A.      Notice of Non-Discrimination

The primary goal of Meridian Public Charter School is to ensure that each student achieves at the highest possible level. Education is to be provided in a manner that does not discriminate or cause harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or social and family background.

In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VI”), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”), Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (“The Age Act”), applicants for admission and employment, students, parents, employees, sources of referral of applicants for  admission and employment, and all unions or  professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with Meridian Public Charter School (“Meridian”) are hereby notified that Meridian  does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its  programs and activities.

Students, parents and/or guardians having inquiries concerning Meridian’s compliance with Section 504 or the ADA as it applies to students or who wish to file a complaint regarding such compliance should contact:

Director of Student Support Services, Meridian Public Charter School
2120 13th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-9830

For inquiries or to file a complaint regarding Meridian’s compliance with ADA and Section 504 as it relates to employees or third parties, and Title VI, Title IX, and/or the Age Act as it relates to students, employees or third parties, please contact:

Chief Operations Officer, Meridian Public Charter School
2120 13th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-9830

 

B.     Notice of Procedural Safeguards

Parents and guardians who want to learn more about their rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act can obtain a copy of their procedural safeguards from the Section 504 Coordinator:  

Director of Student Support Services, Meridian Public Charter School
2120 13th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-9830

 

C.     Notice of Grievance Procedures

Any person, student, parent, employee or third party who believe that Meridian has violated the regulations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VI, Title IX, and/or the Age Act may submit a complaint pursuant to Meridian’s Grievance Procedures. A copy of the grievance procedures can be obtained by request through:

Chief Operations Officer, Meridian Public Charter School
2120 13th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-9830

or

Director of Student Support Services, Meridian Public Charter School
2120 13th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-9830

 

D. Public Notification for School Meal Programs

Meridian Public Charter School participates in the National School Lunch Program and offers Breakfast, Lunch and Snack at no cost to students in an effort to provide balanced, nutritious meals for all students and introduce the students to a variety of fruits and vegetables for a healthier lifestyle. Meridian PCS is offering free breakfast and lunch under the NSLP program and ASSP or snack under the NSLP program. Meridian PCS is a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and provides all meals free to students. If you have any questions about the program, contact Michael Russell at mrussell@meridian-dc.org or (202) 387-9830, ext. 235.

E.     Notification of Rights Under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day Meridian Public Charter School receives a request for access.  Parents or eligible students who wish to inspect their child’s or their education records should submit to the school principal or admissions coordinator a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect.  The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. 

  2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.  Parents or eligible students who wish to ask Meridian Public Charter School to amend their child’s or their education record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed.  If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

  3. The right to consent (in writing) to disclosures of personally identifiable information (PII) contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.  For example, Meridian Public Charter School discloses education records without consent to officials of another school or school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled, when such disclosure is requested for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.  In addition, FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent to school officials whom Meridian Public Charter School has determined to have legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school or school district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board.  A school official also may include a volunteer, contractor, or consultant who, while not employed by the school, performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.  A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

  4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the Meridian Public Charter School to comply with the requirements of FERPA.  The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC  20202

  1. The right to withhold disclosure of directory information.  At its discretion, Meridian Public Charter School may disclose basic “directory information” that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy without the consent of parents/guardians or eligible students in accordance with the provisions of District law and FERPA. Student name, address, parent/guardian email, student telephone listing, grade level, diplomas/awards received, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, students date and place of birth, and dates of attendance. Parents/Guardians or eligible students may instruct Meridian Public Charter School to withhold any or all of the information identified above by writing to the school’s principal; however, the school may still disclose this information if it is required to do so or if it is permissible under FERPA.

See the list below of the disclosures that elementary and secondary schools may make without consent.

FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the parent or eligible student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in § 99.31 of the FERPA regulations.  Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the parent or eligible student, § 99.32 of the FERPA regulations requires the school to record the disclosure.  Parents and eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A school may disclose PII from the education records of a student without obtaining prior written consent of the parents or the eligible student –

  • To other school officials, including teachers, within the educational agency or institution whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests.  This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in § 99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) - (a)(1)(i)(B)(3) are met. (§ 99.31(a)(1))

  • To officials of another school, school system, or institution of postsecondary education where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of § 99.34.  (§ 99.31(a)(2))  

  • To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as the State educational agency (SEA) in the parent or eligible student’s State.  Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of § 99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs.  These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf, if applicable requirements are met. (§§ 99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)

  • In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary for such purposes as to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.  (§ 99.31(a)(4))

  • To State and local officials or authorities to whom information is specifically allowed to be reported or disclosed by a State statute that concerns the juvenile justice system and the system’s ability to effectively serve, prior to adjudication, the student whose records were released, subject to § 99.38.  (§ 99.31(a)(5))

  • To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction, if applicable requirements are met.  (§ 99.31(a)(6))

  • To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions.  (§ 99.31(a)(7))

  • To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes.  (§ 99.31(a)(8))

  • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena if applicable requirements are met.  (§ 99.31(a)(9))

  • To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to § 99.36.  (§ 99.31(a)(10)

  • Information the school has designated as “directory information” if applicable requirements under § 99.37 are met.  (§ 99.31(a)(11))

  • To an agency caseworker or other representative of a State or local child welfare agency or tribal organization who is authorized to access a student’s case plan when such agency or organization is legally responsible, in accordance with State or tribal law, for the care and protection of the student in foster care placement.  (20 U.S.C. § 1232g(b)(1)(L))

  • To the Secretary of Agriculture or authorized representatives of the Food and Nutrition Service for purposes of conducting program monitoring, evaluations, and performance measurements of programs authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, under certain conditions.  (20 U.S.C. § 1232g(b)(1)(K))




F.     School health and wellness documents

Local Wellness Policy 2016-2021 (revised June 2020)

School Health Profile 2022

Lead Testing Results 2020 - Elementary School

Lead Testing Results 2020 - Middle School

Meridian PCS - Continuous Education Plan (Updated March 2022)

Cigna Machine Readable Files

G. Financial Disclosures

At-Risk Funding Plan Summary Report

Current Salaries of Individuals Earning over $100,000

FY18 Form 990 (May 2019)

FY20 Budget