School’s In--So Is Debate

As the school year opens, Orange County educators face a number of policy issues. Many districts are expanding participation in a state program to limit classes through third grade to no more than 20 students each. Some are reviewing student and staff dress codes and considering proposals to require student uniforms. Others are seeking to clamp down on drugs and weapons on campus. Here are responses from the county’s 27 districts on those issues and dates (*) when school resumes:

ANAHEIM CITY

1. Class-size reduction: in effect for all first and second grades and for kindergarten at 10 schools

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, uniform policy set by individual schools

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: automatic suspension pending a hearing, expulsion or transfer to another district school recommended

4. When school starts: open year-round.

ANAHEIM UNION

1. Class-size reduction: not applicable

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code; testing uniforms at Dale Junior High

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: automatic suspension pending a hearing, expulsion or transfer to another district school recommended

4. When school starts: Sept. 4

BREA OLINDA

1. Class-size reduction: adding kindergarten and second grade after having reduced first grade classes last year

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: expulsion recommended, but school board will hear appeals

4. When school starts: Sept. 3

BUENA PARK

1. Class-size reduction: in effect for kindergarten, first and second grades

2. Dress code, school uniforms: uniforms required at Buena Park Junior High, on a volunteer basis at Mabel L. Pendelton Elementary

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: expulsion recommended, but school board will hear appeals; some exceptions for special-education students

4. When school starts: Sept. 2

CAPISTRANO UNIFIED

1. Class-size reduction: in effect for kindergarten, first and second grades; expanding to third grade on a few campuses

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code; uniforms optional on some campuses, mandatory at Viejo Elementary

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: depending on situation, student may be suspended, expelled or transferred to another district school

4. When school starts: Sept. 8

CENTRALIA

1. Class-size reduction: adding kindergarten after having reduced first and second grades last year

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: immediate suspension pending a hearing; expulsion recommended

4. When school starts: Sept. 8

CYPRESS

1. Class-size reduction: adding some kindergarten classes after having reduced first and second grades last year

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: school board reviews incidents case by case

4. When school starts: Sept. 8

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

1. Class-size reduction: adding third grade after having reduced first and second grades last year; will add kindergarten when funds are available

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, uniforms optional

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: policy being reconsidered; now calls for automatic suspension pending a hearing, with expulsion recommended

4. When school starts: Sept. 3

FULLERTON

1. Class-size reduction: in effect for first and second grades, and for kindergarten classes part of the day

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student uniforms required at Pacific Drive, Woodcrest, Maple and Richman elementary schools unless parents sign waivers

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: principal and school board review incidents case by case

4. When school starts: Sept. 2

FULLERTON JOINT UNION

1. Class-size reduction: not applicable

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: principal and school board review incidents case by case

4. When school starts: Sept. 2

GARDEN GROVE

1. Class-size reduction: adding grades 2 and 2-3 after having reduced grades 1 and 1-2 last year

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, uniforms voluntary at eight elementary schools

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: all incidents referred to district’s discipline committee with recommendation for expulsion

4. When school starts: Sept. 4

HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY

1. Class-size reduction: adding second and third grades after having reduced first grade last year

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: school board reviews incidents case by case

4. When school starts: Sept. 3

HUNTINGTON BEACH UNION

1. Class-size reduction: not applicable

2. Dress code, school uniforms: dress codes set by individual schools, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: automatic expulsion for gun possession or sale of drugs; other offenses considered case by case

4. When school starts: Sept. 4

IRVINE UNIFIED

1. Class-size reduction: expanding to third grade and half of kindergarten classes after having reduced first and second grades last year

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: automatic expulsion for gun possession; other offenses considered case by case

4. When school starts: Sept. 4

LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED

1. Class-size reduction: adding third grade after having reduced kindergarten, first- and second-grade classes last year

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: depending on situation, student may be suspended, expelled, transferred to another district school or referred to a counseling program

4. When school starts: Sept. 4

LA HABRA CITY

1. Class-size reduction: in effect for first and second grades, and for kindergarten part of the day

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student uniforms required unless parents sign waivers

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: principal and school board review incidents case by case

4. When school starts: Sept. 2

LOS ALAMITOS UNIFIED

1. Class-size reduction: adding kindergarten classes after having reduced first through third grades last year

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: expulsion recommended

4. When school starts: Sept. 4

MAGNOLIA

1. Class-size reduction: in effect for kindergarten, first and second grades

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student uniforms required

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: automatic five-day suspension; further action depends on circumstances.

4. When school starts: Sept. 8

NEWPORT-MESA UNIFIED

1. Class-size reduction: in effect for first, second and third grades, and for kindergarten classes part of the day

2. Dress code, school uniforms: policy set by individual schools

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: offenders are subject to a 90-day transfer to another school within the district

4. When school starts: Sept. 10

OCEAN VIEW

1. Class-size reduction: adding kindergarten classes after having reduced grades 1 through 3 last year

2. Dress code, school uniforms: No policy on either

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: school board reviews incidents case by case

4. When school starts: Sept. 4

ORANGE UNIFIED

1. Class-size reduction: will include all first- and second-grade classes, some third grades

2. Dress code, school uniforms: policy set by individual schools

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: expulsion in most cases after a hearing

4. When school starts: Sept. 3

PLACENTIA-YORBA LINDA UNIFIED

1. Class-size reduction: will include nearly all first-, second- and third-grade classes; also reducing ninth-grade language arts classes to 20

2. Dress code, school uniforms: no dress code, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: expulsion recommended, but school board reviews incidents case by case

4. When school starts: Sept. 3

SADDLEBACK VALLEY UNIFIED

1. Class-size reduction: in effect for kindergarten through third grade

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, no uniform policy

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: expulsion recommended for all violations

4. When school starts: Sept. 4

SANTA ANA UNIFIED

1. Class-size reduction: completed for first grade, beginning second grade, expanding to some kindergarten and third-grade classes depending on available space

2. Dress code, school uniforms: Staff dress code, mandatory uniforms for kindergarten through eighth grade

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: expulsion recommended for all violations

4. When school starts: Sept. 8

SAVANNA

1. Class-size reduction: completed for first and second grades

2. Dress code, school uniforms: policy set by individual schools

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: principal or district superintendent may recommend expulsion

4. When school starts: Sept. 8

TUSTIN UNIFIED

1. Class-size reduction: if funding permits, adding kindergarten classes after having reduced first through third grades last year

2. Dress code, school uniforms: student dress code, uniforms mandatory on some campuses

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: mandatory expulsion for brandishing weapons or selling drugs

4. When school starts: Sept. 10

WESTMINSTER

1. Class-size reduction: completed for first through third grades

2. Dress code, school uniforms: policy set by individual schools

3. Zero tolerance for drugs and weapons: school board reviews incidents case by case

4. When school starts: Sept. 3

* Seventy Orange County schools--most of them in Anaheim, Orange and Santa Ana--have summer sessions. Opening dates are for those with the traditional September-June calendar. Starting dates for individual schools may vary within each district.

Sources: Orange County Department of Education, individual school districts