AF Amistad High School Family Handbook 2017-2018 | 27 Addressing Family Concerns Achievement First is committed to maintaining a strong partnership and ongoing dialogue between its teachers, staff, our scholars, and their families. If you have a concern about a school policy, academic grade, discipline decision, or anything else, we welcome your input and encourage you to contact the appropriate staff member at the school. Procedures for Addressing Concerns Step 1: Contact Staff Member Involved: If a parent has an issue or concern, the first step towards resolving the issue will be to contact the staff member involved by phone or email. The parent should call the school’s front desk to obtain phone and email contact information. The staff member and the parent will then set up a meeting to discuss the issue either on the phone or in-person and work to reach a resolution that satisfies both parties. Step 2: Contact the Principal: If the issue is not resolved satisfactorily, the parent’s next step is to reach out to the principal via phone or email or use the “parent concern process form” to explain the issue. (Even if the issue is a problem with the principal directly, the parent should go through this step. It is important to work to resolve the issue directly first). The parent should contact the school’s front desk to obtain contact information for the principal. The principal will reply within 3 business days, at least acknowledging the complaint has been received, and the principal may take up to 5 additional business days to investigate and reach a decision. Step 3: Written Complaint sent to Principal’s Supervisor: If the parent is unsatisfied with the principal’s decision or response, the parent may write a letter to the Regional Superintendent who supports the school or use the “parent concern process form” to explain the issue. The parent can fax, email, mail, or hand-deliver (to the school’s front desk) the letter/completed form, and the office staff will ensure that the communication gets to the regional superintendent. If the parent would like to reach out to the regional superintendent directly, the parent should contact the front desk of the school to get his/her contact information. The Regional Superintendent will reply within 3 business days and may take up to 10 business days to investigate and reach a decision. The Regional Superintendent will send a written decision to the parent within 10 business days of receiving the letter or form. (Please note that the Regional Superintendent will not respond to complaints that have not gone through steps 1-2) The SSM will put a copy of the complaint form and the Regional Superintendent’s response in the scholar’s file, and the SSM will also ensure that a summary of the complaint and resolution is logged in the school’s scholar information system. Step 4: Written Complaint to the School’s Board of Directors: If the parent is unsatisfied with the Regional Superintendent’s decision or response, the parent may write a letter to the school’s Board of Directors or use the “parent concern process form” to explain the issue. The parent can fax, email, mail, or hand-deliver (to the school’s front desk) the letter. The Board or its designee will reply within 3 business days and may take up to 10 business days to investigate and reach a