Policies & Agreements

Three core agreements guide everything we do:

• Respect yourself: Honor your body, feelings, and needs.

• Respect others: Listen, ask permission, and practice consent.

• Respect the space: Care for our materials, environment, and shared resources.

These agreements shape how we handle belongings, navigate conflicts, and maintain our physical spaces.

Philly Agile Learning Community affirms and promotes the full participation of persons in all our activities and endeavors including membership, programming, and employment, without regard to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status such as disability, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.

What this means in practice:

• We actively work to create an accessible, inclusive community

• We respect each person's identity, background, and needs

• We address bias and discrimination when it arises

• We welcome neurodivergent learners and families

• We accommodate diverse abilities and learning styles

Regular attendance helps students and the community build rhythm and trust.

What we ask:

• Let us know if your child will be absent.

• Show up when you can, even if participation looks quiet or reflective that day.

• Understand that being present—physically and emotionally—matters.

Participation looks different for everyone. Some days are active and social, others are quiet and observational. Both are valuable.

Everyone at Philly ALC has the right to feel safe and respected.

Consent culture

• We ask before touching, borrowing, or entering someone's space

• "Stop means stop" in all interactions—physical, verbal, and emotional

• Respecting boundaries is a daily practice, not just a rule

Anti-bullying commitment

Bullying, harassment, or repeated disrespectful behavior has no place in our community. When harm happens, we respond with restorative practices—working to repair relationships and rebuild trust, not to punish.

Conflict is natural. What matters is how we handle it.

Our approach:

1. Talk directly: Whenever possible, speak with the person involved

2. Seek support: If you need help, ask a facilitator or trusted community member to join

3. Restorative practice: We focus on listening, understanding impact, and finding agreements for moving forward

Through honest conversations and collaborative problem-solving, we strengthen our relationships and our community.

Technology can be a tool for creativity, connection, and exploration. We encourage intentional use.

Guidelines:

• Use devices with purpose, not by default.

• Headphones required for sound in shared spaces.

• Ask permission before taking photos or videos of others.

• Balance screen time with other activities.

We respect that different families have different relationships with technology. Our goal is mindful use that supports learning and community.

We occasionally take photos and videos of community activities for use in marketing, social media, and internal documentation.

Your rights:

• You can opt out of photo/video use at enrollment or anytime

• Students are taught to ask permission before photographing others

• Contact us at info@phillyalc.org if you have questions or want to update your preferences