Policy

Once admitted, students and families are expected to abide engage in and support academically honest practices. This policy document explains our commitment to academic honesty, what constitutes academic misconduct, and the practices and procedures in place to support our policy.

Assessment data is critical in informing instructional practices, differentiation strategies, and curricular growth and development in the school. This policy explains how students will be assessed during and after admission and how assessment data will inform other practices in the school.

Our school does not follow a single, prescribed curriculum, but rather a thoughtfully-planned combination of leading international curricula. This policy explains our curricular philosophy, curricular commitments, and overall structure of our educational program.

At the heart of AIS’s mission is a commitment to immersive instruction of languages. This policy explains our language-based philosophies as well as the practices we have in place to support students with varying language backgrounds.

While AIS does not discriminate on the basis of a special educational need, we are only able to admit students whom we are able to fully support. This policy document explains how students, once admitted, are supported for certain special educational needs.
 

Students are expected to attend all school days. Absences are noted on each student’s report card sent to parents twice a year. If a student has two many absences per year, parents will be contacted. Also, he or she may not be permitted to progress to the next grade, upon evaluation of the school leadership.

Teachers are not required to provide work or special assignments in advance to students who plan to be absent for a prolonged period of time. Parents should recognize that taking a child out of school for a prolonged period of time may affect the child’s performance.

Tardies: Punctuality is expected and tardy arrivals are recorded on each student’s report card. Frequent tardiness is extremely disruptive to the classroom environment.

If a student is late, the parent or guardian must bring the child to the reception area. The child will be given a tardy slip and then will be sent to class. No admittance will be given to class without a tardy slip. Three unexcused tardy arrivals will be considered as one day of absence when evaluating a student’s attendance record.

Excused and Unexcused Absences: In order for an absence or tardy to be considered excused, acceptable documentation must be provided to the receptionist within 3 days of the student's return to school. Excused absences and tardies are generally outside the scope of control of students and/or parents. Unexcused absences and tardiest are generally within the scope of control of students and/or parents.
 

Maternelle, CP – CM2 (Pre-K3 through 5th Grade)

Shirts

• Solid navy or white shirts (polo, blouse are permitted not required for maternelle)
• Navy sweaters
• No hoodies or sweatshirts
• No patterns, writing, or logos except AIS (AIS t-shirts are permitted on Fridays)

Bottoms 

• Solid navy blue pants/short (must have pockets)
• Solid navy skirts/dresses/tights/leggings
• No denim

Shoes

• Closed-toed
• Rubber soled

Middle School

Shirts

• Solid navy or white collared shirts (polos, blouses)
• Navy sweaters
• No patterns, writing, or logos except AIS (AIS t-shirts are permitted on Fridays)
• No hoodies or sweatshirts

Bottoms

• Solid navy blue or khaki pants/short (must have pockets)
• Solid navy or khaki skirt
• Solid navy dresses/tights
• A navy blue sports coat may be required for special events
• No denim

Shoes

• Closed-toed
• Rubber soled

Parents will receive a reminder from school leadership on the first instance that the student does not abide by the dress code. On the second instance, the student will be provided with clothing to change into (which must be washed and returned the next day) and parents will receive a final reminder. On the third and subsequent instances that the student does not follow the dress code, he or she will be sent home.

Uniforms can be purchased through Target, Oshkosh, French Toast, Old Navy and many other resources.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is responsible for setting minimum vaccine requirements in line with state law for schools operating in the State of Texas. Information on exclusions from immunization requirements, provisional enrollment, and acceptable documentation of immunizations may be found in §97.62, §97.66, and §97.68 of the Texas Administrative Code, respectively.

Vaccines currently required by the TDSHS to attend K-12 schools include:

• DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (whooping cough); record may show DT or DTP
• Polio: IPV - inactivated polio vaccine; OPV – oral polio vaccine
• MMR: Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines combined
• HepB: Hepatitis B vaccine
• Varicella: Chickenpox vaccine. May be written VAR on record
• MCV4: Meningococcal vaccine
• HepA: Hepatitis A vaccine

Full immunization and dosage requirements (i.e., schedule and number of doses) for the current school year are available from the TDSHS website in English and Spanish. Information on exclusions from immunization requirements, provisional enrollment, and acceptable documentation of immunizations may be found in §97.62, §97.66, and §97.68 of the Texas Administrative Code, respectively.

Documentation

Texas Administrative Code §97.68 outlines acceptable evidence for vaccinations:

• Vaccines administered after September 1, 1991, shall include the month, day, and year each vaccine was administered.
• Documentation of vaccines administered that include the signature or stamp of the physician or physician's designee, or public health personnel, is acceptable. Immunization records generated from electronic health record systems must include clinic contact information and the provider's signature/stamp.
• An official immunization record generated from a state or local health authority is acceptable.
• An official record received from school officials, including a record from another state, is acceptable.

In compliance with state law, students must have acceptable evidence on file by September 15th of the academic year in order to attend classes regularly.

Provisional Enrollment

Texas Administrative Code §97.66(a) outlines school requirements for students who are not up-to-date with vaccine requirements:

The law requires that children and students be fully vaccinated against the specified diseases. A child or student may be enrolled provisionally if the child or student has an immunization record that indicates the child or student has received at least one dose of each specified age-appropriate vaccine required by this rule. To remain enrolled, the child or student must complete the required subsequent doses in each vaccine series on schedule and as rapidly as is medically feasible and provide acceptable evidence of vaccination to the child-care facility or school. A child-care provider, school nurse, or school administrator shall review the immunization status of a provisionally enrolled child or student every 30 days to ensure continued compliance in completing the required doses of vaccination. If, at the end of the 30-day period, a child or student has not received a subsequent dose of vaccine, the child or student is not in compliance and the facility shall exclude the child or student from attendance until the required dose is administered.

Exemptions

Families requesting exemptions to these requirements for any reason are required to obtain an affidavit from the TDSHS and submit it to the school in lieu of the child's vaccination records. An affidavit may be requested online, by mail, by fax, or in person.