Student Handbook

2026-2027 Highland Academy

WELCOME

Welcome to Highland Academy! We are honored that you are considering partnering with us in your child's educational journey.

Highland Academy is a faith-based micro school serving students kindergarten through third grade, with plans for thoughtful growth in the future. Our goal is to provide a nurturing, personalized learning environment where students are known, supported, and encouraged to grow academically, socially, and spiritually.

We believe children thrive when families and educators work together. This handbook outlines our philosophy, expectations, and daily practices so that families clearly understand how Highland Academy operates.

MISSION

To glorify God by assisting families in the Christ-centered, biblically-directed education of their children.

Vision Statement: We desire to cultivate Christ-centered leaders who pursue truth, reflect godly character, and boldly live out their faith for God’s glory.

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

At Highland Academy education is viewed as a holistic journey that nurtures each child spiritually, academically, emotionally, physically, and socially. We believe parents are the primary educators of their children, and our micro-school partners closely with families to support and extend the biblical training taking place in the home. Through small class sizes and individualized instruction, we seek to cultivate both Christlike character and academic excellence in every student.

ENROLLMENT

The following must completed prior to final admission.

  • Application and Registration fee

  • Family Interview- Potential families of Highland Academy (K-3rd) will interview with administration before

    acceptance.

  • After submitting your application, you will receive an email with required enrollment documents through an electronic signature system. These documents must be completed and signed prior to orientation.

Kindergarten students must be five years old by August 1st.

Enrollment is reviewed annually. Highland Academy reserves the right to determine continued enrollment based on:

  • Student participation and attendance

  • Alignment with school expectations

  • Ability to meet the needs of the student within the micro-school setting

SCHOOL SCHEDULE

  • Days: Monday–Thursday

  • School Year: Academic-year calendar provided annually

  • Drop-off window: 7:45 AM - 8:30 AM

  • Instruction begins: 8:30 AM

  • Dismissal: 2:00 PM

  • Extended Hours: optional after school tutoring sessions 2:00 PM-5:15 PM depending on enough interest to support staffing

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is important for student growth and community consistency.

Expectations:

  • Families should notify the school of absences as soon as possible.

  • Excused absences include illness, family emergencies, or pre-communicated family commitments.

  • Excessive absences may result in a parent conference to discuss continued enrollment and support needs

Arrival & Dismissal:

  • Families are expected to follow established arrival and dismissal procedures.

  • Students should arrive no later than 8:30 AM to ensure they are present and prepared for the start of instruction.

  • Students who arrive earlier during the drop-off window will be supervised and given time to settle in before the school day begins.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

School closings due to weather will follow the Monticello School District.

STUDENT CONDUCT & DISCIPLINE

Highland Academy seeks to partner with families in developing students of strong character, integrity, and Christ-like behavior. Discipline is intended to be restorative, instructional, and age-appropriate, helping students learn responsibility, self-control, and respect for others.

The school seeks to instill the following characteristics in our students:

  • Cheerful obedience to those in authority

  • Responsibility in completing assigned and expected tasks

  • Cooperation with others both inside and outside the classroom

  • Courtesy and respect toward others

  • Cleanliness in person and property

  • Truthfulness and honesty in work and daily life

  • Respect for the property of others

  • Promptness in attendance and assignments

  • Godly conduct in speech, recreation, and relationships

Discipline Procedures

Our discipline philosophy emphasizes positive guidance, consistent expectations, and partnership with parents. Depending on the situation, disciplinary measures may include:

  • Student counseling and redirection

  • Loss of privileges

  • Parent communication

  • Parent/teacher conference

  • Behavior intervention strategies

  • Temporary removal from an activity when necessary to maintain a safe and productive learning environment

Serious or ongoing behavioral concerns will be addressed through parent communication and collaborative planning.

Corporal Punishment

Highland Academy does not permit corporal punishment. School employees, volunteers, and representatives shall not use physical force as a means of discipline or behavior management.

Reasonable physical intervention may be used only when necessary to protect a student or another person from imminent harm, to prevent injury, or to safely separate students during a physical altercation. Such intervention is for safety purposes only and shall not be considered corporal punishment.

CHILD PROTECTION & ABUSE PREVENTION

Highland Academy is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and Christ-centered environment where every student is treated with dignity, respect, and care. The safety and well-being of students is a shared responsibility among staff, volunteers, and families.

Employee & Volunteer Screening

To promote student safety:

  • All employees are required to successfully complete criminal background checks before working directly with students, as permitted by Arkansas law.

  • Employment references may be verified before hiring.

  • Volunteers who regularly supervise students or may have unsupervised access to children may also be required to complete background checks.

Professional Conduct

Employees and volunteers are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with students at all times.

Staff members shall:

  • Treat all students with dignity and respect.

  • Avoid private, one-on-one situations whenever reasonably possible.

  • Conduct interactions in observable and interruptible settings whenever practical.

  • Never engage in inappropriate physical, verbal, electronic, or social interactions with students.

  • Immediately report any concerns regarding student safety to school administration.

Student Supervision

Students will be appropriately supervised during:

  • Classroom instruction

  • Outdoor activities

  • Recess

  • Lunch

  • Arrival and dismissal

  • Field trips and school-sponsored events

Whenever reasonably possible, no employee or volunteer should be alone with a student in an isolated setting.

Mandatory Reporting

All Highland Academy employees are expected to comply with Arkansas mandatory reporting laws regarding suspected child abuse or neglect.

Any employee who has reasonable cause to suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation shall immediately report the concern as required by law and notify school administration.

Highland Academy prohibits retaliation against any individual who makes a report in good faith.

Training

Employees will receive orientation regarding student safety expectations, appropriate professional conduct, supervision responsibilities, and mandatory reporting requirements.

Additional training may be provided as needed throughout the school year.

COMMUNICATION

Highland Academy communicates primarily through:

  • Seesaw app

  • Email

  • Scheduled conferences

Parents are encouraged to communicate questions or concerns directly and respectfully.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Medical Information & Emergency Care

Parents/guardians are responsible for providing accurate, complete, and up-to-date medical information for their child and for notifying the school of any changes to their child's medical condition, allergies, medications, or emergency contacts.

In the event of an illness or medical emergency, Highland Academy will make reasonable efforts to contact a parent or guardian immediately. If a parent or guardian cannot be reached, the school may seek appropriate emergency medical care for the student as deemed necessary. Parents are financially responsible for any medical expenses incurred.

Medication Policy

Highland Academy is not a medical facility and does not employ licensed medical personnel on-site.

While reasonable efforts may be made to accommodate student health needs, the school does not assume liability for the administration of medication or any adverse reactions that may occur.

All medication must be:

  • Provided by the parent/guardian

  • Clearly labeled

  • Accompanied by written instructions

Highland Academy reserves the right to require that a parent or guardian come to the school to administer medication when deemed appropriate.

Student Health & Safety

Highland Academy is committed to providing a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment for all students.

Students are expected to:

  • Follow safety instructions provided by staff

  • Participate appropriately in classroom and outdoor activities

  • Respect the health, safety, and well-being of others

  • Report any injury or unsafe condition to a staff member immediately

Due to the nature of a microschool environment, including outdoor learning, hands-on activities, and field experiences, students may participate in activities involving physical movement and exploration. While reasonable precautions are taken to minimize risks, families acknowledge that participation in school activities involves inherent risks.

Student Illness & Communicable Disease Policy

To help protect the health of all students and staff, parents are asked to keep their child home when they are experiencing symptoms of illness or have a communicable disease that may place others at risk.

Students should remain home if they have:

  • A fever of 100.4°F or higher

  • Vomiting or diarrhea

  • A contagious rash or skin condition

  • Symptoms of a communicable illness that may reasonably be spread to others

  • Any illness that prevents the student from comfortably participating in normal school activities

Students may generally return to school when they:

  • Have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication

  • Have been free from vomiting or diarrhea for at least 24 hours

  • Are able to participate comfortably in normal school activities

  • Meet any return-to-school recommendations provided by their healthcare provider or applicable public health guidance, when appropriate

If a student becomes ill during the school day, a parent or authorized emergency contact will be notified and may be asked to pick up the student promptly.

Highland Academy follows routine cleaning and sanitation practices to help maintain a healthy learning environment. During periods of increased illness or communicable disease, the school reserves the right to implement additional health and safety measures consistent with guidance from public health authorities, as appropriate for the circumstances.

Acknowledgment

Parents/guardians acknowledge that they have reviewed and agree to these Health & Safety policies as part of the Highland Academy Enrollment & Consent Packet.

Assumption of Risk & Limitation of Liability

Highland Academy is committed to providing a safe, caring, and well-supervised educational environment. Reasonable precautions are taken to promote the health and safety of every student; however, no school environment or activity can be entirely free from risk.

Parents and guardians acknowledge that participation in Highland Academy's educational program, including classroom activities, outdoor learning, recess, field trips, enrichment activities, physical play, and other school-sponsored events, involves inherent risks of illness, injury, or property damage that cannot be completely eliminated.

By enrolling their child at Highland Academy, parents and guardians voluntarily assume these ordinary and inherent risks associated with school participation.

To the fullest extent permitted by Arkansas law, parents and guardians agree that Highland Academy, Highland Academy LLC, its owners, administrators, employees, teachers, volunteers, and representatives shall not be held liable for injuries, losses, damages, or claims arising from the ordinary risks of participation in school activities, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Nothing in this policy limits a parent's legal rights under applicable law or releases liability for conduct that cannot legally be waived.

Transportation & Field Trip Safety

Field trips and off-campus educational experiences are valuable extensions of the learning environment. Highland Academy is committed to providing safe, well-supervised transportation and activities for all participating students.

Prior to Participation

Before participating in any field trip or school-sponsored off-campus activity:

  • A parent or guardian must complete and sign a field trip permission form.

  • Emergency contact information will accompany supervising staff.

  • Necessary medical information and emergency authorization will be available to supervising staff.

  • Parents will be notified of trip details, including destination, transportation arrangements, and expected return time whenever reasonably possible.

Transportation

When transportation is provided for a school-sponsored activity:

  • Drivers must possess a valid driver's license.

  • Drivers must maintain current automobile liability insurance meeting Highland Academy's minimum required limits.

  • Highland Academy may require and maintain proof of a valid driver's license and current automobile liability insurance for any employee, volunteer, or parent transporting students.

  • All drivers must comply with applicable federal, state, and local traffic laws.

  • All vehicle occupants must wear seat belts or appropriate child restraints as required by law.

  • Appropriate adult supervision will be maintained throughout the trip.

Highland Academy reserves the right to modify or cancel field trips due to weather, safety concerns, insufficient supervision, or unforeseen circumstances.

Employee Driving & Transportation Policy

Employees who operate personal vehicles for Highland Academy business, including transporting students for school-sponsored activities, shall:

  • Maintain a valid driver's license.

  • Maintain current automobile liability insurance meeting the school's minimum required limits.

  • Provide proof of a valid driver's license and current automobile liability insurance upon request and whenever updated.

  • Operate vehicles in compliance with all federal, state, and local traffic laws.

  • Ensure all occupants wear seat belts or appropriate child restraints as required by law.

  • Refrain from using handheld cell phones, texting, or other electronic messaging while operating a vehicle.

  • Promptly report any motor vehicle accident occurring during school-related travel to school administration.

  • Cooperate with any accident documentation or incident investigation conducted by Highland Academy.

  • Employees who transport students will receive orientation on Highland Academy's driving and transportation policies before transporting students on behalf of the school.

Highland Academy reserves the right to request and review a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) for any employee who transports students or operates a vehicle on behalf of the school.

Employees whose driving record demonstrates unsafe driving habits, repeated moving violations, license suspension, or other conditions that may present an unreasonable safety risk may be prohibited from transporting students or driving on behalf of Highland Academy.

Following any accident or injury requiring more than routine first aid, Highland Academy will document the incident, notify the parent or guardian as appropriate, and review the circumstances to determine whether corrective action is needed to help prevent similar incidents.

Visitor & Campus Security Policy

To help maintain a safe learning environment:

  • All visitors must check in with school administration upon arrival.

  • Visitors may be asked to state the purpose of their visit and remain with a staff member while on campus unless otherwise authorized.

  • Exterior doors will remain secured during instructional hours whenever reasonably possible.

  • Parents wishing to observe classrooms should arrange visits in advance with school administration.

  • Unauthorized individuals will not be permitted access to students.

Highland Academy reserves the right to refuse entry to any individual whose presence may disrupt school operations or compromise student safety.

Weapons-Free Campus Policy

Weapons-Free Campus

Highland Academy is committed to providing a safe learning environment for all students and staff.

Except as otherwise required by applicable law, weapons are prohibited on school property.

Weapons include, but are not limited to:

  • Firearms

  • Knives (other than small pocketknives carried for lawful purposes when specifically approved)

  • Explosives

  • BB guns

  • Airsoft guns

  • Tasers

  • Pepper spray

  • Any object used or intended to cause bodily harm

Parents, visitors, volunteers, and staff are expected to comply with this policy.

Violation of this policy may result in removal from school property and notification of law enforcement when appropriate.

TUITION & STATE FUNDING

Annual tuition for Highland Academy is $10,000 per student.

Families may use eligible state education funds, currently up to $7,208 per student, which are applied toward tuition. Families are responsible for any remaining balance.

Tuition policies, payment schedules, and refund guidelines will be outlined in the Tuition and Fees and Refund Policy and attached to our website.

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

Highland Academy is committed to intentional, sustainable growth. Any expansion in grade levels, enrollment size, or programming will be communicated clearly and thoughtfully to families.

HANDBOOK AGREEMENT

This handbook serves as a guide for families and students. Policies may be updated as needed to best serve the school community.

These policies are acknowledged and agreed to as part of the Highland Academy Enrollment & Consent Packet.