Policies and Procedures

Organizational

Nondiscrimination

EVCS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, native language, disability, or gender. Please visit our Nondiscrimination page for more information.

Equal Opportunity Statement

EVCS believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our community to thrive. As an equal opportunity employer, EVCS prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex including pregnancy, gender, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, military status, sexual orientation, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest record, conviction record, familial status, domestic violence victim status, immigration or citizenship status, individual’s or dependent’s reproductive health decision making, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to recruiting, hiring, retaining and promoting all employees on an equal basis. Employment decisions are based on the principles of equal opportunity. No employee shall be discriminated against based on any characteristic protected by law.

 

Open Government

FOIL/Complaint Policy

Please visit our Complaints page for further information on our Complaints policies and processes.

Freedom of Information Requests
Send FOIL requests to:

Liz Evans
Director of Operations
levans@elmwoodvillageschool.org

Read Freedom of Information Policy 

Read the FOIL Subject Matter List

EVCS Report Cards

Safety

The safety and security of our children is our highest priority. Learn more about our onsite security precautions and our official safety and emergency plan.

Building Security at EVCS

For the safety of our children, the facility remains locked during the school day, and a security camera monitors the front entrance. All visitors, parents and guardians must be buzzed into the building, at which time they may be asked to give their name and the name of their child. Everyone entering the building must use the main entrance and sign in at the main office.

If there are special issues regarding non-custodial parents, please make sure that all necessary paperwork is on file with school personnel.

The EVCS Safety & Emergency Operations Plan

In accordance with state law, the EVCS Safety & Emergency Operations Plan details how the school district will operate during critical incidents affecting students, faculty, staff or facilities. It is designed to provide guidance for personnel who discover or are notified of any emergency situation. The plan also aids in the resolution of the events by structuring levels of potential responses, each designed to address a corresponding level of threat.

District Safety Plans

Emergency Remote Instruction Plan

Parent Handbook & Code of Conduct

Welcome to EVCS! Creating a positive and safe learning environment is a critical factor in student and school success—a responsibility shared by students, parents, staff and administration. 

Welcome, EVCS Families

Welcome to Elmwood Village Charter Schools and all of the possibilities that a new school year holds. It is our sincerest hope that every member of our EVCS family feels a sense of belonging, significance, and fun in our close-knit school community. There are many opportunities to become involved at EVCS, and  we invite you to join your campus parent-teacher organization, called the Community Association, or CA. Your involvement and participation enriches school life for all students, and helps us form strong bonds with one another. Thank you for partnering with us to provide your child with the very best educational experience. 

Action Items – Please sign and return by September 12, 2025:

Please review the EVCS 2025-2026 Code of Conduct. We ask that parents, guardians, and students read the Student Code of Conduct, and work together to adhere to its standards. Then, sign and return the 2025-2026 EVCS Code of Conduct Signature Page. Please use the self-addressed, stamped envelope (included in the Welcome Packet we mailed). Due date: September 12th, 2025.

Please complete the Income Eligibility Form – SY2025 and return it (form is also available in Spanish). Due date: September 12th, 2025.

7900 – Students and Personal Electronic Devices Policy

View the Students and Personal Electronic Devices Policy.

The EVCS Parent Handbook

Parents can download the Elmwood Village Charter Schools Parent Handbook below, which provides you with important information about EVCS’s policies, procedures, and culture.

The EVCS Curriculum Opt-Out Policy

Parents can download the Curriculum Opt Out Policy here.

The EVCS Student Code Of Conduct

We ask that parents and students at Elmwood Village Charter Schools read our Student Code of Conduct, and work together to adhere to its standards.

The EVCS Student Dress Code

Students should dress comfortably, modestly, and appropriately for school, in a manner that should not distract themselves or others from instruction.

  • Sneakers may be worn, but for student safety heelys and flip-flops are not permitted.
  • Hats and head coverings are not permitted to be worn in the building unless for religious observance.
  • Students should wear loose fitting clothes and sneakers on days when physical education or dance classes are scheduled.
  • Students are not permitted to wear dangling jewelry on days when they have scheduled physical education and dance classes.

Bullying and Harassment Reporting

Bullying is characterized by an imbalance of power between two students. If two students are equally engaged in an altercation, this is not a bullying situation, but instead considered a “conflict” between the two students. When an imbalance of power is present, it can be seen in small ways over a long period of time or in a large way all at one time.

Examples of a large incident is much easier to see, recognize, and address. The person who is doing the bullying has been vocal and physical to the bullying victim. He/she might threaten the other student with bodily or psychological harm and finds ways to fulfill the threat. The victim has no means of escape or is unable to fight back and is physically or emotionally harmed. Anyone who witnesses such events should report it immediately to administration. The online reporting form can also be used for this purpose.

Examples of bullying over long periods of time are much more difficult to detect and protect the student. It could include name calling, making the student the focus of jokes, cyberbullying, constantly bumping into the student, taking personal belongings of the student, threaten to harm if they tell, etc. In this situation the student victim often is quiet, tries not to make trouble, and feels he/she can handle the problem on their own. The wall of silence is represented by the student not telling any adults, and peers not stopping the bullying or telling an adult. Adults in the area may not even notice the bullying going on.

That is why we have the online reporting form. No one need know you have reported what you have seen or are experiencing. If you are a student, parent, or ANYONE who is aware of someone being bullied (it could be you), click on the link below to let the school know what is going on.

Bullying and Harassment Reporting Form

Health Policies and Guidelines

In addition to what is in this section of the site, please review the Health Policy Section our Parent Handbook.

Medication Authorization and Medical Action Plans

All prescribed medication and over-the-counter medication to be administered during the school day must be accompanied by a written prescription from their doctor and the Medication Authorization form signed by the parent.  Medication must be brought to school by an adult in the original pharmacy container per New York State. The nurse must have documentation for medical action plans in place while the child is attending school. If your child requires any of the below while at school, download the appropriate form(s) and return them, completed, to the nurse.

The following are due annually, for each school year:

Mandatory Health Screenings

New York State Education Law requires that students receive vision, hearing and scoliosis screenings as part of the school health services provided by each public school district. The purpose of these screenings is to detect the presence of problems likely to impede a student’s learning. If the results of the screening indicate that your child requires further follow-up, you will receive written notification.

Immunizations

Annual Physical

Physical Forms requested annually from EVCS.  NYSED requires a physical exam for new entrants and students in Grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11; annually for interscholastic sports; and working papers as needed; or as required by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Committee on Pre-School Special education (CPSE).

Interval Health Form

All students who are participating in sports must complete an Interval Health Form 30 days prior to the start of the sport. This is required by New York State regulations.

EVCS Dental Health Form

New York State law (Chapter 281) permits schools to request a dental examination for new entrants and students in grades K, 2, 4, 7, and 10, at the same time a physical is requested.

Health Policies and Guidelines

In addition to what is in this section of the site, please review the Health Policy Section our Parent Handbook.

Medication Authorization and Medical Action Plans

All prescribed medication and over-the-counter medication to be administered during the school day must be accompanied by a written prescription from their doctor and the Medication Authorization form signed by the parent.  Medication must be brought to school by an adult in the original pharmacy container per New York State. The nurse must have documentation for medical action plans in place while the child is attending school. If your child requires any of the below while at school, download the appropriate form(s) and return them, completed, to the nurse.

The following are due annually, for each school year:

Mandatory Health Screenings

New York State Education Law requires that students receive vision, hearing and scoliosis screenings as part of the school health services provided by each public school district. The purpose of these screenings is to detect the presence of problems likely to impede a student’s learning. If the results of the screening indicate that your child requires further follow-up, you will receive written notification.

Immunizations

Annual Physical

Physical Forms requested annually from EVCS.  NYSED requires a physical exam for new entrants and students in Grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11; annually for interscholastic sports; and working papers as needed; or as required by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) or Committee on Pre-School Special education (CPSE).

Interval Health Form

All students who are participating in sports must complete an Interval Health Form 30 days prior to the start of the sport. This is required by New York State regulations.

EVCS Dental Health Form

New York State law (Chapter 281) permits schools to request a dental examination for new entrants and students in grades K, 2, 4, 7, and 10, at the same time a physical is requested.

Arrival, Dismissal and Bus Transportation

Everything you need to know about the beginning and end—and the “to and fro”—of every day at EVCS.

Arrival

7:25-7:30 AM: Buses begin arriving at the building between 7:25-7:30 AM. 

7:40AM: Doors open to students who arrive via foot and car at 7:40AM.

7:40AM – 7:50AM: Arriving with your child by 7:50AM will allow them time to walk to their classroom, put away their belongings, have breakfast (if needed) and be ready for the start of the school day at 8:00AM. Breakfast is offered free to all students everyday.

8:00AM: At EVCS, the school day begins promptly at 8:00 AM with a Morning Meeting in your child’s classroom.

Dismissal

We use School Dismissal Manager (SDM) to facilitate a smooth, safe & organized dismissal every day. We require all families to indicate how their child should be dismissed at the end of the day. Please navigate to the next section for more information on SDM.

Dismissal for students taking the bus begins at 3:15 PM. Please navigate to the Bus Transportation section on this page to learn more.

Students who are picked up or who walk home are dismissed starting at 3:05 PM. No student dismissals are allowed between 2:30 and 3:05. This is to ensure that our dismissal is safe and orderly, and all students are accounted for.

Dismissal is coordinated with the School Dismissal Manager’s FastLane system. All families are required to access this system to let EVCS know how children will be dismissed each school day. Be sure you have updated your child’s dismissal plan in School Dismissal Manager (online or using the app). If a student needs to be picked up prior to 3:05 PM (e.g. for a doctor’s appointment) it needs to be updated in SDM or communicated to the Main Office ahead of time.

Days Park Main Office: 716-886-4581

Hertel Main Office: 716-424-0555

Bus Transportation

School Dismissal Manager

EVCS uses School Dismissal Manager (SDM) along with Fast Lane to coordinate safe, efficient dismissal everyday.

Each new family will be required to set up an account with School Dismissal Manager before starting school. At the beginning of each school year, each family will be required to set their child’s default dismissal schedule before returning to school. This is for all families, even if you never plan to pick up your child and will only be using the bus.

To communicate how you will pick up your child at the end of each day:

Parents/Guardians can use School Dismissal Manager to indicate how their child will get home at the end of the day, and also to indicate absences, reasons for leaving school early, and reasons for a tardy arrival.

Parents/Guardians can use School Dismissal Manager to set a default pick up status and can change their child’s pick up status. For questions about SDM, contact:

School Dismissal Manager & Fast Lane 

Upon arrival at the Fast Lane, the parent/guardian or other verified pick-up person, checks in with EVCS staff. Their arrival to the Fast Lane is indicated in SDM and a message is sent to the classroom of the students that the person is verified to pick-up. These students will be dismissed from their classrooms & sent to the pick-up zone to load into their vehicle.

To make our pickup and dropoff via car as smooth as possible, cars should adhere to the directions provided by staff.

Bussing 

EVCS uses Buffalo Public School Transportation (BPST) services. The set up of routes & communication with families of pick-up/drop-off place & time, will come directly from BPST.  You can contact them by calling 716-816-4895.

  • EVCS will coordinate bus transportation for all qualifying students who live in the Buffalo School District. Parents/Guardians pursuing bussing can complete a Transportation Application here.
  • Families living outside of the Buffalo School District are responsible for setting up their own bus transportation with the district they live in. Learn more by reading this letter from our Transportation Team.
  • Note: If you need to change your child’s transportation within Buffalo, changes can take as long as 2 weeks to go into effect.
  • If you are changing your bus route due to a change in home address, please also complete a Change of Address Form.
  • Families that live outside of the Buffalo District are responsible for setting up bus transportation with their district.
  • Kindergarteners and students under the age of 6: an adult must meet the bus at the stop in order for the child to get off the bus.
  • Bus rules: While riding  the bus, students are required to wear a seatbelt, remain in their seats, and adhere to the driver’s instructions. If a student is written up three times, EVCS retains the right to suspend them from using the bus.

If a bus is running late, please call the terminal directly (phone numbers below) and they will be able to tell you what time the bus will arrive at your stop.

Bus Terminal Phone Numbers

Please call the terminal directly for the best and most timely bus arrival information.

BUFFALO Bus Terminal Numbers

  • 200 Busses: (716) 874-0544
  • 300 & 400 Busses: (716) 835-5410
  • 500 Busses: (716) 826-4771
  • 600 Busses: (716) 896-1171
  • 700, 800 & 900 Busses: (716) 894-4778

CHEEKTOWAGA CENTRAL:  (716) 686-3612

KEN-TON:  (716) 874-8611

WEST SENECA:  (716) 677-3820

SWEET HOME:  (716) 250-1435

For additional bussing assistance, please contact:

Days Park: Estefany Hall at ehall@elmwoodvillageschool.org

Hertel: NaShomi Shaffer at nshaffer@elmwoodvillageschool.org

By-Laws

Download By-Laws

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