Transparency and Important Public Documents

Arts In Action Community Charter School
 
Arts In Action Community Middle School
Both Schools
 
Per LAUSD’s Keeping Parents Informed: Charter Public School Transparency Resolution of January 12, 2016, Arts in Action provides documents to families both manually and electronically. For more information, call the main office: 323-266-4371, or visit either the elementary or middle school office during office hours. Parents can request that information be emailed to them, or that a hard copy be provided. In addition, information is made accessible through the school website and Class Dojo.
 
For Schools in Action SFA materials, visit schoolsinaction.com directly. 

Public Access

Information relating to public access to written information, open meetings, school facilities, and pupil records and grades.
Please contact the custodian of records, Maria Ramirez, HR Manager at 323-266-4371 for more information.

Public Records Act—Government Code Section 6250 et seq.

Public records include any written information that is prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency (such as a county, city, or school district) and is related to the conduct of public business, regardless of the physical form or characteristics of the public business. Public records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours of the state or local agency. Every person has the right to inspect any public record and obtain a copy for a fee unless, pursuant to specific statutory standards, it must be kept confidential. Agency regulations may be adopted stating the procedures to be followed when making records available.

Open Meetings (Brown Act)—Government Code Section 54950 et seq. and EC sections 35145 and 35145.5

Generally, public agencies are required by law to conduct their business in an open forum. However, the Legislature recognizes the need for agencies to meet, on occasion, in private forum. For example, certain matters concerning personal privacy of public employees or litigation strategy are more appropriately discussed in a closed (rather than open) session.

Agencies are required to provide agendas at least 72 hours prior to each regular meeting; the agenda must contain a brief description of each item to be considered. Local bodies are required to take steps to ensure public participation in the meetings. Minutes shall be taken and are public records. Boards shall adopt regulations governing the procedures to be followed to (1) ensure that members of the public may include items on the agenda for consideration; and (2) permit the public to address the board regarding items on the agenda as they are deliberated. These regulations do not preclude the board from addressing matters that are not on the agenda but that a member of the public wishes to bring before the board, provided that no action is taken on such matters at the same meeting during which the testimony is taken.

Civic Center Act—EC Section 38130 et seq.

Every public school facility is considered a civic center where citizens, school-community councils, and clubs as well as senior, recreation, education, political, artistic, and other organizations may meet. The school district may grant the use of school facilities and grounds upon certain terms and conditions deemed proper by the governing board and subject to specified limitations, requirements, and restrictions set forth within the law.

Pupil Records—EC Section 49060 et seq.

Except for certain directory information, such as students’ names, addresses, telephone numbers, and certain other information that is disclosable by the school district, pupil records cannot be disclosed without parental consent (except to certain specified governmental entities and school employees). Parents have absolute right of access to their children’s records and may formally challenge the contents. School districts and private schools are required to transfer pupil records to each other when students change schools. School districts must notify parents of their rights under the pupil records law (EC Section 49063).

Grades—EC sections 49066 and 49070(b)

The grade given to a pupil by the teacher of the course (in the absence of clerical or mechanical error, bad faith, incompetency, or fraud) shall be final. Neither the local governing board nor superintendent shall order a grade changed without first giving the teacher who has assigned the grade the opportunity to state orally or in writing the reasons for which the grade in question was given.

Promotion and Retention—EC sections 48070 and 48070.5

School districts shall adopt policies regarding the promotion and retention of students pursuant to the standards in EC Section 48070.5. The student’s parent shall be given an opportunity to consult with the school principal and the responsible teacher or teachers before a decision to promote or retain is made and to appeal the decision. There will be notification when a student is identified as being at risk of retention.

The text of these laws is available on the California Law Web site External link opens in new window or tab.

How to Access Public Records:

All requests should clearly describe the requested records owned or retained by the CDC or Housing Authority.

The public may request agency records via the following methods:   

 1.   By calling the main office at 323-266-4371

 2.   By sending an e-mail to [email protected]

 3.   By faxing a written request to (323) 266-4371

 4.   By mail/messenger to:

      Arts in Action Community Charter Schools
      5115 Via Corona, Los Angeles, CA, 90022 or 745 S. Kern Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90022


All requests for public records will be treated equally, regardless of the manner in which they were received. Arts in Action may ask that verbal requests be followed up with a written summary of the documents being requested to ensure that we have a clear understanding of what to retrieve; however, a written summary is not a requirement to process the request.  

All requests will be responded to within 10 days.

SCHOOL VISITORS

All persons other than school staff and currently registered students must first report to the school office immediately upon entering school grounds, sign in/out in the visitor’s log and provide proper identification. All visitors must wear an identification tag when visiting the school. All campus visitors must have the consent and approval of the director/designee. 


Permission to visit must be given at the time requested if at all possible or within a reasonable period of time following the request. Children who are not enrolled at the school are not to be on the campus unless prior approval of the director has been obtained. Visitors may not interfere with, disrupt or cause substantial disorder in any classroom or school activity. AIA Policy states that smoking and the use of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and peripherals, is prohibited on all school property, including Visitors are expected to: 


  • Follow the established school policy in requesting a classroom visitation
  • Sign into the main office upon arrival at the site
  • Enter and leave the classroom as quietly as possible
  • Not converse with the students, teacher and/or staff during the visitation unless through prior arrangement or planning with staff
  • Not interfere with any school activity
  • Keep the length and frequency of classroom visits reasonable
  • Follow the school‘s established procedures for meeting with the teacher and/or director after the visit, if needed
  • Learn and follow the school-wide behavioral expectations
  • Sign out from the main office and return visitor’s pass before leaving the campus.

Any individual who disrupts the school campus or school activities will be asked to leave and might be restricted from future visits.