Information for Secondary Students

Welcome to the Leander Extended Opportunity Center (LEO), a disciplinary alternative education campus dedicated to helping students achieve academic success while away from their home campus. Our goal is to provide a safe and structured learning environment that encourages academic achievement through ownership of learning. We will help students develop or refine their abilities to self-advocate, manage challenges, and achieve personal successes appropriately. Instruction is provided by highly qualified, certified teachers from both students’ home campuses and LEO.

Daily Routine: 

School runs from 8:15 AM to 3:35 PM each day. Students arriving after 8:15 AM are considered tardy. On their first day, students should bring only textbooks and required materials for their elective courses. Students do not need to bring their LISD or personal computers as a LEO-assigned device will be provided for the duration of their placement. All other school supplies, including books and calculators, will be provided. Backpacks are not permitted. Students may bring a cell phone, house key, wallet, Chapstick, lunch box/bag, driver's license, and a factory-sealed drink. These items will be checked during the morning security screening and returned at the appropriate time. No other items may be brought to LEO. Before entering the building, students must adhere to the LEO dress code (click here to view the LEO Dress Code). Once on campus, communication between students is permitted only during group work or at other times deemed appropriate by LEO staff.

 Safety and Security: 

Ensuring order and safety is crucial to LEO's educational program. Students assigned to LEO will undergo metal detector screenings daily and are subject to daily searches. During these screenings, students will remove shoes, belts, and any outerwear, waiting patiently in line. They will turn their pockets inside out and place personal items in clear zip bags provided by the school, which will be returned at the end of the day. If necessary, a staff member may pat down a student's legs, arms, and back. LEO also uses handheld metal-detecting wands for added security when needed. Refer to the Leander ISD Parent and Student Handbook and Student Code of Conduct for more information. 

After morning security, students report to their assigned classroom teacher. Students will proceed to their assigned seats and read a library book or complete a teacher-assigned task until the start of the first period. There are eight periods and a lunch break each day at LEO, with all classes meeting daily. Students will have scheduled restroom breaks and can request emergency breaks as needed. This will be discussed further during student orientation, which is held promptly at 8:15 AM on the first day of assignment. Students who are late for orientation will be rescheduled for the next available orientation day. Parents can attend an informational meeting by making an appointment for Monday, Wednesday, or Friday after 4:00 PM. Call the LEO office at 512-570-2230 to schedule.

 Student Expectations: 

LEO students are expected to be safe, respectful, and responsible at all times. Their time at LEO will be spent in a highly structured environment that encourages academic success by empowering them to take ownership of their learning. This structured time allows for reflection, refocus, and redirection to help ensure a successful return to their home campus. While at LEO, students shall not communicate with other students without permission, disrupt the learning of others, or be disrespectful to their teachers or other students. Students must remain engaged during class time, avoid putting their heads down or sleeping, and refrain from getting up from their desks without permission.

 Attendance and Late Arrivals:

 Attendance is reported daily. Days missed due to absences must be made up before a student can be considered for release. Students must provide a written note from a parent/guardian for any absence, including the date, reason, and signature. For doctor visits, a note from the doctor/office is preferred documentation. For court appearances, the judge or their designee should issue the appropriate documentation.  Note: A student may be denied credit and have their placement extended if they fail to comply with state compulsory attendance requirements.  A student is tardy after 8:15 AM. A signed note from a parent/guardian is required for late arrivals. Excessive tardiness may result in disciplinary action.

Class Schedule, Classwork, and Grades: 

Our teachers at LEO communicate with home-campus teachers to support students' academic success. Instruction is provided individually or in small groups for all subjects. While LEO teachers follow the LISD curriculum, assignments may differ from those on the home campus due to differences in pacing and sequencing. Students should always ask if they have a question about an assignment or need assistance.  Students must complete an adequate amount of work daily, as determined by the course instructor. Failure to complete the required work could result in a non-productive demerit. LEO follows LISD grading policies, which are outlined in the LISD Student and Parent Handbook.

Breakfast and Lunch

Students continue to use their school accounts to pay for meals at LEO. Students may bring their lunch. Lunches brought from an outside source will be searched daily and returned to the student at the appropriate time. Food items such as soup, chili, stew, or smoothie-type drinks in an open container are prohibited. Refrigerators or microwaves are not available for student use. Students may bring a factory-sealed drink for lunch if they choose. Food deliveries from outside establishments are not permitted. Food and beverages may only be on a student's desk during designated breakfast and lunch breaks.

Illness at LEO. 

If a student feels ill during the school day, they will complete a request to see the nurse and will be seen in the campus nurse’s office.

Technology: 

Students will be provided with a LEO laptop for the duration of their assignment. All Leander ISD guidelines, as outlined in the LISD Student Handbook, Appendix B, LISD Technology Resource Acceptable Use Guidelines, must be followed. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the student and parent being informed of the violations, and the student will no longer be allowed to use the device. Students will be provided an assigned laptop as needed to complete their work and must close the device at the end of each class period as directed by the teacher.

Discipline: 

The Leander Extended Opportunity Center adheres to the Leander Independent School District’s Student Code of Conduct.

Transportation.

LISD provides transportation at predetermined stops determined by district routers. These are specialized stops exclusively for transportation to and from LEO, not regular bus stops. Students will be notified of their bus stop location before their first day. Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring their students arrive at the designated bus stop on time. Students and parents are required to sign a bus behavior contract before the student can ride the bus to LEO.

 Participation in Extracurricular Activities / Trespassing 

Students assigned to a DAEP (Disciplinary Alternative Education Program) may not enter any school district properties, including those of districts other than Leander ISD, while assigned to LEO. If a student is seen on district property other than the LEO Center, they may be charged with trespass. Students are not allowed to participate in or attend any extracurricular or co-curricular activities sponsored by the school district during their DAEP/LEO placement. This means students are not permitted on any Leander Independent School District property (excluding LEO). This policy complies with TEC, Chapter 37, Subchapter A, which prohibits students assigned to a DAEP from attending or participating in school-sponsored or school-related activities. Students will not visit or join in activities at other campuses in the district. Failure to abide by these rules may result in an extension of the student's placement at LEO and/or a citation for criminal trespass.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the LEO Center directly. 

Leander Extended Opportunity (LEO) Center 

300 S. West Dr., Leander, TX 78641

 Phone: 512-570-2230 | Fax: 512-570-2234