Compliance & Disclosures

Bullying Prevention Policy

The FGLM Academy maintains a zero-tolerance stance on bullying and cyberbullying in any form, in person or online.

Reporting mechanisms

• Direct report to any staff member or the FGLM Academy Principal
• Email: complaints@forgirlslikeme.org
• Counseling & Wellness / Crisis Center line: (708) 584-3415

Investigation timeline

• Initial assessment begins within 24 hours of a report
• Families notified of outcome once the investigation is complete

Support framework

Students involved are connected to FGLM's Counseling & Wellness program for individual support, and safety planning is coordinated with the student's FGLM case manager as part of the organization's standard wraparound model.

Student Discipline Code

Behavioral intervention framework

Corporal punishment is prohibited under Illinois law without exception. Physical restraint or seclusion may be used only when a student's behavior poses an imminent danger of physical harm, only by staff trained in an approved crisis-intervention program, and must strictly follow the procedural, documentation, and parent-notification requirements of 105 ILCS 5/10-20.33 and its administrative rules. Every use of restraint or seclusion is documented, reported to the Program Director the same day, and reviewed to identify de-escalation opportunities for the future.

Suspension & expulsion

Suspension and expulsion follow the FGLM Academy's due-process procedures below, applied with particular sensitivity to how discipline decisions affect a student's housing and family stability.

Due process

• Written notice to parent/guardian (or the eligible student, if 18+) before or promptly after any suspension or expulsion action
• Right to a hearing before the FGLM Academy Principal
• Right to appeal the decision to the Executive Director within 10 business days, consistent with FGLM's standard academic appeals timeline

Attendance & Academic Progress

The FGLM Academy uses a self-paced, competency-based model: students demonstrate mastery of each subject's learning objectives before receiving credit, with Imagine Learning providing ongoing formative progress data rather than seat-time tracking.

Chronic absenteeism

Because the population served faces housing instability, attendance gaps are treated as a support need rather than a disciplinary matter. Chronic absenteeism is addressed through the student's FGLM case manager and wraparound services -- not through academic penalties.

Credit requirements

Illinois state credit requirements for high school diploma completion are followed, and the Principal maintains updated transcripts for all enrolled students.

Enrollment flexibility

Consistent with the FGLM Academy's McKinney-Vento compliance policy, students experiencing homelessness are enrolled immediately and are never denied enrollment or academic standing due to gaps in prior attendance records.

Title IX Grievance Procedures

Grievance process

1. Report received by the Title IX Coordinator or any staff member
2. Initial assessment and determination of next steps within 10 business days, consistent with FGLM's standard grievance-response timeline
3. Formal investigation, including opportunity for both parties to be heard
4. Written determination issued to both parties
5. Right to appeal the determination to the Executive Director within 10 business days, consistent with FGLM's standard academic appeals timeline