SHARP HomePage

S.H.A.R.P. SCHOOL
(School/Home Adjustment Reinforcement Program)

Team Leader : Gregg Baumgarten
Secretary: Pam Buckles
950 N. SunValley Blvd.
Mesa, AZ 85207
(480) 472-8495

The primary mission of the Mesa Public Schools Department of Special Education is to provide appropriate special education programming for all students with educational disabilities and to promote programming that will accomplish the successful transition of disabled students from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, independent living, and community participation.

SHARP

Mesa Public Schools

Special Education

Other Alternative Programs

Vocational

I. INTRODUCTION / PROGRAMS

The School Home Adjustment Reinforcement Program (SHARP) is a school day alternative program for Emotionally Disabled (ED), Mild or Moderate Mentally Disabled (MIMD, MOMD) and Autistic children/adolescents in the Mesa Public Schools. SHARP is a highly structured, self-contained program serving a small number of students. The program is an "educational alternative" designed to help make changes in behaviors and family dynamics necessary for a student's successful transition back to a regular education campus. SHARP uses an individualized 24-hour plan for meeting each student's educational needs. SHARP School also houses two vocational programs; Vocational Exploration Program (VEP) and Extended-Vocational Exploration Program (E-VEP).

(back to top)

II. WHO ATTENDS SHARP

SHARP provides services for students in grades K-12 who usually are attending district special education classrooms. It is clear that some students, based on educational and psychological assessment, require a more comprehensive program than the regular school special education classroom setting can provide. When this more intensive service is necessary an IEP team can consider a more restrictive placement. Occasionally, SHARP may be utilized to meet the needs of a special education student returning from a residential placement and/or psychiatric hospitalization. Students who are referred to SHARP have severe behavioral problems in the educational setting.

(back to top)

III. ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES - PHONE 472-8960

Consistent attendance at school is necessary in order for the student to receive educational benefit. The SHARP is committed to helping students stay on task to enhance their academic and behavioral skills. Arizona Revised Statutes require parents to notify the school in advance of or at the time of a student's absence.

Our attendance phone number is 472-8960. If a student is absent from school, and the parent/guardian has not notified the school, the SHARP secretary or designee will make a reasonable effort to notify the parent or guardian by phone. According to Arizona's compulsory attendance law, students must be in school until they reach the age of 16 or successfully complete the 10th grade. Special education students attend school according to their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and can remain in school until receiving a standard diploma or the age of 22.

School board policy requires that absences from school be for "necessary and important reasons". Such reasons include, but are not limited to, illness, bereavement, other family emergencies and observance of major religious holidays of the family's faith.

SHARP follows the district's elementary calendar which includes early release on Wednesdays.Classes start at 8:00 and end at 2:00- Wednesdays end at 1:30. The vocational programs follow the district's high school calendar which includes monthly late start days.

The Vocational programs have a.m. and p.m. classes- a.m. class is from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m.class is from 12:00 to 2:30. Late start days delay a.m. start time until 9:30.

(back to top)

IV. DRESS STANDARDS

We appreciate parents' continued support and ask again that as you shop for back-to-school clothing, please be sure that these dress standards are taken into consideration.

As stated in the MPS Guidelines for Student Behavior, district dress Standards prohibit student dress and/or grooming that:
1. Presents a risk to the health, safety, or general welfare of students or staff
2. Interferes with or disrupts the educational environment or process
3. Is counterproductive to curriculum goals and/or educational objectives 4. Displays obscene language or symbols
5. Immodestly exposes the chest, abdomen, genital area or buttocks
6. Creates an atmosphere of threat, intimidation or undue pressure

It is also stated that clothing or accessories that display, advocate or encourage the use of alcohol, drugs or tobacco are prohibited. This has been in effect for several years and constitutes the dress code for SHARP this school year.
Beginning with the 2000-2001 school year, the following clarifications of students dress expectations are provided to guide parent purchases of school clothes and planning for the upcoming school year.:
1. Scarves and bandannas may not be worn on campus.
2. Pants and shorts must fit at the natural waistline with or without a belt being worn.
3. Tank tops, spaghetti-strap tops, etc., may only be worn if a T-shirt is worn underneath. Necklines must be high enough to modestly cover the chest area. No undergarment may show.
4. Any shirt or top must cover from the side neckline to the edge of the shoulder.
5. All shirts, tops, etc., must be long enough to completely cover a person's midriff, including if the person were to raise his/her arms up to shoulder height.
6. As a general rule, the minimum length of shorts or skirts should be fingertip length. We realize that for some, fingertip length may not be an accurate means to judge the appropriateness of the clothing being worn. The most important factor is that the shorts/skirts are long enough to modestly cover the individual at all times and are not too tight fitting as to be immodest.
7. If an outer garment is sheer, all visible clothing must meet the dress code standards.
8. Students will refrain from dressing in costume unless special permission is given by the administration (e.g., if it is part of an approved Spirit Day). On approved Spirit Days, all dress standards still apply.
9. Spikes, chains and other potentially dangerous accessories may not be worn.
The guidelines for dress standards will be followed in the same manner as in the past as far as enforcement. In the wording of the district guidelines, students who violate the district's dress standards may be asked to do any of the following, depending upon the specific circumstances:
· Turn inappropriate clothing inside out.
· Change into clothing that may be provided by the school. · Have other clothing brought to the school.
· Remove the accessory.
Repeat violations of the dress standards may result in appropriate disciplinary action being taken, including suspension from school.

(back to top)