Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question about our school, our FAQ page is one of the best places to find the answer. We've provided answers to the questions we are asked most frequently. If you don't find what you need here, we're always happy to answer your questions personally. Just give us a call!
What do you do to keep Tech Prep students safe?
Our students’ safety is a top priority. We use the following resources and policies to help ensure the safety of all of our students:
- Canines on Campus - To help maintain a safe campus and keep the school free of dangerous contraband, we periodically use canines (specially trained drug dogs) on campus to sniff out and alert staff to the presence of substances prohibited by law or by board policy. The canine visits occur randomly throughout the school year.
- Metal Detector - The board believes that the presence of weapons in the schools threatens the district's ability to provide the safe and orderly learning environment to which district students and staff are entitled. The board also believes that metal detector searches offer a reasonable means to keep weapons out of the schools and mitigate the fears of students and staff. We use metal detectors as necessary to help provide a safe learning environment.
- Dangerous Objects - We do not allow our students to wear articles of clothing, jewelry, or accessories that could pose a threat to the physical well-being and safety of students or others on campus. These include but are not limited to such items as spiked collars, spiked rings or wristbands, brass knuckles, steel toed shoes/boots, chains worn as jewelry, and over-sized chains attached to wallets. We also do not allow fireworks on campus.
What are the graduation requirements?
To receive a diploma from Tech Prep High School, students must:
- Complete all district and state of California required coursework through classroom attendance and accrual of credits
- Earn a minimum of 220 credits
What should students do if they arrive late to school?
All students arriving to school late must sign in at the office and wait to receive a late pass from the secretary before going to class. If only a few minutes remain before the end of the period, the student may need to wait in the office until the period is over before proceeding to the next class.
What should we do if my child is sick and must miss a day of school?
If a student must miss a day of school due to an illness, parents are responsible for notifying the attendance office to clear the absence. Parents should call the attendance office at (559) 687.7400 on the day of the absence or send a note with the student on the day he/she returns to school.
What if my child has an appointment and must leave early from school?
Students must have parent approval in order to leave school early (before lunch or the end of the school day). Parents/guardians can call the administration office at (559) 687-7400 or come by in person to arrange for a student to leave school early. Students leaving without parent approval may be subject to disciplinary action and/or loss of privileges.
Per doctor’s orders, my teen must take medication during the day. What is the protocol to do so?
Students or parents must check in all medications or prescription drugs at the administration office prior to the student going to class.
Is there a way to regularly check my son’s/daughter’s grades?
Yes, parents can easily access their son's or daughter’s grades, assignments, and attendance online by creating a parent account. All you need to do is supply an email account and password and follow the on-screen instructions for setting up an account. Access to your son’s or daughter’s grades is available through any web browser. Open up your browser and in the location or URL box, and type in: http://grades.tulare.k12.ca.us. Once an account is created, multiple students can be associated with the account. Just click on the appropriate tab for student information, attendance, and/or grades.
May students leave campus during the lunch hour?
Tech Prep operates a modified closed campus. Currently, the policy states that freshmen and sophomores shall remain on campus during the lunch hour. Juniors and seniors who are in “good standing” (no major discipline problems, no attendance issues) and earning credits towards graduation may go off campus for lunch. Junior and senior students who fail to maintain a “good standing” may have their off-campus privilege suspended. Please see the student handbook for more detailed information about our modified closed campus policy.
Is there a dress code for Tech Prep students?
Yes, the teachers, students, parents/guardians, and principals have established school rules governing student dress and grooming. The basics follow:
- We require students to wear clothing that is neat, clean, and acceptable in repair and appearance and within the bounds of decency, safety, and good taste as deemed appropriate by school administration.
- Students must wear shoes at all times.
- We prohibit anything that denotes membership in gangs or that advocates drug use, violence, disruptive behavior, or that is offensive.
- We do not allow caps and hats on campus.
- We do not allow see-through, bare midriff, or fishnet blouses; spaghetti strap tops; low cut or revealing tops; muscle shirts; strapless tops; off-the-shoulder shirts; or undershirts.
- We require the length of shorts to be within the bounds of decency and in good taste as appropriate for school. All shorts, skirts, and skorts must reach mid-thigh. Students may not wear cycling shorts as outer garments.
- We do not allow baggy or saggy clothes. Pants must fit at the waist, hips, crotch, and thighs. Students must tuck their belts into the pant loop.
- We do not permit students to wear clothing with inappropriate holes or frays.
- Students may not wear bandannas at school or school-sponsored events.
- Students may not wear towels, T-shirts, folded shirts, or any other clothing article around the neck, draped over the shoulder, or hanging from the pocket.
- Students may wear only sports jerseys with district/school logos on them.
Coaches and teachers may impose more stringent dress requirements to accommodate the specific needs of certain sports and/or classes. Please see our student handbook for more specific details.