All Courtenay families have rights, and all of us can take part in deciding, advising, and advocating for the students.
Your representation: LSC, BAC & PAC
You should help shape the school
🏛️ LSC — Local School Council · big school decisions
The LSC is the elected council for the school. It votes on big things: the principal, the school improvement plan, and how the school budget lines up with that plan.
Good place to bring: questions about the school plan, budget priorities, or a public issue families want on the agenda.
🌐 BAC — Bilingual Advisory Committee · bilingual advocacy
The BAC is for families of English Learners. It is a place to learn about bilingual education, ask questions, and bring family concerns to the LSC.
Good place to bring: questions about bilingual services, language support, English Learner programs, or improvement ideas for newcomer and multilingual families.
→ CPS — Bilingual Advisory Committees
🌱 PAC — Parent Advisory Council · parent-led family engagement
The PAC exists to promote family engagement in student’s academic progress, and is led by families. That can mean we host a night to share math games, a collaborative workshop on sibling conflict, or anything else to improve family engagement in our student’s growth.
The PAC also advises how the school’s family-engagement money should be used, in coordination with the principal and the LSC.
Good place to bring: parent workshop ideas, family resource needs, website or communication ideas, and priorities for family-engagement funding.
→ CPS — Parent Advisory Councils
Quick version: LSC = school decisions. BAC = bilingual-family voice. PAC = parent-led family engagement.
Your rights as a caregiver
You have the following rights (and more)
You have a right to be involved and informed.
“Parent/Guardian Rights: To be actively involved in their child’s education … To be treated fairly and respectfully by the school principal, teachers, and other staff … To receive information about their child’s academic and behavioral progress.”
Your child has a right to enroll regardless of immigration status.
“The legal immigration status of a parent or child has no bearing on the rights of the student to enroll in a public school.”
Your family has a right to privacy.
“School personnel shall not inquire about or record a student’s or a family member’s immigration status, nor shall CPS collect or retain information regarding the immigration status of any CPS students or their families.”
— CPS, Guidance and Resources for Families Regarding New Presidential Administration
“A school may also disclose, without consent, certain ‘Directory Information’ … provided that prior to the release of the Directory Information, the parents are given the opportunity to opt out.”
You have a right to language access.
“LEP parents are entitled to meaningful communication in a language they can understand.”
— ISBE, Requirements for Communicating in Parents’ Native Language
“Schools must … may not rely on or ask students, siblings, friends, or untrained school staff to translate or interpret for parents.”
— ISBE, Requirements for Communicating in Parents’ Native Language
You have a right to see and challenge your child’s records.
“Parents and students … have the right to inspect and copy all of the student’s educational records maintained by the school or the Board … within 10 business days after the day the school receives a request for access.”
You have a right to notice and appeal if your child is disciplined.
“Parent/Guardian Rights: … To be notified promptly if their child is disciplined for inappropriate or disruptive behavior and informed of the consequences assigned … To appeal disciplinary actions taken.”
Your child has a right to school stability if your family loses housing.
“Schools must immediately enroll homeless students and unaccompanied homeless youth.”
“A homeless child is entitled to immediate enrollment” in the school of origin, last school attended, or neighborhood school.
“The District shall ensure that transportation will be provided to homeless children or youths who chose to continue attending their school of origin.”
— CPS, Education of Homeless Children and Youth Policy 702.5
“homeless students enrolled in the District shall have access to adequate and appropriate school supplies and school uniforms, waiver of school fees … free school meals, and tutoring services beyond those provided to all students of at least one hour per week upon request.”
— CPS, Education of Homeless Children and Youth Policy 702.5
Your child has a right to disability supports, and you have a right to participate.
“Students with disabilities have a right to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE).”
“Parents/guardians … have rights safeguarded by state and federal law, including the right to meaningfully participate in meetings regarding the identification, evaluation, eligibility, and educational placement of their student.”
Your child has a right to be safe from bullying.
“Reports can be made to any CPS employee or contractor in person,” or by phone or email through the CPS Parent Support Center — the policy below lists the current number and address.
Your child has a right to be free from bias-based harm and discrimination.
“‘Bias-based Behavior’ is any physical, verbal, nonverbal, or other act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a member or perceived member of a protected category within the school community that is of a discriminatory or harmful nature.”
“Students may file a report if they feel they are being discriminated against at their school, with the school and network administration, CPS Office of Student Protections and Title IX (OSP), or with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.”
More information
- Illinois Legal Aid: student rights in plain language
- Raise Your Hand: CPS bullying toolkit
- Equip for Equality: Illinois special-education rights and parent helpline
- CPS FACE: family support and navigation
- CPS STLS: Students in Temporary Living Situations program — printable notice of rights in English and español
- CCH Law Project: free legal help with enrollment, busing, and fee waivers