Policies

Arizona

Non-Discrimination

American Leadership Academy does not discriminate against employees, applicants, or students on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sex, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Federal and State Policies

Child Find

Child Find: Special Education and Early Intervention Services

American Leadership Academy (ALA) is committed to ensuring that all children receive the support they need to thrive. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ALA participates in "Child Find," an ongoing effort to locate, identify, and evaluate all students with disabilities who may need special education and related services.

Infants and Toddlers (Birth to 2.9 Years Old)

The Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) provides support and services to families of children from birth to 3 years old to help them achieve developmental milestones. You can contact AzEIP directly at 602-532-9960 or complete an online referral at www.azdes.gov/azeip. Additionally, if you have developmental concerns about a child in this age group, please contact our Director of Exceptional Student Services, Morgan Lewis, who will partner with you to submit the mandatory AzEIP referral form and support your family through the entire process.

Preschool-Aged Children (3 to 5 Years Old)

If you have a child aged 3 to 5 years old, who is not yet enrolled in kindergarten, and wanting a preschool evaluation, contact the local public school district corresponding to your home address to learn about their specific preschool evaluation and support procedures.

School-Aged Children (Kindergarten through Age 21)

If your child is enrolled at one of our ALA campuses and you suspect your school-aged child has a disability and may require special education services, please contact the Campus Director or the Special Education Department at your local ALA campus. We will work directly with you to discuss your concerns and initiate the evaluation process, if appropriate.

English Language Learners (ELL)

English Language Learners

An important part of our mission at American Leadership Academy is to serve as many students as possible. It is important to us to stay true to this mission at all times, regardless of a student’s primary language or cultural background. This is why we are proud to offer comprehensive services for Multilingual Learners at our campuses.

Is My Student an English Language Learner?

Your child may be considered an English Language Learner (ELL) if:

They speak a language other than English
A language other than English is regularly spoken in your home

How are Students Identified as English Language Learners?

During the enrollment process, all families complete a Home Language Survey(HLS). If the survey indicates that a language other than English is spoken, students will take the Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA). These tests evaluate your child's skills in:

Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing

If your Child does not yet show English proficiency on the screener, they will be identified as an English Language Learner and become eligible for English language support services.

Annual AZELLA Testing

Students who have been placed into an English language learner program will also take the Spring AZELLA Reassessment once per year until they achieve proficiency. Students who have scored proficient on the AZELLA are then monitored for two years to help ensure success after their move into a mainstream classroom.

English Language Assessment Information

How Does ALA Help English Language Learners?

At ALA, we follow Arizona's state guidelines when it comes to testing and supporting English Language Learners through the language acquisition process.

Grades K-6

Students in grades K-6 receive small group instructions from teachers specialized in English language development. This program uses Lexia, an interactive online program that helps to build student’s listening, reading, and writing skills.

Grades 7-12

Students in grades 7-12 participate in a specially-designed online course with additional guidance and instruction from a teacher who specializes in English language development. The course builds skills in:

Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing

The course is designed to support students’ acquisition of the English language specifically through discourse practices, grammatical structures, writing, vocabulary, and reading skills necessary for successful participation in academic tasks across the content areas.

Exceptional Student Services (ESS)

Exceptional Student Services

American Leadership Academy strives to offer the best education to all our students, regardless of need or ability. Through our Exceptional Student Services (ESS), we provide customized support for students K-12 with disabilities. We treat our students as family. it is important to us that they are all given the opportunity to thrive.

AZ Department of Education ESS

Special Education

American Leadership Academy provides special education and related services to students who qualify for such services based on data collected through the Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET). Parents and school team members work together to determine a student’s eligibility and to develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) if the student is eligible.

IEP teams at ALA, including parents, determine the least restrictive environment for each student. The goal is to ensure students are in the general education classroom as much as possible, and ultimately that students no longer require special education services. As such, ALA provides a full continuum of services to ensure each student’s needs are met appropriately.

If parents have questions regarding special education at their campus, please contact your child’s teacher.

Special Education Records

American Leadership Academy would like to make Parents/Guardians, Former Students, and Eligible (Adult) Students aware that Special Education records of students who graduated or withdrew will be disposed of after 5 years.

Special Education records collected by American Leadership Academy, include documentation of the identification, evaluation, educational placement, original signatures, or the provision of Special Education in the district. In accordance with the General Records Retention Schedule Issued to All Arizona School Districts and Charter Schools, these records must be maintained for a period of 4 years after Special Education Services have ended for the student. Special Education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates or completes his or her educational program at age 22, or withdraws from the district.

This notification is solely to provide awareness to the students who graduated or withdrew after 5 years. If no student, parent or guardian responds to this public notice, the school district will assume consent to destroy all Special Education records specific to the student after the 5 years have passed.

Requests of student records can be emailed to the administrative assistant in the ESS Department at American Leadership Academy:
essrecords@alaschools.org.

Family Education Rights and Privacy (FERPA)

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.

Visit https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpa or download and view the document, A Parent Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, for more information.

Gifted

Gifted and Advanced Learning at ALA

At American Leadership Academy, we want to help each and every student reach her or his full potential. Our gifted and talented education program allows students with gifted or accelerated capacities to thrive in an environment that is both challenging and appropriate for their unique needs and learning styles. This furthers our mission to provide the best educational experience to as many students as possible in a moral and wholesome environment. Learn more information about our gifted program.

Learn More about our Gifted Education Programs

Privacy Policy

Our privacy policy explains how American Leadership Academy collects, uses, and protects your personal information. It covers the types of information collected, such as names, email addresses, and payment details, as well as how it is used to improve services and respond to customer needs. This policy also outlines the security measures in place to protect your data, the use of cookies, and third-party services like Google Ads. Additionally, it details your rights under laws like CalOPPA and COPPA, and how you can opt out of data collection or marketing communications.

For more details, please read the full privacy policy here

Learn More

Section 504

What is Section 504?

Section 504 is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination of students on the bases of a handicapping condition.

A 504 plan is specifically designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Separate from Special Education, 504 plans help students who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

"No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States...shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. " U.S. Department of Education.

Section 504 Protections

504 plans at American Leadership Academy gives all students the chance at success. Being able to provide this is extremely important to our staff and teachers. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a civil rights statute designed to help prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities and to assure that students with disabilities have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to non-disabled students In any program offered by ALA, a student is protected by Section 504 if:

he/she has or has had a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity,
has a record of such impairment or
is regarded as disabled by others

ALA will identify, evaluate, and provide a free appropriate public education to all qualifying students with disabilities under Section 504. ALA will ensure that no otherwise qualified individual with disabilities, shall solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any ALA program or activity.

Does my Student Need a 504 Plan?

If you feel that your student requires a 504 plan, contact your campus administration for next steps. We believe that every student has incredible potential.

Title IX

Sexual Harrassment Information

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Title IX regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including gender-based and sexual harrassment discrimination, in the School's education programs and activities, including employment. The School is committed to maintaining an educational and working environment free from sex discrimination and harrassment and encourages any student or employee who believes they have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of sex, whether by students or by School employees, to utilize this procedure

Title IX Policy & Procedures

Title IX policy available by request. For a copy of the policy, please reach out to:

Title IX Coordinator
Robert Nelsen
titleIXcoordinator@charter.one

ALA School Policies

Conduct & Consequences Matrix

Conduct Matrix

American Leadership Academy's Conduct Matrix is a full overview of our schools' policies and procedures. Students are expected to conduct themselves with courtesy, refinement, and professionalism - following teachings from our R.A.I.S.E values. Download the PDF below or preview the Conduct Matrix directly on our site. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please contact our district office.

Download Conduct Matrix PDF

Health & Wellness

Every department at American Leadership Academy plays an important role in a student’s educational experience, and contributes to our moral and wholesome environment. This extends outside the classroom, into our administration and student services. The health department is similarly committed to our mission and vision, contributing to our students’ success by keeping our campus healthy and thriving.

Learn More

Media Disclaimer

At American Leadership Academy, we value the importance of promoting our students, programs, and achievements through media channels. However, to ensure the privacy and rights of our students, district policy requires parental approval be obtained before the media may take close up pictures of students, or use a student's photo in nonschool publications.

In addition, the district may use photographs and video footage of students to highlight school programs and activities. By completing the form provided below, parents grant permission for the use of their child's images in promotional materials, with all content remaining the property of American Leadership Academy.

Media Disclaimer

Web & Internet Publishing

The American Leadership Academy recognizes the limitless potential for research, information and communication provided by the Internet and World Wide Web. Therefore, American Leadership Academy encourages the creation of school and district Web pages for publication on the Internet. However, all Web publications are subject to the following terms:

Student work may be published only as it relates to a curricular-related or school activity.
All Web page documents may include only students' first names.
No confidential student information shall be published or linked to a Web page, unless authorized by the district.
No names may be associated with pictures.

Parent & Student Handbook

Arizona School's Student Handbook

American Leadership Academy's Student Handbook outlines our district's mission, vision, and values, campus policies, and other pertinent information for teachers and families associated with our school. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please contact our board of directors. The handbook below is available for download.

Download Handbook

Public Records Request

School Security

Our Security

If you are looking for a school that not only delivers excellence for education but also brings top notch safety and security look no further than American Leadership Academy!

School security is a very important component to the American Leadership Academy community. Our campuses are committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all our students. To do this we incorporate two very important elements which are security cameras and badging systems.

Our Cameras

To ensure this component is being delivered we have security cameras on all of our campuses and take other measures to keep your children safe. The security camera systems we have in place are second to none and allow our staff to keep the schools monitored at all times.

Our top of the line security cameras are well known for their high quality, durability, and easy installation. But more importantly, they're also known for their cutting-edge security features.

For example, our cameras come with built-in facial recognition technology. This means that the cameras can automatically identify people by their face, making it easier to track down criminals after the fact. Additionally, our cameras come with tamper-proof security features. This means that the cameras cannot be disabled or removed without authorized access. This is an important security feature for schools, as it ensures that the security system cannot be easily defeated. Finally, our cameras offer cloud-based storage. This means that footage from the cameras can be accessed from anywhere from authorized staff in place to bring top notch security and surveillance at all times.

Badging Process

As our charter schools continue to grow in popularity, it's important to ensure that their security measures are up to par. One way to do this is by requiring all charter school employees, and visitors to wear a security badge. Security badges can help identify authorized personnel and help deter potential intruders. When a visitor does come in, they go through a security and screening process prior to getting a badge and getting granted access into the building. Those who have not been badged and checked in cannot be granted access as the doors will remain locked until this process is complete.

Anonymous Tip Line - See Something, Say Something

As a school system, we are committed to creating and sustaining a comprehensive, coordinated effort to improve the overall safety and well-being of our students, educators and administrators.

To do this, we believe this must involve community-wide programs and initiatives involving parents, teachers, administrators, local law enforcement, mental health & wellness professionals and elected officials to take meaningful action to protect our students.

Call the tip line: 1-844-5-SayNow

Say Something Tips

Transportation

Did you know your child is nearly eight times safer riding to and from school in a school bus than in a personal vehicle? Safety is our number one priority, and we take the responsibility for transporting students very seriously. With our trained and State Certified drivers, you can feel confident sending your child to school on the bus.

Transportation requests are submitted through the enrollment application.

*Note: Upon enrollment confirmation, the request for transportation will be reviewed by the transportation department.

Transportation Details

Uniforms

We encourage parents and students to review the handbook for specific dress code requirements—however, we have summarized the general guidelines below. Purchase uniforms online by visiting our online shop.

Shop school uniforms

General Uniform Guidelines

Shirts must be solid in color—Red, White, Gray or Navy Blue.
They must have a collar and at least one button.
Cardigans may be worn but must be solid in color—Red, White, Blue, Black or Gray.
Both shirts and cardigans must bear either an ALA patch or an embroidered ALA logo on the left-hand side, over the heart.
Pants, capris, skirts, skorts, jumpers and shorts must be Khaki, Tan, Light Gray, Navy Blue, White, and Cream in color. They must have either front or back pockets.
Shoes must be closed-toed and heeled, and no more than 2” in height.
Jeans may be worn on Fridays but must be solid in color—blue or black.

Learn More about Uniform Guidelines

Visitor Policy

This policy explains the conditions in which visitors are welcome on the campus. In addition to the direction stated in this policy, compliance with state and federal law is required. Under no circumstances is any individual who does not possess a Fingerprint Clearance (IVP) card permitted to be alone with a student unless the visitor is the parent or legal guardian of the student. Campus check-in and check-out procedures must be followed in all cases.

View the full visitor policy below for complete details.

Visitor Policy

Parental Rights

Educational Choice & Participation: Parents have the right to choose their child's educational path (public, charter, private, or homeschool) and be involved in school decisions.
Access to Records & Information: Parents can review academic records, receive notifications about policies, and request corrections if needed.
Special Education & Opt-Out Rights: Parents can request special education services and opt their child out of certain instruction or activities.
Student Safety & Discipline Transparency: Parents have the right to a safe learning environment and clear school discipline policies.

Parental Rights Handbook

Additional Resources

Contact Us

We’re here to help! Feel free to reach out with any questions—we’re happy to provide answers and guidance. Schedule a tour and discover what makes American Leadership Academy a great place to learn and grow.

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