Annually, the District is required to send families a number of notices. The following notices are sent to families via the PowerSchool Parent Portal:
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Release of directory information and photo/video permissions
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Consent under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) (students under 13)
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Student handbooks, including rules of conduct and notice of nondiscrimination
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Release of certain information to military recruiters unless parents opt-out (high school only)
All families need to log in to the Parent Portal at https://powerschool.abschools.org/public/ to update emergency contacts, demographic information, and medical permissions before school starts.
Additional Required Annual Notices
- Rights of parents and eligible students under student records regulations (603 CMR 23.07 (4)
(a) and 603 CMR 23.10)
- Rights under the federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) regarding certain
surveys funded by the U.S. Department of Education
- Utilization of a verbal screening tool to screen students for substance use (grades 7 and 9)
-English Language Parent Advisory Council (EL-PAC) notification
-State Seal of Biliteracy Parent Notification
Communication Map
Please review our streamlined Parent Communication Map, should you need to reach out to someone in the district around a particular question or concern.
Financial Assistance
From time to time, families may face financial difficulties, and school-related dues and fees can compound family stressors. If your family is experiencing financial hardship, you or your child can make a request for assistance following the information contained in our Financial Assistance letter. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us!
School Cancellations and Delays
Occasionally, weather and/or environmental factors, might force a decision to release school early, delay the opening of school or cancel school altogether. Please review our procedures for school cancellations, delays and emergency release.
School Safety and Emergency Response Planning
The Acton-Boxborough Schools takes seriously its obligation to provide a safe learning and working environment for students, staff and families in our District. Each year, the District’s Emergency Plan is reviewed by a Safety Committee and updated to reflect best practices and guidelines. The plan addresses a wide range of issues, from dealing with the onset of a crisis, to addressing the psychological and emotional needs of students and adults in its aftermath. We have created a document intended to provide families a brief description of how the school district manages an emergency and how Acton-Boxborough families can support those vital efforts. We want to make sure families have a familiarity with key terminology that might be used. To that end, the document includes an overview of the different emergency response protocols a school might implement.
The guide for families is available below as a PDF document, and in the following languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Russian, and Chinese. Please consider saving this document on your personal devices and/or printing a copy for your home.
Safety Planning Guide - English
Safety Planning Guide - Spanish
Safety Planning Guide - Portuguese
Safety Planning Guide - Chinese
Safety Planning Guide - Russian
Safety Planning Guide - Hindi