Grievance Policies – see excerpt from the Student Parent Handbook below:

SECTION 2300 – GRIEVANCES

2300.01 STUDENT/PARENT GRIEVANCE

A “grievance” is another name for a complaint. A student/parent grievance exists when a student/parent believes that he/she has been treated unfairly. Grounds upon which a grievance can be based on includes: disability, gender, religion, marital status, race, color, national origin, age, or violation of school policy or procedures. Students/parents wishing to register a school level grievance must do so within ten school days from the time that they became aware of the alleged infraction. The grievance procedure is available only to enrolled Lutz Preparatory students or parents of currently enrolled Lutz Preparatory students. Students must involve their parents or guardians in resolving school grievances. Forms for filing formal grievances are available in the school office and shall be provided upon request once steps 1 and 2 have occurred below (note: the form can be provided during the meeting with the school level administrator and/or Director of Schools in step 2 if needed).

  1. Ask the teacher or school staff person who allegedly treated you unfairly to schedule a conference for the purpose of discussing your complaint.
  2. If the person charged with the alleged infraction does not resolve your complaint, arrange to talk with school level Administrator and/or Director of Schools regarding the issue. (Can refer to Level 1 Grievance if form needed) The Director of Schools or administration shall provide the grievant with a response and/or resolution to the issue within fifteen school days.
  3. Most student grievances can be resolved in step 1 and 2 above. If these steps do not resolve the grievance, the process is as follows:
    • Level 2 Grievance: If efforts to resolve the grievance with school level administrator fail, the student/parent may file a Level 2 Grievance Form with the LP Personnel Committee. The committee shall provide a response and/or resolution to the issue within fifteen school days.
    • Level 3 Grievance: If the grievant is not satisfied with the Level 1 or 2 decision, they may appeal for a Level 3, Lutz Preparatory Board. This appeal must be filed on a separate sheet with the Grievance form within ten school days from the time that said decision was rendered.
      • On receiving a Level 3 appeal request, the Governing Board shall have thirty days in which to inform the Board of the request and schedule a meeting.
      • The Level 3 meeting shall not be a retrial of the grievance and no evidence shall be taken. The Lutz Preparatory Board shall review the evidence and testimony presented at Level 1 and 2. The Lutz Preparatory Board shall render a final decision with respect to the grievance. Meetings of the Governing Board are open to the public under the Sunshine Law; however, members of the Governing Board shall be sensitive to confidential student records that may be discussed and/or reviewed during such meeting and protect these records to the extent it is possible to protect the privacy of the student(s) involved.

 

2300.02 COMPLAINTS RELATED TO STUDENT WELFARE CONCERNS (HOUSE BILL 1557)

Florida law provides a dispute resolution process in the event a parent has a complaint concerning certain student welfare provisions contained in Section 1001.42(8)(c)1-6, Florida Statutes. Click here to see the Policy on Complaints Related to House Bill 1557 (2022) adopted by the LP Board of Directors. Forms for filing grievance complaints related to House Bill 1557 (FDOE CSSM-1) are available in the school office and shall be provided upon request.