Title Programs

Voyage Academy runs a Title I Targeted Assistance Program.  Targeted Assistance Programs are used in eligible schools with lower percentages of low-income students. These plans use Title I, Part A funds to provide services to eligible students identified as having the greatest need for special assistance because they are failing or are at risk of failing to meet state academic standards.

Highly Qualified Personnel

All personnel working in a Title I school must meet the criteria to be considered “highly qualified.”  For teachers, this means they must have at least a Bachelor’s Degree, full state certification and must have passed a competency test in their areas of instruction.  

Instructional assistants must have a minimum of two years of college or pass a competency exam in Language Arts and Math.

Parents have the right to know the educational background and status of their child’s teacher and the school must inform them in writing if their child's teacher has not met the criteria to be “highly qualified."

Voyage Academy is committed to ensuring that all students have equitable access to all highly qualified teachers.

Parent Involvement

Voyage Academy considers parental engagement vital to the academic success of students. Parents are the initial teachers of their children and serve as partners with the district in helping their children achieve academic success. Title I schools make an extra effort to involve parents in the education of their children. 

Title I schools invite consultation and participation on:

• Written School Parental Involvement Policy (review and update yearly)
• Annual review of policies and plans
• Use of funds set aside for Parent Involvement
• Written School-Parent Compact (review and update yearly)
• Discussed with parents at an annual parent meeting
• Development of a Plan and Program
• Assist in development, administration and interpretation of a needs assessment
• Address required Title I components in the plan
• Review data results and revise plans as needed

Compliance and Dispute Resolution

Voyage Academy ensures full adherence to all state and federal regulations while providing teachers with professional coaching and development. The Academy works in partnership with the school community to foster active parental involvement and drive student progress. If a concern arises individuals are encouraged to reach out to the Director, Kami Coleman, at (801) 776-4900.

In accordance with Federal requirements, the Utah State Office of Education (USBE) also provides a complaint procedure to address concerns, complaints and alleged discrimination or violations of federal regulations concerning Title I programs.  It is the commitment of the USBE to resolve complaints with fairness to all parties, quickly, efficiently, and, to the extent possible, at the local level.

• Utah's Title I Complaint Procedures  

Individuals without internet access may contact the Utah State Board of Education (801) 538-7500

• Utah State Board of Education 

The Purpose

Title II funds are intended to improve teacher and leader quality and increase student success by providing evidence-based professional development activities that are sustained, intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and classroom-focused.

• Increase student achievement consistent with the challenging State academic standards,
• improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders,
• increase the number of teachers, principals, and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools, and
• provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders.

Use of Funds

A significant number of schools allocate Title II funding toward professional development initiatives. These resources are specifically directed toward providing teachers with consistent, ongoing training designed to deepen their subject-matter expertise and equip them with effective instructional strategies, ensuring students can successfully achieve rigorous academic standards.

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Voyage Academy will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Students, parents, or employees needing accommodations should contact the 504 Coordinator, principal, or supervisor.  

Local Procedure

Step 1:  A written grievance signed by the complainant shall be submitted to the appropriate Coordinator.  The Coordinator shall further investigate the matters of grievance and reply in writing to the complainant within 10 business days.

Step 2:  If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision of the Coordinator, she/he may submit a signed statement of appeal to the Director within 10 business days after receipt of the Coordinator’s response.  The Director shall meet with all parties involved, formulate a conclusion, and respond in writing to the complainant within 10 business days.

Step 3:  If the complainant is not satisfied, she/he may appeal through a signed statement to the School’s Board of Trustees within 10 business days of her/his receipt of the Director’s response in step 2.  In an attempt to resolve the grievance, the Board will meet with the concerned parties and their representative within 40 days of such an appeal.  A copy of the Board’s disposition of the appeal shall be sent to each party within 10 business days of this meeting.

State Procedure

The complainant may contact the Educational Equity Coordinator at the Utah State Office of Education.  The contact information for the coordinator is as follows:

Utah State Office of Education

250 East 500 South
Salt Lake City, Utah  84114 – 4220
(801) 538 - 7500

Federal Procedure

The complainant may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at any time before, during, or after the local grievance procedure.  The contact information for the office is as follows:

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C.  20202-1100
(800) 421-3481,  TTD (877) 521-2172

It is the policy of Voyage Academy to promote a safe and orderly school environment for all students and employees.  Criminal acts or disruptive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated and any individual who engages in such activity will be subject to school disciplinary action as determined by school administrators, disciplinary action as determined by the Student Services Director, police referral and/or prosecution.  In determining appropriate discipline, school officials will consider the totality of the circumstances, including the severity of the offense, as well as the individual’s age, disability status, intent, academic status, and prior disciplinary record.

Participation in interscholastic athletics, cheerleading, marching band, student government, student clubs, graduation ceremonies, and other extracurricular activities is not a constitutionally protected civil right.  Therefore, students who are suspended, transferred to an alternative placement, or expelled, may lose the privilege of participation in all extracurricular activities during the period of discipline and will not be afforded due process procedures to challenge the denial of participation. 

Students may be suspended, transferred to an alternative placement, expelled, referred for police investigation, and/or prosecuted for engaging in any physical or verbal aggression, intimidation, initiation, or discrimination of any school employee or student or school-related activity regardless of location or circumstance, including but not limited to bullying, hazing, or sexual, racial, ethnic, religious or disability-related harassment.

School officials have the authority to search a student’s person, personal property, or vehicle while located on school property or at a school-sponsored activity when they have reason to believe that the search will turn up evidence that the student has violated or is violating a particular law or school rule.

Students have no right or expectation of privacy in school lockers.  School lockers are the sole property of Voyage Academy.  Periodic inspections of lockers, including the use of drug-detecting canines, may be conducted by school authorities for any reason at any time, without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant. 

A parent or legal guardian having custody over a school-age minor is required under State law to enroll and send a school-age minor in a public or established private school during the school year in the district in which the minor resides.  The process of education requires continuity of instruction, class participation, and study.  Frequent absences from classes disrupt the instructional process.  Parents/guardians are encouraged to work with the school in promoting the regular attendance of all students.

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents certain rights regarding the use of surveys or other school activities which may involve the collection or use of protected information.  These include the right to:

  Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas:

    [a] Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;

    [b] Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;

    [c] Sexual behavior, orientation or attitudes;

    [d] Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;

    [e] Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;

    [f] Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;

    [g] Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or

    [h] Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students regarding any of the protected information areas.

  Inspect, upon request and before administration or use of:

    [a] Protected information surveys designed to be administered to students; and

    [b] Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

Voyage Academy has policies in place to protect student privacy as required by both state and federal law.  The school will directly notify you of the specific or approximate dates of activities that involve the collection or use of protected information, and provide an opportunity to opt your student out of participating in such activities.

Parents who believe their rights have been violated may contact the school’s administration or file a complaint with:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C.  20202-5920
(202) 260-3887

Informal inquires may be sent to FPCO via the following email address:  PPRA@ED.Gov.

In compliance with existing federal and state law regarding religion and religious expression in public schools, the school may neither advance nor inhibit religion.  It is the school’s policy to 1) allow students and employees to engage in the expression of personal religious views or beliefs within the parameters of current law, and 2) maintain the schools' official neutrality regarding sectarian religious issues according to the constitutional principle of separation between church and state. 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records.  They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school director a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect.  The director 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 or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask Voyage Academy to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading.  They should write the director, clearly identifying the part of the record they want to be changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. 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 advise them 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 to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.  A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or 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 District 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
        600 Independence Avenue, SW
        Washington, DC  20202-4605

NOTE:  Personal information about students, known as “directory information”, can be made public.  This information may include a student’s name, address, telephone number, email address, photographs, date and place of birth, grade level, awards, honors, and other information typically found in school yearbooks, athletic programs, honor rolls, or class/school contests.  If parents do not wish this information to be made public, the school must be contacted within 15 days of this notice.  Any parents who have concerns regarding photographs or videos of students in activities or events should contact the principal.  Additionally, federal law requires that the district/school provide military recruiters with three directory information categories - names, addresses, and telephone numbers – unless parents have advised the school that they do not want such information disclosed without their prior written consent. 

The Board recognizes the importance of requiring and maintaining necessary records for all students.  However, the Board also recognizes the importance of removing barriers for homeless students to enroll and participate in school.  “Homeless students” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and includes children who are:  1) living with a friend, relative, or someone else because they lost their home or can’t afford housing; 2) staying in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping ground due to the lack of alternative accommodations; 3) living in a transitional shelter; 4) living in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; 5) migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above.  Under the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless students are entitled to immediate enrollment and full participation even if they are unable to produce records normally required for enrollment, such as previous academic records, medical records, proof of residency, birth certificate, or other documentation.  42 U.S.C.  Section 11432 (g) (3)(C) and (g)(1)(H)(I)

1. Homeless students shall be enrolled immediately.
2. Homeless students will be granted full participation in school activities and programs. They cannot be excluded based on their inability to present the following information:
   • Immunization records
   • Medical records
   • Birth certificate
   • Previous school records or transcripts
   • Guardianship records
   • Proof of residency
   • Other required documentation
3. Homeless students have three options for choice of school to attend:
   • School of origin (the school the child has attended when permanently housed),
   • School of origin (the school the child last attended)
   • The school closest to the shelter or other temporary housing. “School of Origin” means the school the child or youth attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled.
4. The school will continue efforts to assist the student in completing necessary and important records especially all immunization information.

Civil Rights Complaint

Complaints of discrimination should be filed with the individual’s director or supervisor.  If the complaint is against the director, the complaint may be filed directly with the School’s Board of Trustees.

Discrimination complaints should be reported as soon as possible, but no later than 90 days after the incident(s) in order to be effectively investigated and resolved.