Families
Resources for Families
We know families play a critical role in student success. This page is designed to make it easy to find the information, resources, and support you need throughout the school year.
- Parent Connection
- Student Services
- Food Services
- Homeless Services
- Transportation
- Special Education
- Get Involved
Parent Connection
Student Services
Visit the Student Services page below to find enrollment, records, and student support services.
Student Services
Food Services
Meal Prices
Providing food that students want to eat is key to any successful school food program. SFE's chefs and dietitians craft student-friendly recipes and develop menus with regional and global flavors to offer a wide variety of entrée, fruit and vegetable choices that exceeds competitor menus. SFE's meals also incorporate many locally grown products, ensuring freshness and supporting our community.
Meal Prices
- Adult Breakfast $3.05
- Elementary Breakfast $0.00
- Middle and High School Breakfast $0.00
- Elementary Lunch $0.00
- Middle and High School Lunch $0.00
- Adult Lunch $5.15
Breakfast for Every Child
Mornings can be really crazy! The alarm doesn’t go off, the kids don’t want to get up, there’s no time to eat breakfast before the bus comes or they’re just not ready to eat. If this sounds like your house, we have good news for you.
Pontiac School District realizes the importance of students eating breakfast. Studies show that eating breakfast improves test scores, helps students pay attention in class and improves memory. This year, Michigan is ensuring no student starts the day on an empty stomach by offering free breakfast for all.
Everyday, breakfast will be available to all students at NO CHARGE. Breakfast is offered to all students and they will have the option to eat a breakfast that meets USDA guidelines. Pontiac School District proudly joins this initiative, knowing that a nutritious start helps students focus, learn, and succeed. Let’s celebrate this positive change and the bright future it brings and we hope your child will take advantage of the great opportunity to eat a breakfast every morning that gives them the boost they need for a day of learning.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email our Food Service General Manager Thomas Henry.
Learn more about the School Breakfast Program.
Civil Rights Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call 866-632-9992 to request a form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax 202-690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities, may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 (English); or 800-845-6136 (Spanish).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Homeless Services
If your family lives in any of the following situations you qualify for homeless services.
- In a shelter, (homeless, domestic, emergency or transitional)
- Motel, hotel, or any other temporary housing
- In a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station
- If you are doubled up with family or sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, or economic hardship
- Evicted or forced to relocate
- Families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence
- Students under the age of 18 who have run away or otherwise are not accompanied by a parent or guardian
Eligible child/children have the right to:
- Receive transportation to and from school of origin
- Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment
- Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled)
- School supplies and backpack
- School Uniforms
- References to local agencies to assist with finding housing and help with financial assistance
Homeless Liaison: Wilma Bell - Wilma.bell@pontiacschools.org
Transportation
Pontiac School District Now Offering FirstView GPS Tracking
In collaboration with our transportation partner, First Student, Pontiac School District is offering
FirstView®, a real-time GPS vehicle tracking and student transportation monitoring platform.
With FirstView, parents and caregivers can download the secure, easy-to-use vehicle tracking mobile app
that will allow you to stay easily connected with your student(s) daily trips.
What Does This Mean For You?
- See the real-time vehicle location via GPS and track its progress.
- Easy access to vehicle details as well as updates regarding any changes.
- Receive multiple distanced-based ETA notifications when the vehicle is getting close.
- Set-up family members and caregivers to receive trip email alerts.
- Dedicated customer support team for all app-related questions.
To set up your FirstView 1.0 mobile app profile. You’ll be asked to provide:
- The 5-character District Code: Y7I5N (I=Igloo)
- Your student’s ID number
- Your student’s last name
Special Education
Special education is not a “place” where we send children who do not “fit”, but rather a continuum of services and programs to supplement a student’s access to general education. Services offered to a student are determined by individualized education plans-- IEPs-- that consider the student’s educational level, learning style, and impact on his or her specific disability.
Programs and Services
Special education programs and services are delivered through a continuum of placements in the least restrictive environment in the child’s home school. This continuum includes instruction in general education classes with resource support, resource classrooms with services for 2-3 hours a day, self-contained special education classrooms, special education schools and home-bound teaching. When students must be transported to their programs, transportation services are provided.
- Instructional Services
- Comprehensive Evaluations
- Related Services
- Ancillary Support Services
- Support Services
- SLD Evaluation Plan
Instructional Services
The vision of the Office of Special Services and Student Equity is to provide a quality education to every child in an instructional setting appropriate for his or her needs. This vision is supported by the district’s mission to educate all students in the least restrictive environment. The federal mandates Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) are intended to support the idea of quality education by emphasizing the necessity of relying on research-based instructional practices.
Comprehensive Evaluations
Child Find Evaluations must be considered at least every three years after the child has been placed in special education or more frequently if conditions warrant, to determine if the child continues to be a “child with a disability”.
Related Services
Ancillary Support Services
Support Services
Support Services
Instructional Support Team
Given the risks of stigma, over-identification and misclassification, the protection of the child’s rights and interests requires that every possible avenue be explored to maximize the student’s access to an appropriate general education.
The Instructional Support Team (IST) is a collaborative, problem-solving effort by general education personnel in conjunction with special education diagnostic personnel and parents. Before referring a student for individual assessment and consideration for special education eligibility, all schools are asked to make a systematic attempt to determine whether satisfactory adjustment and progress can be achieved in the general education curriculum.
Response to Intervention
A major concern for parents as well as teachers is how to help children who experience difficulty learning in school. Everyone wants to see their child excel, and it can be frustrating when a child falls behind in learning to read, do math, or experiences behavioral difficulties that impact success in the classroom. Children who have the most difficulty are often referred for an evaluation to determine if they need and qualify for special education services.
Response to Intervention (RTI) is an individual, comprehensive student-centered assessment and intervention concept that focuses on a problem-solving framework to identify and address the student’s difficulties using effective, efficient instruction and targeted interventions leading to improved achievement. The Office of Special Services and Student Equity is working collaboratively with teachers, administrators and support staff to:
- Increase competency in grade level content expectations for all students
- Address behavioral issues that frequently present barriers to successful academic achievement
Early Intervention
Children from birth through age 3 may be eligible for special education services. The Early Intervention Program provides special education instruction and ancillary services to infants and toddlers in both the home and classroom setting. These services are available to children residing in the Pontiac School District service area. Speech therapists provide services for children from birth through age 3 who have communication or hearing disorders.
SLD Evaluation Plan
Pontiac School District’s Evaluation Plan to determine the existence of Specific Learning Disability (SLD):
- Student will be referred to the Instructional Support Team (IST)
- All pertinent data will be collected from district and state assessments and response to scientific, research-based intervention.
- A ‘Review of Existing Evaluation Data’ (REED) meeting will be conducted to provide guidance and structure for the development of both initial evaluations and re-evaluations.
- Student will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, which may include, but is not limited to school psychologist, teacher consultant, social worker, teacher, and parent input.
In order to determine the existence of SLD, a student does not:
- Achieve adequately for the student’s age or to meet State-approved grade-level standards in one or more of the areas identified at 34 CFR§300.309 (a)(b)(1)(i) when provided with learning experiences and instruction appropriate for the student’s age or State-approved grade level standards; and
- Make sufficient progress to meet age or State-approved grade-level standards in one or more of the areas identified at 34 CFR§300.309 (a)(b)(1)(i) when using a process based on the student’s response to scientific, research-based intervention.
The assessment must document a weakness in one or more of the following achievement areas:
- Oral expression
- Listening comprehension
- Written Expression
- Basic reading skills
- Reading fluency skills
- Reading comprehension
- Mathematics calculation
- Mathematics problem-solving
Get Involved
Pontiac Schools values the support of families, community members, and partners who help make a difference in the lives of our students. Whether you’re interested in volunteering in classrooms, participating in reading programs, supporting school events, or exploring opportunities to get involved, we welcome your partnership. Visit the Volunteering page to learn more about volunteer opportunities, application requirements, and ways you can help support student success across our district.