WPS - School Committee Policies

The WPS School Committee reviews current governing policies for relevancy, amends existing policies as needed, and approves new policies. Administrators create regulations necessary to carry out the policies.


Public Comment	Public comment is encouraged on all policies, especially those under current review. To suggest policy revisions or creation, contact a School Committee member or access our Public Comment page.
General Search	To perform a general search of all WPS and Town documents, go to the Town's General Document Search page.

WPS policies are grouped into the seven areas listed below. To download a policy, click on its title. These documents are in PDF format and can be viewed and printed using the free Acrobat Reader software.

Policy Area	Numeric Series
Community	1000
Administration	2000
Fiscal Management	3000
Personnel	4000
Students	5000
Instruction	6000
School Committee	7000

Community (1000)
P1101 Public Support	P1403 Board of Health
P1102 People and Their School System	P1404 Planning Authorities
P1103 Communication Goals	P1405 Community Organizations and Governmental Agencies
P1104 Advertising in the Schools	P1406 Other School Systems and Educational Agencies
P1105 Distribution of Notices [Regulation]	P1407 High School Accreditation
P1106 Emergency Closings/Delayed Openings/Early Dismissals	P1408 Memberships in Recognized Associations
P1107 News Media Relations/News Releases	P1501 School Committee Meetings
P1108 Public Information Program	P1502 Citizen Advisory Committees
P1109 Public's Right to Know	P1503 Public Complaints
P1110 Publications/Media	P1504 Public Complaints About School Personnel
P1111 Photographs, Audiotapes, Videotapes	P1505 Public Complaints About Curriculum or Instructional Material
P1112 School Personnel Directory	P1506 Visitors
P1201 Use of Facilities	P1507 Community Involvement in Decision Making
P1202 Rental Process	P1508 Volunteer Assistance Program [Regulation]
P1301 Gifts to Students	P1509 Recognition by School Committee
P1302 Fundraising in the Schools	P1601 School Councils
P1303 Solicitation From and By Students	P1701 Purpose of School-Parent Associations
P1401 Police Authorities	P1801 Philosophy and Code of Conduct
P1402 Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services

Administration (2000)
P2101 Employment of Superintendent	P2111 Five-Year Financial Plan
P2102 Goals of Superintendent	P2112 Projected Space Utilization Plan
P2103 Evaluation of Superintendent	P2113 Westford Annual Town Report
P2104 Policy Implementation	P2201 Job Descriptions
P2105 Admin Decisions in Absence of Policy	P2301 Administrative Goals
P2106 Review of Regulations	P2302 Administrative Operations
P2107 Publication of Policies - Conduct of Teachers/Students	P2303 Administrative Personnel Positions
P2108 Instructional Program	P2304 Employment of Principals
P2109 Administrative Reports	P2305 School Improvement Plans
P2110 Blueprint	P2401 Systems Operational Plan

Fiscal Management (3000)
P3101 Fiscal Management	P3503 Cooperative Purchasing
P3201 Budget Planning	P3504 Depository of Funds
P3202 Presentation of Budget	P3505 Approval of Warrants
P3203 Public Hearing on Budget	P3506 Expense Reimbursements
P3204 Budget	P3507 Revolving Fund for Textbooks & Other Fees
P3205 Fiscal Year	P3508 Sales Calls and Demonstrations
P3206 Financial Reports	P3601 Management of Buildings & Grounds
P3301 Fiscal Accounting	P3602 Building Inspection
P3302 Audit	P3603 Security
P3303 Bonded Officers and Employees	P3604 Emergency Evacuation Drills
P3304 Petty Cash Accounts	P3605 New Construction
P3305 Revolving Accounts	P3606 Smoke-Free Environment
P3306 Inventories	P3607 Pesticide Use in Schools
P3401 Student Activities Accounts	P3701 School Comm Responsibilities for Transportation
P3402 Cash Receipts, Gate Receipts, Admissions	P3702 Assist Superintendent Responsibilities for Bus Transportation
P3403 Lease & Rental of School Facilities	P3703 Parent/Legal Guardian Responsibilities for Bus Transportation
P3404 Tuition Fees	P3704 Bus Contractor
P3405 Gifts & Contributions to Schools	P3705 Additional Transportation
P3406 Funding Proposals & Applications	P3706 Changes in Bus Routes or Stops
P3407 Disposal of School Properties	P3707 School Bus Accidents
P3501 Purchasing Authority	P3801 School Lunch Program
P3502 Procurement	P3802 Free & Reduced Price Meals Program

Personnel (4000)
P4101 Equal Opportunity Employment [Regulation]	P4117 Employee Arrest
P4102 Staff Positions	P4118 Family & Medical Leave
P4103 Staff Hiring [Regulation]	P4119 Educational Workshops
P4104 Staff Health Examinations	P4120 Criminal Offender Record Information
P4105 Staff Orientation	P4201 Drug-Free Workplace
P4106 Dismissal or Demotion of Staff	P4202 Smoke-Free Environment
P4107 Resignation	P4203 Harassment
P4108 Retirement	P4301 Substitute Professional Staff
P4109 Conflict of Interest	P4302 Student Teacher
P4110 Confidentiality [Regulation]	P4303 Tutoring for Pay
P4111 Review of Student Files	P4401 Negotiation Goals
P4112 Personnel Records	P4402 Contracts & Compensation Plans
P4113 Workers' Compensation Insurance	P4403 Evaluation of Staff
P4114 Employment Outside of School	P4501 Professional Teacher Status [Regulation]
P4115 Gifts to School Personnel	P4502 Professional Development Plan [Regulation]
P4116 Political Activities of Staff

Students (5000)
P5101 Enrollment Age	P5314 Expulsion: Education Reform Act of 1993
P5102 Students of Legal Age	P5315 Expulsion: Principal's Authority
P5103 School Choice (Massachusetts Residents)	P5316 Expulsion: General
P5104 Non-School Choice (Non-Massachusetts Residents)	P5317 Expulsion: Special Education Students
P5105 School Census	P5318 Exclusion for Non-School Related Concerns
P5106 Student Transfers	P5319 School Bus: Responsibilities While Driving
P5107 Student Withdrawal from School	P5320 School Bus Discipline
P5108 Work Permits	P5321 Student Parking
P5109 Dismissal at Parental Request	P5322 Bicycles
P5110 Dismissal of Student by School Personnel	P5323 School Dress
P5111 Attendance Districts	P5324 Physical Restraint
P5112 Open Enrollment	P5401 Interscholastic Athletics [Regulation]
P5113 School Day	P5402 Safety [Regulation]
P5114 School Year/School Calendar	P5403 Off Season Athletic Training & Conditioning
P5115 Residency Requirement	P5404 Student Field Trips
P5201 Moment of Silence	P5405 Student Travel
P5202 Pledge of Allegiance	P5406 Student Advisory Committee
P5203 Religious Expression	P5407 Student Representative to School Committee
P5301 Student Conduct	P5501 Student Health Services
P5302 Student Handbooks [Regulation]	P5502 Safety
P5303 Harassment	P5503 Administration of Prescription Medications
P5304 Bullying	P5504 Student Physicals [Regulation]
P5305 Hazing	P5505 Immunizations of Students [Regulation]
P5306 Smoke-Free Environment	P5506 Communicable Diseases [Regulation]
P5307 Alcohol Use by Students [Regulation]	P5507 HIV/AIDS
P5308 Drug Abuse	P5508 Child Abuse & Neglect
P5309 Damage of School Property	P5509 Pregnant Students
P5310 Searches of Student Lockers	P5510 Crisis Intervention/Prevention [Regulation]
P5311 Student Demonstrations & Strikes	P5511 Bomb Threats
P5312 Corporal Punishment	P5512 School Wellness Policy [Regulation]
P5313 Chapter 766 Discipline

Instruction (6000)
P6101 Educational Philosophy	P6116 School Exhibits
P6102 Organization of Instruction	P6117 Student Co-Curricular Activities
P6103 Curriculum & Instruction [Regulation]	P6118 Library Materials Selection & Adoption [Regulation]
P6104 Providing for Student Needs	P6119 Textbook Selection
P6105 Experimental/Innovative Programs	P6120 Field Trips
P6106 Evaluation of Instructional Programs	P6121 Teaching about Controversial Issues
P6107 Standardized Testing [Regulation]	P6122 Controversial Speakers
P6108 Grading & Progress Reports	P6123 Curriculum Containing Sexual Issues
P6109 Promotion and Retention of Students	P6124 Teaching about Drugs, Alcohol & Tobacco
P6110 Graduation Requirements [Regulation]	P6201 Homebound Instruction
P6111 Student Records	P6202 Home Schooling
P6112 Homework [Regulation]	P6203 Private School
P6113 Scheduling of Tests	P6204 Summer School
P6114 Student Awards & Scholarships	P6301 District Computing Environment
P6115 Student Publications	P6302 District Acceptable Internet Use

School Committee (7000)
P7101 Number of Members and Terms in Office	P7210 Membership in Recognized Associations
P7102 Oath of Office	P7211 School Naming Policy
P7103 Compensation and Reimbursement	P7301 Development of Policies
P7104 Member Insurance	P7302 Adoption of Policies
P7105 Resignation	P7303 Review of Policies
P7106 Fulfillment of Vacancy	P7304 Dissemination of Policies
P7107 Organizational Meeting	P7305 Handbooks & Negotiated Agreements
P7108 Officers of the School Committee	P7306 Approval of Handbooks
P7109 New Member Orientation	P7307 Suspension of Policies
P7201 Powers & Duties	P7401 Regular Meetings
P7202 Legal Status	P7402 Special Meetings
P7203 Operational Goals of School Committee	P7403 Notifications of School Committee Meetings
P7204 Code of Ethics	P7404 Executive Sessions
P7205 Member of Authority	P7405 Agenda Format
P7206 Legal Counsel	P7406 Rules of Order
P7207 Emergency Communications	P7407 Quorum
P7208 Evaluation of School Committee Operations	P7408 Voting Procedures
P7209 Special Committees & Advisory Committees	P7409 Records of Meetings

Westford Public Schools • 23 Depot Street • Westford MA 01886 • Tel: (978) 692-5560 • Fax: (978) 392-4497