits, consequences, supports to be provided, right to confidentiality and the education requirements relating to teen dating violence and abuse. 
  • C.6.1(15) Dress Code – Removed the restriction of only two ear piercings, instead allowing the Principal to approve appropriateness. Now prohibits “gauges.” 
  • C.6.3 Games and Electronic Devices – Clarified that special permission may be granted, and that PPA, Inc. is not responsible for lost or stolen items. 
  • D.1 Teacher’s Lesson Plans – Requires that lesson plans be submitted for the week one hour prior to the start of the school that week. 
  • E.4 School Based Leadership Team – Clarified language to align more with RtI (Response to Intervention). 
  • E.5.3 Student Supervision Background Checks – Clarified which types of volunteers must complete standard background checks and which must go through the complete Level 2 finger printing (based on past practice).
  • E.8.4 Social Media Policy – New policy is based on an open-sourced social media guideline developed by a group of educators from around the country. Reminds staff, students and parents of the social responsibilities of online media, and the need to remain professional using online services. 
  • E.9 Civility Policy – Requires courteous and civil behavior from the adults involved with the school (staff, parents and patrons). Provides for disciplinary action for staff who, and the removal/banning from school property for parents/others. 

• B.6.2 - Cell Phone Policy - Allowing exceptions for educational purposes
• D.8 - Computer, E-Mail and Cell Phone Usage - Adds rules/expectations regarding use of electronic devices
• D.8.1 - School Telephones - Defines when use is appropriate
• D.8.2 - Personal Cell Phone Use - Defines appropriate use of personal cell phones by students and staff
• D.8.3 - Acceptable Use Policy - Defines appropriate use of school network

June 1, 2010

• A.1 - Staff Teams - Renaming some staff team names
• A.2 - Student Led Conferences - Requiring teacher attendance at student led conferences
• B.14 - Tardiness - Removing options to mark a tardy as excused. All tardies will be considered equally
• B.1.8 - Excessive Absences - Adding possibility that students who miss more than 25 days of school may be retained due to poor attendance
• B.6.7 - Movies in the Classroom - Defining which movies are appropriate, and for which movies staff must obtain parental permission 
• D.7 - Returned Checks - School may charge a fee of $25 to cover NSF checks written to the school

October 16, 2009

• B.3.4 - Dual Enrollment Policy

June 12, 2009

• A.1 - More clearly defined staff teams
• B.1.4 - Created policies regarding tardiness
• B.4.2.2 - Changed policies regarding field trip attendance, and behavioral exclusion from field trips
• B.5.3 - Clarified behavioral expectation for school events outside of school hours
• B.5.4.5 - Changed the way in-school suspensions are conducted
• B.5.4.7 - Clarified requirements regarding parents shadowing a student for behavioral reasons
• B.5.5 - Created an appeal process for behavioral referrals
• F.2.4 - Increased the Before/After Care Drop In Fees

November 30, 2008 Version

• Added D.6 - Policy Against Bullying and Harassing

June 23, 2008 Version

• Cleaning up language as a result of transition to Administrative Policy Manual

June 16, 2008 Version

• Cleaning up language as a result of transition to Administrative Policy Manual

June 3, 2008 Version

• New Policy, pulling language from Corporate Policies and separating into Administrative Policy Manual