K. E. Kaufman is the director of KISD's disciplinary alternative education program. Mr. Kaufman opened Alternative Classes in January 1994 with a staff of 10 that included counselor Angie Ricker. Kevin Wood is associate principal. Colleth Punch joined the administrative staff in 2005 as a second full-time counselor.

Twenty teachers instruct students in the core academic areas of English Language Arts (English and Reading), Math, Science and Social Studies, as well as electives in the areas of Art, Computer Science, Health, Physical Education and Spanish.

A standardized dress code for students assigned to Alternative Classes was approved by Klein ISD Board of Trustees and adopted in 2004-2005. The dress code remains effective 2007-2008 and will be enforced from the time students board the bus for transit to school until the student de-boards the bus after school at their assigned stop. Alternative Classes dress code for both girls and boys includes beige khaki pants worn at the waist (no shorts, Capri pant, skirt, or dress), a solid color black, brown or white belt with a small belt buckle, a white shirt with a collar (no logo or writing) that is long enough to tuck neatly into pants at the waist (a white or light gray undershirt may be worn under the white collared shirt), and white or black shoes with matching colored shoelaces. A white or light gray sweatshirt (no hood, no logo or writing) is acceptable for classroom appropriate outer wear. Shirts must be tucked into pants with the belt showing and pants must be worn at the waist on arrival to school.

Both Dillards and Kohls department stores have initiated sales programs for approved school wear. Boy's khaki pants ($19.99) and boy's and girl's white short sleeve polos ($9.99) are available from Dillards in the store, online and by phone order: 1-800-345-5273. At Kohls, khaki pants are $14.99 and short sleeve polos are $11.99. Dress code attire is also available from Academy, Target and Walmart.

On arrival to school, students must have shirts tucked in at the waist and belts on and fastened. As students enter the Annex building each day, they should be prepared to remove their belt, turn out all pockets from pants, and remove any metal objects that would cause alert from a metal detector. Metal objects should be turned over to designated Alternative Classes staff who supervise transit through the metal detector. Students must pass through the metal detector with palms up.

Attendance at school is always a priority. On April 29 and 30 and May 1 and 2, attendance and prompt arrival at school is especially significant during TAKS, TAAS and TAKS-M testing. As students arrive at school, attendance is taken. Preparations are underway to help each student enter the TAKS, TAAS and TAKS-M testing area ready for success. Students are provided with a breakfast snack before reporting to their testing classroom. Tests are administered in the morning, beginning at 7:30 am. The schedule for testing follows:

DATE GRADE(S) SUBJECT AREA(S)

April 29 (Tuesday) 5, 6, 7, 10 Math
April 30 (Wednesday) 6, 7 Reading
April 30 (Wednesday) 11 Math
May 1 (Thursday) 4, 5 Science
May 1 (Thursday) 5, 8, 11 Science
May 1 (Thursday) 9, 10 Math
May 2 (Friday) 8, 10 Social Studies

The faculty and staff of Alternative Classes always appreciate help from parents in their efforts to ensure students arrive at school on time and rested. Help from parents during this testing week is appreciated ten fold.

The 6th Six Weeks (for intermediate and high school students) commences Monday, April 21, 2008 and ends the last day of classes, Thursday, June 5, 2008. Report cards for the 5th Six Weeks for intermediate and high school students will be distributed on Friday, April 25, 2008.

Elementary students continue the 4th Nine Weeks (March 31 - June 5, 2008).

Under new legislation, the Texas Education Agency has mandated annual fitness testing for the state of Texas for all students 3rd-12th grades. The TEA has selected FITNESSGRAM® to serve as the state-wide fitness assessment in which all school districts will administer the required tests.
FITNESSGRAM® was developed by The Cooper Institute to facilitate communicating fitness testing results to students and to parents. The assessment measures three components of health-related physical fitness using criterion-referenced standards, called Healthy Fitness Zones, to determine students' fitness levels based on what is optimal for good health. The three components that have been identified as important to overall health and function: aerobic capacity; body composition; and muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility.
All students must be tested during the 2007-08 school year. Testing will take place in a physical education class for elementary grades 3rd – 5th. Testing for secondary grades 6th – 12th will occur in a physical education class or in a physical education equivalent course i.e.…, cheerleading, marching band, health science and careers or dance. Students not enrolled in a Physical Education course will be tested during designated times specific to each individual campus.

Students and parents will be notified by the campus principal in regards to fitness testing schedules. It is highly recommended that each student bring comfortable attire and gym shoes for the testing day. Students assigned to Alternative Classes will be tested at their home campus.

Student results will be available to the parent or guardians after the results have been reported to the state. Composite results for Klein ISD will be sent to the Texas Education Agency as required by law.

Students assigned to Alternative Classes are enrolled in the district's immediate response information system ("IRIS") through their home campus. District campuses utilize IRIS to get information to parents as soon as possible. Klein ISD partnered with the rapid communication system called IRIS two years ago. The system delivers emergency messages to parents individually by the communication method(s) of personal choosing. Should schools need to close early due to weather, for example, this system would notify you by your choice of home phone, cell phone, or email. In addition, schools may use the IRIS system to keep you up to date on important school wide information or changes relating to groups in which your child participates.

All students will be automatically entered into the IRIS system prior to and during the first month of school from the Klein student information system. Once the information is in the IRIS system, a test message will be sent. You will then be able to go to the IRIS website and change your information in the system or the way you wish to receive messages so it fits your preferences. You may also choose to remove yourself entirely from receiving emergency and informational messages from the system. Your Username will be kleinisd followed by your student’s ID number and your password is your student’s date of birth. You can find the student ID number on your student’s schedule. Examples for logon information are below.

Username: kleinisd41503
Password: 08261985

Parents can find out more information about IRIS by viewing the website, www.useiris.com. Contact information is available on this website should you have questions regarding the system or you can reach them by calling 281 263-6300.