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Elmhurst SD 205 committee reviews draft parent‑student handbook ahead of May/June board meeting
Summary
Catherine presented an early draft of the 2026–27 parent‑student handbook covering required notices, attendance, fees, special education, a bullying/AI‑images policy and procedural links; staff said dates and fee charts will be finalized before board approval expected in May or June.
Catherine, a district staff member leading the handbook effort, presented the earliest draft the district has produced to the Parent‑Teacher Advisory Committee, saying the handbook ‘‘outlines expectations for behavior, learning and safety’’ and consolidates required notices that must accompany student materials.
The draft compiles sections on attendance, curriculum, grading and graduation, student fees and free‑and‑reduced lunch access, transportation, health and wellness, discipline and a full special‑education section. Catherine said state law and board policy require specific notices to be included in the handbook. She pointed to new content for the 2026–27 handbook: updates to the uniform grievance procedure, curriculum changes and a bullying/harassment section that explicitly addresses images generated with artificial intelligence.
Parents on the committee recommended clearer communication to families about what is in the handbook (for example, a section summary by grade level), highlighted the value of flagging substantive changes when the handbook is republished, and asked that planners consider ways to help parents with limited literacy or first‑time district families find key sections. Staff said the handbook committee has worked to translate updated board policy into the handbook text and will return a revised draft to the board in May or June with finalized calendars and fee charts.
There was no formal vote; staff said the handbook is informational at this stage and will be refined before formal board consideration.
