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My daughter Athena wore a baseball cap to her year-round school the other day – and it wasn’t Hat Day during Spirit Week. I didn’t realize until I started delving into the Durham Public Schools Student and Family Handbook that, as a general rule, those caps aren’t allowed inside school buildings.
As DPS leaders prepare to welcome traditional-calendar students back on Monday, Aug. 25, families across the district are getting ready – buying school supplies, double-checking bus routes, and arranging schedules. But the handbook is a resource that we can (and often do) easily overlook.
This year’s handbook is more than a list of rules. It’s a roadmap. It outlines everything from school policies and expectations to the many supports available for students and families. Whether your child is just starting kindergarten or is one year away from graduation, this document is essential reading.
In this six-part series, Southpoint Access breaks down what’s inside – section by section – so every family feels more confident, informed, and supported heading into the new school year.
🎓 A Word from the Superintendent
In his opening letter, Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis sets the tone for the year ahead:
“We’re on a mission to ignite the limitless potential in every student we serve, and together, this mission is possible.”
Now in his second year leading the district, Dr. Lewis emphasizes partnership with families and staff, and highlights a few key updates:
- Every student in DPS will receive free breakfast and lunch again this year – no application required – thanks to the district’s participation in the Community Eligibility Provision program.
- The district is continuing its Growing Together initiative to expand academic access and equity across schools.
🚀 The Big Picture: Mission, Vision, and Priorities
The first page of the handbook outlines the district’s core values:
- Mission: Durham Public Schools embraces, educates, and empowers every student to innovate, serve, and lead.
- Vision: Igniting Limitless Potential
The 2023–2028 Strategic Plan guides the district’s decisions and investments. Its five priorities are:
- Foster Academic Excellence
- Provide a Safe and Healthy School Environment that Supports the Whole Child
- Recruit, Support, and Retain an Exemplary Staff
- Cultivate Meaningful and Authentic Community Engagement
- Conduct Business and Operations Responsibly and Equitably
These goals come up repeatedly throughout the handbook, especially in how DPS addresses grading, behavior, student support services, and community involvement.
📘 Where to Find the Handbook (and What’s in It)
You can access the full 2025–26 Student & Family Handbook online at www.dpsnc.net. Printed copies may also be available at your school.
The handbook covers a lot of ground, including:
- Attendance and transportation
- Emergency procedures and weather closures
- Health services and medication policies
- Grading, testing, and promotion standards
- Special education and English learner services
- Behavior expectations and discipline procedures
- Technology use and digital safety
- Parent rights under FERPA and Title IX
It also includes links to all the official Board of Education policies, which you can search here:
📎 DPS Board Policy Search
If you don’t have internet access, your school’s front office can help you obtain the information you need.
☎️ Important Contact Information
- DPS Central Office (Fuller Building): 511 Cleveland St., Durham, NC 27702
- Main Line: (919) 560-2000
- Parent Emergency Hotline: (919) 560-9129
- Website: www.dpsnc.net
- Social Media:
🗂️ Make sure your family’s contact information is up to date in Infinite Campus, the district’s new student information system.
Use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to review and update your phone number, email address, and emergency contacts – especially to receive weather alerts, school closings, and urgent updates via text or call.
🆕 What’s New for 2025–26
Here are a few highlights families should know:
- 🥪 Universal Free Meals: All students receive free breakfast and lunch – no paperwork required.
- 📚 Restorative Practices: More schools now have in-school Restorative Practice Centers to help resolve conflicts and reduce suspensions.
- 📊 New Grading Policies: A minimum grade threshold of 50 is in effect for certain grading periods to support fairness and recovery (more on this in Part 4).
- 🌈 Expanded Gender Support: The handbook includes clear guidance on supporting LGBTQIA+ students and staff, including pronoun use and access to appropriate spaces (we’ll break this down in Part 3).
🧭 Why This Series Matters
You don’t have to read the full 60+ pages to get the most important takeaways – Southpoint Access has you covered.
Over the next week, this series will unpack key sections of the handbook, including:
- Daily logistics like attendance, transportation, and emergencies
- Equity and safety policies, including the dress code and anti-bullying procedures
- Academic expectations, from testing to final grades
- Services available to students with disabilities, language needs, or mental health concerns
- The student code of conduct, discipline matrix, and alternatives to suspension
Each article will help you answer questions like:
- What happens if my child misses more than 10 days of school?
- Can I opt out of media or directory information?
- What do I do if I suspect my child is being bullied?
- How do I know what my child’s rights are?
📅 Coming Next: Part 2 – “Attendance, Buses, and What Happens in an Emergency”
In our next article, we’ll explore the most practical policies families need to understand for a smooth school day: getting to school, staying on time, and knowing what to expect in the event of severe weather or other emergencies.
📣 Have a question you want answered in this series? Let me know – I may feature it in a future article.
Get Connected
- Send email to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news
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- Join the Southpoint Access subreddit!
Author: Wes Platt
Lead storyteller. Game designer and journalist. Recovering Floridian. Email: southpointaccessnews@gmail.com.
