Professional Documents
Culture Documents
www.schoolhouserights.org
1 Marquis Aurbach Coffing
Brian R. Hardy, Esq.
2 Nevada Bar No. 10068
10001 Park Run Drive
3 Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
Telephone: (702) 382-0711
4 Facsimile: (702) 382-5816
bhardy@maclaw.com
5
Jonathan O’Brien, NYB No. 5043369
6 (Pending Admission Pro Hac Vice)
Law Office of Jonathan O’Brien
7 Telephone: (646) 308-1689
43 W. 43rd St, Suite 002
8 New York, NY 10036
Jobrien@burnsobrienlaw.com
9
Attorneys for Plaintiffs William Clark and Gabrielle Clark
10
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
11
MARQUIS AURBACH COFFING
DISTRICT OF NEVADA
12
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
www.schoolhouserights.org
1 Plaintiffs Gabrielle Clark individually and as parent and guardian of William Clark
2 and William Clark individually by and through their attorneys of record, the law firm of
4 NATURE OF ACTION
5 A. ASSERTING INTEGRITY OF CONSCIENCE AGAINST STATE
DISCRIMINATION AND COERCION
6
1. Plaintiff, William Clark, brings suit for injunctive relief and damages against
7
Defendants for repeatedly compelling his speech involving intimate matters of race, gender,
8
sexuality and religion. Defendants compelled Plaintiff William Clark to make professions
9
about his racial, sexual, gender and religious identities in verbal class exercises and in graded,
10
written homework assignments which were subject to the scrutiny, interrogation and
11
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William Clark to reveal his identities in a controlled, yet non-private setting, to scrutiny and
13
Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
10001 Park Run Drive
official labeling, Defendants were and still are coercing him to accept and affirm politicized
14
and discriminatory principles and statements that he cannot in conscience affirm. Defendants
15
“invade the sphere of intellect and spirit which it is the purpose of the First Amendment to our
16
Constitution to reserve from all official control.” West Virginia State Board of Education v.
17
Barnette, 319 U.S. 624. Defendants repeatedly threatened William Clark with material harm
18
including a failing grade and non-graduation if he failed to comply with their requirements.
19
When he declined to participate in these confessional exercises and assignments, Defendants
20
rejected his requests for reasonable accommodation and acted on their threats. Defendants’
21
coercive and intrusive behavior compelled William Clark’s protected speech and invaded his
22
privacy, violating his constitutional rights under the First Amendment and his due process
23
rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.
24
2. Plaintiff, Gabrielle Clark, a black woman, is William Clark’s mother and only
25
living parent guardian. William’s father, now deceased, was a white man and an attorney.
26
Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark brings suit on her own behalf and asserts her Fourteenth Amendment
27
substantive due process right to family integrity and autonomy, which the Defendants
28
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1 deliberately threatened and undermined in word and deed, directing her son in class to
2 “unlearn” the basic Judeo-Christian principles she imparted to him, and then retaliated against
3 her son with a failing grade and threats of non-graduation when he declined to participate.
4 Parents possess a right and covenant to guide and direct the upbringing of their children, and
5 courts have repeatedly honored and upheld this right. See Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 66
6 (2000) (O’Connor, J., plurality); see also Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, 401-02 (1923)
8 3. Defendants, who include a state funded and sponsored charter school, teachers
9 and senior administrators, have deliberately created a hostile educational environment for
10 Plaintiff William Clark, who, unlike his classmates appears to be and is regarded by his peers
11 as white. Defendants thus discriminated on the basis of race and color, in addition to sex,
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12 gender and religion, in violation of Title VI and Title IX of the Education Amendments of
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq. As Gabrielle Clark told Defendants in a meeting seeking
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14 accommodation, “you put a bullseye on my son’s back.” The following illustration is copied
15 directly from Defendant school’s mandatory class material annexed hereto as Exhibit A and
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1 B. RELIEF REQUESTED
2 4. William Clark’s graduation from high school has been threatened and his
3 academic performance has already been unjustly harmed. He and his mother Gabrielle Clark,
4 whose hopes are fully invested in her son’s wellbeing and prospects, seek emergency
5 injunctive relief for reasonable accommodation, as ongoing harm done and threatened to be
6 done by Defendants is irreparable, and pray the Court declare Defendants’ behavior in
7 violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, 42 U.S.C.
8 § 1983, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of
12 and for the Defendants’ deliberate and protracted harassment, emotional abuse, and violation
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
17 7. Venue is proper in the District of Nevada under 28 U.S.C. §1391 because the
18 events giving rise to the claims detailed herein occurred in the District of Nevada, and all
19 Defendants do business there. Defendants Democracy Prep Public Schools and Democracy
20 Prep Public Schools Inc. and associated individuals are interstate actors headquartered in
21 Manhattan.
22 THE PARTIES
23 A. PLAINTIFFS
24 8. Plaintiff William Clark is in the 12th grade at Democracy Prep at the Agassi
25 Campus (DPAC), formerly Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, where he first
26 enrolled six years ago. He has been there much longer than Defendants, who took over
27 management and control of the Agassi Campus three years ago. William is hoping to attend
28 college to study music. William resides in Clark County, Nevada with his Mother, Gabrielle
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1 Clark, in transitional housing with two siblings, both of whom are black. William’s father is
2 deceased.
3 9. Gabrielle Clark is a single mother and guardian of three children, two of whom
4 are school age, including William Clark. She has brought up her children according to
5 traditional Judeo-Christian principles, including the proposition that every person is unique
6 and equal before the eyes of God and will be judged by the content of their character rather
7 than the color of their skin. Ms. Clark is temporarily disabled and unemployed, but is active
8 in her children’s education, having secured for them coveted admissions to public charter
10 B. DEFENDANTS
11 10. Defendant State Public Charter School Authority [“SPCSA”] characterizes
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12 itself as a “local education agency.”1 SPSCA certifies, authorizes, screens and monitors
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 DPAC, and recently renewed its contract with Defendants DPAC, Democracy Prep Nevada
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14 LLC, and Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus School Board in the contract annexed hereto.
15 The contract requires DPAC to notify SPCSA of any violations in its contractual obligations,
16 and SPSCA must in turn direct corrective action. SPCSA conducts site visits and evaluations,
17 including of curriculum and grading changes at DPAC. SPSCA’s acquiescence and deliberate
19 programming amounts to practice and custom with regards to the constitutional violations
20 discussed herein.
21 11. Defendant Democracy Prep Public Schools (DPPS) describes itself as a public
22 charter school network and is organized under the laws of the State of New York. DPPS is
23 headquartered at 1767 Park Avenue, 4th & 5th Floor, in Manhattan. In its IRS Form 990 for
24 fiscal year ending in 2018, DPPS describes itself as a “charter management organization
25 providing educational services, management operations and fundraising activities” for charter
26
27
1
28 See Contract, attached hereto as Exhibit B.
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1 schools including DPAC in Nevada.2 As a public educational institution and recipient of
2 federal and state funds, DPPS has a duty to enforce the United States Constitution and state
3 law by not enacting, imposing, operating, or maintaining policies, operations, or goals that
5 on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin. Defendants’ curriculum
7 compelled speech and discrimination was generated by DPPS in New York and amounts to
11 benefits from federal and state financial assistance. DPAC claims that it relies entirely on
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12 public funds — in 2018 about $5,700 per pupil from the state and federal funds. DPAC has
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 utilized and expended public monies to implement its unconstitutional “civics” programming
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14 in violation of the United States Constitution, Title VI, Title IX and Nevada State Law. DPAC
16 13. Defendant Democracy Prep Public Schools, Inc. is the only managing member
17 of Defendant Democracy Prep Nevada LLC whose executive director is DPAC Principal
18 Adam Johnson.
19 14. Defendant Democracy Prep Nevada LLC is a legal entity registered under the
20 laws of Nevada, and the contract between it and the SPCSA describes it is a separate entity
21 from the DPAC charter school itself.3 This legal entity was first registered on February 13,
22 2017 under the legal form of Domestic Limited-Liability Company registered in the state of
23 Nevada. The company is categorized under Public Combined Elementary and Secondary
24 School. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of $80,555 and employs
25
26 2
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/202629354/201921429349301972/IRS990
27 3
http://charterschools.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/CharterSchoolsnvgov/content/News/2020/200626-
28 Democracy-Prep-at-Agassi-Contract-draft-5-21-20-clean.pdf
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1 a staff of one, who is Defendant Adam Johnson. Democracy Prep Nevada LLC has one listed
3 15. DPAC School Board [School Board] is the “final authority in matters affecting
4 [DPAC] and responsibility for the academic, financial, and organizational performance…and
5 curriculum.”5 The DPAC School Board is a unique entity with final oversight of DPAC
6 operations, curriculum and disciplinary matters, and is duty bound according to its contract
7 with Defendant SPCSA to ensure non-discrimination in accordance with Title IX and VI and
8 federal and state law. Defendant Joseph Morgan is Chair of DPAC School Board. Defendant
9 School Board acquiesced and was deliberately indifferent to the civil rights abuses inflicted
10 on Plaintiffs and affirmatively approved as policy the coercive, invasive, and discriminatory
11 curriculum programming.
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12 16. Defendant Kathryn Bass is a teacher and employee at DPAC. She teaches and
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 grades the compulsory “Sociology of Change” class in which William Clark was enrolled,
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14 and she required William Clark and his fellow students to reveal and make professions about
15 their gender, sex, religious and racial identities, and subjected those professions to public
16 interrogation, scrutiny and derogatory labeling as part of a curriculum designed, promoted and
17 implemented by DPPS and its CEO and Superintendent Natasha Trivers. Defendant Kathryn
18 Bass terminated class discussion when Plaintiff William Clark and other students sought to
19 engage critically with Defendants’ class material and programming that assigned character
20 attributes on the basis of race, sex and gender. She also failed Plaintiff William Clark for the
21 class at issue, and penalized him for not completing graded identity confession assignments.
22 17. Defendant Adam Johnson is the school principal of DPAC and its Executive
23 Director and Executive Director at Democracy Prep Nevada LLC. He personally oversees and
24 implements curriculum and discipline at DPAC, and threatened a failing grade and non-
25 graduation upon William Clark and his mother on multiple occasions if William Clark did not
26
4
27 http://www.buzzfile.com/business/Democracy-Prep-Nevada-LLC-702-948-6000
5
28 See Exhibit B at page 7.
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1 participate in the “Sociology of Change” instruction sessions featuring compelled speech,
3 Johnson delivered on his threats, ruining Plaintiff’s good college prospects built on years of
4 hard work and a strong GPA, conferring a D- on Plaintiff William Clark for the class, even
5 though DPAC’s Handbook states “Democracy Prep does not give Ds.”6
6 18. Defendant Natasha Trivers is the new CEO of DPPS and DPPS Inc. and
7 Superintendent of all 21 affiliated member schools, including DPAC in Nevada. She
9 the Civics Program of which the course at issue, “The Sociology of Change” and its tandem
10 “Change the World” project is a part. She has publicly encouraged Democracy Prep students
11 to think for themselves and “push back” against DPPS school policies if students found them
MARQUIS AURBACH COFFING
12 to be unjust, however she retaliated against William Clark and his mother when they did just
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 this and asserted their constitutional rights in seeking reasonable accommodation from
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14 Defendants. Defendant Kimberly Wall stated that Defendant Natasha Trivers was aware and
15 intimately involved in every action taken by Defendants towards Plaintiffs concerning the
20 retaliation against Plaintiffs. In at least two meetings with Plaintiffs and counsel Defendant
21 Kimberly Wall refused reasonable accommodation, refused to repair the failing grade awarded
22 to William for the class at issue and would give no assurances that future mandatory class
23 programming would not involve identity confessions and labeling in class or in graded
24 homework assignments.
25 20. Defendant Joseph Morgan is Chair of the School Board at DPAC and a
26 Professor at UNLV in Child Development. He was awarded a $2.5 million grant to fund
27
6
28 See Handbook, attached hereto as Exhibit C, at page 23.
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1 ReInvent Schools Las Vegas – Community Schools Initiative, a project designed to implement
2 a community-schools model on three elementary school campuses within the Las Vegas
5 Partnership for Inclusive Education (NVPIE). When not deliberately indifferent towards
6 Plaintiffs, Defendant Joseph Morgan actively directed, supervised and was personally
9 meetings with Plaintiffs. He failed to take corrective measures as stipulated in the DPAC
10 Handbook and SPCSA contract when put on notice that Defendants’ actions were illegal and
12 21. All named Defendants are persons acting under color of state law within the
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
14 FACTUAL BACKGROUND
15 22. In 2014, Plaintiff William Clark enrolled in the sixth grade at Andre Agassi
16 College Preparatory Academy in Clark County, Nevada. At the time Andre Agassi College
17 Preparatory Academy fell under the operational control of Clark County School District. In
18 December of 2016, after receiving a $12.7 million grant from the US Department of
19 Education, New York City based Democracy Prep Public Schools (DPPS) and Democracy
20 Prep Public Schools Inc. acquired Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy.
21 23. DPPS’ acquisition of Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy was part of
22 a larger national expansion. DPPS had grown from its initial class of 130 sixth-graders in New
23 York City in 2006 to roughly 6,500 students in 21 schools today. In 2018, DPPS received
24 $21.8 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education’s Charter School Program to
25 fund the opening of additional campuses around the country. On its website, DPPS projects
26 its total enrollment to be 10,000 students nationally. DPPS asserts it “funds all of its schools
27 with only the public money we receive from the city, state, and federal government,” but at
28 the same time “seeks private philanthropy for strategic initiatives separate from the running
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1 of its schools.”7 Despite their self-professed public status and exclusive reliance on public
2 funding, DPAC or Democracy Prep Nevada LLC and DPPS applied for and received millions
3 of dollars in Payroll Protection Program loans under the CARES Act this summer.8
4 24. DPPS began implementing its “civics” curriculum at the newly acquired
5 Agassi Campus in the Fall of 2017. The acquisition met with significant resistance from
6 parents who were skeptical of the newly arrived New York organization. Defendant Natasha
7 Trivers, DPPS’s interim CEO at the time, characterized the parental opposition to Democracy
8 Prep in Las Vegas as comprised of “haters,” and lamented the difficulty of combating this
9 opposition because of the sheer geographic distance between the school and the organization
10 taking it over: “We’ve always dealt with the haters, so to speak, but that was haters on a really
11 large scale.” She added that she regretted “not getting out in front of our parents so that they
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12 heard our voice louder than the detractors in a way that we just haven’t experienced before.”
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 9
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14 25. Defendant Natasha Trivers at the time was interim CEO of DPPS during the
15 medical leave and absence of Katie Duffy, who would later resign from DPPS. Upon her
16 assumption of the role of full and permanent CEO more recently, Natasha Trivers began
17 implementing a very different “civics” curriculum, although the generic name and syllabi
18 provided to parents remained the same. Parents at DPAC were not made aware of the
19 ideological turn in curriculum. In place of a conventional civics curriculum that addressed the
20 workings of the democratic system, political history, and the importance of civic engagement,
21 Trivers’ new DPPS curriculum inserted consciousness raising and conditioning exercises
22 under the banner of “Intersectionality” and “Critical Race Theory.” These sessions, according
23 to the instruction materials exhibited herein, are not descriptive or informational in nature, but
24
25 7
http://democracyprep.org/about/
26 8
https://www.cnn.com/projects/ppp-business-loans/businesses/democracy-prep-public-schools
27 9
https://www.the74million.org/article/democracy-preps-expansion-woes-raise-questions-about-
28 whether-civics-education-can-be-brought-to-scale/
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1 normative and prescriptive: they require pupils to “unlearn” and “fight back” against
2 “oppressive” structures allegedly implicit in their family arrangements, religious beliefs and
3 practices, racial, sexual, and gender identities, all of which they are required to divulge and
4 subject to non-private interrogation. Some racial, sexual, gender and religious identities, once
5 revealed, are officially singled out in the programming as inherently problematic, and assigned
9 Katie Duffy, parents at DPAC like Gabrielle Clark were not aware of the turn towards
10 coercive, ideological indoctrination until they began seeing the detrimental effects it worked
12 27. At the former Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy and at DPAC,
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 Plaintiff William Clark first developed his academic interests in musicology and sound
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14 engineering, a subject that he hopes to pursue in college. He aspires to attend Berkley School
15 of Music or New York University, while his mother hopes he chooses Carnegie Mellon. As a
16 12th grader, he is beginning the application process to college right now. He does all of this
17 while working as a shift manager at a local fast food chain restaurant in order to help his
18 family financially, managing intermittent “virtual learning,” and living through this year’s
20 28. At the end of August of this year, at the start of his final school year, William
21 Clark began the year-long “Sociology of Change” class required for all DPAC seniors and
22 taught by teacher Kathryn Bass. The class runs in tandem with another project-based class,
23
24 10
As a practical matter, Plaintiffs cannot simply transfer to another school. They are economically
25 disadvantaged and DPPS and DPAC continue to actively discourage midyear senior transfers as policy,
as evidenced by their resistance to providing plaintiffs with educational records. In a past email titled
26 “no documents for transfers” sent to defendant administrators, DPPS founder Seth Andrews stated
“We are absolutely within our rights NOT to help transfers in any way transfers mid-way senior year.
27 No transcripts, no letter of recommendation, nothing. I’m happy to discuss but no one at DPPS is
permitted to help a senior who wants to transfer out with in any way. Feel free to refer angry kids or
28 parents to me. But consider this non-negotiable.”
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1 “Change the World,” in which students carry out a political or social work project under the
2 guidance of a defendant Kathryn Bass and with input from other students.11
3 29. After Plaintiffs objected in early September to the coercive and ideological
4 nature of the “Sociology of Change” class, DPAC Principal Adam Johnson informed
5 Gabrielle Clark that the theoretical basis of the revamped “Sociology of Change” course is
6 known as “intersectionality,” and is inspired by political activist, academic and “Critical Race
7 Theory”12 proponent Kimberlé Crenshaw, who is featured prominently in the course materials
8 attached hereto. Defendants would later deny in a meeting with Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark that
9 the class was infused with “Critical Race Theory.” Plaintiff William Clark’s first graded
10 assignment for the class worth 10pts required him to reveal his racial, sexual, gender, sexual
11 orientation, disabilities and religious identities. Plaintiff William Clark was required to submit
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12 his race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities “if any” in a homework assignment due by
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 September 21 and which was “graded for completion” for a total of 20pts. Upon information
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14 and belief such assignments continued at least until October of this year.
15 30. “Hello my wonderful social justice warriors!” Defendant Kathryn Bass greeted
16 William Clark and his class on or about September 8th of this year.13 Ms. Bass then requested
17 each student to “label and identify” their gender, racial and religious identities as part of “an
18 independent reflection” exercise which was graded. The next step was to determine if “that
19 part of your identity have privilege or oppression attached to it.”14 Privilege was defined as
20 “the inherent belief in the inferiority of the oppressed group.”15 The teacher’s material stated
21
22 11
A copy of the DPAC curriculum and syllabi is attached hereto as Exhibit D.
23 12
Defendants’ class wears many hats, and defendants describe it in various ways, including
24 “Intersectionality,” “Critical Race Theory” and “Sociology of Change.” Rather than disambiguating
the various titles and characterizations, plaintiffs focus on the specific harms inflicted on them by
25 defendants’ class programming.
13
26 See Ex. A at page 30.
14
27 Id. at page 11.
15
28 Id. at page 2.
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1 who qualified as oppressors, and who in virtue of their gender and race harbored “inherent
2 belief in the inferiority” of others.16 As a result, Kathryn Bass explicitly assigned moral
3 attributes to pupils based on their race, gender, sexual orientation and religion. William Clark
4 felt that if he had submitted to the terms of this exercise, he would have been in effect adopting
5 and making public affirmations about his racial, sexual, gender identities and religious
6 background that he believed to be false and which violated his moral convictions. He also did
8 31. A “vocab reminder” visual graphic from the same class instructed participants
9 that “oppression” is “malicious or unjust treatment or exercise of power.”17 The lesson
10 categorized certain racial and religious identities as inherently “oppressive,” singling these
11 identities out in bold text, and instructed pupils including William Clark who fell into these
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12 categories to accept the label “oppressor” regardless of whether they disagreed with the
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 pejorative characterization of their heritage, convictions and identities. The familial, racial,
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14 sexual, and religious identities that were officially singled out and characterized as
15 “oppressive” were predetermined by Defendants’ class material from the outset, highlighted
16 as such in bold text, antecedent to any discussion between student and teacher. Plaintiff
17 William Clark could not bring himself to accept or affirm these labels, which he
18 conscientiously believed were calumny against his self-identity and his family. What William
19 Clark refused to do was to submit to racial, sexual, and religious labeling exercises carried out
20 in a non-private setting which was coercive in its very nature and trafficked in intimate
21 personal matters that are outside the legitimate scope of state-funded and controlled public
22 education.
23 32. After Defendant Kathryn Bass directed William Clark and his fellows to “label
24 and identify” their various identities, and place them in the designated “oppressive”
25 categories, the next step was to “breakout” into groups to discuss with other pupils, asking
26
16
27 Id.
17
28 Id. at page 23.
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1 and answering accusatory personal questions, including “Were you surprised with the amount
2 of privilege or oppression that you have attached to your identities” and “How did this activity
3 make you feel.”18 Those students who did not “feel comfortable or safe enough to do so,”
4 presumably those whose identities were oppressive, were permitted to refrain from divulging
5 the information to other students in their group, Defendant Kathryn. Bass assured them. [Id.]
6 However, discomfort was not relieved by Kathryn Bass’ offered dispensation, according to
7 William Clark. The pre-set structure of the class ensured that any pupil of a certain perceived
8 race, gender or sex who declined to participate only highlighted his status as an “oppressor”
9 who harbored inherent “privilege.” Pupils remained visible to one another in the classes that
10 were virtual, defendant Kimberly Wall said, their faces stacked around the teacher “like the
11 opening credits of the Brady Bunch,” as Ms. Wall would later describe it to Plaintiffs.
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12 Defendants’ class presentation also stated that denial of these identity characterizations
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13 amounts to unjust privilege “expressed as denial.”19 Defendants’ class exercises forced upon
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16 conscientiously refrain from participation, and suffer isolation from his classmates and be
20 religious, sexual, and gender discrimination. In addition to the “white” racial identity,
21 Defendants singled and assigned inherent moral attributes to pupils who fell into male,
22 heterosexual gender/sex identities and Christian religious categories, calling them intrinsically
24 Plaintiff William Clark was compelled to participate in public professions of his racial,
25
18
26 Id. at page 22.
19
27 See Exhibit A, page 2.
20
28 See Exhibit A, page 11.
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1 religious, sexual, and gender identities, and would be labeled as an “oppressor” on these bases
5 normalcy of one’s own privileged group.” As a male, William Clark’s identities were
6 “malicious and unjust” and “wrong” whether or not he was conscious of these alleged facts,
7 and whether or not he was personally responsible for any acts or omissions21. By professing
8 his sexuality at the teacher’s command, William Clark would in effect be submitting to these
9 derogatory labels. William Clark and his fellow students were instructed that any denial of
11 William Clark’s female teacher instructed him that only members of the male sex were
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13 what men to do women”23. This was not descriptive instruction, but compulsory, graded
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15 34. William Clark and his mixed-race family belong to many of the groups
16 characterized as “oppressive” and “wrong” by Defendants. The assignment of these
17 derogatory labels based upon racial, sexual, gender and religious upbringing created a hostile
18 environment for Plaintiff William Clark, who for instance was raised according to Judeo-
19 Christian precepts and traditions by his mother. Defendants’ curriculum programming and
21 institution against which students should “fight back” and “unlearn.”24. The material makes
22 explicit the “unlearning” is to take place in class, at the direction of the teacher. In fact, one
23
24
21
25 See Exhibit A, page 11.
22
26 See Exhibit A, page 2.
23
27 See Exhibit A, page 9.
24
28 See Exhibit A, page 33.
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1 slide that William Clark was exposed to states “We have a lot of unlearning to do.”25.
2 Defendants’ exercises and class programming was normative, not descriptive, and aimed to
3 foment in pupils an inward conversion regarding personal moral and spiritual convictions they
4 brought with them to the classroom from their personal experiences and families.
5 35. Professing one’s racial, sexual and religious identities on command, and
6 exposing those professions to the scrutiny of others, was a regular and official practice of the
8 required to perform repeatedly, and not just in the beginning classes. The terms of this practice
9 were authored by DPPS, as DPPAC and DPPS Defendants informed Plaintiffs in a mid-
10 November meeting. “On the Google Doc write down your individual identity,” Defendant
11 Kathryn Bass directed Plaintiff William Clark and his classmates in one virtual online
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12 session.26 “Fill out your identities again,” she reiterated. Individual identities to be written
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
14 Race/Ethnicity/Nationality: __________________
15 Gender:__________
16 Socioeconomic Status:______________
17 Disabilities: ______________
18 Religion: _________________
19 Age: _________________
20 Language: ________________ [Id.]
21 36. The above assignment was graded and the assignment sheet included an
22 asterisked caveat at the end: “This list is private! No one else will see it.” The assurance proved
23 to be false, however, because the entry of identities was required to be submitted to the teacher,
24 which she could see and muse over; and although students like Plaintiff William Clark did not
25 know it, by entering their intimate personal information onto the student assignment Google
26
25
27 See Exhibit A, page 35.
26
28 See Exhibit A, page 34.
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1 Doc database, it immediately became visible to all DPAC teachers and administrators and
2 remains so to this day, in contravention of the written privacy assurance Defendants gave to
3 Plaintiff William Clark and his fellow students, as Plaintiffs and counsel were later informed
6 Johnson could and would “tune in” to the classroom sessions unbeknownst to students like
7 Plaintiff William Clark, who were at the time in acute discomfort as their gender, race,
8 disabilities “if any”, and sex were being confessed, interrogated, and labeled on Zoom.
9 37. DPAC and DPPS Defendants including Kimberly Wall conceded in meetings
10 with Plaintiffs in mid-November and again in early December with counsel that required
12 above indeed occurred. Defendants said in the mid-November meeting that revealing
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 identities was “encouraged.” Defendants including Kimberly Wall refused to assure Plaintiffs
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14 that graded identity confession assignments or in class exercises would not occur again in
15 future “Sociology of Change” and “Change the World” classes that William Clark is required
16 to attend for graduation. Defendants’ current position by counsel is that they will not expunge
17 the failing grade they gave plaintiff William Clark or allow him to take an alternative class
18 but that he may partially repair his grade for last trimester’s “Sociology of Change” class if
19 he completes all the assignments, which would still not be full credit.
20 38. Defendants’ curriculum made attacks against the integrity of Plaintiff William
21 Clark and his mother’s family relationships. Families “reinforce racist / homophobic
22 prejudices,”27. William Clark’s deceased father was white, and he died when William was too
23 young to know him. The DPPS/DPAC teacher presentation material purports to supply
24 substantial information as to what sort of man he was, however, and what sort of relationship
25 he had with Plaintiff William Clark’s black mother. “Interpersonal racism is what white
26
27
27 See Exhibit A, at page 36. Upon information and belief this position concerning families is in
keeping with DPPS and Natasha Trivers’ express, official, and public promotion of organizations that
28 promote the dismantling of “Western prescribed nuclear family structure.”
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1 people do to people of color close up,” one “Sociology of Change” curriculum slide declares,
2 with examples including “beatings and harrasments.”28 Defendants do admit that not all white
3 people may be guilty of individually performing such acts, but because white people belong
4 to a “dominant group,” invidious distinctions are justified: “Some people in the dominant
6 39. With green eyes and blondish hair, Plaintiff William Clark is generally
7 regarded as white by his peers, and despite having a black mother, is so light skinned that he
8 is usually presumed “white” by all others. He is the only apparent white boy in his class, in
9 fact, and is regularly reminded of it. Still, the DPPS/DPAC “Sociology of Change” curriculum
11
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12
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13
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14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23 And again:
24
28
25 See Exhibit A, at page 9.
29
26 See Exhibit A, at page 10.
30
27 See Exhibit A., at pages 8, 24.
28
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1
10
11
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13 Change” class was presented to Plaintiff William Clark and his classmates made rational
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16 racial, sexual, and gender injustice in the very terminology, it forced pupils to adopt these
17 premises at the outset, frustrating good-faith deliberation between students and teacher.
18 41. It is therefore predictable that one of Plaintiff William Clark’s first “Sociology
19 of Change” sessions at DPAC on or about September 10, 2020 erupted into racially charged
20 tumult, and teacher Kathryn Bass terminated discussion when students, including William
21 Clark, objected to her derogatory, race-based labeling. Her actions both intimidated him from
22 speaking out in class further and was an official endorsement of an ideology he could not in
23 conscience affirm. This class session was conducted in a virtual online Zoom forum, and
24 Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark immediately complained abouts its disorder and intimidation to
25 Defendant Adam Johnson, principal of DPAC. In a meeting with Plaintiffs DPPS and DPAC
26 Defendants would neither confirm nor deny whether they generated a report regarding the
27 incident. This initial online incident and sitting through classes described above traumatized
28 William Clark, discouraged and chilled his speech, and he did not want to participate further.
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1 His mother also did not want him to participate further, and told Defendants repeatedly,
2 complaining specifically of the coercive identity revelations and the subsequent hostile
4 42. Defendants informed Plaintiff William Clark that he must return to and
5 complete the “Sociology of Change” class, or he would not be permitted to graduate from
6 high school. Plaintiffs spoke with school officials on multiple occasions from September to
7 the present to express their conscientious objection to the programming of the class and assert
8 their rights to abstain from participating in a class that was coercive, invasive and
9 discriminatory. But the response from increasingly higher levels DPAC and DPPS officials
11 43. Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark spoke with DPAC Principal Adam Johnson on or
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12 about September 15, 2020 to discuss her and Plaintiff William Clark’s concerns about the
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
14 Defendant Kathryn Bass, as well as the identity confessions and labeling, which Defendants
16 DPAC principal and Democracy Prep Nevada LLC Executive Director, dismissed Plaintiffs’
17 concerns, instead delivering a lecture on the virtues of “intersectionality” theory that inspired
18 the class, and should inspire them. He denied the class had anything to do with “Critical Race
19 Theory.” He told Plaintiffs that the course was required for graduation and he would not allow
21 44. On September 16, 2020 Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark appealed in a written email
22 to DPAC School Board Chair Joseph Morgan, copying Principal Adam Johnson and DPPS
23 superintendent Kimberly Wall. “My son is the only white student in this class, as far as we
24 can tell. This teacher is blatantly justifying racism against white people thereby putting my
25 son in emotional, psychological, and physical danger. This is not ok. Something needs to be
26 done to remedy this situation immediately.” She asked to be contacted immediately in order
27 to discuss a workable solution.
28
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1 45. On September 17, DPAC School Board Chair and Defendant Joseph Morgan
2 replied without any solution or offer of dialogue, instead laying out in an email a four-tier
3 bureaucratic process through which Plaintiffs William and Gabrielle Clark would be required
4 to process any complaints. Defendant Joseph Morgan was included in nearly every stage of
6 Upon information and belief he and the DPAC School Board he chairs screened and approved
7 the curriculum programming at issue, and took no corrective action when complaints were
8 raised.
9 46. In a signed letter dated September 17, 2020, DPAC Principal Adam Johnson
10 wrote to Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark that “[a]fter reviewing the documents from Ms. Bass, the
11 course syllabus, and hearing your concerns, I have determined that the Sociology of Change
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12 course is still a valuable learning experience for William (and his classmates) and will
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
14 47. Again, on October 12, 2020, DPAC Principal Adam Johnson sent an email to
15 Gabrielle Clark in response to her and William’s complaints about the discriminatory identity
16 labeling, stating “I know you have disagreements with some of the information shared in the
17 Sociology of Change course, however, as I mentioned the course is required for graduation.”
18 On the same day Gabrielle Clark responded “William will not be attending Sociology of
19 Change. The class violates his civil rights. Retaliation with threats to his graduating is also a
20 violation of his civil rights. If you’d like to discuss an alternative to this class, I am available
21 anytime.”
22 48. On October 19, 2020 Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark speaking for herself and William
23 Clark sent an email to Defendants Joseph Morgan, DPPS assistant superintendent Kimberly
24 Wall and DPAC principal Adam Johnson stating “William Clark will not be participating in
25 any type of Critical Race Theory class. This includes but isn’t limited to Sociology of Change.
26 It’s a direct violation of his civil rights. Mr. Adam Johnson has threatened retaliation by
27
31
28 See Johnson Letter, Exhibit E.
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1 preventing William from graduating unless he submits to having his civil right violated. This
2 is unacceptable.”
3 49. Perhaps sensing that litigation might be looming, DPAC Principal and
4 Executive Director Adam Johnson on October 19, 2020 moderated his position: he wrote that
5 Plaintiff William Clark could not go and not do the assigned work if he chooses, and fail and
7 assignments, and then receive a grade of a C minus, the school’s lowest passing grade, which
8 might disqualify him from being considered for admission to his preferred colleges of NYU
9 and Berkeley School of Music, but at least it would not be a failing grade. Or William could
10 participate fully in the “Sociology of Change” class, pass with flying colors and face no grade
12 constitutionally protected speech and behavior, again forced Plaintiffs to choose between
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 fidelity to conscience and their right to a public education. Defendants to this day offer no
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15 50. On October 29, 2020, Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark requested by email from
16 Defendants Kimberly Wall, Joseph Morgan and Adam Johnson, “I would like a course
17 syllabus, assignment materials, and a detailed description of options that are being considered.
18 I need those things in order to access how to move forward amicably. On another note, I have
19 asked for William’s last year’s report card. We’re trying to get ready for college, as this is
20 William’s senior year.” As happened time and again, Plaintiffs received instead from
21 Defendant Kimberly Wall only a wholesome and vague “Sociology of Change” course
22 syllabus that disguised the true nature of the class evident in the actual materials used on a
23 day-to-day basis with student32. No future “assignment materials” or other class literature was
24 provided, no “detailed description of options.” Extant course materials at issue appear to have
26 “options” beyond participating fully in the class or penalization, and Defendants refused to
27
32
28 See Exhibit D.
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1 assure Plaintiffs and their attorney in mid-November and early December meetings that
2 identity confessions, derogatory labeling and “unlearning sessions” are not a part of the
3 remainder of either the “Sociology of Change” or “Change the World” project class.
6 their actions were illegal33. After two meetings in November and December and in
9 or change the failing grade without grade penalizations and returning to and completing the
14 with an alternative class, a virtual class at a local community college, an extra credit
15 assignment all have been proposed by Plaintiffs and declined by Defendants. The refusal of
17 contradicts explicit public statements by DPPS and Superintendent and CEO Natasha Trivers,
18 who both have encouraged students “to use their voice to stand up for what is right, even if
19 that means pushing back against a school policy, occupying a cafeteria, or staging a walkout”
20 in online posts on March 30, 2020 from the school’s corporate and Ms. Triver’s personal
22 . . .
23 . . .
24 . . .
25 . . .
26 . . .
27
33
28 See Counsel Letter #1, Ex. F.
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1
10
12 threats of retaliation and gave Plaintiff William Clark a D- for the “Sociology of Change”
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13 class, which by DPPS standards is failing. As Clark County was headed towards renewed
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14 Covid-19 lockdowns right before Thanksgiving, Defendant Adam Johnson delivered the news
15 personally with an email to Plaintiffs Gabrielle and William Clark on November 20, 2020,
16 copying Defendant Kimberly Wall. The assignment of a D- grade for the “Sociology of
17 Change” class taught and graded by Defendant Kathryn Bass is a contravention of DPAC’s
18 official school handbook, and is intended as a malicious slight by Defendants against Plaintiffs
19 specifically designed to harm Plaintiff William Clark’s academic and professional career after
20 high school. According to the DPAC handbook, “Democracy Prep does not give Ds. We are
21 aware that the lowest grade most colleges and universities will accept for entry is a C-.
22 Because our mission is to send every DPPS scholar to the best colleges and universities, we
23 align our grading practices with these standards.”34 In retaliating against Plaintiff William
24 Clark for his protected speech, Defendants violated their own standards.
25 54. As a senior, William Clark is now at work on his FAFSA application for
26 colleges and is plying away at his other DPAC classes, despite the fear and loss of trust of in
27
34
28 See Exhibit C.
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1 school officials resulting from this ordeal. His best subject is pre-calculus at the moment and
2 he works at a fast-food restaurant most evenings to support his family. Plaintiff William Clark
3 has suffered severe mental and emotional distress as a result of Defendants’ actions and the
4 hostile environment created by their official actions, all of which has negatively impacted his
6 prospects. He is in therapy addressing these harms as well as the ongoing harassment and
7 discrimination that is being inflicted on him by Defendants under the guise of “civics.”
8 Plaintiffs are unmoved by individual Defendants’ professed intentions to “change the world”;
9 Plaintiff William Clark is at present living in fear of Defendants and reasonably anticipates
10 further retaliation. His fears have been confirmed. Upon information and belief Defendants
11 again blatantly retaliated against Plaintiffs and suspended William Clark on December 16,
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12 2020, falsely accusing him of “racism” to preempt any further self-assertion from Plaintiffs.
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 55. Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark is also personally suffering from the shock, anxiety,
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14 and guilt associated with having entrusted her son to adult custodians who have set upon
15 “unlearning” the Judeo-Christian values she imparted to her son, and from exposing him to
16 derogatory labeling and discrimination and retaliation on the basis of his perceived race,
17 sexuality and gender. She has suffered severe emotional distress as a result and is now
18 experiencing consequent heart palpitations, weight gain and insomnia. She has watched
19 helplessly as Defendants doubled down again and again on their coercive ideological policy
20 towards her son, threatening his graduation and academic and professional future.
21 COUNT I
22 VIOLATION OF THE FIRSTAMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
(42 U.S.C. § 1983) (Freedom of Speech: Compelled Speech & Retaliation)
23
24 56. Plaintiffs incorporate all of the above paragraphs as though fully set forth
25 herein.
26 57. The First Amendment provides: “Congress shall make no law ... abridging the
27 freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
28
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1 petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”35
2 58. The United States Supreme Court has held with respect to public schools that
3 “[i]f there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or
4 petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters
5 of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.” W. Va. Bd. of Educ.
6 v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624, 642 (1943). Defendants thus possess a duty to Plaintiff William
7 Clark to honor his protected First Amendment right. Defendants violated that duty, and their
11 sex, gender and religious identities for which he in turn would receive official, derogatory
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12 labels. Defendants predetermined programming required Plaintiff to accept and affirm that
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
14 of his professed identities, and then to reflect and interrogate on this in a non-private setting
16 60. These unlawful actions were done with the specific intent to deprive Plaintiff
17 William Clark of his right to free speech, which Defendants do not value.
18 61. Defendants and their employees and agents intended to violate Plaintiff
19 William Clark’s right to free speech, and deliberately invade the sphere of intellect and spirit
20 which it is the purpose of the First Amendment to our Constitution to reserve from all official
21 control. See West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624.
24 authored and orchestrated curriculum programming at issue which was then approved and
25 enforced in the face of Plaintiffs’ objections by Defendants School Board and its Chair Joseph
26 Morgan.
27
35
28 See U.S. Const. Amend. I.
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1 63. Defendants Kathryn Bass, Adam Johnson, Kimberly Wall, Joseph Morgan and
2 Natasha Trivers’ actions including malicious, coordinated retaliation for Plaintiff William
3 Clark’s protected behavior were motivated by an animus for Plaintiff William Clark’s come-
4 uppance given his perceived race, color, gender and sexuality, disfavored identities which
5 Defendants explicitly and openly disparage and mock. Defendants ruined Plaintiff’s good
6 college prospects built on prior years’ hard work and good grades. Defendants show no
7 intention of altering their program of compelled speech in the future. Plaintiff seeks damages,
11 pain and suffering, emotional distress, and damage to his academic and professional future
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12 and reputation.
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 65. Absent an injunction, Plaintiff William Clark will suffer irreparable harm
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14 because he will be denied a high school diploma, suffer further damage to his academic record,
15 and he will not go to college. At present he is being compelled to return to and participate in
18 COUNT II
19 VIOLATION OF THE FIRSTAMENDMENT TO THE U.S CONSTITUTION
20 (42 U.S.C. § 1983) (Freedom of Speech: Association, Viewpoint Discrimination &
Retaliation)
21
22 66. Plaintiffs incorporate all of the above paragraphs as though fully set forth
23 herein.
24 67. On or about September 10, 2020, Defendant Kathryn Bass terminated class
25 discussion when students, including Plaintiff William Clark, objected to a PowerPoint slide
26 she showed in Defendants’ “Sociology of Change Class” stating that “Reverse Racism
27 Doesn’t Exist” and “Black Prejudice Does Not Affect the Rights of White People.” Plaintiff
28 William Clark’s stated objections was that everyone can be racist, that prejudice anywhere
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1 from anyone can harm others. For this protected speech and others like it, Defendant Kathryn
2 Bass terminated class discussion immediately with the intent to chill and discourage future
4 68. Defendants Kathryn Bass’s actions, and the subsequent coordinated efforts
5 from Defendants to punish and fail Plaintiff William Clark, was intended to chill protected
6 speech that Defendants did not themselves share concerning their ideologically loaded
8 69. Defendant Kathryn Bass, who was not adequately trained by Defendants,
9 instructed Plaintiff William Clark and other that denial of “privilege” which she attached to
10 their identities was itself “privilege,” and defined “privilege” in a non-descriptive, normative
11 and derogatory manner. Defendant Kathryn Bass thus created a coercive environment where
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12 any objection from Plaintiff William Clark was and would be officially labeled pejoratively.
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 Defendants’ program was intended to and did chill and discourage Plaintiff William Clark’s
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14 speech.
15 70. Defendants, their agents and employees threatened and punished Plaintiff
16 William Clark’s objection to entering into and participating in the above politicized program
17 and did so due to his perceived race, color, sex and gender. Defendants’ punishing demand
18 that he return to the psychologically abusive, politicized exercises where he must confess and
19 submit to official, pejorative labeling violates his right to free association and assembly.
20 Failing and threatening his graduation from high school is unlawful retaliation that itself
24 rights, for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and damages to his academic and
26 72. Absent an injunction, Plaintiff William Clark will suffer irreparable harm
27 because he will be denied a high school diploma, suffer further damage to his academic record,
28 and will not go to college; he will be compelled to return to and participate in Defendants’
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1 unlawful activity, and continue to suffer emotional distress and discrimination in the face of
2 it.
3 COUNT III
4 VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH & FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT
5 (42 U.S.C. § 1983) (Due Process: Invasion of Privacy & Equal Protection)
6 73. Plaintiffs incorporate all of the above paragraphs as though fully set forth
7 herein.
8 74. Under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, the
9 Government may not “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of
11 75. Defendants and their employees and agents owed duty under the due process
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13 76. Defendants violated Plaintiff William Clark’s substantive due process right to
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14 privacy.
15 77. Despite Defendants’ assurances to Plaintiff William Clark and other students,
16 Defendant Kathryn Bass’ confessional exercises were not in fact private or limited to the
17 herself and classroom participants. DPPS and DPAC Defendants conceded to Plaintiffs and
19 Johnson could and would “tune in” to the classroom sessions unbeknownst to students like
20 Plaintiff William Clark, who were at the time in acute discomfort as their gender, race,
21 disabilities “if any” and sex were being confessed, interrogated and labeled.
22 78. The same is true for the written, graded assignments requesting identity
23 divulgence submitted to Defendant Kathryn Bass on a database which in fact was visible to
24 all other DPAC teachers and supervisors, despite Defendant Kathryn Bass’ explicit and
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1 Clark’s right to privacy and is official intrusion upon seclusion. This curriculum programming
2 was screened and approved by Defendants DPAC School Board and SPSCA.
6 81. Defendants Kathryn Bass, Adam Johnson, Joseph Morgan, Kimberly Wall and
7 Natasha Trivers in their individual and official capacities continue to violate Plaintiff William
8 Clark’s right to privacy and have threatened and retaliated against him on the basis of his
10 82. The Equal Protection component of Due Process Clause guarantees persons
11 the equal protection of the laws and prohibits the government from treating persons
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12 differently—on the basis of their race, religion, national origin, or alienage—than similarly
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 situated individuals.
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16 school age students, but not others, as “oppressors,” a condition which is “malicious and
17 unjust” and “wrong,” solely in virtue of their racial, religious and sexual identity. Plaintiff
18 William Clark was so labeled by his teacher for his gender, religious affiliation and perceived
19 race, while other students were not. Because of his apparent race and color—unique in his
20 class—Defendants gave Plaintiff William Clark more work to do, more “unlearning,” more
22 was screened and approved by Defendants SPSCA and DPAC School Board, and generated
24 84. When Plaintiff William Clark wished to absent himself from the harm-
25 inducing process and seek accommodation, Defendants Kathryn Bass, Adam Johnson,
26 Kimberly Wall, Joseph Morgan and Natasha Trivers retaliated by threatening and penalizing
27 him, despite publicly encouraging other students to do exactly what Plaintiff William Clark is
28 doing now: “to use their voice to stand up for what is right, even if that means pushing back
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1 against a school policy.” These Defendants show no intention of changing their behavior and
2 acted on an animus for Plaintiff William Clark’s perceived race, gender, and sex, and Plaintiffs
3 seek damages including punitive damages against them. Defendants regarded Plaintiff
4 William Clark’s conscientious objection as a right and privilege not reserved for him on
5 account of his perceived race, color, sex, and gender, and would have accommodated and not
6 have retaliated against a similarly situated student of different perceived race, color, sex and
8 85. Defendants’ direct actions, and implicit condoning of a plan to fail and frustrate
9 Plaintiff William Clark, and ransom his high school diploma, effectively forecloses his
10 chances at a good college education. Plaintiff William Clark has a right to a public high school
11 degree and college education, and Defendants’ efforts to undermine that right because of
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12 animus for his perceived race, gender and religious background is a violation of William
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
16 rights, for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and damages to his academic and
18 87. Absent an injunction, Plaintiff William Clark will suffer irreparable harm
19 because he will be denied a high school diploma, suffer further damage to his academic record,
20 and will not go to college; he will be compelled to return to and participate in Defendants’
21 unlawful activity, and continue to suffer emotional distress and discrimination in the face of
22 it.
23 COUNT IV
24 VIOLATION OF THE FIRST & FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT
25 (42 U.S.C. § 1983) (Substantive Due Process: Establishment Clause, Family Integrity &
Retaliation)
26
88. Plaintiffs incorporate the allegations and averments contained in paragraphs 1
27
through 73 as if fully set forth herein.
28
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1 89. The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from
2 depriving individuals of "life, liberty, or property without due process of law." The Supreme
3 Court has expanded individual rights in personal matters to include parental rights and family
4 integrity. See Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, 401-02 (1923) (finding the protection of
6 on parents rather than the community and includes the "power of parents to control the
8 90. Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark, mother of William Clark, brings suit on her own
9 behalf against Defendants and claims violation of the Establishment Clause and her
10 substantive due process right to Family Integrity. Defendant Kathryn Bass explicitly
11 expressed an animus towards the family structure as such which she claimed in exhibited
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12 course materials to be responsible for perpetuating “bigotry and homophobia.” Bass then took
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 the further step of repeatedly instructing Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark’s son to “unlearn” and “fight
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14 back” against the principles Plaintiff Gabirelle Clark imparted to him throughout his
15 childhood, including the Christian precepts that all are equal before the eyes of God and should
16 be judged by their actions and character rather than attributes beyond their control, including
17 color, race, gender and sex. This extra step of “unlearning” and thought reform is non-neutral
18 and burdens religion, and knowing this, DPAC and DPPS endeavored to keep exercises and
19 assignments hidden from parents like Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark, who are supplied with generic
20 syllabi and course descriptions upon inquiry. The politicized “unlearning” of family
21 influence, disguised from parents in deceptive course descriptions and syllabi, is mandatory
22 and graded. This coercive program was generated and promoted by Defendants DPPS and
23 Natasha Trivers, implemented by Defendant Kathryn Bass, and the campaign of coercing
24 participation directly carried out by Defendants Kimberly Wall, Joseph Morgan, and Adam
25 Johnson. Defendants’ position to this day is that Plaintiff William Clark must either return to
26 Defendant Kathryn Bass’ class without any accommodating change to the class content or
27 programming or he will not graduate.
28
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1 91. Parents have a right to guide and direct the upbringing of their children, and
2 courts have honored and upheld this right. Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 66 (2000)
3 (O’Connor, J., plurality). Defendants Kathryn Bass and Adam Johnson personally coerced
4 Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark’s son to change the fundamental beliefs imparted to him by his family
5 in order to convert those beliefs to a preapproved set of beliefs by methods that make clear
6 that in certain areas of ideology and belief, dissent or deviance is not acceptable. Defendant
7 Kathryn Bass violated and sought to undermine this right, and her deliberate program of
8 discouraging family integrity through thought reform and “unlearning” was both endorsed
9 and abetted by her superiors Defendants Adam Johnson, Kimberly Wall, Joseph Morgan, and
10 Natasha Trivers, all of whom coordinated punishing action against Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark
11 and her son when she began asking too many questions and Plaintiff William Clark stopped
MARQUIS AURBACH COFFING
12 participating in the mandatory, confessional “unlearning” which now amounts to custom and
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
14 92. Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark seeks damages and injunctive relief as Defendants
15 continue to coerce her son into associating and participating in the above class programs, a
16 requirement which serves no legitimate state interest and is an unreasonable intrusion into the
18 COUNT V
19 Title VI Violation of 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.
(Intentional and Retaliatory Discrimination on The Basis Of Color, Race and Religion
20
against Authority, DPAC, DPPS and Defendants in their individual capacity)
21
93. Plaintiffs incorporate the allegations and averments contained in paragraphs 1
22
through 58 as if fully set forth herein.
23
94. Defendants SPSCA, DPAC School Board, DPPS, DPAC, Democracy Prep
24
Nevada and Democracy Prep Public Schools Inc. are recipients of federal funds, and
25
Defendants harassed and discriminated against Plaintiffs on the basis of actual and perceived
26
race, sex and religion in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §
27
2000d, et seq. by intentionally supporting, promoting and implementing a curriculum
28
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1 programming, including but not limited to the “Sociology of Change” class, with knowledge
2 of its discriminatory content and application, which has created a hostile educational
3 environment for those students who are actually or perceived white, biracial, male and of a
4 Christian heritage. Defendants’ behavior treated Plaintiff William Clark differently than other
5 students on account of his racial, sexual, and religious identities. Title VI is privately
6 enforceable.
7 95. The courts have followed a broad interpretation by ruling that a local
8 educational agency for purposes of Title VI and IX includes school boards, their members,
9 and agents of such boards. Meyers v. Board of Education of the San Juan School District, 905
10 F. Supp. 1544 (D. Utah 1995) (34); Horner, supra, 43 F.3d at 272 (Title IX case); see also
11 Young by and through Young v. Montgomery County (AL) Board of Education, 922 F. Supp.
MARQUIS AURBACH COFFING
13 96. Discriminatory conduct based on perceived race, gender, sex and religious
Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
10001 Park Run Drive
14 heritage from Defendants include failing him and coercing him to submit to the discriminatory
15 exercises in class. Defendants Natasha Trivers and DPPS publicly announced they encourage
16 students to push back against “school policy” they object to on principle; Defendants departed
17 from this stated policy with respect to Plaintiff William Clark because of his perceived race,
18 color, sex, gender and religious background which Defendants explicitly disfavor. Defendant
19 Adam Johnson followed through on his threats personally delivered the report card with a
20 failing grade that contravened Defendants’ own grading policy. Defendant Katherine Bass
21 failed William Clark in accordance with Executive Director and Principal Adam Johnson’s
22 retaliatory threats. Defendants Kimberly Wall and Natasha Trivers at DPPS in the New York
23 headquarters, oversaw and coordinated the above for three months, and refused to reasonably
25 promoted and implemented the coercive, invasive and discriminatory curriculum program.
26 All of the above was manifestly intentional discrimination and disparate treatment based on
27 Plaintiff William Clark’s perceived race and color, resulting in disparate impact and effects.
28
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1 97. Discrimination that violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth
2 Amendment of the United States Constitution constitutes a violation of Title VI when
7 experience in class on account of his perceived race and color which is visibly different than
8 his classmates. When Defendants Adam Johnson, Joseph Morgan, Kimberly Wall learned of
9 his objection to this, they set about threatening and punishing rather than accommodating him,
10 demonstrating actual animus towards Plaintiff William Clark on account of his perceived race
11 for not confessing and interrogating his officially disapproved of identities and failing to
MARQUIS AURBACH COFFING
13 99. Plaintiffs have been and will continue to be injured by Defendants’ unlawful
Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
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14 and discriminatory actions, which resulted in emotional distress, trauma, and included overt
15 retaliation described in detail above, and Plaintiffs are entitled to compensatory and punitive
16 damages.
19 adequate or speedy remedy at law to restore Plaintiff William Clark’s academic standing and
20 prevent Defendants from continuing to practice and promote the aforementioned actions that
21 discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender and sexuality in violation of Title VI of the
22 Civil Rights Act of 1964 and because the harm Plaintiffs’ members will otherwise continue
23 to suffer is irreparable.
24 COUNT VI
25 (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.)
26 101. Defendants including the various Defendants in their individual capacity,
27 violated Title IX in their deliberate indifference and active promotion of the ongoing abuse
28 and harassment Plaintiff William Clark endured in DPAC’s “Sociology of Change” class.
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1 102. Title IX protects Plaintiffs from sex discrimination when they are engaged in
2 education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Among the types
3 of sex discrimination that Title IX expressly prohibits is intentional sexual harassment. Title
4 IX gives individuals a private right of action to bring a lawsuit for injunctive or monetary
5 relief.
6 103. After being repeatedly directed to divulge his sexual and gender identities,
7 school officials as custom and policy and in direct acts described above publicly labeled,
8 repeatedly categorized and stereotyped Plaintiff William Clarks’ sexual and gender identities
9 in a deliberately pejorative and offensive manner. Plaintiff William Clark was compelled to
11 designation of “oppressor” on the basis of his sex and gender identities. This included inherent
MARQUIS AURBACH COFFING
13 the [corresponding] oppressed group” as well as the “the inherent superiority or normalcy of
Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
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14 one’s own privileged group.” This is a condition inherent to Plaintiff’s sex and gender which
15 is “malicious and unjust” and “wrong” whether conscious or not36. Denial of these qualities
16 inherent to Plaintiff’s sex and gender is itself privilege “expressed as denial.”37 Only
17 Plaintiff’s sex can commit “real life interpersonal oppression”, Plaintiff’s female teacher told
18 him, since “interpersonal sexism is what men to do women.”38. Plaintiffs were harmed by
19 Defendants behavior.
20 COUNT VII
21 (Breach of Contract)
22 104. Plaintiffs incorporate the allegations and averments contained in paragraphs 1
23 through 85 as if fully set forth herein.
24
25
36
26 See Exhibit A, page 11.
37
27 See Exhibit A, page 2.
38
28 See Exhibit A, page 9.
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1 105. Under Nevada law, “the Plaintiff in a breach of contract action [must] show
2 (1) the existence of a valid contract, (2) a breach by the Defendant, and (3) damage as a result
3 of the breach.” Saini v. Int'l Game Tech., 434 F. Supp. 2d 913, 919-20 (D. Nev. 2006). Parents
4 like Plaintiff Gabrielle Clark were caught off guard. The acquisition of Agassi Collegiate Prep
5 was affected under the DPPS Duffy administration, which sold a rather neutral and traditional
6 version of “civics.” Suddenly after renewing enrollment, students were being instructed in a
7 fringe ideology overtly hostile to core personal beliefs about home and church, race and sex,
8 and much else. The new “Sociology of Change” violates its own DPPS charter and mission,
9 set forth on their website and elsewhere, including its handbook39. DPAC violated its own
11 such Plaintiffs Gabrielle Clark and William Clark claim breach of contract.
MARQUIS AURBACH COFFING
12 106. Defendant’s breach of contract implicates both Nevada state law and 42 U.S.C.
(702) 382-0711 FAX: (702) 382-5816
13 § 1981 subsection (b) as it involves “the making, performance, modification, and termination
Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
10001 Park Run Drive
14 of contracts, and the enjoyment of all benefits, privileges, terms, and conditions of the
15 contractual relationship.” Domino's Pizza, Inc. v. McDonald, 546 U.S. 470, 126 S.Ct. 1246,
16 163 L.Ed.2d 1069 (2006) (holding “[a]ny claim brought under § 1981 ... must initially identify
24 that would restore him to good academic standing as he applies for college;
25
26
39
27 See Exhibit D.
40
28 Id.
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1 2. A preliminary order pursuant to Rule 65 directing Defendants to remove and
2 expunge from the Plaintiff William Clark’s academic record the D- grade at issue;
5 complained of herein, enjoining Defendants, its officials, agents, employees, and all persons
13 U.S.C. § 2201, from the Court that Defendants above- described curriculum
Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
10001 Park Run Drive
14 programming and retaliatory acts violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C.
15 § 2000d et seq.;
28
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1 11. Such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
2 Dated this 22nd day of December, 2020.
3
MARQUIS AURBACH COFFING
4
5
By /s/ Brian R. Hardy, Esq.
6 Brian R. Hardy, Esq.
Nevada Bar No. 10068
7 10001 Park Run Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
8
Jonathan O’Brien, NYB No. 5043369
9 (Pending Admission Pro Hac Vice)
Law Office of Jonathan O’Brien
10 43 W. 43rd St, Suite 002
New York, NY 10036
11
MARQUIS AURBACH COFFING
13
Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
10001 Park Run Drive
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
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Exhibit A
Class Material
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Exhibit B
Contract
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between
and
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CHARTER CONTRACT 4
RECITALS 4
Part 7: Oversight 21
7.1 Authority 21
7.2 Inspection 21
7.3 Site Visits and Evaluations 22
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7.4 Notification 22
7.5 Intervention 23
Part 9: Closure 25
9.1 Closure 25
Signature Page 31
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CHARTER CONTRACT
This agreement constitutes a Charter Contract (the “Charter Contract”) executed between the
State Public Charter School Authority (the “Authority”), and Democracy Prep at the
Agassi Campus (the “Charter School”) (collectively, the “Parties”), an independent and
autonomous public school authorized to operate in the State of Nevada.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, The primary consideration of the legislature in enacting legislation to authorize
charter schools is to serve the best interests of all pupils, including pupils who may be at risk;
and
1. The board of trustees of school districts with a method to experiment with providing
a variety of independent public schools to the pupils of this state;
WHEREAS, It is further the intention of the legislature to provide teachers and other
educational personnel, parents, legal guardians and other persons who are interested in the
system of public education in this state the opportunity to:
2. Increase the opportunities for learning and access to quality education by pupils;
3. Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods;
4. Establish appropriate measures for and assessments of the learning achieved by
pupils who are enrolled in charter schools;
5. Provide a more thorough and efficient system of accountability of the results
achieved in public education in this state; and
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WHEREAS, The Authority is authorized by the Legislature to sponsor charter schools
pursuant to NRS 388A.150; and
WHEREAS, on March 22, 2017, Democracy Prep Nevada entered into a 6-year charter
contract with the Nevada Achievement school district beginning in the 2017-18 school year to
manage Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus;
WHEREAS, Section 80.75 of Assembly Bill 78 (2019) requires the Authority to enter into a
contract with Democracy Prep at the Agassi Camus; and WHEREAS, the Parties intend that
this Charter Contract serve as a performance contract that governs the operation of the
Charter School;
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Part I: Operation of the School
1.1 Establishment
1.1.1 As authorized by the Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 388A.150, the Authority
hereby authorizes the operation of the Charter School with the aforementioned
conditions, and in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this
Charter Contract.
1.1.2 This Charter Contract is entered into between the Charter School, its governing
body (the “Charter Board”) and the Authority.
1.2 Parties
1.2.1 The person authorized to sign the Charter Contract on behalf of the Charter
School is the President of the Charter Board (“Charter School Representative”).
1.2.2 The person authorized to sign on behalf of the Authority is the Chair of the
Authority or, in the absence of the Chair, the Acting Chair.
1.2.3 The Charter School Representative affirms as a condition of this Charter
Contract, that he/she is the above-described representative of the Charter School
and has authority to sign this Charter Contract on behalf of the Charter School.
1.3 Term of Charter Contract
1.3.1 The Term of this Charter Contract shall be 6 years.
1.3.2 This Charter Contract is effective upon execution, and the term of the Charter
Contract begins July 1 2020, and will terminate on June 30, 2026, unless
earlier terminated as provided herein.
1.4 General
1.4.1 The Charter School shall not operate for profit and may be incorporated as a
nonprofit corporation pursuant to the provision of chapter 82 of NRS.
1.4.2 The Charter School certifies that all contracts obligating the Charter School have
been and will be undertaken by the Charter School in accordance with statute
and regulation.
1.4.3 The Charter School and its Charter Board shall operate at all times in
accordance with all federal and state laws, local ordinances, regulations and
Authority policies applicable to charter schools.
1.4.4 The Charter School shall be deemed a public school subject to all applicable
provisions of local, state and federal law and regulation, specifically including
but not limited to health and safety, civil rights, student assessment and
assessment administration, data collection, reporting, grading, and remediation
requirements, except to the extent such provisions are inapplicable to charter
schools.
1.4.5 Pursuant to NRS 388A.159, the Local Education Agency of the Charter School is
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the Authority.
1.5 Charter School Governing Body
1.5.1 The Charter School shall be governed by the Charter Board, and deemed a public
body, in a manner that is consistent with the terms of this Charter Contract so
long as such provisions are in accordance with applicable state, federal, and local
law and regulation. (NRS 388A.320)
1.5.2 The Charter Board shall have final authority and responsibility for the academic,
financial, and organizational performance of the Charter School, and the
fulfillment of the Charter Contract.
1.5.3 The Charter Board shall be the final authority in matters affecting the Charter
School, including but not limited to staffing, job titles, employee salary and
benefits, financial accountability and curriculum.
1.5.4 The Charter Board shall act in accordance with and is subject to the Nevada
Open Meeting Law, Public Records Law, and Nevada Local Government
Purchasing laws (NRS 332.039-.148)
1.5.5 The Charter Board shall have authority for and be responsible for policy and
operational decisions of the Charter School. The Charter Board shall govern the
Charter School pursuant to the following terms and conditions:
1.5.5.1 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The articles of incorporation, if
applicable, and bylaws of the Charter Board shall provide for governance of
the operation of the Charter School as a public charter school and shall at all
times be consistent with all applicable law, regulation and this Charter
Contract. The articles of incorporation, if applicable, are set forth in Exhibit
#2 (initially or as amended, the “Articles of Incorporation”) and
incorporated herein by reference. The Charter School shall notify the
sponsor of changes to the bylaws or Articles of Incorporation.
1.5.5.2 Composition. The composition of the Charter Board shall at all times be
determined by and consistent with the articles of incorporation, if
applicable, and bylaws and all applicable law and regulation. The complete
roster of the Charter Board and each member’s affidavit, resume, and
Request for Information shall be maintained in the Authority’s established
document library (Epicenter). The Charter Board shall notify the Authority
of any changes to the Board Roster and submit an amended Board Roster to
the documents library within ten (10) business days of their taking effect.
1.5.5.3 Affiliation. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Charter
Contract, the Articles of Incorporation, if applicable, or the bylaws, in no
event shall the Charter Board, at any time, include more than two directors,
officers, employees, agents or other affiliates of any single entity, with the
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exception of the Charter School itself, regardless of whether said entity is
affiliated or otherwise partnered with the Charter School. (NAC 388A.525)
1.5.5.4 Conflicts of Interest. The Charter Board shall adopt a Conflicts of Interest
Policy (the “Conflicts of Interest Policy”), including provisions related to
nepotism and consistent with this section and applicable law by July 1,
2020 . The Charter Board shall, at all times, comply with the provisions of
the Conflicts of Interest Policy. The
adopted and approved Conflicts of Interest Policy shall be maintained in the
Authority’s established document library (Epicenter). Any modification of
the Conflicts of Interest Policy must be submitted to the Authority within
five (5) days of approval by the Charter Board.
1.7 Facilities
1.7.1 The building(s) in which the Charter School is to be located shall be known as
the Charter School Facilities (the “Facilities”).
1.7.2 The Authority or its designee may, at the Authority’s discretion, conduct health
and safety inspections of the Facilities.
1.7.3 The Facilities shall meet all applicable health, safety and fire code requirements
and shall conform with applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities
Act and any other federal or state requirements applicable to public charter
schools.
1.7.4 The Charter School’s relocation to different Facilities shall constitute a material
amendment of this Charter Contract and shall not become effective and the
Charter School shall not take action or implement the change requested in the
amendment until the amendment is approved, in writing, by the Authority.
1.7.5 In the event that legally viable Facilities and/or necessary certificates and
permits are not in place, the Charter School may not provide instruction at the
Facilities or otherwise admit pupils into the Facilities. In such event, the
Authority reserves the right to enforce any of the consequences for failure to act
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in accordance with the material terms and conditions of this Charter Contract.
1.8 Charter School Independence
1.8.1 Neither the Authority nor the board of trustees of the local school district in
which the Charter School is located may assign any pupil who is enrolled in a
public school or any employee who is employed in a public school to the Charter
School. Neither the Authority nor the local school district in which the Charter
School is located may interfere with the operation and management of the
Charter School except as authorized by NRS 388A.010-.695, inclusive, and any
other statute or regulation applicable to the Charter School or its officers or
employees.
1.8.2 The Charter School will be subject to review of its operations and finances by the
Authority, including related records, when the Authority, in its sole discretion,
deems such review necessary.
1.8.3 The Charter School shall have ten (10) business days to respond to any request
for written information from the Authority and any visit by the Authority to
review the operations or management of the Charter School shall require five (5)
days written notice. Such notice may be provided electronically.
During the first three years of this contract, school years 2020-21, 2021-22
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and 2022-23, the Charter School may adjust the number of students served
by up to and including 15% of the maximum enrolment established in this
section. During the remaining three years of the contract, school years 2023-
24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, the charter school may adjust the number of
students served by up to and including 10% of the maximum enrollment
established in this section.
2.3.2 The Charter School may modify the number of students in any particular grade,
and number of students within a class, to accommodate staffing exigencies and
attrition patterns provided such modifications are consistent with this Charter
Contract.
2.3.3 Elimination of a grade level that the Charter School was scheduled to serve;
expansion to serve grade levels not identified in 2.3.1; or an increase or decrease
in total enrollment by more than 15 or 10%, as applicable from the enrollment
established in 2.3.1 shall be a material amendment of this Charter Contract and
shall not become effective and the Charter School shall not take action or
implement the change requested in the amendment until the amendment is
approved, in writing, by the Authority. Authorization to expand may require the
Charter School to demonstrate satisfactory academic and financial performance,
and organizational compliance. It is the responsibility of the Charter School to
request the material amendment required by this section 2.3.3 in a timely
manner so as to manage the school’s enrollment to comply with 2.3.3.
2.4 Non-discrimination
2.4.1 The Charter School shall not discriminate against any student, employee or
other person on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, gender,
marital status, religion, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender
identity or expression, need for special education services, income level, athletic
ability, proficiency in the English language or any other grounds that would be
unlawful if done by any other public school. It shall take all steps necessary to
ensure that discrimination does not occur, as required by federal civil rights law.
2.5 Student Recruitment, Enrollment and Attendance
2.5.1 The Charter School shall make student recruitment, admissions, enrollment and
retention decisions in a nondiscriminatory manner and without regard to race,
color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, religion, ancestry, disability,
need for special education services or status as credit-deficient. In no event may
the Charter School limit admission based on race, ethnicity, national origin,
gender, disability, income level, athletic ability, status as credit-deficient or
proficiency in the English language, except as authorized by NRS 388A.453(8).
2.5.2 The Charter School shall adopt and adhere to a Truancy and Absence Policy
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pursuant to NAC 388A.160(5).
2.5.3 If there are more applications to enroll in the charter school than there are
spaces available, the charter school shall select students to attend using a
random selection process that shall be publicly noticed and open to the public.
2.5.4 Pursuant to NRS 388A.456, Charter School may give enrollment preference
based upon criteria established in law and regulation. Should state laws or
regulations be amended to alter the nature or application of enrollment
preferences, Charter School shall comply therewith upon the effective date of the
changes. Before the Charter School enrolls pupils who are eligible for
enrollment, the Charter School may enroll a child who:
2.5.4.1 Is a sibling of a pupil currently enrolled;
2.5.4.2 Was enrolled in a tuition-free prekindergarten program at the Charter
School or affiliated program with the Charter School;
2.5.4.3 Is a child of a person who is:
2.5.4.3.1 Employed by the Charter School;
2.5.4.3.2 A member of the Committee to Form the Charter School; or
2.5.4.3.3 A member of the Charter Board;
2.5.4.4 Is in a particular category of at-risk and the child meets the eligibility
requirements prescribed by the Charter School for that particular category;
or
2.5.4.5 Resides within the school district and within two (2) miles of the Charter
School if the Charter School is located in an area that the Authority
determines includes a high percentage of children who are at-risk.
2.5.5 Pursuant to Section 12 of Regulation R131-16, Charter School may develop
and use a weighted lottery for admission that gives preference to one or
more categories of pupils if the weighting is
2.5.5.1 Necessary to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42
U.S.C. §§ 2000d et seq.; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.; section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
29 U.S.C. § 794; the Equal Protection Clause of the United States
Constitution or any applicable federal or state law or to address the
specific deficiency and category of pupils outlined in a court order
issued to the charter school or its sponsor; or
2.5.5.2 In favor of one of the following subgroups of educationally
disadvantaged pupils:
2.5.5.2.1 Pupils who are economically disadvantaged;
2.5.5.2.2 Pupils with disabilities;
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2.5.5.2.3 Migrant pupils;
2.5.5.2.4 Pupils with limited English proficiency;
2.5.5.2.5 Pupils who are neglected or delinquent;
2.5.5.2.6 Pupils who are homeless; and
2.5.5.2.7 Pupils whose most recent enrollment was in a public school which
received an annual rating established as one of the two lowest
ratings possible indicating underperformance at the elementary,
middle or high school level pursuant to the statewide system of
accountability for public schools.
2.6 Tuition, Fees and Volunteer Requirements
2.6.1 The Charter School shall not charge tuition or fees of any kind as a condition of
enrollment. The Charter School may not impose any fees that a school district
would be prohibited by applicable law or regulation from imposing.
2.6.2 Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit the Charter School from
imposing fees that a school district would be permitted to impose.
2.6.3 Any requirement that a parent commit a number of volunteer hours shall be
prohibited unless such a requirement considers individual family circumstances
and allows for a waiver of volunteer hours.
2.7 School Calendar; Hours of Operation
2.7.1 The Charter School shall adopt a school calendar with an instructional program
to provide annually at least as many days of instruction as are required of other
public schools located in the same school district as the Charter School is
located, unless written approval from the Superintendent of Public Instruction
provides for a waiver of this requirement. (NRS 388A.366)
2.8 Student Conduct and Discipline
2.8.1 The Charter School shall adopt and adhere to a student discipline policy (the
“Discipline Policy”) pursuant to NRS 388A.495 and regulation. The Charter
School may not remove, withdraw, suspend or expel a pupil against a parent’s
wishes for reasons other than the reasons for suspension or expulsion stated
in NRS 392.4655 – 392.4675 or other applicable statute or regulation.
Nothing in this provision precludes the Charter School from withdrawing a
pupil from the Charter School consistent with applicable law and regulation.
2.9 Service Agreements, Contracts, Facility Lease or Purchase
2.9.1 Nothing in this Charter shall be interpreted to prevent the Charter School from
entering into a contract or other agreement related to the operation of the
school. The Charter School shall include in any agreement or contract entered
into that the provisions of any such agreement are enforceable only to the extent
they are compliant with applicable law and regulation. The Charter Board is
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responsible for ensuring that all contracts or other agreements are compliant
with existing law and regulation.
2.9.2 The Charter School shall clearly indicate to vendors and other entities and
individuals with which or with whom the Charter School enters into an
agreement or contract for goods or services that the obligations of the Charter
School under such agreement or contract are solely the responsibility of the
Charter School and are not the responsibility of the State of Nevada, the
Authority, or the Department of Education.
2.10 Contracts with an Educational Management Organization (EMO) or
Charter Management Organization (CMO)
2.10.1 The provisions appearing under 2.10 apply to contracts with an EMO or a CMO.
2.10.2 Should the Charter School intend to enter into an agreement with an EMO as
defined by NRS 388A.393, the following provisions shall apply:
2.10.2.1 The Charter School shall comply with all Authority requests for information
about the EMO that are reasonably related to the Authority’s duty to ensure
that the Charter School is in compliance with all provisions of this Charter
Contract and NRS 388A.393; and NAC 388A.570, 388A.580, 388A.585,
388A.160, and 388A.175 or other applicable statute and regulation.
2.10.3 Should the charter school intend to enter into an agreement with an EMO or
CMO, the following provisions shall apply:
2.10.3.1 In no event shall the Charter Board delegate or assign its responsibility for
fulfilling the terms of this Charter Contract.
2.10.3.2 Any management contract entered into by Charter School shall include an
indemnification provision for the Charter School as follows: “The
management company shall indemnify, save and hold harmless against any
and all claims, demands, suits, actions, proceedings, losses, costs,
judgments, damages, or other forms of liability to third parties, of every
kind and description, actual or claimed, including but not limited to
attorneys’ fees and/or litigation expenses, including but not limited to injury
to property or persons (including but not limited to civil rights violations),
occurring or allegedly occurring, in connection with the operation of the
management company, or from conduct committed or alleged to have been
committed by the management company on the premises of the Charter
School, or from conduct committed by the management company’s
employees, officers, directors, subcontractors, or agents, during the term of
this Charter Contract or any renewal thereof. Additionally, the management
company shall defend the Authority in any such action or proceedings
brought thereon. This provision shall survive the termination of this
contract.”
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2.10.3.3 Should the Charter School propose to enter into a contract with an EMO or
CMO, other than DPPS or its affiliate Democracy Prep Nevada LLC, the
Charter School agrees to submit all information requested by Authority
regarding the management arrangement, including a copy of the proposed
contract and a description of the EMO or CMO, with identification of its
principals and their backgrounds. Entering into a contract with a new EMO
or CMO, terminating a contract with an existing EMO or CMO, or replacing
an existing EMO or CMO with another EMO or CMO is considered a
material amendment of the Charter Contract and the Charter School shall
not enter into or terminate such contracts without written Authority
approval.
2.10.3.4 Renewal or renegotiation of an existing contract with an EMO or CMO
requires the Charter School to notify the sponsor, only, and is not
considered a material amendment.
2.11 Employment Matters
2.11.1 All employees of the Charter School shall be deemed public employees.
2.11.2 The Charter School agrees to comply with the provisions of NRS 388A.530-544
regarding employment status and NRS 388A.518-524 regarding teacher
licensure.
2.11.3 Neither the Charter School, nor its employees, agents, nor contractors are
employees or agents of the Authority; nor are either the Authority or its
employees, agents, or contractors employees or agents of the Charter School.
None of the provisions of this Charter Contract will be construed to create a
relationship of agency, representation, joint venture, ownership, or control of
employment between the Parties other than that of independent Parties
contracting solely for the purpose of effectuating this Charter Contract.
2.11.4 The Charter School shall have ultimate responsibility for employment,
management, dismissal and discipline of its employees, including key personnel
employed by an EMO. The Charter School will establish and implement its own
dispute resolution process for employment matters.
2.11.5 The Charter School may not employ instructional personnel whose certificate or
license to teach has been revoked or is currently suspended by the state board of
education in this state or another state. (NRS 388A.524)
2.11.6 An employee of a charter school is eligible for all benefits for which the employee
would be eligible for employment in a public school, including, without
limitation, participation in the Public Employees Retirement System in a
manner consistent with NRS 388A.518-524.
2.11.7 The Charter School shall conduct criminal background checks and act in
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accordance with NRS 388A.515.
2.11.8 The Charter School shall maintain employee files as identified in the Operations
Manual, which are subject to audit by the Authority or other appropriate entity.
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3.3.1 The Charter School shall be subject to and comply with all requirements
related to the state assessment and accountability system for Nevada public
schools.
3.3.2 Nothing in this section prohibits the Charter School or the Authority from
assessing student learning outside of and in addition to the state’s testing
program.
3.3.3 Educational program matters not specifically identified in this Charter
Contract shall remain within the Charter School’s authority and discretion.
3.4 Special Education
3.4.1 The Authority is the “local education agency” (“LEA”) for purposes of
compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”).
3.4.2 The Charter School shall provide services and accommodations to students
with disabilities as set forth in the Charter Application and in accordance with
any relevant policies thereafter adopted, as well as with all applicable
provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1401
et seq.) (the “IDEA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et
seq.) (the “ADA”), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. §
794) (“Section 504”), and all applicable regulations promulgated pursuant to
such federal laws. This includes providing services to enrolled students with
disabilities in accordance with the individualized education program (“IEP”)
prescribed by a student’s IEP team. The Charter School shall comply with all
applicable requirements of state law and regulation concerning the provision
of services to students with disabilities.
3.4.3 An annual Memorandum of Understanding which defines the rights and
responsibilities of the Charter School acting as a school of the LEA and the
Authority acting as LEA will be annually updated and disseminated by the
Authority and signed by the Parties.
3.4.4 The Charter School shall maintain a special education reserve as a financial
reserve or demonstrate, to the Authority’s satisfaction, that the Charter School
carries an insurance policy with sufficient coverage to ensure compliance with
the indemnification and financial obligations of the Charter School. Such
reserve or insurance product shall not in any way limit the Charter School's
obligation in the event the special education reserve or insurance product is
insufficient to fully pay costs incurred in connection with any claim or claims,
and the Charter School shall remain fully responsible for any and all costs
incurred in connection with such claim or claims. The Charter School shall
keep any special education reserve separate from and not utilize it to satisfy
any other requirements applicable to the Charter School. Any special
education reserve shall be maintained in a separate bank account and shall be
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equal to $25,000 plus the interest that has been earned in this account to date.
The Charter School shall fully fund any reserve account by the end of its fifth
year of operation and contribute to it in a manner that can reasonably be
expected to reach this goal. If money is withdrawn from the reserve account,
unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Authority, the Charter School shall
be required to replace all sums withdrawn by the end of the subsequent fiscal
year.
3.5 English Language Learners
3.5.1 The Charter School shall provide resources and support to English language
learners to enable them to acquire sufficient English language proficiency to
participate in the mainstream English language instructional program. The
Charter School shall adhere to policies and procedures for identifying,
assessing and exiting English language learners, consistent with all applicable
laws and regulations. The Authority and the Charter School will work to assure
compliance with any and all requirements of the state and federal law
regarding services to English language learners.
Part 4: Charter School Finance
4.1 Financial Management
4.1.1 The Charter School shall control and be responsible for financial management
and performance of the Charter School including budgeting and expenditures.
The Charter School shall operate on a fiscal year that begins July 1 and ends
June 30.
4.1.2 At all times, the Charter School shall maintain appropriate governance and
managerial procedures and financial controls, including without limitation: (1)
commonly accepted accounting practices and the capacity to implement them;
(2) a bank account maintained within this State; (3) adequate payroll
procedures; (4) an organizational chart; (5) procedures for the creation and
review of monthly and quarterly financial reports, including identification of
the individual who will be responsible for preparing such financial reports in
the following fiscal year; (6) internal control procedures for cash receipts, cash
disbursements and purchases; and (7) maintenance of asset registers and
financial procedures for grants in accordance with applicable federal and state
law.
4.1.3 The Charter School shall undergo an independent financial audit conducted in
accordance with governmental accounting standards and GASB #34 performed
by a certified public accountant each fiscal year. The results of the audit will be
provided to the Authority in written form in accordance with the date
established by law and regulation and identified in the Reporting
Requirements Manual. The Charter School shall pay for the audit.
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4.1.4 The Charter School shall prepare quarterly financial reports for the Authority
in compliance with this Charter Contract. Such reports shall be submitted to
the Authority no later than fifteen (15) days following the end of each quarter,
as defined in the Reporting Requirements Manual.
4.1.5 The Charter School agrees to maintain financial records in accordance with the
governmental accounting method required by the Nevada Department of
Education (the “Department”) and/or Authority and to make such records
available upon request.
4.1.6 The Charter School shall use and follow the chart of accounts and any grant
codes as defined by the Department in the Nevada Common Elements for
Accounting and Reporting K-12 Educational Finances.
4.1.7 The Charter School shall assure that all financial records for the school are
maintained, posted and reconciled at least monthly, and are open for public
inspection during reasonable business hours.
4.1.8 The Charter School shall establish procedures for ensuring that funds are
disbursed for approved expenditures consistent with the Charter School’s
budget.
4.1.9 Pursuant to NAC 387.770, the Charter School shall maintain a complete and
current inventory of all school property and shall perform a physical inventory
annually. Any asset acquired by the Charter School is the property of the
Charter School for the duration of the Charter Contract and any subsequent
renewals. The Charter School shall take reasonable precautions to safeguard
assets acquired with public funds. The Charter School shall manage all assets
consistent with the requirements of applicable law and regulation, including
without limitation NAC 387.335, 387.342 and 387.360; and NRS 388A306.
4.1.10 If the Charter School’s records fail to establish clearly whether an asset was
acquired with the use of public funds, the assets shall be deemed to be public
assets.
4.1.11 Except as may be expressly provided in this Charter Contract, as set forth in
any subsequent written agreement between the Charter School and the
Authority pursuant to NRS 388A.381, or as may be required by law, neither the
Charter School nor the Authority shall be entitled to the use of or access to the
services, supplies, or facilities of the other. Any service agreements between the
Authority and the Charter School shall be subject to all terms and conditions of
this Charter Contract, except as may be otherwise agreed in writing. The
purchase of any services not expressly required under this contract or set forth
in any subsequent written agreement between the Charter School and the
Authority or required by law, shall not be a condition of the approval or
continuation of this contract.
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4.1.12 The Charter School shall comply with other requirements as may be imposed
through state law or regulation, from time to time, on charter school finances,
budgeting, accounting, and expenditures, provided that the Authority shall
provide technical assistance regarding material changes to state law and
regulation, and the Parties will collaborate to assure that they each remain
reasonably current on the impact of any modifications on charter schools. The
Parties agree that the Charter School retains primary responsibility for
compliance with state law and regulation.
4.1.13 The Charter School is solely responsible for all debt it incurs, and the Authority
shall not be contractually bound on the Charter School’s account to any third
party. A statement to this effect shall be a provision of any and all contracts
entered into by the Charter School.
4.2 Budget
4.2.1 In accordance with law and regulation and as identified in the Reporting
Requirements Manual, the Charter School shall submit to the Department and
the Authority the school’s tentative budget for the upcoming fiscal year and the
Charter School shall submit to the Department and the Authority the school’s
final budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget shall:
4.2.1.1 Be presented on forms prescribed by the Nevada Department of Taxation;
and
4.2.1.2 Not provide for expenditures, inter-fund transfers, or reserves in excess of
available revenues plus beginning fund balances.
4.3 Charter School Funding
4.3.1 Charter School shall receive, directly from the Department, state and local aid
in an amount equal to its weighted count of enrollment multiplied by the per
pupil Distributive School Account amount for the county of residence of each
student plus the per pupil Outside Revenue amount for that county. The count
of pupils for calculating the basic support for distribution to a charter school is
the “Average daily enrollment” as defined by NRS 387.1211.
4.3.2 The Charter School shall maintain and transmit all necessary student
information in the format prescribed by the Department to evidence
enrollment and attendance of students for purposes of receiving state aid. The
Charter School will receive state payment from the Distributive School Account
directly from the Department, based on “Average daily enrollment” as defined
by NRS 387.1211.
4.3.3 The Charter School shall receive state aid payments quarterly unless the
quarterly payments exceed $500,000 at which time the Department will pay
state aid in monthly installments directly to the Charter School.
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4.3.4 All state aid payments to the Charter School are subject to correction pending
the outcome of the Department’s annual Pupil Enrollment and Attendance
Audit.
4.4 Authority Funding
4.4.1 The yearly sponsorship fee to be paid by the Charter School to the Authority
must be in an amount of money not to exceed two (2) percent but at least one
(1) percent of the total amount of money apportioned to the Charter School
during the school year pursuant to NRS 387.124. (NRS 388A.414)
4.4.2 The Authority shall notify the Charter School in February of the fee anticipated to
be charged pursuant to NRS 388A.414 in the following fiscal year.
Part 5: Insurance and Legal Liabilities
5.1 Insurance
5.1.1 The Charter School shall provide and maintain, at its sole expense without
reimbursement, adequate insurance, pursuant to NAC 388A.190, necessary
for the operation of the school, including but not limited to, property
insurance, general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance,
unemployment compensation insurance, motor vehicle insurance, and errors
and omissions insurance covering the Charter School and its employees.
Should the State legislature or State Board of Education change the amount
and/or type of insurance coverage required, the Charter School shall take
necessary steps to ensure compliance with the law or regulation within thirty
(30) days of receiving notice by the Authority of such change. The Authority
shall be named as additional insured under all insurance policies identified
under NAC 388A.190.
5.2 Liability
5.2.1 As required by NRS 388A.366, the Charter School agrees that the Authority is
not liable for the acts or omissions of the Charter School, its officers, agents, or
employees. The Charter School agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold the
Authority, its agents and employees, harmless from all liability, claims and
demands on account of contract, injury, sickness, disease, death, property loss
or damage or any other losses of any kind whatsoever which arise out of or are
in any manner connected with the Charter School’s operations.
5.2.2 If the Charter School files a voluntary petition for bankruptcy or is declared
bankrupt during a school year, neither the State of Nevada nor the Authority
may be held liable for any claims resulting from the bankruptcy pursuant to
NRS 388A.366.
Part 6: Transparency and Accountability
6.1 Charter School Reporting
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6.1.1 The Authority shall provide the Charter School with a Reporting Requirements
Manual on or before the commencement of the contract year and updated at
least annually. The Authority shall endeavor to make the Reporting
Requirements Manual as complete as possible. The Charter School shall be
responsible for submitting timely and complete reports in accordance with the
Reporting Requirements Manual.
6.1.2 The Authority shall provide the Charter School with an Operations Manual on
or before the commencement of the contract year and updated at least
annually.
6.2 Additional Reporting
6.2.1 The Charter School shall be responsible for additional reporting as required
for compliance with state law and regulation, federal requirements, and other
applicable external reporting requirements.
6.3 Authority Reporting
6.3.1 The Authority shall produce and make available reports to the Charter School
in a manner consistent with the Reporting Requirements Manual.
Part 7: Oversight
7.1 Authority
7.1.1 Pursuant to NRS 388A.150, the Authority shall have broad oversight authority
over the Charter School and may take all reasonable steps necessary to confirm
that the Charter School is and remains in material compliance with this
Charter Contract, the Charter Application, and applicable law and regulation.
The Authority’s oversight of the Charter School shall include, but not be
limited to, the following activities:
7.1.1.1 Oversight, intervention, termination, renewal, and closure processes and
procedures for the Charter School;
7.1.1.2 Reviewing the performance and compliance of the Charter School within
the terms of this Charter Contract and applicable laws, policies and
regulations;
7.1.1.3 Ensuring the Charter School’s compliance with reporting requirements;
7.1.1.4 Monitoring the educational, legal, fiscal, and organizational condition of
the Charter School; and
7.1.1.5 Providing guidance to the Charter School on compliance and other
operational matters.
7.2 Inspection
7.2.1 All records established and maintained in accordance with the provisions of
this Charter Contract, applicable policies and/or regulations, and federal and
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state law shall be open to inspection by the Authority and other applicable
agencies, entities, or individuals within a reasonable period of time after
request is made.
7.3 Site Visits and Evaluations
7.3.1 The Authority may, at its discretion, conduct site visits to provide monitoring,
support and technical assistance with five (5) days written notice. Such notice
may be provided electronically.
7.3.2 The Authority may, at its discretion, conduct formal, targeted school
evaluations. Such evaluations may include any activities reasonably related to
fulfillment of its oversight responsibilities including, but not limited to,
inspection of the facilities; inspection of records maintained by the Charter
School; and interviews of school and other stakeholders.
7.3.3 Pursuant to Section 6 of Assembly Bill 462 of the 2019 Nevada Legislative
Session, the Authority shall conduct a Site Evaluation of each campus of a
charter school during the first, third and fifth years after entering into or
renewing a contract.
7.4 Notification
7.4.1 The Charter School shall notify the Authority immediately of any conditions
that it knows are likely to cause it to violate the terms of this Charter Contract
or the Charter Application. Such notification shall not be construed as relief
from the Charter School’s responsibility to correct such conditions.
7.4.2 The Charter School shall notify the Authority immediately of any
circumstances requiring the closure of the Charter School, including but not
limited to natural disaster, other extraordinary emergency, or destruction of or
damage to the school facility.
7.4.3 The Charter School shall immediately notify the Authority of the arrest or
charge of any members of the Charter Board or any Charter School employee
for a crime punishable as a felony, any crime related to the misappropriation of
funds or theft, any crime or misdemeanor constituting an act against a minor
child or student, or of the investigation of a member of the Charter Board or
any Charter School employee for child abuse.
7.4.4 The Charter School shall notify the Authority immediately of any change to its
corporate legal status.
7.4.5 The Charter School shall notify the Authority immediately of any default on
any obligation, which shall include debts for which payments are past due by
sixty (60) days or more.
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7.4.6 The Charter School shall notify the Authority immediately if at any time the
Charter School receives notice or is informed that the Charter School or the
Authority are parties to a legal suit.
7.5 Intervention
7.5.1 Consistent with any oversight practices set out in the Charter School
Performance Framework, the Authority shall follow a system of notification
and calls for corrective action on the part of the Charter School.
7.5.2 Any complaints or concerns received by the Authority about the Charter School
or its operation including but not limited to complaints filed with the Office for
Civil Rights, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, shall be forwarded promptly by the Authority to the
Charter School.
7.5.3 The Charter School shall promptly forward to the Authority any formal
complaints or concerns received by the Charter School filed with or from the
Office for Civil Rights, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission, and/or formal grievances filed by any
party with the Charter Board. Such forwarding of complaints or concerns shall
not relieve Charter School of the responsibility of resolving the complaints or
concerns.
7.5.4 The Charter School shall indemnify the Authority for any costs, attorney fees,
and/or financial penalties imposed on the Authority by state and/or federal
authorities due to actions or omissions of the Charter School relative to
regulatory compliance.
7.5.5 To the extent that concerns or complaints received by the Authority about the
Charter School may trigger Authority intervention, including termination or
non-renewal of the Charter Contract, the Authority may monitor the Charter
School’s handling of such concerns or complaints. In such cases, the Authority
may request and the Charter School shall provide information regarding the
Charter School’s actions in responding to those concerns or complaints.
Part 8: Termination and Default Termination
8.1 Termination
8.1.1 As provided by law, this Charter Contract may at any time be terminated by the
Authority before its expiration upon determination and majority vote of the
Authority that the Charter School, its officers or its employees:
8.1.1.1 Committed a material breach of the terms and conditions of the Charter
Contract;
8.1.1.2 Failed to comply with generally accepted standards of fiscal management;
8.1.1.3 Failed to comply with the provisions of NRS 388A.010 to 388A.695,
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inclusive, or any other statute or regulation applicable to charter schools;
or
8.1.1.4 Persistently underperformed, as measured by the performance indicators,
measures and metrics set forth in the Charter School Performance
Framework for the Charter School.
8.1.2 The Charter Contract may be terminated by the Authority if the Charter School
has filed for a voluntary petition of bankruptcy, is adjudicated bankrupt or
insolvent, or is otherwise financially impaired such that the Charter School
cannot continue to operate.
8.1.3 The Charter Contract may be terminated by the Authority if the Authority
determines that termination is necessary to protect the health and safety of the
pupils who are enrolled in the Charter School or persons who are employed by
the Charter School from jeopardy, or to prevent damage to or loss of property
of the school district or the community in which the Charter School is located.
8.1.4 The Charter Contract may be terminated by the Authority if the Authority
determines that the committee to form the charter school or charter
management organization, as applicable, or any member of the committee to
form the charter school or charter management organization, as applicable, or
the governing body of the charter school has at any time made a material
misrepresentation or omission concerning any information disclosed to the
Authority
8.1.5 The Charter Contract may be terminated by the Authority if the Authority
determines that the charter school operates a high school that has a graduation
rate for the immediately preceding school year that is less than 60 percent;
8.1.6 The Charter Contract may be terminated by the Authority if the Authority
determines that the charter school operates an elementary or middle school or
junior high school that is rated in the lowest 5 percent of elementary schools,
middle schools or junior high schools in the State in pupil achievement and
school performance, as determined by the Department pursuant to the
statewide system of accountability for public schools; or
8.1.7 The Charter Contract may be terminated by the Authority if the Authority
determines that pupil achievement and school performance at the charter
school is unsatisfactory as determined by the Department pursuant to criteria
prescribed by regulation by the Department to measure the performance of any
public school.
8.1.8 In any instance of termination, the Authority shall provide to the Charter
School written notice of termination, which notice shall include its findings
and reasons for such action, and adhere to the process outlined in NRS
388A.330.
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8.2 Default Termination
8.2.1 The Authority shall terminate the Charter Contract if the school receives in any
period of 5 consecutive school years, three annual ratings established as the
lowest rating possible indicating underperformance of a public school, as
determined by the Department pursuant to the statewide system of
accountability for public schools. The charter school’s annual rating pursuant
to the statewide system of accountability based upon the performance of the
charter school for any school year before the 2015-2016 school year must not
be included in the count of annual ratings for the purposes of this subsection.
8.3 Other Remedies
8.3.1 The Authority may impose other appropriate remedies for breach including, but
not limited to, a required corrective action plan.
Part 9: Closure
9.1 Closure
9.1.1 In the event that the Charter School is required to cease operation for any
reason, including but not limited to non-renewal, termination, or voluntary
surrender of the Charter Contract, the Charter School shall cooperate fully
with the Authority to ensure the orderly closure of the Charter School in a
manner consistent with state law and regulation (NRS 388A.306), including,
but not limited to:
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whether or not he/she agrees with the complaint and if so, whether he/she
agrees with the proposed resolution, or proposing an alternative resolution to
the charter school. In the event these representatives are unable to resolve the
dispute informally, pursuant to this procedure, the complaint and proposed
resolution will be submitted to the Authority at the next available meeting for
its consideration. The Authority will decide whether or not it agrees with the
complaint or any proposed resolution. Any decision by the Authority is final.
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Contract; and
11.1.2.4 If applicable, demonstrate sound performance on mission specific
indicators.
11.2 Review
11.2.1 The Authority shall monitor and periodically report on the Charter School’s
progress in relation to the indicators, measures, metrics and targets set out in
the Charter School Performance Framework. Such reporting shall take place at
least annually.
11.2.2 The Charter School’s performance in relation to the indicators, measures,
metrics and targets set forth in the Charter School Performance Framework
shall provide the basis upon which the Authority will decide whether to renew
the Charter Contract at the end of the term.
11.2.3 The Parties intend that, where this Charter Contract references or is contingent
upon state or federal accountability laws, that they be bound by any applicable
modification or amendments to such laws upon the effective date of said
modifications or amendments. The specific terms, form and requirements of
the Charter School Performance Framework may be modified or amended to
the extent required to align with changes to applicable state or federal
accountability requirements, as set forth in law. In the event that any such
modifications or amendments are required, the Authority will use best efforts to
apply expectations for school performance in a manner consistent with those
set forth in the Charter School Performance Framework as initially established
in the Charter Contract.
11.2.4 While both parties acknowledge that importance of the Charter School
Performance Framework, and the Authority's obligation to consider the
Charter Schools performance under the Charter School Performance
Framework in any decision that results in reconstitution, revocation, or
termination of a charter contract, the parties also acknowledge that the
Authority may reconstitute the board, revoke the charter, or terminate the
charter contract prior to its expiration of a school with acceptable
performance under the Charter School Performance Framework if allowed by
NRS 388A.330.
Part 12: Contract Construction
12.1 Entire Charter Contract
12.1.1 The Parties intend this Charter Contract, including all exhibits hereto, to
represent a final and complete expression of their agreement, which shall be
considered the Charter Contract. All prior representations, understandings and
discussions are merged herein, and no course of prior dealings between Parties
shall supplement or explain any terms used in this document. The Parties
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recognize that amendments to this Charter Contract may be approved from
time to time hereafter.
12.2 Authority
12.2.1 The individual officers, agents and employees of the Parties do hereby
individually represent and warrant that they have full power and lawful
authority to execute this Charter Contract.
12.3 Notice
12.3.1 Any notice required, or permitted, under this Charter Contract shall be in
writing and shall be effective upon personal delivery, subject to verification of
service or acknowledgment of receipt, or three (3) days after mailing when sent
by certified mail, postage prepaid to the following:
In the case of State Public Charter School Authority:
Director
1749 N. Stewart St, Suite 40
Carson City, NV 89706
In the case of Charter School:
Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus
1201 W Lake Mead Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89106
12.4 Waiver
12.4.1 The Parties agree that no assent, express or implied, to any breach by either of
them of any one or more of the covenants and agreements expressed herein
shall be deemed or taken to constitute a waiver of any succeeding or other
breach.
12.5 Non-Assignment
12.5.1 Neither party to this Charter Contract shall assign or attempt to assign any
rights, benefits, or obligations accruing to the party under this Charter Contract
unless the other party agrees in writing to any such assignment.
12.6 Applicable Law
12.6.1 This Charter Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Nevada, including all requirements imposed by
regulation and Authority policy, and all applicable federal laws of the United
States.
12.6.2 The Parties intend that, where this Charter Contract references federal or state
laws, they be bound by any amendments to such laws upon the effective date of
such amendments.
12.7 Material Amendments
12.7.1 Material amendments require Authority approval. Pursuant to NRS 388A.231-
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360 any material amendment to this Charter Contract will be effective only if
approved in writing by the Authority. The proposed amendment must be
submitted in a manner consistent with applicable law and regulation and
defined in the Operations Manual. A material amendment shall not become
effective and the Charter School shall not take action or implement the change
requested in the amendment until the amendment is approved, in writing, by
the Authority. Changes in operation that are considered material and require
the Charter School to obtain an amendment to this Charter Contract include,
but are not limited to, the following:
12.7.1.1 Change in the Charter School’s location (change of site and/or adding or
deleting sites) (see 1.7.4);
12.7.1.2 Changes to the Mission Statement (see 2.2.1);
12.7.1.3 Elimination of a grade level served or expansion to serve a grade level not
served (see 2.3.3);
12.7.1.4 Increasing or decreasing the enrollment beyond the established
enrollment cap by more than 10% or 15%, as applicable, pursuant to
2.3.3 of this Charter Contract;
12.7.1.5 Changes to the name of the Charter School;
12.7.1.6 Entering into a contract with an Educational Management Organization or
terminating a contract with an Educational Management Organization
pursuant to 2.10.2.4 of this Charter Contract;
12.7.1.7 Entering into a contract with a Charter Management Organization or
terminating a contract with a Charter Management Organization other
than a renewal or extension to an existing contract with a CMO;
12.7.1.8 Changes to the Mission Specific indicators (see 11.1.1.1);
12.7.1.9 Changes to pupil transportation plans (see 2.13.2).
12.8 Non-Material Change - Notification Required
12.8.1 Changes to this Charter Contract listed below do not require amendment as
described in NRS 388A.231-360; rather, such changes shall be accomplished
through written notification. Changes requiring notification include, but are not
limited to:
12.8.1.1 Mailing address, phone and fax number of the Charter School;
12.8.1.2 Changes in the lead administrator of the Charter School;
12.8.1.3 Changes in the composition of the Charter Board (see 1.5.5.2);
12.8.1.4 Changes to the Bylaws and/or Articles of Incorporation (see 1.5.5.1); and
12.9 Other Changes – Determination as Material or Non-Material, Requiring
Notification or Not.
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12.9.1 The Charter School may, from time to time, contemplate a change to the
Charter School that is not identified within this Charter Contract as a Material
Amendment or as a Non-Material Change that requires notification. In such an
event, the Charter School is obligated to request, in writing, the determination
of the Authority as to whether or not such a change requires a Material
Amendment (12.7) or Notification (12.8).
12.10 Severability
12.10.1 The provisions of this Charter Contract are severable. Any term or condition
deemed illegal or invalid shall not affect any other term or condition, and the
remainder of the Charter Contract shall remain in effect unless otherwise
terminated by one or both of the Parties.
12.11 Third Parties
12.11.1 This Charter Contract shall not create any rights in any third parties who have
not entered into this Charter Contract; nor shall any third party be entitled to
enforce any rights or obligations that may be possessed by either party to this
Charter Contract.
12.12 Counterparts; Signatures
12.12.1 The Charter Contract may be signed in counterparts, which shall together
constitute the original Charter Contract. Signatures received by facsimile or
email by either of the Parties shall have the same effect as original signatures.
12.13 Material Breach
12.13.1 A material breach is defined as a violation of this Charter Contract which is
substantial and significant as determined by the Authority.
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Signature Page
Date:
Date:
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EXHIBIT #1: Charter School Performance
Framework
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EXHIBIT #2: Articles of Incorporation, if
applicable
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EXHIBIT #3: Charter Application
On File at SPCSA
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Exhibit C
Handbook
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2020-2021
Democracy Prep Public Schools
1767 Park Avenue, 5th Floor
Democracy Prep at the Agassi New York, NY 10035
www.democracyprep.org
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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MESSAGE TO OUR FAMILIES
Welcome to the Democracy Prep Public Schools family!
As is the case with any family, the DPPS network needs a set of rules and guidelines to help us understand
and get along with each other. The purpose of this Handbook is to ensure we have consistent expectations
across our schools. The network Handbook may not answer all of your questions, but it should provide
examples of Democracy Prep’s mission, procedures, expectations and guiding principles.
This Handbook replaces any prior years’ Handbooks, including those for other Democracy Prep high
schools. As Democracy Prep always seeks to improve, we reserve the right to amend, modify or change the
provisions of this Handbook. We will of course provide all scholars and families notice of any significant
changes in the policies reflected in the following pages.
Please note that where we refer to “parents” in this Handbook, that term is meant to include both parents
and legal guardians even where we do not specifically refer to guardians.
OUR SCHOOLS
Democracy Prep Charter School Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus
Grades 6-8: 2230 Fifth Avenue Grades K-12: 1201 West Lake Mead Boulevard
New York, NY 10037 Las Vegas, NV 89106
Grades 9-12: 222 West 134th Street Freedom Prep Charter School
New York, NY 10030 Grades K-12: 1000 Atlantic Avenue
Camden, NJ 08104
Democracy Prep Harlem Charter School
Grades K-5: 2005 Madison Avenue Democracy Prep at the Stewart Campus
New York, NY 10035 Grades Pre-K-7: 1950 Rigsby Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78210
Grades 6-8: 207 West 133rd Street
New York, NY 10030 Bronx Prep Charter School
Grades 6-12: 3872 3rd Avenue
Grades 9-12: 212 West 120th Street Bronx, NY 10457
New York, NY 10027
Harlem Prep Charter School
Democracy Prep Endurance Charter School Grades K-5 & 9-12: 240 East 123rd Street
Grades 6-8: 250 West 127th Street New York, NY 10035
New York, NY 10027
Grades 6-8: 232 East 103rd Street
Grades 9-12: 240 East 123rd Street New York, NY 10029
New York, NY 10035
Democracy Prep Baton Rouge Charter School
Grades K-8 4055 Prescott Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70805
OUR MISSION, VISION, AND CORE VALUES
Our Mission
Democracy Prep educates all students regardless of citizenship or housing status, language, or disability.
The mission of Democracy Prep Public Schools is to educate responsible citizen-scholars for success in the
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college of their choice and a life of active citizenship.
Our Vision
Democracy Prep will provide a rigorous academic program focused on the knowledge, skills, and character
necessary to master core academic subjects in preparation for success in college. Scholars will receive highly
structured civic and leadership education, preparing them to be active citizens in our democratic society.
Enthusiasm. When you work hard, it is essential to find joy in your work. We believe in
teaching our scholars how to be joyful in their learning by approaching it with curiosity,
gratitude, and spirit! We also believe in creating opportunities for our scholars to play
together as a team, as enthusiasm is created by both working hard and playing hard.
Enthusiasm means actively participating in every moment of class, attempting to answer
questions even when you are confused, adding color to a homework assignment even
when the teacher doesn’t tell you to, walking with urgency to and from classes, taking a
risk to try something difficult, staying positive when confronted with a challenge, and
finding ways to show that you love what you do
Accountability. Accountability is the conscious and public act of taking responsibility for something you
have done — good or bad. In order to work in a community with high expectations, respectful
conversations, and positive attitudes, scholars, teachers, and staff will hold each other accountable for our
words, actions and decisions. Accountability means accepting the consequences of our decisions, accepting
praise, being proud of accomplishments and hard work, acknowledging and apologizing for mistakes, changing
hurtful behavior into supportive behavior, and letting an adult know if someone in our community is not
upholding our values. Accountability shows that we are honest and responsible with ourselves and with each
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other and are therefore prepared to reach our fullest potential.
Maturity. To be mature means that you do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, even if no one
is watching. Mature citizen-scholars find ways to be kind to their teams and families — even toward the
people that you may not like. Maturity means that you work hard and put forth 100% effort because your
future is important to you.
Bravery. Democracy Prep scholars must demonstrate bravery in their academic pursuits, as leaders in the
school community, and as conscious citizen scholars in the larger world. Our motto is Work Hard. Go to
College. Change the World! It will be impossible for our scholars to achieve each of these goals without dipping
into their reserve of courage, tenacity, and bravery.
Initiative. Each of us in the Democracy Prep family wants to nurture scholars who are critical thinkers,
problem solvers, and independent learners. We want to teach scholars who will become innovators in a
variety of scholarly pursuits, and we want to coach responsible scholars who are excited to tackle a host of
problems on the world stage. Therefore, we instill in our scholars the value of “initiative.” To show initiative
means to assess a given situation or problem and come up with a tenable plan of action. We at DPPS do not
want to cultivate passive thinkers. We want to cultivate active citizen scholars.
Grit. Grit enables us to be firm of mind and to persevere through significant obstacles. At Democracy Prep,
we value strength: strength of conviction, strength of character, and strength as a citizen-scholar. We know
that our scholars will face significant obstacles throughout their time in the high school. However, as a
community, we value grit. We want to inculcate in our scholars the idea that one never gives up. One must
persevere through all kinds of setbacks, undaunted, and ready to continue to climb the ladder of success.
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the end of the workday, ensuring before we leave that our classrooms and lessons are prepared for our
scholars’ success on the following day.
• We will work harder and longer than others because we will do whatever it takes for our scholars to
learn.
• We will dress professionally at all times in order to convey a seriousness of purpose and to create a
learning environment characterized by maturity.
• We will make ourselves available to scholars and parents by phone and email (but always and only
through a Democracy Prep phone number and Democracy Prep e-mail address), and in person, and we
will respond respectfully to any concerns they have.
• We will always protect the safety, interests, and rights of all individuals in the classroom.
• We will prepare engaging and rigorous lessons with meaningful homework assignments and frequent
assessments.
• We will use data from assessments and assignments to make sure every scholar succeeds.
• We will fulfill all of our school-wide obligations — including upholding hallway expectations and
performing necessary coverage duties — in order to foster a cohesive, unified team dynamic.
• We will provide individual and small group tutoring to ensure our scholars succeed.
Failure to adhere to these commitments can lead to our removal from the DPPS Team and Family.
I am responsible for my own behavior and I will follow my teachers’ directions. I understand that failure to adhere to these
commitments can lead to the imposition of appropriate consequences and the loss of privileges.
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Monday through Saturday.
• We will make arrangements so that our child can remain at Democracy Prep until he or she is dismissed.
• We will make arrangements so that our child can attend any and all required after school activities and
provide documentation when necessary family affairs conflict with detention or school events.
• We will ensure our child attends Summer Academy if deemed necessary by the school.
• We will always help our child to learn in the best way we know how.
• We will review all communication from the school and our child’s teachers, check and assist with
homework and review planners nightly, encourage our child to call his or her teachers for help when
necessary, and make sure that our child reads every night.
• We will commit to review our child’s weekly progress report with our scholar every Monday.
• We will call our child’s teachers and advisors when we have a concern about our child’s academic or
behavioral performance or progress.
• We will support the school’s civic initiatives by being a registered voter (when eligible).
• We will make ourselves available to the school, attend as many school events as we are able, and be in
close contact with our child’s teachers.
• We will volunteer and support the school in every way possible.
• We will provide the school with our most up-to-date contact information.
• We will provide the school with all necessary up-to-date office documentation including, but not limited
to, immunization records, updated physical records, change of address forms, etc.
• We will allow our child to participate in field trips if he or she has earned them.
• We will ensure our child understands and follows the school’s attendance, tardiness, and uniform
policies.
• We will assume good intentions of Democracy Prep staff members, understanding that they, too, want
what is best for my child.
• We will do whatever it takes if our scholar is struggling emotionally or academically, including, but not
limited to sitting in our child’s classroom, picking up our child in an emergency, and getting outside
medical care or evaluations.
• We will support Democracy Prep in enforcing the school rules so as to protect the safety, interest, and
rights of all individuals in the classroom. We, not the school, are responsible for the behavior and
actions of our child.
By working with Democracy Prep, we are building a partnership that prepares our child for success in scholarship and
citizenship. Failure to adhere to these commitments can cause my child to lose various privileges at Democracy Prep.
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for scholars to travel to/from school if required under an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Attendance is vital for the educational well-being of individual scholars and the school community. Parents
and guardians are expected to ensure their child attends school every day and are strongly discouraged from
scheduling appointments for their children during school hours. While scholars with superlative attendance
records receive recognition for their discipline, accountability, and maturity, those who fail to meet
expectations receive appropriate consequences. Scholars will not receive DREAM Dollars for any missed
days.
If your scholar must be absent due to illness or an emergency, please contact the school with as
much advance notice as possible, and no later than 7:30 a.m. on the day of the absence.
Arrangements should be made to pick up homework.
Democracy Prep records both excused and unexcused absences. In order for the absence to be verified and
deemed excused, you must afford the school as much advance notice as possible and also provide
documentation following the absence explaining the nature of the illness or emergency (e.g. a doctor’s note
or a detailed letter including the date(s) and reason for the absence). In accordance with Nevada law,
excuse notes must be submitted within three (3) days of the scholar’s return to school; if not the
absence will be documented as an unexcused absence, and considered truancy under Nevada law.
In accordance with the law, the school is required to issue a Notice of Truancy for any unexcused
absence to the parent or legal guardian. A record of all absences and absence notes will be maintained
by the school and consulted if retention becomes a possibility.
Excused Absences
Excessive excused absences (more than 9) in a year may lead to no credit and a zero percent average in each
class for the trimester and/or year, may require scholars to attend Summer Academy in order to secure
promotion to the next grade, and may possibly result in retention.
Excessive excused absences will result in parents and guardians being asked to meet with school officials.
Democracy Prep may inform the appropriate authorities if a scholar is repeatedly absent from school.
Democracy Prep also reserves the right to require scholars who have accumulated in excess of nine (9)
absences during the school year to make up all lost instructional time during Summer Academy irrespective
of whether the absences are documented.
Absences will be excused if the scholars is absent with parental approval and the family provides written
documentation of a valid excuse within three (3) days of the scholar’s return to school. Examples of
excusable absences include:
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before, during or after deployment;
• Emergency or other circumstances approved by the Administrative Manager or other designee based
on a detailed description of the circumstances, as authorized by the Executive Director.
No Absences in a Trimester: The scholar and family are congratulated and recognized for exceptional
attendance and commitment to their education.
Three Excused Absences in a Trimester: Democracy Prep considers three absences in a single trimester
a serious issue. When this occurs, the school reserves the right to notify the scholar’s parent/guardian, and
may require further steps such as requiring families to attend formal attendance meetings and create
attendance “action plans”.
Six Excused Absences in a Year: Democracy Prep considers six absences over the course of a school year
a serious issue. When this occurs, the school reserves the right to call the scholar’s parent/guardian to the
school to meet with the social worker and/or school leader. At such a meeting, the problem will be
discussed and an attendance action plan will be developed.
Ten or More Excused Absences in a Year: If a scholar is absent ten or more times in a year, the scholar
is at risk of not being promoted to the next grade. The parent/guardian will be called to the school to meet
with the social worker and school leader. Any scholar with ten or more absences will be required to recover
any lost instructional time in excess of nine days during Summer Academy. The school leader reserves the
right to retain any scholar who misses ten or more days of school. Additionally, scholars may also be
unenrolled from Democracy Prep. If a scholar is unenrolled for attendance, his or her space at Democracy
Prep is forfeited, and he or she will not be eligible to apply or enroll in future school years.
Unexcused Absences/Truancy
Undocumented/unexcused absences are never acceptable. Absences will not be excused if the scholar is
absent without parental approval and/or the family does not provide written documentation of a valid
excuse within three (3) days of the scholar’s return to school.
Any absence not accounted for within three (3) days of occurring is an unexcused absence, and considered
truancy under Nevada law. In accordance with Nevada law, the school is required to issue a Notice of
Truancy for any unexcused absence to the scholar’s parent or legal guardian. Further steps, including
requiring families to attend formal meetings and create attendance “action plans” may also be implemented.
Examples of unexcused absences include (please note that this list is not non-exhaustive):
• Babysitting;
• Running errands;
• Extended travel;
• Oversleeping;
• Sibling or parent illness (unless severe enough to be deemed a family emergency by the Administrative
Manager or other designee).
Habitual Truancy
Any scholar who has been declared truant three (3) or more days within one school year will be declared a
habitual truant under Nevada law. In cases of habitual truancy, a scholars’ family will be required to attend a
formal meeting and create attendance “action plans” in addition to the state mandated Notice of Truancy.
Scholars may be required to make up lost instructional time during Summer Academy.
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The school administration also reserves the right to investigate and report habitual truants to the appropriate
authorities for further action. Consequences may include citations and/or a loss of driving privileges.
Additionally, scholars who are habitually truant two (2) or more times per year may also be unenrolled from
Democracy Prep. If a scholar is unenrolled for attendance, his or her space at Democracy Prep is forfeited,
and he or she will not be eligible to apply or enroll in future school years.
Attendance – Tardiness
Getting to school on time is key to each scholar’s success — at school and in life. Late scholars miss
academics and tardiness in general is a bad habit. At Democracy Prep, learning begins the moment scholars
walk in the door. Scholars who are late miss essential instruction, disrupt the learning of other children, and
risk falling behind on our ambitious curriculum.
Definition of Tardiness
Scholars who are not prepared and seated in Advisor at 7:30 a.m. are considered tardy.
No Tardies in a Trimester – The scholar and family are congratulated and recognized for being “on time”
and for their true commitment to education.
Three Tardies in a Trimester – If a scholar is late three times in a Trimester, it is considered a serious
issue. Should this occur, the school reserves the right to call the parent/guardian to discuss the problem and
develop an “On Time” plan.
Seven Tardies in a Year – If a scholar is late seven times in a year, it is considered a serious issue. Should
this occur, the school reserves the right to call the parent/guardian to the school to meet with the social
worker and/or school leader. At such a meeting, the problem will be discussed and an “On Time” plan will
be developed.
Unexcused Tardiness
Like unexcused absences, unexcused late arrivals are never acceptable.
As excessive tardiness is a truancy problem, excessive tardiness may place a scholar at risk of not being
promoted to the next grade. Scholars with excessive tardy arrivals may also be considered habitual truants.
In such cases, the school administration may file a written complaint with a relevant court or child services
agency alleging the belief that the acts or omissions of the child are such that his/her family has service
needs.
Educational Neglect
Habitual absence significantly harms a scholar’s educational progress. Democracy Prep is required to file a
report with the CPS when a parent or guardian fails to ensure his or her scholar’s prompt and regular
attendance in school or keeps a scholar out of school for impermissible reasons to the detriment of the
scholar’s education. Democracy Prep reserves the right to notify the appropriate authorities about parents
who exhibit a pattern of leaving their scholar at school after dismissal.
School Closings
Democracy Prep generally follows the same calendar for holiday and weather-related emergencies as the
Clark County School District. Families will receive an automated call from the school and an alert on the
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school website notifying them of any weather-related closings, even those that occur despite the district
electing to remain open.
A healthy breakfast and snack is available each day for DPAC HS scholars. Scholars are permitted to bring
breakfast items to school, but must adhere to the school rules regarding appropriate time and place to eat
any food items not provided by the school. According to Nevada’s School Wellness Policy, all meals served
at the school must meet “common-sense standards” for a healthy breakfast, lunch or snack.
Lunch is available for scholars each school day. All scholars will receive free lunch. However, families may
still be required to complete free and reduced-price lunch eligibility paperwork in order to satisfy
accountability requirements. Refrigerators are not available to scholars. We recommend insulated lunch bags
and use of thermoses. All scholars are recommended to carry a water bottle to school. Water is the only
acceptable beverage in school (besides juice or milk packed in lunches). All other beverages will be
confiscated and thrown out. Drinking water during class is permitted only with the explicit permission of
the classroom teacher. Water bottles must be unfrozen and in a transparent bottle.
Scholars may bring their lunch from home in a closed lunch bag with a zipper and a clear label of the
scholar’s name.
Parents are responsible for informing the school of any allergies that their scholars may have prior to the school year.
Scholar Uniform
Uniforms create a sense of unity, professionalism, and discipline for the scholars and for the school. All
Democracy Prep scholars must come to school every day, including required on Saturdays, wearing the
required uniform, detailed information about which is included as Appendix A.
Scholar Supplies
In order to successfully complete nightly homework, DPAC HS recommends families provide the following
supplies at home:
o pencil sharpener
o pencils
o pens (blue or black ink)
o TI-83 calculator (or equivalent graphing calculator) with working batteries
o college-ruled lined paper
o index cards
o a computer or word processor
o access to the Internet
Scholars will be expected to purchase all required materials on the DPAC High School Supply List for their
grade levels by the first Friday of the school year. All scholars must come to school every day with the
following materials:
o no fewer than 3 pens (blue or black ink)
o no fewer than 3 pencils (sharpened)
o graphing calculator and working batteries
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o loose leaf paper
o a folder
o a book bag
Scholars will be responsible for their own pens and pencils. Scholars must also maintain their binders,
folders and other organizational supplies with high standards of neatness and cleanliness, as established by
the school and teachers. Democracy Prep expects its scholars to show respect for their belongings.
Scholars must be prepared each day with the required supplies, including homework and handouts,
appropriate writing utensils, and a calculator. Failure to be prepared with materials will result in appropriate
consequences.
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o any illegal substance or inappropriate drug paraphernalia (including cigarettes, e-cigarettes,
hookah pens, alcohol, or any other substance not mentioned directly here);
o stuffed animals, dolls, and toys including but not limited to fidget spinners or playing cards
(unless as a recognized academic or behavioral modification or support);
o materials (e.g. songs, papers, lyrics, art, or notes) that contain inappropriate or offensive
language, images or suggestions; and
o fireworks, sparklers, poppers, lighters, snappers, fountains, bottle rockets, and any
other explosive devices.
Any of the items in the list above may be confiscated at the discretion of the school principal and not
returned until a parent or guardian meets with the school leadership. Unless determined otherwise by the
school leader, all confiscated electronics must be picked up by parent/guardian.
Note: Cell phones, radios, iPods, Apple Watches, portable gaming systems, smartwatches and other non-
instructional electronic devices must be turned off and put away before entering the school property, unless
explicit permission has been given by the school leader. Any electronic equipment used without permission
may be confiscated. School staff are not responsible for the damage and loss of any electronic devices that
have not been confiscated by a school administrator.
Scholars may bring cell phones to school for safety reasons, but cell phone use is only acceptable before
school, during lunch & nutrition break, and after school. Failure to comply with this expectation may result
in confiscation or another consequence.
Democracy Prep Information Technology provides critical support to Democracy Prep and its scholars in
the achievement of the Democracy Prep’s mission, and all Users of Democracy Prep Information
Technology are expected to use it responsibly and in compliance with Democracy Prep policies and
applicable law.
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Privacy and Monitoring
Users should have no expectation of privacy while using Democracy Prep Information Technology. All
communications sent, received, transmitted or stored on Democracy Prep Information Technology are the
property of Democracy Prep. In order to implement the Democracy Prep information security program
effectively and enforce Democracy Prep policies, Democracy Prep must have the ability to monitor the use
of Democracy Prep Information Technology. Democracy Prep may monitor any activity on Democracy
Prep Information Technology and Users should use Democracy Prep Information Technology accordingly.
Authorized Democracy Prep staff may disclose, monitor, access, review, copy, store, move, edit, delete, or
otherwise manipulate any electronic information residing on Democracy Prep Information Technology as is
necessary to allow for the proper functioning of Democracy Prep Information Technology, compliance with
Democracy Prep policies and applicable law, or for any other appropriate purpose.
Prohibited Activity
Democracy Prep Information Technology shall not be used to engage in illegal, threatening, discriminatory,
defamatory, slanderous, obscene, or harassing activity, including cyberbullying. “Cyberbullying” means
bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including, but not limited to, a
transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted by the use of
any electronic device, including, but not limited to, a computer, telephone, cellular telephone, text messaging
device and personal digital assistant. Democracy Prep Information Technology may not be used to solicit
for any reason, or for sending mass emails (“spamming”).
Software Installation
Only software approved by Democracy Prep may be installed on Democracy Prep Information Technology.
Users who wish to have software installed on Democracy Prep Information Technology should direct
requests to the Information Technology department and should not install any software on Democracy
Prep Information Technology without express permission.
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Users should consider the following guidelines when using Electronic Messaging:
• demonstrate the same respect when using Electronic Messaging as you use communicating
verbally or in a more formal written document such as a memorandum or letter;
• do not forward chain or “spam” messages;
• keep personal messages to a minimum, and be mindful of the fact that even personal
messages from Democracy Prep accounts may be viewed as statements authorized or made
by or on behalf of Democracy Prep, particularly when Democracy Prep’s name or a User’s
title appears in the message’s return address or in its closing; and
• do not send hateful, angry, or otherwise inappropriate messages.
Protection of Credentials
Users must protect their Democracy Prep passwords from disclosure and prevent unauthorized access to
Democracy Prep Information Technology. Accounts and passwords are for individual use only. Users may
not share passwords or accounts with anyone else. Any activity on a User’s account will be the responsibility
of the User.
Enforcement
Appropriate action may be taken against a User if it is found that the User violated this policy. Discipline
may range in severity as provided elsewhere in this Student & Family Handbook. Further, if appropriate, a
User’s privileges regarding and access to Democracy Prep Information Technology may be revoked or
limited without notice at the sole discretion of Democracy Prep.
Security
Scholars must not allow others to use their network accounts. Designated school officials may review files
and communications to maintain system integrity and ensure that users are using the system responsibly.
Users should not expect files stored on school servers to be private.
Democracy Prep reserves the right to access, view, record, check, receive, monitor, track, log, store, and
otherwise inspect and utilize any or all Democracy Prep CIS, and to monitor and allocate fileserver space.
Users of Democracy Prep’s CIS who transmit or receive communications and information shall be deemed
to have consented to having the content of any such communications accessed, viewed, recorded, checked,
received, monitored, tracked, logged, stored, and otherwise inspected or utilized by Democracy Prep.
Passwords and message delete functions do not restrict Democracy Prep’s ability or right to access such
communications or information. Democracy Prep further reserves the right to allocate fileserver space as it
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deems appropriate.
Email
Only school-approved email will be allowed on school premises. Scholars must receive explicit permission
from their teacher to engage in any other email activity.
Downloading
Downloading from the Internet without approval from a member of the DREAM Team is not allowed.
In recognition of both the educational purpose that social media can serve and the necessity of certain
restrictions, this policy is designed to foster the responsible and appropriate use of social media at
Democracy Prep Public Schools. DPPS defines “social media” as “any method of communication in
cyberspace.” For the purposes of this policy, this includes, but is not limited to, any website, program or
application that involves Internet forums, weblogs, social blogs, microblogging, wikis, podcasts, and the
sharing or posting of photographs, pictures or videos and the rating or tagging of the same. This includes,
but is certainly not limited to, the following examples: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Wikipedia, Skype,
LinkedIn, Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo, Bebo, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Musical.ly and other platforms not
explicitly listed or yet to be invented.
This social media policy applies any time scholars are on school grounds, using school property, under the
supervision of school authority, or using social media anywhere in a manner that endangers a scholar’s or
staff member’s physical or emotional safety, security, or well-being and materially and substantially interferes
with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school. Such activity may include, but
is not limited to, threats, ethnic slurs, personal insults, obscenity, drug or alcohol related content, content of
a sexual nature, and content involving violence. Scholars are responsible for their own behavior when
communicating with social media and will be held accountable for the content of the communications that
they transmit or post or are transmitted and posted on their accounts. Scholars may not disrupt the school’s
learning atmosphere, educational programs, or activities, and may not violate the rights of others. What
would be considered inappropriate in the school or classroom is inappropriate online. This policy does not
apply to a scholar’s private use of social media that in no way involves or impacts upon Democracy Prep,
staff, or other scholars, though Democracy Prep strongly encourages all scholars to make intelligent and safe
choices when using social media, and we encourage families to monitor scholars at home when using social
media.
Democracy Prep expressly reserves the right both to monitor scholar use of social media while present on
Democracy Prep grounds, regardless of whether such use is done using Democracy Prep resources or the
scholars own personal resources, and to monitor and inspect any device brought onto school grounds for
compliance with this policy.
Social media may only be used with the explicit permission of a DREAM Team member and for
educationally related purposes while on Democracy Prep grounds. Social media is not to be used, at any
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time when on school grounds or when
participating in a school activity, to
fraternize with any other individual or to
communicate non-educational messages
or information. Scholars are prohibited
from posting or publishing any
insensitive or inappropriate information
or content on any social media and from
viewing any insensitive or inappropriate
social media content. Should a scholar at
any time post, publish, or view such
social media content, he or she must
notify a teacher or administrator
immediately. Immediately reporting the
posting, publishing or viewing of such
inappropriate content will be given
significant weight in considering the level
of discipline issued.
Scholars are prohibited from communicating with teachers, administrators, staff members or
contracted workers via social media. The only permissible electronic method of email
communication with a teacher is through emailing the teacher or administrator at their Democracy
Prep email account.
Scholars are prohibited from impersonating or assuming the identity of any other individual while using
social media. Scholars are prohibited from posting or publishing any information about themselves or
another individual that is confidential or of a private nature. This includes posting information such as last
names, school names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, private photographs or videos that were
sent to them directly or via another Democracy Prep or non-Democracy Prep scholar, other contact
information, or any other information a scholar might reasonably expect another individual to want to keep
private. Scholars are responsible for whatever is posted to their account, so should never share personal log-
in information.
Scholars are prohibited from using any device capable of capturing video, pictures, or audio to record or
take pictures of any other individual without their express consent and permission. Scholars are not allowed
to “tag” an individual in a picture or recording without their express consent and permission. Scholars must
immediately comply with any request that infringing materials be removed from any social media platform.
Scholars should always be mindful of the fact that material posted or published online will be public for a
very long time and may perhaps become a permanent part of their record. Scholars should be sensitive of
others, should avoid posting or publishing anything distasteful, and should not post or publish anything they
would not be willing to say to an individual in person.
Student Employment
Democracy Prep scholars are not allowed to work during any times that interfere with school hours,
including tutoring and required Saturdays. We encourage eligible scholars to only work during the summer
and on Sundays whenever possible, as being a scholar at Democracy Prep is a full-time job. The
Administrative Manager or Social Worker should be contacted for all Permission to Work forms. The
school may require a family conference if the scholar has failing grades or an unacceptable attendance
record.
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If a scholar has a doctor’s appointment for which he or she must leave school early, the parent must notify
the school with as much advance notice as possible and provide proper and adequate documentation to the
school upon the scholar’s return. Additionally, a parent or relative over the age of 21 must sign out their
scholar should they need to leave early from school. Scholars may not sign themselves out of school. At the
School Leader’s discretion, scholars in 11th or 12th grade may be dismissed upon receipt of advance written
and verbal confirmation from a parent.
Scholars may not miss a full day of school for a doctor’s appointment. In the event that a doctor’s
appointment cannot be scheduled after school or on an early dismissal day, scholars must come to
school prior to and following all appointments. Excessive absences will be considered a violation of the
Commitment to Excellence.
Whenever a scholar has missed a school day or a single class due to a doctor’s appointment or required
family affair, the school requires advance notice before the absence and official documentation after the
absence. Families must always provide documentation for any absence. Frequent absences may result in
required Summer Academy or retention.
Without written approval on the Medication Administration form, scholars are not permitted to self-
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administer medication. Parents must ensure that all medications are transferred into the custody of either
the school nurse or the receptionist along with a Medication Administration form. If school personnel find
any scholar in possession of medication, such medication shall be promptly delivered to the school nurse or
receptionist, and the scholar’s parent will be contacted to complete a Medication Administration form
before such medication can be administered.
Any scholar who is required to carry an emergency asthma inhaler, an epinephrine injector (“injector”), or
insulin, glucagon or other diabetes supplies with him/her must provide:
● A Medication Administration form stating that the scholar needs to carry the inhaler, injector, or
diabetes supplies with him or her and is permitted to self-administer if applicable; and
● A second inhaler, injector, or diabetes supplies that is/are to be kept in the nurse’s office or with the
receptionist.
Immunization
State law where applicable requires that all children entering school must provide proof of immunization
against DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), IPV/OPV, MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Hepatitis A,
Hepatitis B, Meningococcal Disease, Varicella (chicken pox), and the annual Influenza vaccine. These
requirements can be waived only if a properly signed health or religious exemption is filed with the school.
All scholars must have on file proof of the required immunizations before they can be enrolled at a DPPS
school. Failure to comply with immunization requirements may result in exclusion from school and missed
school days.
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SCHOLAR LIFE
Advisory
Each scholar at Democracy Prep has a faculty advisor. This teacher serves as the primary contact person for
families with academic or behavioral concerns. Students meet with their advisor on a weekly basis for
lessons aligned to our DREAM BIG values and check-ins regarding academic performance.
Town Hall
Town Hall is a weekly celebration of academic achievement, team building, and competition. Scholars
participate in school-wide cultural routines such as school pledges, chants and songs, compete against their
peers and teachers in academic and problem-solving situations, and celebrate their accomplishments as a
student body.
The purposes of Town Hall are to:
Parents are often welcome to attend Town Hall. Invitations and open dates will be provided to families.
After-School Activities:
Democracy Prep Public Schools is committed to providing a college-prep education to its scholars. To this
end, each school may offer activities that foster team building, leadership, athletics, and fine and performing
arts.
Scholars who desire to start their own club or activity should approach a DREAM Team member and the
Principal with their proposal. We encourage our scholars to take this leadership initiative.
Tutoring, study hall, and detention will always take precedence over after-school activities. A scholar may
never skip or reschedule a consequence to attend an after-school event. Scholars must remain in good
academic and behavioral standing in order to participate in after-school activities. Scholars who wish to
remain after school to participate in an approved extracurricular activity may only do so when the faculty
member responsible for the activity is present. Scholars who remain after school in this way, must remain in
the specific areas of the building where the activity is held. Scholars must follow the Code of Conduct
during after-school activities and may be removed and/or issued consequences for failure to do so.
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satisfy eligibility criteria established by school leadership and Democracy Prep arts and athletics directors.
Sample Schedule
A sample schedule is included in Appendix B.
Homework
Homework is an important element of our model and is essential for academic success. We expect scholars
to complete every homework assignment each night. In addition to completing daily homework
assignments, scholars must have an opportunity each night to practice the skills and content learned in class.
Democracy Prep staff hold scholars to high levels of accountability with regard to homework, evaluate
homework based on neatness and accuracy, and check homework completion each day. Homework is
evaluated and contributes to a scholar’s final grade in each course and eligibility for promotion
At home, scholars must have a quiet place to complete homework and review class work. Democracy Prep
staff members are available in person during regular school hours and via Democracy Prep email and cell
phone up until 9 p.m. each evening to answer homework questions.
Democracy Prep believes that the reward for hard work is an opportunity to be challenged even more. Scholars who show they
are capable of excelling in one area will be challenged to excel in other areas. To be clear, the amount of work does not increase;
the level of difficulty and challenge, however, does increase.
Scholars are accountable for completing all assigned work. A scholar’s ability to make up work and receive
credit may be conditioned on the documentation surrounding an absence.
If a scholar is absent, his or her homework should be dropped off at school by 3:00 p.m., or it will be
marked as late. Scholars who are absent will receive their work on the day that they return. Depending on
the campus and grade level of the scholar, this work must be completed within the next one-to-three days.
Scholars who are suspended may come to school in full uniform at a time designated by the DREAM Coach
to collect their homework to avoid late marks. Scholars who come outside of the designated time, or
without complete uniform, will not receive their work and will receive zeros on those assignments that are
not submitted on time.
Documentation must be provided in order for scholars to make up any assignments. Failure to make up any
assignment — including tests, midterms, projects, and class work — will result in a 0. It is the responsibility
of the scholar to both collect and submit any missed work during an absence. In the event of an extended absence
or extenuating circumstances, a scholar may petition the school leader in writing for an extension.
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Academic Assessment
At the high school level, Democracy Prep issues numeric grades that correlate to the listing below:
NOTE: Democracy Prep does not give Ds. We are aware that the lowest grade most colleges and
universities will accept for entry is a C-. Because our mission is to send every DPPS scholar to the best
colleges and universities, we align our grading practices with these standards.
Assessments
9 & 10
To demonstrate mastery in specific
End-of-Course Examinations
content areas and meet state-
State-Based
mandated requirements for
Assessments
graduation.
PSAT
9-12 SAT II Subject Area Exams Needed for college applications,
SAT I Exam scholarship opportunities, and college
National Exams ACT course credit.
Advanced Placement Exams
College Portfolio
Every year, scholars must complete a mandatory college portfolio. This college portfolio will measure each
scholar’s progress towards admission into the college of their choice. By reflecting on their work throughout
the year, scholars gain a deeper understanding of their own strengths and challenges in the college
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admissions process.
Grade Requirements
● Satisfactory transcript, including coursework grades and final examination grades
9th Grade
● Satisfactory transcript, including coursework grades and final examination grades
● Satisfactory completion of the PSAT
10th
Grade ● List of 10 colleges and universities that the scholar is interested, with a brief
explanation as to why
High School Promotional Criteria requires scholars to pass all core courses before moving to the next grade.
Scholars who fail any comprehensive exam and coursework for core classes may be eligible to attend
Summer Academy in order to earn promotion to the next grade. If a scholar fails more than three classes
and exams combined, they will NOT be eligible for Summer Academy and may be retained.
Graduation Requirements
In 12th grade, all seniors are expected to successfully complete the 10 Civic Skills and Dispositions
requirements, and earn at least a 70 on the Senior Change the World Project and Research Paper. Additional
graduation requirements include:
• Passing scores on all End of Course Examinations for all core subjects (e.g. English Language Arts,
Math, Science and Social Studies)
• Satisfactory transcript, earning minimum of 70% in each class;
• Satisfactory completion of the following course credit breakdowns:
o Four (4) years of ELA, Math, and Social Studies
o Three (3) years of Science
o Two (2) years of World Language (e.g. Korean), Arts/Humanities, and Physical Education,
and 2.5 years of electives
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o Half a year ofHealth, and College & Career Readiness/Technical Education
• Satisfactory PSAT, SAT, SAT II, and ACT scores;
• Demonstrated mastery in the Senior Civics Seminar;
• 83% or above on the U.S. Citizenship Exam;
• Minimum two college acceptance letters.
Please note that only the Office of the Superintendent may revise any of these requirements, in the interest
of preparing our scholars for success in college and beyond.
Scholars whose final assessments and final course evaluations do not meet the expectation of any particular
course are required to attend Summer Academy unless it is determined that the scholar must repeat the
grade in the following academic year.
Scholars whose final assessments indicate significant growth but for whom there are substantial academic
skill deficiencies or content gaps may be required to attend Summer Academy at the discretion of the school
leader.
Summer Academy will be considered a “fourth trimester,” and will be a factor in final promotional
decisions, but will not be the only factor. A scholar may attend Summer Academy and still be retained if
they do not meet the promotional requirements. In order to ensure that scholars can maximize the brevity
of the Summer Academy, school leaders will ensure that behavioral expectations are high. Scholars who are
sent out twice or suspended may automatically be retained. Scholars who miss more than one day of
Summer Academy or are excessively tardy may also face retention.
To improve his or her academic performance, any scholar may be required to attend tutoring or study
sessions at the discretion of the school leader and the classroom teachers. A staff member may mandate
these sessions to provide the scholar with individualized, targeted instruction. All absences require prior
notification and documentation. Failure to provide documentation will result in an appropriate
consequence.
After-School Tutoring: Targeted instruction is available for individual scholars who need extra support in
any of their academic areas. Teachers may select scholars based on various criteria: classwork, homework,
quizzes, or exit tickets. Every six weeks, scholars will rotate their tutoring sessions, based on the data.
Scholars will receive notification following the midterm and trimester exams, as indicated on the school
calendar (please refer to the yearly calendar). Such tutoring is also offered in school for scholars in grades 9
and 10.
Oxford Library/Study Hall is an adult-supported opportunity for scholars who require organizational and
homework support. It is a quiet space reserved where scholars can work on homework after school. It also
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provides scholars with the opportunity to work on technology-based skills such as PowerPoint, word
processing, or keyboarding.
Extracurricular activities are available to all scholars who are in good academic standing as determined by
school leaders. Please note that certain teams, clubs, and activities meet after 4:00 p.m. Scholars in these
activities may be required to sign a permission slip and obtain a parent’s signature to participate in these
activities. In Democracy Prep high schools, the expectation is that scholars — not faculty advisors
— communicate if and when they are staying after school for these activities. Families may contact
the front desk to clarify when certain clubs, teams, and sports are meeting. Failure to uphold academic or
behavioral expectations may result in a scholar’s inability to participate in an after-school activity.
Tutoring and Required School Activities: To improve their academic performance, scholars may be required
to attend tutoring or study sessions at any time during the day, after school or on a Saturday at the discretion
of the school leader and the classroom teachers. Whenever your child is unable to attend a required school
event, it is imperative that the school receive a phone call and documentation from a family member
informing the school of the absence. Failure to do so may result in a detention or in-school suspension for
the scholar.
Saturday Field Trips: In order to maximize instructional time during the week, scholars may take field trips
on Saturdays. Field trips improve academic performance and prepare scholars for college schedules. The
purpose of these trips is academic enrichment and/or exposure to colleges and universities that they will
attend in their future.
Office Hours
In order to best prepare our scholars for the rigor and independence of college, teachers may hold office
hours as a time for individual or small group support. These office hours will be posted for scholars, who
will sign up 24 hours before said office hours. Please note that office hours may “fill up,” so scholars must
learn to plan ahead or schedule an appointment with a teacher.
Summer Academy
Summer Academy is offered to scholars for additional academic support. To improve their academic
performance, some scholars—including those who fail either a class or a comprehensive exam — may be
required to attend Summer Academy in order to be considered for promotion. Summer Academy will
provide support in basic skills and may also address content area gaps. All Summer Academy classes have
the goal of closing the achievement gap and have the purpose of ensuring that scholars are performing at or
above the expected level. Summer Academy will be considered a “fourth trimester,” and will be a factor in
promotion but will not be the deciding factor.
• Maintain all special education records in accordance with state and federal laws;
• Schedule all annual IEP reviews;
• Organize professional development for teaching staff; and
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• Support teachers in making appropriate curriculum and instruction modifications
Although Democracy Prep offers Special Education and ELL scholars accommodations befitting their needs,
we modify promotional criteria based on a scholar’s classification only in isolated circumstances.
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
This Parent and Family Engagement Policy is available in Spanish and will also be made available in
additional languages upon request as required by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) section 1116(b)(1).
This Parent and Family Engagement Policy is made available to all families through the distribution of the
Parent and Family Handbook, which is also available on each Democracy Prep Public Schools network
school’s website. The Parent and Family Engagement Policy is also made available to the local community
through each school’s website as required by ESSA section 1116(b)(1).
Democracy Prep is committed to having families contribute to the academic success of their scholars. As
such, we use a variety of methods of communication to report to parents on their children’s progress as
required under ESSA section 1116(d)(1)(A) as well as to relay other information. Communication may
include:
• Regular Progress Reports: A progress report that includes academic and behavioral updates as well as a
brief overview of important school events. Scholars receive a progress report each week. Parents may
also access Infinite Campus, our online grading platform, on their own. Parents may ask their child’s advisor
to help them log onto Infinite Campus in order to view their child’s grades.
• Emailing Lists: Parents may receive email messages including electronic copies of letters, fliers, and
forms as well as school and grade level announcements.
• School Website: Parents may access the school’s website for school announcements and event updates.
• Automated Phone System: Parents may receive a pre-recorded message from DPPS for the following
reasons:
o to issue school-wide reminders and updates, including weather-related school closings,
o to alert families to a scholar’s absence or late arrival,
o to remind families of important documents requiring signatures,
o to inform families of meetings for parents or scholars, or
o to notify families that their scholars are late or have been assigned after-school detentions.
Families will be notified by a staff member no later than 12 pm Monday-Friday if your scholar
earns the same day after-school detention. This will allow families ample time to make any
necessary changes to accommodate your scholar’s after-school detention obligation.
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Meeting/Back to School Night via flyers sent home with students. Parents will have the opportunity to
jointly develop the Parent and Family Engagement Policy with educators prior to each school year as
required under ESSA section 1116(a)(1). The local education agency (the charter school) will conduct an
annual evaluation of the Parent and Family Engagement Policy with the involvement of parents, and
findings will be used to revise the policy accordingly.
Phone Calls
Every member of the Democracy Prep DREAM team publishes his or her cell phone number at the
beginning of the year. Scholars and parents are encouraged to call teachers. If a teacher does not return a
message within 24 hours, the school leader should be informed. Abuse of the phone numbers of the
DREAM team will result in the imposition of appropriate consequences.
The school will offer a flexible number of family engagement opportunities, and may provide home visits to
families who are not able to engage with the school through school-based events.
Parents and families are invited to provide feedback and comments on the Parent and Family Engagement
Policy, school programs, and the school improvement plan at various family engagement events. Family
Leadership Council meetings will provide regular opportunities for parents and families to formulate
suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and
respond to any such suggestions as soon as is practicably possible, as required under ESSA section
1116(c)(4)(C). If the school improvement plan is not satisfactory to families, the school will submit any
family comments on the plan when the school makes the plan available to the authorizer as required under
ESSA section 1116 (c)(5).
As part of Democracy Prep Public Schools network-wide annual professional development programs,
teachers, specialized instructional support personnel, principals, other school leaders, and other staff will be
educated, in the value and utility of contributions of parents and families, and in how to reach out to,
communicate with, and work with families as equal partners, implement and coordinate family programs,
and build ties between families and the school, as required under ESSA section 1116(e)(3).
To the extent feasible and appropriate, family engagement programs and activities will be coordinated with
other Federal, State, and local programs operated by the school, as required under ESSA section 1116(e)(4).
Information related to school and parent/family programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to parents
and families in a format such as flyers that the families can understand, as required under ESSA section
1116(e)(5). All information is translated into Spanish or any other language spoken by parents and families
as needed through the use of interpreters.
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Expectations for Families
Teachers may request mandatory family conferences with families of scholars who are in need of academic
and behavioral support. All families are invited to schedule appointments or to stop by to connect with their
scholars’ teachers. As teachers and leaders are extremely busy during the school day, family members who
stop by without having scheduled an appointment are not guaranteed an opportunity to speak with a
DREAM Team member immediately upon their arrival.
Through regular conferences, phone calls, and emails, teachers and school leaders shall provide assistance to
parents and families in understanding such topics as the challenging State academic standards, State and
local assessments, how to monitor a child’s progress, and how to work with educators to improve the
achievement of their children, as required under ESSA section 1116(e)(1).
Gift Giving
Outside of Teacher Appreciation Week, Democracy Prep discourages parents from giving gifts to individual
teachers unless they receive prior approval from the school principal. In lieu of a gift, a handwritten note
from a scholar is a more appropriate and powerful way to show appreciation and gratitude. Parents wishing
to give to the school should see the School Leader for creative ways to show appreciation.
Contact Information
At the beginning of the school year, Democracy Prep collects family contact information, including address,
parent/guardian phone numbers and emails, and names and phone numbers for additional emergency
contacts. It is important for the school to maintain accurate contact information on file in the case of an
emergency and to provide the parent with regular updates regarding the scholars’ academic and behavioral
performance. It is up to the parent to notify the school immediately if there is a change in contact
information.
Birthdays
The Democracy Prep community celebrates birthdays enthusiastically at Town Hall. Out of fairness to all of
our scholars and our desire to ensure an academic environment free of distraction, we ask that parents
refrain from visiting scholars on their birthdays and from bringing gifts, balloons and, in light of potential
allergies, food for the class. Scholars are required to be in uniform on their birthday.
Informal Complaint Process. If a parent or guardian has a concern or disagreement about a classroom event,
curricular or disciplinary decision, or other academic issue, he or she should first contact the teacher to
attempt to resolve the disagreement through informal discussion. If the concern is not adequately resolved,
the parent or guardian should request a further meeting. The teacher will contact the school leader and
schedule the follow-up conversation. All Democracy Prep staff members are expected to respond to a
parent/guardian complaint. Every effort will be made to respond to a parent/guardian complaint as quickly
as possible.
Formal Complaint Process. If the informal complaint process fails to produce a satisfactory resolution, a parent
or guardian may initiate a formal complaint by submitting a letter in writing to the school leader outlining, in
detail, the events, policies, or decisions at issue. The school leader will promptly conduct a thorough
investigation into the matter and issue a response in writing detailing his or her findings and
recommendations. If the parent or guardian is still not satisfied, he or she may appeal the school leader’s
determination to the Democracy Prep Public Schools superintendent.
Board of Trustees. If the matter still remains unresolved, the parent or guardian may write to the Board of
Trustees to request a review. A designated Board committee will schedule a meeting, at which time the
parent will have an opportunity to address his or her concerns. The committee will issue a report on its
findings to the Board prior to the next regular meeting, and the Board may take action as appropriate based
on the committee’s recommendations. A parent wishing to attend a Board meeting will be permitted to
speak but will be asked to limit his or her comments to 3 minutes. If additional time is necessary for public
participation and comments, an extra 30 minutes will be allotted at the end of the Board meeting. A parent
or guardian may address the Board at any meeting without going through the informal and formal complaint
processes outlined above, but the Board encourages these constructive conversations with the relevant
parties prior to direct outreach to the Board. The Board has the power and duty to take action as
appropriate.
Authorizer. If, after presentation of the complaint to the Board of Trustees, the parent or guardian believes
that the Board has not adequately addressed the complaint, the parent or guardian may present the
complaint to the school’s authorizer, which may investigate and respond. The authorizer has the power and
duty to take remedial action as appropriate.
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DREAM PRIVILEGES
Although everyone at Democracy Prep works hard for the sake of going to college and changing the world,
we also believe that hard work should pay off in opportunities to have fun and enjoy life! Scholars who
exhibit the DREAM values every day and who have earned DREAM dollars will have the opportunity to
redeem those dollars through amazing celebrations, trips, college visits, and other fun experiences.
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These opportunities work as positive motivators for our scholars to continue working hard, both on their
academics and their behavior. Scholars who regularly live the DREAM values will earn these great
opportunities. More importantly, scholars who regularly show DREAM values are learning and practicing
the behaviors that will lead to our scholars being responsible citizen-scholars, living a life of active
citizenship, and place them on a path to the college of their choice.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Without a firm and consistent discipline policy, none of what we imagine for our scholars can happen.
Democracy Prep is committed to providing a safe and orderly school culture in which scholars can improve
their academic achievement. Scholars whose conduct does not meet the school community’s clearly defined
standards for reasonable and acceptable behavior will not be permitted to disrupt the education of others.
Therefore, every misbehavior will result in an appropriate consequence. This is the basis of our scholar
Code of Conduct. Consequences may vary based on the age and grade level of the scholar, the severity of
the incident, and the frequency with which the incident takes place.
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Misbehavior includes, but is not limited to, using inappropriate language, making excessive noise, touching
other scholars, being disrespectful to others, and instigating, encouraging, recording, or promoting others to
fight and/or engage in criminal or otherwise inappropriate behavior. Scholars who misbehave on the way to
or from school may have to be escorted by a parent or guardian to and from school depending on the
severity of the situation, in addition to other consequences or requested support.
1.4 Access to the Building: Scholars are not permitted to block access to any room or part of the
school building. Scholars may not leave the building through any exits except those officially marked.
1.5 Leaving Campus Building without Permission: Once scholars arrive on campus, they may not
leave campus without permission.
1.6 Violating the Dress Code: Scholars must be in proper uniform. Only designated clothing items are
allowed to be worn in school and must be worn appropriately (according to the school’s Dress Code).
Parents may be required to pick up children who are not properly dressed for school, bring the missing
Dress Code item to the school, or authorize the scholar to return home to retrieve the necessary items.
Alternatively, scholars may serve mandatory after school detention for dress code violations.
1.7 Gum, Food, and Beverages: Scholars may not chew or carry gum at any time at Democracy Prep
(unless as a recognized academic or behavior modification or support). Scholars may not eat or drink at
unauthorized times or places at Democracy Prep.
1.8 Hallway Behavior: Scholars may not disrupt the instructional environment while in the hallway.
1.9 Disrupting Class and Preventing Teaching: Democracy Prep can fulfill its mission only if
classrooms are safe and teaching is uninterrupted. Scholars may not intentionally disrupt class with any
misbehaviors that distract the teacher or other scholars.
1.10 Arriving to Class Unprepared: When class begins, scholars must be prepared and have all
necessary materials (books, pencils, portfolio, paper etc.).
1.11 Entering or Leaving Classrooms Without Permission: Scholars may not enter a classroom
without permission, nor may they leave a classroom without having obtained a pass. Scholars must report to
locations as directed by staff, and remain in a designated location.
1.12 Failing to Complete Homework: Completing homework is essential to the success of individual
scholars and the classroom community. Scholars are expected to complete all of their homework
assignments on time.
1.13 Cheating, Plagiarism, and Copying Others’ Work: Cheating or copying the work of others (or
allowing other scholars to copy work) is unacceptable. This includes any and all talking during exams
irrespective of whether the chatter is in reference to the exam. In addition to other disciplinary
consequences, both the scholar who copied and the scholar who allowed the copying will receive zeros on
the assignment. This offense may result in in-school suspension, long-term suspension or expulsion.
1.14 Failing to Submit a Required Signature: Scholars are required to secure the signature of a
parent/guardian on homework, class assignments and forms when requested by any school staff member.
1.15 Forgery: Scholars may not forge a signature.
1.16 Using Objects as Projectiles: Scholars may not throw or kick objects inappropriately in school.
1.17 Lying to a Staff Member: Honesty is an essential element of personal character and is necessary
for the school to support the DREAM values. Scholars are not permitted to lie or attempt to conceal the
truth.
1.18 Being Disrespectful to a Staff Member: A school cannot function properly if scholars are
permitted to be disrespectful towards adults. For that reason, scholars may not be disrespectful towards a
staff member or any other adult associated with the school. Disrespect may include but is not limited to
directing the use of foul language at an adult, name calling, or engaging in unwanted or inappropriate
communication.
1.19 Ignoring or Refusing to Follow a Staff Member’s Directions: Scholars are expected to follow
the directions of any staff member the first time and respond in a respectful manner. Ignoring, delaying, or
refusing to respond to a staff member’s directive is considered an act of defiance or disrespect.
1.20 Being Disrespectful to a Scholar: If scholars do not feel physically and emotionally safe in school,
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teaching and learning are made more difficult. Therefore, scholars may not be disrespectful toward other
scholars. Disrespect may include, but is not limited to directing the use of foul language at another scholar,
name calling, or engaging in unwanted or inappropriate communication. Participation in the exchange,
posting, or commenting related to another scholar via social media that causes a disruption to the learning
environment can be considered bullying or intimidation.
1.21 Possession of Inappropriate Property: Scholars cannot possess any electronic music or game
devices in school other than as permitted above. Scholars may not possess any printed images, text, or lyrics
that are vulgar, profane, or sexually explicit, or any other items inappropriate for school.
1.22 Gambling: Scholars may not bet money or wager anything on the outcome of a game, contest, or
other event.
1.23 Filming and Distribution of Media Depicting Code of Conduct Violations: Scholars may not
take, share, or post photographs, pictures, or videos depicting a violation of this Code of Conduct.
1.24 Violation of the Computer/Email/Internet Acceptable Use Policy: Scholars may not violate
the terms of the Acceptable Use Policy set forth in this Handbook.
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signed Authorization to Dispense Medication Form. Scholars may not be in possession of prescribed or
over-the-counter drugs.
4.2 Selling, Possessing, or Transferring Drugs or Alcohol: Scholars may not sell, distribute, or
possess with intent to sell or distribute prescribed or non-prescribed controlled substances.
4.3 Selling, Possessing, or Transferring Tobacco Products: Scholars may not sell, distribute, or
possess with intent to sell or distribute cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or other tobacco products.
4.4 Selling or Possessing Mock Controlled Substances, Alcohol or Tobacco: Scholars may not sell,
distribute or possess mock controlled substances, alcohol, tobacco, or drug paraphernalia.
6. Theft or Vandalism
6.1 Theft, Loss or Destruction of Personal or School Property: Scholars may not steal, lose, or
damage property belonging to someone else or to the school.
6.2 Mistreatment or Inappropriate Use of School Technology or School Property: Scholars must
treat computers, printers, and other technology with care. Democracy Prep does not tolerate attempts to
access the school’s files or other inappropriate uses of technology or the Internet. Scholars do not have the
right to use school computers to access chat rooms or non-Democracy Prep emails or to access web sites or
files that contain profanity, sexually explicit language or pictures, excessively violent themes, and/or other
material inappropriate for minors. Scholars are prohibited from using school telephones without permission.
In the event of an emergency, scholars may be allowed to use the school telephones, but only at the
discretion of school staff members. Staff members will always be the first to reach out to a parent or
guardian in the event of an emergency or to inform the parent/guardian of an urgent matter. Scholars must
not mistreat other school property including but not limited to text and reading books. Writing or marking
on any desks or school property is strictly prohibited.
7. Gang-Related Activity: Scholars may not engage in any gang-related activity, which shall be defined
as any act(s) that promotes gangs or gang-related activities including, but not limited to, (1) communicating
either verbally or non-verbally (hand signs, gestures, handshakes, drawings, etc.), to convey membership or
affiliation with a gang; (2) defacing school or personal property with gang-related graffiti, symbols or
slogans; (3) requiring payment of protection, insurance, or otherwise intimidating or threatening any person
related to gang-related activity; and (4) soliciting others for gang membership
8. Failure to Comply with School-Imposed Consequences: Scholars must comply with school-imposed
consequences. In order for the school to maintain high expectations and a safe and respectful school
environment — two vital parts of our school culture — scholars must comply with all consequences
assigned including any suspension or disciplinary action.
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9. Repeated Violations of the Code of Conduct: As outlined below, repeated violations may result in
consequences of greater severity or length at the discretion of the school leader or in collaboration with the
Office of the Superintendent. Repeated inability to adhere to the school’s rules may result in the scholar’s
removal from the Democracy Prep community.
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behaviors persist, or if scholars have not adequately fulfilled the given consequence, more serious
consequences may be put in place. Consequences vary based on the grade level of the scholar, the severity
of the action, and the frequency of the incident. Such consequences may include
To preserve valuable instructional time, Democracy Prep strives to keep our scholars in school and in
classrooms. However, allowing the same scholars to commit the same infractions in the same situations can
have a deleterious effect on the culture of our schools. Therefore, when a scholar’s actions are detracting
from the ability of other scholars to learn in a safe, value-added environment, it may be necessary to remove
the offending scholar from the classroom and, in the most severe cases, asked to leave the school
community and eventually from the school. If a scholar’s consequence involves being picked up by a parent,
guardian, or authorized adult, or suspended for any period of time, a parent or guardian may be asked to
meet with an administrator regarding the scholar’s behavior prior to his or her return to school.
All scholars facing out of school suspension are entitled to due process. For a short-term out of school
suspension (i.e., a suspension for less than ten days), the scholar will, prior to the suspension, be told by the
principal or school leader the basis for the suspension, the evidence supporting the consequence, and will be
able to give his or her side of the story. For a suspension longer than ten days, a scholar will have the
opportunity to present evidence to the school leader in a more formal proceeding, is entitled to be
represented by counsel, will be provided the evidence supporting the suspension, and will be given the
opportunity to confront the evidence against the scholar and to present evidence as well. The scholar can be
removed from the school immediately if a danger to others and the school environment. In appropriate
circumstances the scholar may also be referred to law enforcement authorities.
The most serious consequence, if all else fails and in extraordinary circumstances, will be expulsion from the
school. A scholar facing expulsion and his or her parents or guardians will be afforded all due process
protections required under applicable laws and regulations including a full and fair hearing.
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Being Proactive
It is the school’s job to connect the dots for scholars and families on exactly why we work so hard and why
we hold high expectations for every scholar. This messaging must come through
o New scholar enrollment;
o Family Orientations;
o Prep Academy;
o Coffee and Conversations;
o Parent/Teacher conferences
o Parent meetings upon request
o Official school notifications; and
o Ongoing informal communication and meetings with staff, scholars, and families.
Alternative Instruction
DPPS provides scholars with alternative instruction if they are suspended or expelled (until enrolled in
another school, or until the end of the school year, whichever comes first). During the period of their
removal or suspension, scholars must be provided with alternative instruction, which includes, but is not
limited to, classwork and homework assignments. Additionally, scholars will be permitted to take any
citywide or state examinations that are administered during the suspension period for which no make up
examination is permitted by the testing authority, as well as to make up school examinations that may affect
their academic records. Arrangements will be made between the school and each individual family for the
delivery of services, pick up/delivery of work, and the making-up of any missed assignments and classroom
instructional support. All alternative instructional materials will permit the scholar to make adequate
academic progress and must be completed satisfactorily for the scholar to return to school. Nonetheless,
alternative instruction cannot replicate all the benefits of full classroom instruction and participation by the
scholar.
Alternative instruction will provide the scholar with an opportunity to continue to earn academic credit and
must be appropriate to the individual needs of the scholar. All IDEA mandates must be followed for
scholars with disabilities during alternative instruction. In determining the alternative instruction for a
scholar with a disability and for a scholar who has a 504 Accommodation Plan, consideration will be given
to the scholar’s IEP and behavioral intervention plan, or 504 Accommodation Plan.
Scholars with disabilities have the same rights and responsibilities as other scholars, and are afforded due
process protections under the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and its
implementing regulations. A scholar with a disability may be entitled to disciplinary measures that align with
his/her needs as outlined in an IEP, 504 plan, and/or determinations from a Manifestation Determination
Review (“MDR”). Scholars for whom an IEP does not include specific disciplinary guidelines may be
disciplined in accordance with the standard school policy. Re-entry meetings occur when a scholar is
removed from the environment for a severe or repetitious unproductive behavior.
When a scholar with an IEP has been removed from school for either 10 consecutive days or for more than
10 cumulative school days in a school year based on conduct that forms a pattern of removal and results in a
change in placement as determined by the school, he or she is entitled to a prompt review of the causal
relationship between his or her disability and the behavior that precipitated the school’s disciplinary action.
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The MDR is designed to determine whether (1) the conduct in question was caused by or had a direct and
substantial relationship to the scholar’s disability; or (2) the conduct in question was the direct result of the
school’s failure to implement the IEP. The manifestation team will consist of school officials, the scholar’s
parent or guardian, and relevant members of the multidisciplinary team. Parents or guardians will receive
written notification prior to any manifestation team meeting. This notification will inform the parent or
guardian of (1) the purpose of the meeting, (2) the names of the individuals expected to attend, and (3) his
or her right to have relevant members of the multidisciplinary team participate at the parent or guardian’s
request.
The MDR will include a review of all relevant information in the scholar’s file including his or her IEP, any
teacher observations, and any relevant information provided by the parent or guardian. If the manifestation
team determines that the scholar’s conduct was a manifestation of his or her disability, the multidisciplinary
team will (1) conduct a functional behavioral assessment and implement a behavioral intervention plan; and
(2) return the scholar to the placement from which the scholar was removed, unless the parent or guardian
and the school agree to a change of placement as part of the modification of the behavioral intervention
plan. If the manifestation team determines the conduct in question was the direct result of the school’s
failure to implement the IEP, the school will take immediate steps to remedy those deficiencies. Lastly, if
the scholar’s conduct is ruled not to have been a manifestation of his or her disability, school personnel may
apply the relevant disciplinary procedures to scholars with disabilities in the same manner and for the same
duration as the procedures would be applied to scholars without disabilities.
Democracy Prep maintains an open door policy with our parents and families, provided they are not a
distraction to the learning environment. Family members who are over 18 are welcome to come and
observe classes and school operation on non-testing days. Parents and family members are also welcome to
request meetings with any member of the DREAM team. Meetings will be scheduled at the DREAM team
member’s earliest possible convenience. If requests for a meeting are not met, family members should
report the concern to the school leader.
In case of an emergency, parents or guardians should contact the front desk either by phone or in person.
Under no circumstances should parents or guardians contact scholars in their classrooms, or attempt to
withdraw scholars from the building without notifying and receiving permission from the school.
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If a visitor’s access must be restricted due to inappropriate behavior of any kind, they will receive a letter
outlining the offenses that led to the restricted access and will be notified as to proper procedures for
contact and communication with both staff and their scholar while on Democracy Prep property. If after a
visitor has received a restricted access letter, they continue to disrupt the Democracy Prep learning
environment greater steps may be taken including notification of the proper authorities.
Sexual Harassment
Scholars have a right to learn in an environment that is free from all forms of sexual harassment. Sexual
harassment is defined as unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that is so severe, pervasive and objectively
offensive that it interferes with a scholar’s educational experience. Sexual harassment may include a range of
subtle and not so subtle behaviors and may involve individuals of the same or different gender. Depending
on the circumstances, these behaviors may include:
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Complaint Procedure and Investigation
Early reporting and intervention have proven to be the most effective method of resolving actual or
perceived incidents of harassment. Therefore, while no fixed reporting period has been established,
Democracy Prep strongly urges the prompt reporting of complaints or concerns so that rapid and
constructive action can be taken.
The availability of this complaint procedure does not preclude scholars who believe they are being
subjected to discriminating or harassing conduct from promptly advising the offender that his or her
behavior is unwelcome and requesting that it be discontinued.
2. Evidentiary Standard
Respondents are presumed not responsible for the alleged conduct. Democracy Prep uses the clear
and convincing evidence standard in investigations of complaints alleging sexual harassment and any
related violations. This means that the investigation determines whether the allegations are highly and
substantially more likely to be true than untrue.
3. Supportive Measures
Democracy Prep offers a wide range of supportive measures for scholars and employees.
Supportive measures are free individualized services offered as appropriate to the reporting and
responding parties involved in an alleged incident of sexual harassment. Supportive measures include
counseling, extensions of deadlines, modification of work/class schedules, and mutual restrictions on
contact.
A scholar may request to receive supportive measures even if they do not choose to participate in the
school’s complaint resolution process. Requests for supportive measures in connection with an
incident of sexual harassment should be made to the Title IX Coordinator. Democracy Prep will grant
such supportive measures, provided they are reasonable and available. The Title IX Coordinator may
also initiate supportive measures to immediately respond to the situation.
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5. Initial Assessment
Once a complaint or notice of any allegation of sexual harassment is received, the Title IX Coordinator
will make an initial assessment of the reported information and respond to any immediate health or
safety concerns raised by the report. Complainant and respondent will receive written notice within 10
days of a reported allegation. Each party will have 10 days to respond in writing.
6. Investigation
Democracy Prep will thoroughly, promptly, and impartially investigate any reported allegations of
sexual harassment or retaliation. The investigation may include individual interviews with the parties
involved and, where necessary, with individuals who may have observed the alleged conduct or may
have relevant knowledge. No information protected by a legal privilege can be used during an
investigation unless an individual voluntarily waives it. Democracy Prep will maintain confidentiality
throughout the investigatory process to the extent practicable and as permitted by law.
Democracy Prep will also investigate and address complaints based on harassment taking place on
Democracy Prep international trips pursuant to other statutes and its Code of Conduct.
7. Notice of Outcome
The complainant and respondent will receive simultaneous written notice of the outcome of the
investigation.
8. Responsive Action
Misconduct constituting sexual harassment or retaliation will be dealt with promptly and appropriately.
Dishonesty during an investigation or making a false complaint, in bad faith, also constitutes actionable
misconduct. Responsive actions for misconduct may include, for example, referral to counseling,
monitoring of the offender and/or disciplinary action such as warning or reprimand, suspension, or
removal from the school community.
9. Appeal
Both the respondent and complainant may request a prompt review of the outcome of the
investigation. A party may seek an appeal under the following circumstances:
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A request to appeal the outcome of an investigation may be made in writing to the Title IX
Coordinator, providing the basis for that request and any evidence to support the request. Upon
receipt, the Title IX Coordinator will inform the other party of the request and provide the other party
with 7 days to respond, including the submission of evidence if desired. After considering the parties’
written statements, the decision-maker on appeal will issue a written decision and send it to the parties
simultaneously.
o Making the information available at the school itself during normal business hours to the person
requesting it;
o Denying the request in writing; or
o Providing a written acknowledgment of receipt of the request that supplies an approximate date for
when the request will be granted or denied.
If the person requesting information is denied access to a record, s/he may, within 30 days, appeal such
denial to the school leader. Upon timely receipt of such an appeal, the school, within 10 business days of the
receipt of the appeal, will fully explain the reasons for further denial or provide access to the record(s)
sought. The school will also forward a copy of the appeal, as well as its ultimate determination, to the
Committee on Open Government. If further denied, the person requesting information may further appeal
through an Article 78 proceeding.
The school may charge a copying fee for each page requested to be copied. The fee can be no more than the
fee allowed by state law. Types of records held by the school may include:
Education Records and Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Federal and state laws provide parents or guardians and eligible scholars (those who are age 18 or older)
with rights of confidentiality, access, and amendment relating to their education records. Copies of the
regulations detailing these rights are available from the Scholar Administrative Manager. The following is a
general overview:
Confidential Records include grades, evaluations, disciplinary actions, and health records. Release of scholar
records generally requires written consent of the parent or eligible scholar. However, the regulations provide
certain exceptions. For example, staff members and employees of the district have access to records as
needed to perform their duties. Scholar records will also be sent to schools as required by Nevada law and
regulation. Please note that at Democracy Prep scholar work and results are prominently displayed in classrooms and in the
community as part of our educational program.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal
law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive
funding under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents and
guardians certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the
student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to
whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”
The school may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name, address,
telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. Any parent who
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does not want such directory information included should contact the school’s Operations Manager.
This listing in the Student & Family Handbook serves as the school’s annual notification of parents and
eligible students of their rights under FERPA.
Generally, the school must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release
any information from a student's education record. However, the school may disclose education records
without prior written consent as permitted by FERPA, including the FERPA exception for disclosure to
school officials with legitimate education interests. A school official is a person employed by the school in
an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position; a contractor, consultant, or
other outside service provider retained to provide various institutional services and functions under
contract; or a person serving on any schoolboard, committee, or council.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in
order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities on behalf of the school.
In addition, the school may disclose education records, without consent, to the following parties or under
the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):
Parents and eligible scholars have a right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education
concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA or its
notification requirements. The name and the address of the office that administers FERPA is:
McKinney-Vento Information
Each campus has a designated staff person who understands and is able to carry out the mandated duties of
serving as the McKinney-Vento Liaison on behalf of students experiencing housing instability. The name
and contact information of the McKinney-Vento liaison and the rights of students in temporary housing can
be found on each school’s website and are also posted in the main office of each school.
DPPS schools ensure the immediate enrollment and full participation of children and youth experiencing
homelessness even when they do not have the documents normally needed for enrollment (e.g. proof of
immunizations, proof of residency, birth certificate, school records, etc.), including students with IEPs.
DPPS schools also ensures the continued enrollment of students who become homeless, including those
students who are temporarily residing outside of the boundaries of a school’s district of location.
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Administrative Managers ensure that students experiencing homelessness, including unaccompanied
homeless youth, are immediately enrolled, even if they are missing records.
Transportation is promptly provided (within 3 days) for homeless students for the duration of
homelessness, including to students who are temporarily housed outside of the boundaries of the school’s
district of location. Transportation is provided up to 50 miles each way. Transportation is provided for
students who are homeless to participate in after-school activities and summer school if the lack of
transportation poses a barrier.
Transportation is also provided to maintain the enrollment of children in foster care, when in their best
interest, for the duration of the time in foster care.
Board Meetings
Pursuant to the Open Meetings laws, all meetings of the school’s Board of Trustees are open to the public.
A schedule of all meetings, including date, time and location will be posted in a prominent space at the
school and on the school’s website.
Human Services
Below are several emergency telephone numbers that may be useful to parents/guardians and scholars:
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APPENDIX A: SCHOLAR UNIFORM
The Democracy Prep uniform always includes required tie, shirt, pants, belt, socks, and shoes. Shoes and
belts must be solid black. Socks may be any desired color or pattern. Glasses or contact lens must be worn
for scholars who need those accommodations. Jewelry is limited to simple earrings. Necklaces must be worn
underneath the shirt.
The Democracy Prep uniform NEVER includes tattoos, fake tattoos, any sort of visible writing on the skin,
fanny packs, facial piercings, kerchiefs, bandanas, hairnets, other head coverings which do not have a
religious or cultural purpose, or outer garments such as hoodies or sweatshirts not earned as DP swag.
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Other Uniform Expectations
1. Artificial and natural nails must be kept short (less than 1/4 inch from the nail bed).
2. All scholars must carry a book bag large enough to hold all school materials and supplies without exposing
or damaging them. Backpacks on wheels are permitted, as long as they also have straps and are not
dragged on stairs. String book bags are not permitted. Bags that close via zipper or flap are highly
recommended.
3. Scholars may not change out of their uniform after school at any time while still in the school building
without permission from a member of the DREAM Team.
Each DPAC high school underclassman will take gym. For the time scholars are in gym, they are required to
wear the DPAC gym uniform.
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APPENDIX C: DISCIPLINARY UPDATES
The content below refers to content within the DPPS Discipline Handbook that will provide you with
standardized systems, guidelines for network-wide non-negotiables and best practices, and answers to
frequently asked questions about discipline at DPAC. This guide is meant to be referenced when needed
and especially prior to reaching out to the Office of the Superintendent with requests or questions you may
have regarding the topics laid out below. We have made updates to specific sections of the Discipline
Handbook based on feedback and our evaluation of specific sections that will continue our efforts in
providing fair and thoughtful consequences when situations arise. Please find below the section header,
pages updates were made to, and a brief description of the updated details:
2. Detention
On page 12 of the DPPS Discipline Handbook, you can find an update to same-day detention expectations.
In the past, the handbook read that families have to be notified no later than 3pm, but that information has
since been updated with the following language: If scholars serve same-day detentions for infractions that
occurred during the school day, communication should happen no later than 12pm to ensure that scholars
can stay and attend detention, and families have enough time to plan for their scholar's updated dismissal
time. If a scholar is unable to participate in detention on the same day, they should automatically be
scheduled for detention on the following day. If a scholar earns an infraction after 12pm, they should serve
detention the next date.
3. Investigations
On page 17 of the DPPS Discipline Handbook, you can find an update on places and items that should be
searched when conducting an investigation.
5. Suspensions
On page 23 of the DPPS Discipline Handbook, you can find an update on how Democracy prep shall
approach situations related to the possession of drug paraphernalia without the presence of drugs.
On page 23 of the DPPS Discipline Handbook, you can find an update on how Democracy Prep shall
approach situations where a scholar is suspected to be under the influence.
On page 24, of the DPPS Discipline Handbook, you can find an update on suspension communication for
suspensions pending OOTS approval.
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COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
I fully understand the expectations, standards, and policies set forth in this Handbook and agree to
demonstrate my commitment to my education by adhering to the DREAM values in the manner outlined
above. I recognize that failure to abide by these standards and policies will result in the imposition of
appropriate consequences as described throughout this Handbook. I acknowledge that I am responsible for
my own behavior, and I pledge to follow directions issued by my teachers and school leaders. Democracy
Prep Public Schools are schools of choice. I understand that my parents or guardians are free to remove
me at any time.
Scholar: ____________________________________________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________
Parent/Guardian_____________________________________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________
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Exhibit D
DPAC Curriculum
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12th Grade Sociology of Change
Change the World - Course Syllabus
“You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer
spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world.”
- Woodrow Wilson
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead, Anthropologist
“Our biggest threat is not an asteroid about to crash into us, something we can do nothing
about. Instead, all the major threats facing us today are problems entirely of our own making.
And since we made the problem, we can also solve the problems.”
- Jared Diamond
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
OVERVIEW:
The Change the World Project at DPACHS is an opportunity for you to demonstrate what
you know and to showcase your achievement. It must be successfully completed as a component
of your senior year, which is required for all graduating seniors. This project introduces a process
for lifetime learning. Learning does not end with your formal education; in the world beyond
school, learning is ongoing. Adults in the workforce research, read, write, and collaborate with
others to solve problems, to expand opportunities, to satisfy curiosities, or to contribute to projects
every day.
The Change the World Project is a fitting conclusion to your high school education. It
offers opportunities to expand individual knowledge, explore career paths, and impact society on
a broader level. Through the project, you are able to demonstrate accumulated skills in time
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management, research, problem solving, human interaction, organization, and public speaking.
This is appropriate as the culmination of your K-12 education because these are the very skills and
abilities you will be expected to demonstrate as college students and / or employees, and that will
help you make the transition from school to work / college / military service.
The Sociology of Change course is intrinsic to your success in completing the project. In
this class you will be exposed to social change and social movement theory. We will use case
studies to learn and apply social change theory to both modern and historical change movements.
This analysis will be instrumental in the development and execution of your Change the World
Project.
COURSE COMPONENTS:
The first component requires you to conduct academic research to write a research
paper. This paper will reflect your process throughout your Change the World project; you will
present your guiding question(s), literature review, methodology, and the results of your project.
You must research and document information on a subject of your choice -- a subject in which you
have an interest, but are not already an expert. Your research must be a worthwhile stretch beyond
what you already know.
The second component is your project - or product. Each senior will plan and carry out
an independent, meaningful, long-term project that benefits the students and a larger community.
Anticipate spending 100 hours developing and executing this project with assistance from your
mentor. Select a product within your financial budget, keeping in mind that you are not expected
or required to spend money on order to Change the World; however, you may need to raise some
funds to complete your project.
The final component of the project will be the oral presentation. This will be a PowerPoint
presentation between eight to ten minutes, live-and-in-person. Following the presentation, you will
be asked several questions by the panelists. You must arrive in professional dress. Your
presentation date and time will be assigned to you. Presentations occur the week of May 17, 2021.
I. PROJECT COMPONENT:
A. A Project Proposal will be submitted describing the project and the aspect of that
project to be researched; this can contain questions you have and different
possibilities you hope to explore in connection with your project.
B. Product must be related to research (think about a product to fix, improve, do, learn,
understand, see, create, or experience in your community or world).
C. Product must give back to a larger community
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D. Product must be tangible, service oriented, or skill-based
E. Product must present a learning stretch, taking you beyond what you have ever done
before
F. Product should align with your interests or future plans
G. Product must be completed by student...NOT by mentor or parent
***Papers with any plagiarized material will be rated FAIL and must be rewritten and
resubmitted prior to final deadline to be considered for a proficient grade***
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3. Conclusion (reviews the main points and gives the audience action to take,
based on what they heard)
F. Attire and personal appearance are professional and appropriate for the
presentation. It encourages the audience to see the speaker as a legitimate
participant in the activity being presented.
G. Vulgar or inappropriate material is not worthy of evaluation. Any presentation that
violates community standards will be stopped and will be rated unsatisfactory.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
● This is a graduation requirement. If you do not meet standards, you will not graduate.
● This project will need to be done primarily on your own. There will be time during class
to get help and guidance; however, you should anticipate doing most of your work outside
of the regular school day.
● Ms. Bass is here to help you. You should have monthly one-on-one meetings with her,
scheduled by signing up or requesting time via email.
● You must pay close attention to specific details, directions, and due dates.
● You are expected to adhere to the Democracy Prep Academy Integrity Policy in your
student handbook. In other words, don’t plagiarize.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
- Dr. Seuss
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“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
- Leo Tolstoy
EXPECTATIONS:
SOCRATIC SEMINAR
We will be using a modified format of Socratic Discussion in which I may initially jump in to lead
the discussion, get the discussion back on track, and / or pose questions to you. This will only be
toward the start of the year. Eventually, this class will function as a full Socratic Seminar in which
you will question each other, lead discussions with governing questions, and get discussion back
on track if the need arises. Eventually you will not go through me to discover answers, or rely on
me to further the questioning, though I may still participate as a member of the group. This will be
a gradual process.
2. Absences: Students have 24 hours to complete missed assignments after an absence per
the Democracy Prep policy.
3. Materials: Readings will be provided in a course pack and a weekly assignment calendar
will be handed out. If the readings are not brought to class, students will be unable to
participate which will result in a zero for the day. The course pack will be expected in class
each day.
4. Writing: All assignments will be written assignments. Students are expected to type ALL
MAJOR assignments. No exceptions.
5. Late Work: If a scholar is absent, they have 24 hours from the date of return to make up
work due to absence.
a. Ms. Bass’ Late Work Policy: If a scholar does not turn in an assignment on time,
they have 24 hours to turn it in late and have it be graded - the best grade a scholar
can receive on a late assignment is a C (75%). After 24 hours, the scholar will
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receive a 0 and the assignment will not be accepted. Scholars must advocate for
themselves and reach out to Ms. Bass if they need an extension on any assignments,
and must reach out BEFORE the due date and time - extensions will be given on a
case by case basis and may not always be granted.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what
the world needs is people who have come alive.”
- Howard Thurman
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Exhibit E
9/17/2020 Letter
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Exhibit F
Letter by Counsel
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Jonathan O’Brien, Esq.
43 W. 43rd Street, Suite 002
www.schoolhouserights.org
New York, NY, 10036
jobrien@burnsobrienlaw.com
Re: Your Mandatory “Critical Race Theory” Class, “The Sociology of Change”
To Whom It May Concern:
I am an attorney and representative of the Clark Family. William Clark is a student at your DPAC public
school and Gabrielle Clark is his mother. As you may be aware, William and his mother Gabrielle
objected on conscience to the content and programming of your “Sociology of Change” class on multiple
occasions beginning earlier this semester. In meetings with DPAC senior officials and in writing
beginning this September, the Clarks repeatedly objected to the discriminatory content of the “Sociology
of Change” class that served no apparent pedagogical purpose beyond ideological thought reform. Here is
but one example of many from the DPAC “Sociology of Change” class materials:
As you also may know, the Clarks are a biracial family. William’s father, now deceased, is white.
Gabrielle also has a white parent. As such they object to the glib racism of your course materials and
programming, which includes statements in no apparent context like “Racism is what white people do to
people of color,” repeated ad infinitum. This and statements like it are patently racist, create a hostile and
divisive educational environment, and violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, a law which you must
follow because you receive state and federal funds, and also because you are contractually obligated to
follow it in your agreement with the Nevada State Public Charter Authority. 1
Mandatory participation in your “Sociology of Change” class requires reciting and affirming a
predetermined and politically loaded worldview which William and Gabrielle cannot in good conscience
abide. Upon information and belief, the teacher who taught this class explicitly discouraged disagreement,
terminating class discussion when students objected to the content of the class materials. William and his
mother object to his teacher repeatedly directing students in the “Sociology of Change” class to publicly
profess their sexual, racial, and religious identities so that the teacher and others can scrutinize,
1
http://charterschools.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/CharterSchoolsnvgov/content/News/2020/200626-Democracy-Prep-
at-Agassi-Contract-draft-5-21-20-clean.pdf
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Jonathan O’Brien, Esq.
43 W. 43rd Street, Suite 002
www.schoolhouserights.org
New York, NY, 10036
jobrien@burnsobrienlaw.com
interrogate and label those identities in a derogatory manner. This psychologically abusive exercise is an
offensive violation of privacy and amounts to compelled speech. These exercises serve no apparent
pedagogical purpose and yet are pervasive to the class and homework assignments. It is troubling that
DPAC Principal Adam Johnson claimed in writing that he reviewed these course materials and found
nothing wrong with them, and then threatened William with non-graduation and grade penalization if he
did not return to the class and participate fully. [See attached Letter] It is doubly troubling that various
senior DPAC and DPPS school officials were party to these threats on multiple occasions, and did
nothing while all knew that college application season is imminent for William.
You violated William and his mother’s Constitutional Rights, and rather than seeking speedy
accommodation when they objected, you doubled down and retaliated against them on multiple
occasions. There is good reason to believe that a court would agree, since attendance is required at these
ideologically loaded classes and the purported goal of the “Sociology of Change” class is to change
students’ fundamental personal convictions. Your behavior implicates the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth
Amendments, as well as a host of Civil Rights laws including Title VI and Title IX. Indeed, regarding
public schools, the United States Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that “[i]f there is any fixed star
in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox
in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act
their faith therein.” Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 415 (1989) (quoting W. Va. Bd. of Educ. v. Barnette,
319 U.S. 624, 642 (1943)).
In any case, William, his mother Gabrielle and representatives of the Clark family would like one last
occasion to meet with you in the next week, and no later. College application season is looming, and we
would like to seek a path forward that not only safeguards William’s academic future, but also preserves
the integrity of his conscience, shields him from further discrimination and harassment, and honors his
mother Gabrielle’s right to guide and direct the upbringing of her son without undue coercion from public
school officials.
To that end, we also ask that you give a good faith, written assurance that you will refrain from hosting,
promoting, and compelling participation in a discriminatory curriculum that operates unbeknownst to
parents, and perhaps to your regulators, under the guise of “Civic Engagement,” “Social Justice” and the
“Sociology of Change.”
Please reach out to me at your earliest convenience.
Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
__________________
Jonathan O’Brien, Esq
The Law Office of Jonathan O’Brien
43 W. 43rd Street, Suit 002
NY, NY 11036
T: 6103682988
jobrien@burnsobrienlaw.com
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