AF Amistad High School Family Handbook 2017-2018 | 79 handbook adequately. If the answers to a) and b) are yes, then the Board will validate the recommendation to expel. The Board may order that the scholar return to the school, or may remand the case for further consideration by the Presiding Officer. The Board may also, at its discretion, request that the Scholar/Parent attend the meeting to discuss the substance of the appeal and/or answer any questions that are unresolved in the record. The Board may also preside over a full fact-finding hearing if circumstances so require. It is important that the Scholar/Parent present all evidence to the Presiding Officer at the hearing, as new evidence and arguments generally may not be presented on appeal. Where additional information is discovered after the hearing, the Scholar/Parent may request permission to present said evidence to the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer shall have discretion to grant or deny such requests for consideration of newly discovered evidence or for a hearing to consider such evidence. The Scholar/Parent may submit any complaint regarding this process to the authorizer, the CT State Department of Education Charter Schools Office. Alternative Instruction Alternative instruction will begin no later than two days after the final decision for expulsion is rendered. The alternative instruction will occur during or after the school day at the school, the scholar’s home, or the nearest public library, at the discretion of the school. This alternative instruction will continue for the duration of the time the scholar awaits disposition on his or her expulsion hearing. The school will provide alternative instruction to suspended and expelled scholars to the extent required by law. School Uniforms All scholars must come to school in the AFAHS uniform every day. If a scholar arrives to school out of uniform, parents will be called and asked to bring in a uniform before the scholar is sent to class. We have a required school uniform for several very important reasons:  Uniforms unite us as a community. When you look at the Achievement First shirts, it is a powerful visual statement of our community. Scholars make a commitment that when they put on the Achievement First uniform, they are agreeing to live up to the school’s values.  Uniforms reduce distractions and clothing competition. Often scholars spend more time discussing and evaluating what others are wearing or not wearing than they spend focusing on learning. Wearing uniforms eliminates this distraction.  Uniforms look professional. Scholars look neat when they arrive to school with shirts tucked into their khaki pants. The scholars come mentally prepared for school and “dressed for work.”