Albuquerque Public Schools
PK13 Visitors to Schools
Purpose of Visitors
Albuquerque Public Schools encourages parents, guardians, and family and community members to visit its schools.
Requirements and Examples of Visitors
A visitor is an unsalaried person who attends a district sponsored event or activity or visits a site in the district for a short time mostly to observe or participate. No background clearance is required to visit a site in the district. Visitors shall have no unsupervised exposure or contact with students. When visitors’ time on campus becomes more than a casual visit, or becomes more consistent, they shall be encouraged to become volunteers.
Visitors shall comply with the following requirements:
- Visitors shall report their presence and sign in at the school office if the visit occurs during the instructional day, but may not be required to sign in if the event or activity is after the instructional day.
- Visitors will have no approved badge issued by any school, department, or other entity in the district or community. Schools will provide visitors with a sticker or label to designate them as such while on campus, which they will display at all times and surrender following the event or activity.
- Visitors must be able to present some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID, US or other government identification).
A visitor is a guest to a school. For purposes of this procedural directive, “visitor” means an unsalaried person who attends district sponsored event or activity or visits a district site for a short time. Upon arrival on a school campus, any individual, including a student from another school, must report to the school office and/or the principal, sign in, and state the reason for the visit. If the visit occurs after the instructional day, visitors may not be required to sign-out. All visitors are subject to the policies and procedural directives of Albuquerque Public Schools.
An individual failing to comply with any of these procedures and/or causing a disruption of the educational process may be barred or removed from the campus at the principal's discretion. The individual also may be charged with criminal trespassing. The APS School Police may provide additional information and assistance.
Visitors – No Background Clearance Required
This category includes visitors or guests who enter a school for a one-time event. This person shall have no unsupervised exposure or contact with students. Visitors who exceed two visits each month or visit schools for the intent of supporting district goals should become volunteers and complete the relevant background check and volunteer application.
Guests and visitors shall comply with the following requirements:
- present some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID, US or other government identification)
- sign in at the main office
- display a volunteer/visitor identification badge which they will surrender following the event or activity
Examples of ways in which schools welcome visitors may include such events as:
- guest/resource speakers
- one-time appearance for school or classroom event like a literacy day, play or presentation
- parents and family members who attend school to eat lunch
- visitors for a one-time family involvement activity with their student
- parents dropping off items for their student at the school
- vendors making a delivery to a school
- parent-teacher conferences or student meetings
- athletic or activity events
Visitors who are promoting products or ideas for personal or financial gain or advantage must present to the principal written permission to contact the school. Permission is obtained from the Communications Office.
In no event will the concept of uninterrupted instructional process be abrogated.
State laws also apply to visitors on campus: "Persons involved in the distribution or possession with the intent to distribute drugs or counterfeit drugs on this school campus or within 1000 feet of the boundaries of this school are subject to arrest pursuant to the provisions of Section 30-31-22C NMSA 1978 and upon conviction as an adult are subject to imprisonment for up to 18 years in the N.M. State Penitentiary pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-15-18 NMSA 1978."
Student Visitors
Student visitors (from another APS school) may be permitted to visit the school campus at the discretion of the principal. No student who is currently suspended from another school and/or who has been the cause of a disruption in any school shall be allowed to visit another school campus.
Because of the potential for disruption to the instructional process and to minimize the risk of injury and liability, children who are not enrolled in an APS school or program are not permitted on campus or on field trips unless they are visiting under the immediate supervision of their parent or guardian. Students may not bring children or siblings who are not enrolled in a program at the school to school field trips as visitors or in order to “babysit.” Employees may not bring their own children to work at school or other district facilities during the duty day without prior authorization from their principal or manager.
Administrative Position:
- Chief of Operations Officer
- Associate Superintendent of Equity, Instruction Innovation and Support
Department Director:
- Executive Director of Student, Family and Community Supports
- APS Chief of Police
References:
Legal Ref.:
- §22-10A-5 NMSA 1978
- §30-31-22C NMSA 1978
- §31-15-18 NMSA 1978
Board Policy Cross Ref:
Procedural Directive Cross Ref:
NSBA/NEPN Classification: KI
Revised: May 1995
Revised: April 1996
Revised: May 1997
Revised: October 2005
Reviewed: October 8, 2019
Revised: October 18, 2019