Public Notification

This page serves as notification of selected policies and procedures that are required by state or federal law to be shared with students, families, and the public. Some policies with required notification components are shared in other documents such as the Code of Student Conduct or individual school handbooks.


ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

Bedford County Public Schools (BCPS) makes every effort to ensure that our district and school websites are accessible to all. Our sites reflect the guidelines established by Website Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), version 2.1, level AA as created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). We are working hard to redesign our websites and ensure that the W3C recommendations are incorporated in the redesign. 

We welcome your feedback on accessibility. If you have difficulty using or accessing any element of this website, information may be available in alternative formats upon request. To ensure we respond in a manner that will be of most help, please indicate the nature of the accessibility needs and your preferred format. Contact information:

* Email: [email protected]
* Phone: 1-540-586-1045
* Address: 310 S. Bridge St., Bedford, VA  24523

BCPS usually responds to accessibility feedback from email within 3-5 business days; however, sometimes it may take up to 15 business days to respond depending on the request. If you do not receive a reply to email within 10 business days, please contract Dr. Edward Hoisington, Director of Instructional Technology and Systems Integration, at 1-540-586-1045 extension 10270.   


ASBESTOS NOTIFICATION

In the past, asbestos was used extensively in building materials because of its insulating, sound absorbing, and fire retarding capabilities. Virtually any building constructed before the late 1970s contained some asbestos. Intact and undisturbed, asbestos materials generally do not pose a health risk. Asbestos materials, however, can become hazardous when, due to damage or deterioration over time, they release fibers. If the fibers are inhaled, they can lead to health problems such as cancer and asbestosis.  


Bedford County Public Schools facilities were inspected in June 2017 by the EI Group, Inc. using a licensed asbestos inspector. Their inspections determined the physical condition and potential exposure hazard of each material known, or assumed, to contain asbestos. The results of that inspection are filed with the asbestos management plans for each site. The management plans are also on file at the School Administration Building, 310 S. Bridge Street, Bedford, VA 24523 and are available to review during regular business hours. For further information, please contact Charles Santore at (540) 586-1045, x10271 or Sheldon Cash at (540) 586-1045, Ext. 10239.


FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAM

Bedford County Public Schools implements a Family Life Education Program in all grades that meet the Standards of Learning objectives and regulations approved by the Virginia State Board of Education.

Upon review of the content of the Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum, if you choose to opt your student out of part of the program or the entire program, an opt-out procedure is provided to ensure communication with the parent or guardian for permission to excuse the student from all or part of the Family Life Education lessons.  Parents are encouraged to review the lesson plans at each grade level of the Family Life Education curriculum before exercising the opt-out procedure.

Parents may exercise the opt-out procedure for any of the Family Life Education sensitive content lessons by returning the opt-out form to the school any time during the school year.  The opt-out form should be returned at least five days prior to the teaching of the opted-out lesson.  Parents who wish to change their opt-out request during the year should secure and submit a new opt-out form or notify the school in writing of their desire to change the original opt-out request.  Additional forms are available in each school office.

Students who are opted out will be required to complete alternative assignments that relate to the health curriculum and SOLs for the appropriate grade level. 


FERPA, DIRECTORY INFORMATION, AND PPRA NOTIFICATION

School divisions must provide parents/guardians and adult students annual notice of their rights to inspect and review education records, amend education records, consent to the disclosure of personally identifiable information in education records, how to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, and the categories of information that they have designated as directory information.

Click here for the 2023-2024 notification in PDF format.
Click here for the 2023-2024 notification in Microsoft Word format.
Click here for Policy JO on this topic.


FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

The Rights of Requesters and the Responsibilities of Bedford County Public Schools (BCPS) under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), located § 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia, guarantees citizens of the Commonwealth and representatives of the media access to public records held by public bodies, public officials, and public employees.

A public record is any writing or recording - regardless of whether it is a paper record, an electronic file, an audio or video recording, or any other format - that is prepared or owned by, or in the possession of a public body or its officers, employees or agents in the transaction of public business. All public records are presumed to be open, and may only be withheld if a specific, statutory exemption applies.

The policy of FOIA states that the purpose of FOIA is to promote an increased awareness by all persons of governmental activities. In furthering this policy, FOIA requires that the law be interpreted liberally, in favor of access, and that any exemption allowing public records to be withheld must be interpreted narrowly.

Click here for more information about FOIA.


INTERNET PRIVACY

The Bedford County Public School Board is committed to complying with the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act (formerly known as the Privacy Protection Act) and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The Bedford County Public School Division shall not collect unnecessary personal information by means of its website, and shall collect only appropriate personal information to the extent necessary to serve its constituents and the community.

Personal information collected and retained by the school division's website will be maintained in compliance with the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act. Any individual wishing to learn the purpose for which information has been recorded and the particulars of its use and dissemination may contact the Superintendent's designee regarding this information. Any person wishing to correct, erase or amend inaccurate, obsolete or irrelevant information may do so by procedures established by the Superintendent's designee.

Click here for Policy KBE on this topic.


NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

Bedford County Public Schools (BCPS) does not discriminate in employment nor in the provision of educational programs, services, and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnacy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including lactation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law.
 
BCPS is committed to providing learning environments that are free from all forms of discrimination. BCPS encourages all members of the school community to work together to prevent and remedy discrimination, including harassment. Click here for more information and related policies.


POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

Bedford County Public Schools' policies and regulations are housed within the BoardDocs system, which can be located by clicking here. Printed copies of school division policies and regulations are available to citizens who do not have online access.


PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS 

Pupil-Teacher Ratios - VA. CODE 22.1-253.13:2

Code of Virginia § 22.1-253.13:2


SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

Bedford County Public Schools recognizes the danger sex offenders pose to student safety. Therefore, to protect students while they travel to and from school, attend school or are at school-related activities, each school in 

Bedford County Public Schools shall request electronic notification of the registration or re-registration of any sex offender in the same or contiguous zip codes as the school.  Procedures are outlined in Policy KN.

The Virginia sex offender registry can be accessed by clicking this link


SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS USED FOR INSTRUCTION 

The following is a list of instructional materials that are considered sexually explicit as described in BCPS Policy IIA - Instructional Materials and IIA-R - Instructional Materials for the 2023-2024 school year.

Click here for list of materials


SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER - REQUEST

The Bedford County Public Schools Department of Special Education provides sign language interpreting services as needed for school-sponsored events. This service need not be requested for students who automatically receive this service in accordance with their Individual Education or Equal Education Opportunity (504) Plan. 

Individuals in need of an interpreter should complete the Sign Language Interpreting Services Request Form and forward it to Kelly Jennings, Director for Special Education. Completion of this form provides the basic information needed to schedule appropriate services. 

The request can be mailed or faxed to:

Bedford County Public Schools

Attn: Kelly Jennings

311 South Bridge St

Bedford, VA 24523 

Fax: 540-586-7740

[email protected]

Requests for an interpreter must be received by the named recipient at least five business days prior to the date the interpreter is needed. 

Click here for the Sign Language Interpreting Services Request Form.

 


STUDENT FEES

Click here to view the student fees for the current school year.

Fees are reduced or waived for economically disadvantaged students and students whose families are undergoing economic hardships and are financially unable to pay them, including but not limited to, families receiving unemployment benefits or public assistance, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid; foster families caring for children in foster care; and families that are homeless. If you are in need of assistance, please reach out to the school principal.


TEACHER SURVEYS 

Teachers and Educational Specialists are required to survey their students in grades 3 to 12 as a part of the BCPS Performance Evaluation System.  These surveys will provide additional data to the teacher, which can influence teacher strategies in several of the standards. The purpose of the student survey is to collect information that will help teachers reflect on their practice (i.e., for formative evaluation); in other words, to provide feedback directly to the teacher for growth and development.  The student survey may provide information to the teacher that may not be accurately obtained in observations.  The teacher retains sole access to the results of the student surveys.  If a parent would like to review the survey, they should contact the teacher or educational specialist. 


WELLNESS TRIENNIAL ASSESSMENT

In accordance with the Final Rule of the Federal Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 and the Virginia Administrative Code: 8VAC20-740, Bedford County Public Schools (BCPS) presents the 2017-2020 Triennial Assessment which includes the timeframe from August 2017 through April 2020. The Triennial Assessment indicates updates on the progress and implementation of Bedford County Public Schools’ Wellness Policy and wellness initiatives, and provides required documentation of actions, steps, and information as outlined in the Final Rule. 

Click here for the Wellness Triennial Assessment (PDF)
Click here for the Wellness Triennial Assessment (Word)