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JHCA, Open/Closed Campus

JHCA, Open/Closed Campus

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Students are expected to remain on school premises throughout their school day. However, the principal may make individual exceptions. Such exceptions require a prior written parental request explaining the purpose for the student release.

Exceptions

  • Administrative Exceptions: Individual exceptions granted by the principal for specific purposes.

  • Parental Release: Situations where parents/guardians sign students out of the building.

    • Under the McKinney-Vento Act, unaccompanied youth (homeless students not in the physical custody of a parent/guardian) have the right to enroll and sign themselves in/out of school.

  • Lunch Exceptions:

    • High school lunch policies as determined by building administration.

    • Elementary and middle school students going home for lunch with written parental requests.

  • Open Block Periods: Authorized periods for eligible juniors and seniors where they are not required to remain on campus.

Open Campus During Lunch

At the high school level, open and closed campus during lunch is addressed by individual building administrations, considering their building circumstances. This includes discretion to grant, suspend or terminate the privilege of open lunch by grade level or for individual students.

Elementary and middle school students may go home for lunch if the building principal or designee has received a written request from their parents/guardians.

Scheduling and Open Block Eligibility

Students in grades 9 and 10 are required to maintain a full academic schedule and are not permitted to have Open Block periods. High school juniors and seniors may be eligible for Open Block periods so long as they are in "Good Academic Standing" and "On Track for Graduation." These are defined as follows:

  1. Good Academic Standing: Maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and having no failing grades in the previous semester.

  2. On Track for Graduation: The successful completion of a specific percentage of total credits required for the student’s designated graduation year:

    1. Juniors (11th Grade): Must have successfully completed at least 50% of the total credits required for graduation prior to the start of the academic year.

    2. Seniors (12th Grade): Must have successfully completed at least 75% of the total credits required for graduation prior to the start of the academic year.

    3. Coursework: Students must have completed all grade-level specific core requirements (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) as outlined in the course catalog.

  3. Attendance: Students who are considered Habitually Truant or Chronically Absent, or have excessive tardies, will be reviewed for Open Blocks.

Students with authorized Open Block period(s) on their schedule are not required to remain on campus during those designated times. To support campus security and student transitions, schools are encouraged to schedule Open Block periods at the beginning or end of the instructional day (e.g., 1st or 8th Period).

The ability to have an Open Block is a privilege, not a right. Building administration retains the final discretion to grant, suspend, or terminate Open Block privileges at any time based on a student’s academic performance, attendance patterns, or disciplinary actions.

Adopted August 17, 1988
Revised June 21, 1989
Revised November 3, 1999
Revised May 20, 2026

Legal References

  • C.R.S. 22-32-109(1)(w)
  • C.R.S. 22-32-120(3)