BERKS CAREER & TECHNOLOGY CENTER
STUDENT HANDBOOK
INTRODUCTION
The broad educational program offered by the Berks Career and Technology Center is available to
students from the following school districts:
Antietam
Boyertown Area
Brandywine Heights Area Hamburg Area
Conrad Weiser Area
Daniel Boone Area
Exeter Township
Fleetwood Area
Governor Mifflin
Kutztown Area
Oley Valley
Schuylkill Valley
Tulpehocken Area
Twin Valley
Wilson
Wyomissing Area
Representatives from education, labor and industry have planned and developed this
vocational program to supplement what is offered by the above-named school districts.
The building administration office area is centrally located within each Campus, as is the
cafeteria, which also serves as an assembly room for general meetings of career and technology
students, and as a meeting hall/banquet facility for the public during evening and off-school hours.
This is your school and you have reason to be proud of it. You will find the educational
program offered here rewarding and challenging, as you prepare for your future in the world of
work.
GENERAL INFORMATION/ SCHOOL PROCEDURES
MATH
Most students will be required to take a math course during their sophomore and junior year.
This will assure that the student will be ready for the Tech-Prep option. If assigned a math class,
scheduled attendance is mandatory.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
In the event that you change your legal residence, it is your responsibility to report to the
office and complete a Change of Address Form, as soon as possible.
I. ATTENDANCE
STUDENT ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
The goal of the Berks Career and Technology Center is to prepare students for rewarding
careers and life long learning. The development of appropriate work habits and attitudes, including
regular attendance, is critical for success both on the job and at the Career Center. For these reasons
the Berks Career and Technology Center has established the following guidelines in conjunction with
the Pennsylvania School Code and the Pennsylvania Department of Education:
1. According to the Pennsylvania School Code, all children between the ages of 8 and 16
are required to attend school.
2. The Berks Career and Technology Center requires that to receive credit for the year's
work, a student would have to be in attendance 169 days for a two-semester course
and/or 84 days for a semester course. Twelve or more unexcused absences will result
in no credit for enrollment at Berks Career and Technology Center.
3. If the student is absent, the following procedure will be followed:
a. An excuse blank, signed by the parent or guardian, needs to be returned to the
instructor upon the student's return to school. Failure to do this within three (3)
days will result in the absence being classified as unexcused and will be a
category B offense. After a third unlawful absence, the sending school district
may take legal action toward truancy and a grade of 59 will be issued for the
vocational course and math program.
b. Absences in excess of three (3) consecutive days may require a doctor's excuse.
4. Frequent absences from school disrupts the educational process. The benefits from
regular attendance and instruction is lost and cannot be regained; therefore, the
following procedure will be enforced:
a. When a student misses more than three (3) days during any quarterly period, a
student conference will be held to inform the student of the number of absences,
and instructors shall notify the parents through a progress report.
b. At ten (10) days of absences a letter will be sent home to the parents or
guardians. A parental conference may be scheduled.
c. At twelve (12) days of unexcused absences a notice will be issued, informing the
parent by registered mail of the student's loss of credit for a course or courses.
d. Absences will be recorded as unexcused, based on, but not limited to, the
following list of reasons:
1) Oversleeping
2) Car trouble
3) Unauthorized trips
4) Unauthorized vacations
5) Missing the bus
6) Working before, during, or after school hours on a day of absence
7) Job interviews (unless authorized by the Co-op Department)
e. Students may not excuse themselves from school under any circumstances.
Students, who become ill, either at their sending schools or at the Career and
Technology Center, must report to their school nurse. Failure to do so will result
in an unexcused absence and progressive disciplinary measures for "cutting"
school.
Excessive and unlawful absences will be referred to the sending school for action in
compliance with official notice and prosecution procedures of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania Public School Code, Section 1333 and Act 29 of 1995 (Truancy).
For each unexcused absence two (2) points are deducted from the attitude component of the
quarter grade. Overall attendance patterns may also be reflected in the attitude component of
the quarter grade. Three (3) unexcused absences per report period will result in a failing grade
of 59-E, or the actual grade earned if less than 59. Students may not accumulate 12
unexcused absences per year, or credit for the year will be lost.
EXEMPT ABSENCES FROM THIS POLICY
- Doctor's or Dentist's written excuse
- Approved Medical or Dental appointments
- School authorized field trips or activities
- Approved educational travel
- Suspension from school
- Personal bereavement
- Approved emergency
- Illness
COOPERATIVE EMPLOYMENT GUIDELINES
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES - CAPSTONE PROGRAM
Cooperative employment during the senior year for three-year students is an integral part of
the vocational program and the opportunities available for co-op employment will be affected by
excessive absenteeism.
1. The students will be paid at least the prevailing minimum wage for the time on the job.
The student will spend half a day at the sending school for academic subjects and the
other half day on the job. The students shall be legally employed a minimum of 15
hours a week during the school year. These hours can be other than school hours.
2. The student's prior performance in the school program, as evidenced by attendance
and citizenship records must be satisfactory.
3. Students will receive credit for their participation in the program toward graduation
on a basis comparable to that for their Career Center course.
4. The student will be required to adhere to all Federal, State, and Local Child Labor
Laws applicable to his/her age and job category.
5. The student will be returned to a regular Career Center schedule if his/her
employment is terminated or temporarily suspended.
The Student Will:
6. Attend co-op meetings, which will be operated in conjunction with the cooperative
work experience program.
7. Maintain the best attendance record possible.
8. Notify the employer and appropriate school office in case of absence.
9. Work a minimum hours per school week equal to the total weekly time released from
school, usually 15 hours. The maximum hours per school week are limited to 28 plus
the number of hours released from school. The total per day is not to exceed 8 and
40 hours per week if the student is under age 18.
10. Report to the Career Center on non-scheduled work days, if it is a scheduled day of
instruction.
11. Be suspended for work when suspended from school.
12. Not be allowed to report for work on a day when he/she is absent from school.
13. Be expected to be on time for work and limit breaks to the actual time allotted.
SCHOOL CLOSING
In the event your school is closed due to inclement weather, or some other emergency, stay
tuned to your local radio station for information on whether the Career and Technology Center
classes will be canceled.
EARLY DISMISSAL
Early dismissal from Berks Career and Technology Center will be permitted; however, certain
steps are necessary to receive permission. You must make a request concerning your early dismissal,
in writing, to the supervisor at your campus, and each request will be handled on an individual basis.
PROCEDURES FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES FROM INSTRUCTIONAL
ACTIVITIES DUE TO INTERNAL CO-CURRICULAR EVENTS
While interference with any Berks Career and Technology Center instructional activity is not
encouraged, there are instances where conflicts arise and may take precedence. Some typical
instances over which we have little or no control are cancellation of school's attendance for a day or
for some specific co-curricular activity at the sending school, which requires the involvement of their
Career and Technology Center students.
Activities over which we can exercise control are those events of an internal nature. Some
examples of these internal events are youth club activities, assemblies, student services' activities,
guest speakers or a planned activity, which requires a student's absence from one activity over
another, e.g., major testing situations. These aforementioned activities should be designed with the
overall educational process of the students in mind, address social growth and interaction with peer
groups or contribute to student self-esteem.
Realizing that conflicts of two internal activities may arise throughout a school year, the
following guidelines are to be followed:
1. The event/activity must be planned, organized and approved by administration at least
two (2) weeks in advance of the scheduled date. There are always exceptions to the
rules; if extenuating circumstances do not permit the two week notice, the request will
be dealt with on an individual basis.
2. Those staff members, who will be affected, should be notified in advance of the
scheduled date, so that their activities can be reviewed and altered accordingly.
3. Any student(s) may be withheld from attending an internal activity at the discretion of
the instructor because of unsatisfactory performance in the student(s) instructional
area. This unsatisfactory performance includes the academic and behavioral aspect of
overall class performance.
4. If permission for attendance at an event is not granted by an instructor, the student
may not attend the event. If the student disregards this denial, the student will be in
violation of two (2) discipline code guidelines: "insubordination and unexcused
absence from class activity," and will be suspended for his/her actions.
5. Any instructor may request to withhold his or her entire class from an activity/event
(other than math), if he or she feels that the conflicting activity/event should not take
precedence over their planned activity.
The math program is a mandated and integral part of the students' career programs,
and as such, will be accorded equal priority given the vocational programs. Vocational and
math instructors should communicate their requirements/needs to each other on a regular
basis.
II. STUDENT SERVICES (Guidance)
Each Campus at the Berks Career and Technology Center is staffed with a guidance
counselor, who will coordinate your educational activities with those of your home school. Please
utilize the counselors to discuss school related or personal problems that may arise. As part of the
testing and records maintenance function, student services will be responsible for the following:
TESTING PROGRAM
In accordance with the recommendations of the Director, the members of the Joint Operating
Committee of the Berks Career and Technology Center have approved a testing program, designed to
provide information concerning the proficiency of students on standardized tests of vocational
achievement. During this school year, the following tests may be administered to your child:
Name of Test Purpose
1. Ohio Trade and Industrial Education To provide a sound technique
Achievement Test allowing school personnel to
2. Cooperative Mathematics Test evaluate, plan and implement
3. California Achievement Test program improvement and
4. Differential Aptitude Test provide feedback through
5. Student Occupational Competency student self-assessment
Achievement Test
6. ORBIT (Objective Referenced Band of Items and Tests - Math)
7. WRAT (Wide Range Achievement Test)
8. N.A.E.P. (National Assessment of Educational Progress)
9. Iowa Test of Achievement and Proficiency
Your student's scores on these tests will be checked carefully and maintained in his/her school
record as long as he/she attends the Berks Career and Technology Center. Should you wish to
examine your student's record file at any time, you may arrange to do so by making an appointment
with the appropriate guidance counselor.
STUDENT RECORDS
CATEGORY "A"
In accordance with policy regarding representational consents, the members of the Joint
Operating Committee of the Berks Career and Technology Center do hereby authorize the
superintendent or his designee to collect and maintain the following student records classified as
"Category A:"
A. Name
B. Address of Student
C. Birth Date
D. Gender J. Grades
E. Telephone Number
F. Social Security Number
G. Sending School District Data
H. Vocational/Academic Curriculum
I. Attendance Record
K. Participation in Co- and/or Extra-Curricular Activities
CATEGORY "B"
Category "B" information, which may become part of a student's cumulative record during the
current school year is:
A. Student progress reports
B. Disciplinary action reports, based on serious or recurrent behavior patterns
WITHDRAWING FROM SCHOOL
If you are planning to withdraw from Berks Career and Technology Center, you first should
contact your home school guidance counselor, where arrangements will be made for you to complete
the necessary forms. You should then make an appointment with the guidance counselor at your
Career and Technology Center Campus to discuss your decision. All financial or material obligations
to the Career and Technology Center must be met prior to withdrawal.
STUDENT/PARENTAL CONSENT AND MEDICAL FORMS
Student/parental consent and medical forms are to be completed by your parents as part of
your enrollment packet prior to entering Berks Career and Technology Center. If you fail to fulfill this
requirement, you will not be allowed to participate in shop class instruction. This information
is vital in case of an accident or serious injury.
CONFERENCES
You and your parents may arrange to meet with your instructors, guidance counselor or
administrator if so desired. A conference will be scheduled as soon as possible upon request.