Sky Mountain Charter School. High School Student Manual 7/10/13 REV.8

Transcription

1 Sky Mountain Charter School High School Student Manual 7/10/13 REV.8 0

2 1

3 ESEA/NCLB and Highly Qualified Teachers... 3 Planning for High School... 4 Outline a General Course Plan... 4 Explore Careers and Colleges... 5 Bridges... 5 Sky Mountain Charter School provides all students in grades 6-12 with access to the online Bridges program. Bridges offers test preparation, as well as college and career planning and job search tools ROP (Regional Occupational Programs)... 6 Concurrent Enrollment in Community College... 7 Requirements for Concurrent Enrollment... 8 AP exams, CLEP and SAT... 8 SAT Information/College Board Website... 9 Graduation Pathway Options Course Completion Options Paying for College Private Colleges and Universities application process University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) application process Who should take a g College Prep Courses? POPULAR INTERNET WEBSITES Helpful Resources Student College Planner Graduation Pathway Options Course Completion Options Notes

4 One of the greatest attributes of our school is the amount of educational choices offered to students and families. At times, the diversity of course options can be overwhelming, especially when entering high school. With careful planning starting in the 8th and 9th grade, you can make a smooth transition to college or a career after you graduate high school. The purpose of this packet is to outline the main educational options that will best support a student s personal interests and career/college goals. Our ESs, as well as our guidance and curriculum departments, are committed to helping your student make the best choices for his or her educational plan. During your student's high school years, it is your responsibility to know the course requirements for the other schools your student may attend and to inform the ES of those requirements. Parents should also save all completed high school coursework in case of need for transfer to another high school or future college enrollment. ESEA/NCLB and Highly Qualified Teachers Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act all students must be served by a highly qualified teacher; that is a teacher who is certified in the subject area that they teach. At Sky Mountain Charter School we use a collaborative model to ensure that a highly qualified teacher serves all of our students. Using this model high school students curriculum in their core courses must be either: Online Vendor course teacher support strongly recommended 3

5 A Sky Mountain Charter School SME course Through an approved HQT vendor At a community college Through an ES who holds a secondary (HS) California credential in the high school subject(s), or who is otherwise certified For more information on meeting ESEA/NCLB guidelines please see the NCLB workshop in our parent manual. Your ES will also be able to assist you. Planning for High School Outline a General Course Plan With your ES, first decide upon one of the three basic plans: Standard Graduation, Community College Prep, or UC/CSU University Prep (see pages titled: Course Completion Options and Graduation Pathways located here: Note: If attending a UC/CSU is even a remote possibility, it is recommended that you take a g courses. Completion of these a-g courses is a minimum application requirement for all UC/CSU schools. Generally, if you do not complete all of the a g courses, you will not be able to apply to any UC/CSU during your senior year without passing special tests (see below UC/CSU Application Process). However, it is best to check with the university regarding their current admissions policy. Colleges that have a competitive application process want to see course rigor demonstrated by their applicants. These top colleges want to see how students have challenged themselves in high school. Getting excellent grades in high school is not enough to get into these institutions. Since the completion of a g courses is typically a basic application requirement, they do not consider those to be demonstrating course rigor. A great way to demonstrate course rigor is to take several AP exams and complete community college classes while concurrently enrolled in high school. (See below for more info on AP exams and Community College courses) 4

6 Awarding Credits (Carnegie Units) Students should be paced to earn 5 credits for each semester long course. We do not award partial credits or incompletes. Students progress must be evaluated at each learning record meeting. If a student does not complete a course then they have earned an F and no units should be awarded. High school courses must be chosen at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the semester. Courses may not be added or dropped two weeks after the start of the semester. The Sky Mountain Education Specialist is the teacher of record and makes the final determination of grades and credits awarded. Explore Careers and Colleges Most high school students are uncertain on the career pathway they will take in life. Our school has several resources to help you think about a wide variety of career pathways based on your unique personality and interests. During your junior year, it is recommended that you actively research colleges, attend local college fairs, and visit particular colleges of interest. Bridges Sky Mountain Charter School provides all students in grades 6-12 with access to the online Bridges program. Bridges offers test preparation, as well as college and career planning and job search tools. 5

7 Bridges offers self-assessments to guide the student in selecting college and career paths. Tools include the College and Career Planner, Do What You Are and Choices Planner. Students create portfolios and are able to save their personalized plans in their portfolio. We encourage all students in grade 9 to take our Career Exploration course, which is designed utilizing the Bridges program and other resources. Please ask your ES to sign you up for this exciting course. Greatest Places on the Web for Career Planning: Occupational Information Network (O*NET), developed by the US Department of Labor, offers occupational information and a skills search. The Kiersey Temperament Sorter II is a 70 question personality assessment. It provides insight into one s own personality to use in selecting a career or work environment. - California Career Zone is an interactive website designed for students providing self assessment inventories, information for over 900 occupations, 300 career videos, a reality check section, and a variety of resources. another career information site that includes self assessment. Please refer to the Student College Planner in this manual. ROP (Regional Occupational Programs) ROP is a great way to explore career choices, get career specific training, and get focused on a career before a student starts college or starts a professional trade. ROP courses give 11th and 12th grade students exposure to specific careers and often result in official certifications that can be used to jumpstart a career directly out of high school. Here are a few highlights of ROP: 6

8 It is FREE (you don t have to use any of your instructional funds!) You can earn upwards of 15 elective credits each semester Develop specific job skills Build relationships with local employers that could lead to employment opportunities after high school Experiment with a specific career field of interest (medical, computer technology, automotive repair, law enforcement, etc.). Availability of ROP courses varies each semester so check your county s ROP website. Any public high school student is eligible to attend ROP courses but priority is given to students enrolled at the sponsoring school location. Concurrent Enrollment in Community College The option of taking community college courses while in high school is an excellent opportunity for a student to take advanced courses or tradeschool courses, get a head start on their college coursework, and demonstrate course rigor to any future college. Instructional funds can be used to purchase college textbooks from approved college bookstores. Instructional funds are not available to pay tuition or enrollment fees. Students must hold a minimum 2.7 GPA at Sky Mountain to be eligible to take community college courses. Students can use their college coursework to satisfy high school graduation requirements and a g requirements. For example, if a student took History of the United States at a community college, he could be concurrently enrolled in US History 1A and 1B for that semester at SMCS. The ES would need to see a syllabus from the college course to see that state content standards are covered (some college history courses do not cover the same timeframe as California high school content standards). Standards must be checked for all core courses. The student may have to do supplemental work to cover missed standards. Besides the obvious financial savings of attending a community college first, it is also typically less competitive to get into your top college choice as a transfer student, compared to that of a high school applicant often the 7

9 neighboring UC and CSU colleges have a guaranteed admission policy for local community college students who complete all of the course requirements and who have a specified GPA. Students who transfer from a community college to a university generally do not need to take the SAT, ACT, or submit their high school GPA in the application for admission. It is critically important to check on college and university admission policies directly with the institutions you are considering. The guidelines here are general and may not apply to all institutions. Requirements for Concurrent Enrollment Student must have a minimum 2.7 GPA Student must be enrolled in at least 20 credits at our charter school Complete and sign the concurrent enrollment form obtained from the community college admissions office and submit it to your ES. Your ES will get the required signatures from the SMCS Guidance Coordinator. AP exams, CLEP and SAT High school students may take Advanced Placement (AP) exams to earn college credits and demonstrate course rigor to future colleges. AP exams are offered in May at some local high schools. A score of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 is given for each exam. Students typically need to earn a score of 3, 4, or 5 (out of 5) to receive college units. You should check with your college of interest since the policy on AP courses varies at each college campus. Visit for more details. Please note that Sky Mountain Charter School does not offer AP Exams or AP Courses, however, if a student passes an AP Exam please let your ES know. The Guidance Coordinator, at the discretion of the Director, may make a note on the student s transcript. 8

10 For more information on AP Courses please review this information: CLEP (College Level Examination Program) is the most widely accepted credit by examination program in the United States today, helping students earn credit for what they already know, regardless of how that knowledge was acquired. By receiving a satisfactory score, students can earn from 3 to 12 college credits toward a college degree for each CLEP exam taken, depending on the exam subject and the policy of the college or university. For more information, visit: SAT Information/College Board Website The most up-to-date information on the SAT is at the College Board website The site will provide you with code searches, SAT registration, and answer questions you might have about the SAT I test. The SAT test is offered every year several times each semester along with a summer testing date. Sky Mountain Charter School does not administer this test, however, we do have a school code. The Sky Mountain Charter School code is This website also allows parents and students to access college planning tools, SAT test prep and an SAT question of the day! The SAT II tests are the subject tests in English, history, mathematics, science, and languages. They are designed to measure students knowledge and skills in particular subject areas. Some colleges specify the different subject tests that are required for their admissions. They can also be used for students that have not completed a-g courses for certain subject areas. The PSAT measures verbal reasoning, critical reading, math problem solving, and writing skills. The scoring scale is It is usually offered several times in the fall semester. It helps students get ready for the SAT tests and offers students different scholarship opportunities. Generally, the test is 9

11 taken in 10 th and 11 th grade, but only the 11 th grade scores are used to determine if the student has qualified for the National Merit Scholarship. Go to to register for the SAT. Graduation Requirements A student must pass the CAHSEE, as well as meet all requirements listed below, to receive a diploma from SMCS. Students who meet the below requirements but do not pass the CAHSEE, can earn a School Certificate. Successful completion of 210 units or its equivalent is required for high school graduation, in addition to successful completion of both sections of the CAHSEE exam. School options for completing each growth area are listed under the growth area. Choose one track for each growth area below: Reading/Writing 30 Units of Reading/Writing electives Life Skills 50 Units including: 20 units Physical Education electives 5 units Health 25 units Life Skills electives to meet school standards (20 electives if student passes the typing test) (5 units of Education and Career Planning, leaving 10 units of life skills electives.) History 25 Units of History including: 10

12 10 units World Studies 10 units US History 5 units Economics Political Process 5 Units United States Government Mathematics 20 Units Mathematics including: 10 units Algebra 1 10 units Mathematics elective Science 20 Units of Science including: 10 units Physical Science elective (typical courses are Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics) 10 units Life Science elective (typical courses are Biology, Anatomy/Physiology) Special Interests 60 Units of Electives including: 10 units Foreign Language or Visual and Performing Arts or Career Technical Education electives 50 units electives (college prep, academic or vocational) Graduation Pathway Options 11

13 9th Grade 9th Grade 9th Grade 10 Reading/Writing 10 - a -g English a -g English Pre-Algebra or Algebra a - g Algebra 1 or a - g Geometry 10 - a - g Algebra 1 or a - g Geometry 10 - Physical Education a - g Foreign Language 10 - a - g Foreign Language 10 - Physical Science Course* 10 - Physical Education a - g Biology 10 Elective Course 10 - Elective Course 10 - Physical Education Elective Course 50 Carnegie Units 50 Carnegie Units w/ 3 a-g requirements 60 Carnegie Units w/ 4 a- g requirements 10th Grade 10th Grade 10th Grade 10 Reading/ Writing 10 - a -g English a -g English Algebra 1 or Math Course* 10 - a - g Geometry or a - g Algebra a - g Geometry or a - g Algebra Physical Education a - g Foreign Language 10 - a - g Foreign Language 10 - Life Science Course* 10 - a - g Biology 10 - a - g Chemistry 10 - World Studies 10 - a - g World Studies 10 - a - g World Studies 10 - Driver's Ed / Health 10 - Driver's Ed / Health 10 - Driver's Ed / Health 60 Carnegie Units 60 Carnegie Units w/ 5 a- g requirements 60 Carnegie Units w/ 5 a- g requirements 11th Grade 11th Grade 11th Grade 10 Reading/Writing 10 - a -g English a -g English U. S. History 10 - a - g Algebra 2, a - g Trig/Pre-Calc 10 - a - g Algebra 2, a - g Trig/Pre-Calc 20-2 Elective Courses* (Choose from or a - g Prob & Stats or a - g Prob & Stats following) 10 - a - g Chemistry or a - g Physics 10 - a - g Foreign Language - Career Exploration 10 - a - g U. S. History 10 - a - g Physics - R. O. P a - g Visual/Performing Arts 10 - a - g U. S. History - Other Electives 10 - a - g Visual/Performing Arts 10 - Foreign Language 1 or a VAPA Course* 50 Carnegie Units 50 Carnegie Units w/ 5 a-g requirements 60 Carnegie Units w/ 6 a- g requirements 12th Grade 12th Grade 12th Grade 10 - U. S. Govt./Economics 10 - a - g English a - g English Elective Courses* (Choose from 10-1 a - g Elective Course* (Choose from 10 - a - g Pre Calc / Calc following) following) 10-1 a - g Elective Course* (Choose from - Career Exploration - a - g Math not already taken following) - R. O. P. - a - g Foreign Language - a - g Math not already taken - Conditioning - a - g Chemistry or a - g Physics - a - g Foreign Language - Visual/Performing Arts 10 - U. S. Govt./Economics - a - g Anatomy 10-1 Life Skills Course* 10 - Physical Education 2 - a - g VAPA 10-1 Life Skills Course* 10 - U. S. Govt./Economics 10 - Physical Education Life Skills Course* 50 Carnegie Units 50 Carnegie Units w/ 2 a-g requirements 60 Carnegie Units w/ 3 a- g requirements Standard Graduation/ Community College UC/CSU Prep Units Prep Units Required UC/CSU Prep Units - Recommended 12

14 Course Completion Options Standard Graduation/Community College Prep: Courses must meet the ESEA/NCLB Highly Qualified Teacher criteria: ES is HQT SME Courses Online Courses (Strongly advise using vendors teacher support. Note: a-g online courses require using the vendors teacher support) Community College Courses Sky Mountain Charter School SME (Subject Matter Expert) a-g Courses Sky Mountain Charter School offers UC approved a-g courses in English, History and Algebra I and Biology. SMCS Education Specialists designed these courses. Our SME courses provide an alternative to online courses and the offer the support of our expert subject matter Education Specialists. Please ask your ES for more information on this year s course offerings. a-g Subject Matter Expert (SME) Sky Mountain Charter School Courses: a-g World History a-g US History a-g US Gov. (1 sem.) a-g Economics (I sem) a-g Geography a-g English 9 a-g English 10 a-g English 11 a-g English 12 13

15 a-g Algebra I a-g Geometry a-g Biology a-g Courses Offered through UC Approved SMCS Online Vendors: UC Doorways Use this search engine to find a California high school, program, or community college's UC certified course list. The lists include the courses that have been certified as fulfilling the "a-g" subject requirements for admission to the University of California as a freshman. The lists also indicate courses that are UC certified honors courses. Some UC a-g approved vendors with courses on the SMCS a-g list include: Apex and Advanced Academics. Please see the a-g link on our guidance page or search the above site. Note: BYU a-g courses are listed under BYU. BYU is an approved SMCS vendor. a-g Courses That Must be Taken Via Concurrent Enrollment in Community College: a-g Chemistry a-g Physics a-g VAPA Paying for College College can be very expensive. For example, for students attending the 2009/2010 school year, tuition at most private universities is about $35,000/yr. not including fees, books, room and board which can easily add an additional $15,000/yr. Tuition is currently about $12,000/yr. for a 14

16 UC college and about $6,000/yr. at a CSU campus school. A public community college is by far the best deal, with tuition costing only about $800/yr. for a full time student. FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is an involved application that is designed to evaluate your family s financial status and relative need for college financial assistance. If you are considering attending any type of college, you are strongly urged to complete the FAFSA application ( during your senior year. Even if you don t think that you will qualify for financial aid, you will need to complete this application during your senior year to apply for most student loans, grants and scholarships. Cal Grant ( is the largest and most generous source of grant money for California college students. The program is designed to help students pay for college. The application process requires two steps: 1) complete the FAFSA application online ( and 2) fill out the GPA verification form, located at the Cal Grant website, and mail it to the Guidance Coordinator by attachment for a signature. Ask your ES for assistance. The FAFSA application and GPA verification must be completed between Jan 1st and March 2nd. Your application may be given greater preference if it is submitted shortly after the Jan 1st start of the application window. Print out the FAFSA application worksheet in November and gather the necessary info before Jan 1st. DO NOT DELAY UNTIL March 1 st as SMCS requires time to fill out the school portion of the Cal Grant application! Types of Colleges There are two basic types of post-secondary education institutions: 1. Community, Technical, and Junior Colleges Many colleges offer programs that are less than four years in length. Most of these schools offer education and training programs that are two years in length or shorter. The programs often lead to a license, 15

17 certificate, associate of arts (AA) degree, associate of science (AS) degree or associate of applied science (AAS) degree. Community and Junior Colleges are public, two year colleges. They serve people from nearby communities and offer academic courses, technical courses, and continuing education courses. In many cases, students who earn associate degrees may transfer to four year universities and receive credit toward their BA or BS degrees. Some community colleges have Transfer Articulation Agreements (TAG) with University of California campuses. Please consult with your community college s transfer counseling center for more information. Technical Colleges are generally colleges that have a special emphasis on education and training in technical fields. Technical colleges may be private or public. 2. Four Year Colleges and Universities These schools usually offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Some also offer graduate and professional degrees. Four Year Colleges provide educational programs in the arts and sciences. These colleges confer bachelor s degrees. Universities include a college of arts and/or sciences, one or more programs of graduate studies, and one or more professional schools. Universities confer bachelor s degrees and graduate, masters, and Ph.D. degrees. Many universities also confer professional degrees, for example, in law or medicine. 16

18 System Number of Campuses College Entrance Test Degrees Offered CALIFORNIA S COLLEGE SYSTEMS AT A GLANCE Community College California State University University of California Independent Colleges and Universities More than 70 None required (Placement tests are given for Math and English) Associate Degrees, vocational certificates, and university transfer programs ACT or SAT Reasoning Test Bachelors, Masters, Pre-Doctoral ACT Plus Writing OR SAT Reasoning Bachelors, Masters, Doctorates, Professional degrees Varies, check with the college or university of your choice, usually the ACT or SAT Reasoning Associates, Bachelors, Doctorates, Masters, and professional degrees depending on the college/university Private Colleges and Universities application process Be sure to check with individual colleges and universities for the application requirements. University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) application process Be sure to check with the UC of your choice for specific application requirements and application deadlines. UC and CSU schools have been a popular choice for California students because they offer quality college education, at a fraction of the price of a private college. UC

19 online/index.html CSU - UC a-g course requirements a g is the course code that indicates the student took courses that were approved by the University of California. Schools submit courses to the UC for approval as a-g. Sky Mountain has a wide selection of UC approved Subject Matter Expert (SME) a-g courses. The UC also allows schools add vendor courses that the vendor has submitted to the UC for approval. Please see the Course Completion page in the guidance section of our website for more information on a-g courses. Generally, if you do not complete all of the a g courses, you will not be able to apply to any UC/CSU during your senior year without passing special tests (see the question below). However, it is best to check with the university regarding their current admissions policy. Students might choose to go to a community college for two years and then transfer to a UC/CSU. As a transfer student to UC/CSU colleges, your high school courses and grades are not used in the application process it is strictly based on how you did at the community college. Private colleges and community colleges do not have the a g requirement for applicants applying as college freshman, and those colleges tend to have a more relaxed policy on specific course requirements a-g Subject Area Requirements The intent of the "a-g" Subject Requirements is to ensure that students can participate fully in the first-year program at the University in a wide variety of fields of study. The requirements are written deliberately for the benefit of all students expecting to enter the University, and not for preparation for specific majors. UC faculty considers the Subject Requirements to be effective preparation, on many levels, for undergraduate work at the University. This pattern of study assures the faculty that the student has 18

20 attained a body of general knowledge that will provide breadth and perspective to new, more advanced study. Fulfillment of the "a-g" pattern also demonstrates that the student has attained essential critical thinking and study skills. Who should take a g College Prep Courses? They are required for students who wish to attend the University of California directly out of high school. A G courses are highly recommended for students wanting to attend a private college or university directly out of high school. Again, it is important that the parent and student check with the university directly regarding their admission requirements. Students who are planning to attend a community college should discuss this option with their ES. Students who have not completed the a g college prep sequence may be able to qualify for admission through alternative paths and should talk to the college or university directly. Please see the Helpful Resources section of this manual for links to the UC a-g Guide and CSU Mentor. 19

21 20

22 NOTE: Students must earn grades of C or better in all a g courses. A current list of our school s a g courses can be found at: and click the yellow box a g Course Lists, then type in our school s name, and current year.. This information is also available on our guidance page of our website. UC and CSU colleges require that you to complete the 15 units of high school coursework to meet minimum eligibility. One unit is equal to one full academic year of a subject. At least 7 of the 15 units must be taken the last two years of high school. GPA: GPA for UC purposes is calculated using only a g courses taken after the 9th grade. Although grades from 9 th grade are not factored into the eligibility GPA, grades lower than a C in a 9th grade a g course will not count toward satisfying the a g college eligibility requirements. Minimum GPA for UC eligibility = 3.00 QUESTION: Can I still get into a UC/CSU college directly out of high school without taking any a g courses? Yes, you can satisfy the a g application requirement by taking specific community college courses (grade of C or better), SAT II subject exams (need qualifying score), and/or AP exams (grade of 3 or better). GPA: GPA is calculated using only a-g courses taken after the 9 th grade. Although grades from 9 th grade are not factored into the eligibility GPA, grades lower than a C in a 9 th grade a-g course will not count toward satisfying the a-g college eligibility requirements (and in most cases, will need to be repeated). Minimum GPA for UC eligibility =

23 Minimum GPA for CSU Eligibility Index can be found at (choose the Plan for College tab) UC's freshman admission requirements, see: 1. Complete 15 UC-required college-preparatory ("a-g") courses, with 11 of those done prior to the start of 12th grade 2. Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better (weighted by honors/ap bonus points) in these courses 3. Take the ACT With Writing or SAT Reasoning Test Honors points: UC and CSU will award up to 8 extra grade points for AP courses and transferable community college courses. If you are taking community college courses please check the college catalog to ensure that the courses are UC/CSU transferable. 22

24 UC Riverside s Admission as a Homeschooled or Other Nontraditionally Educated Student The University of California, Riverside seeks to recruit and retain an academically strong student body that has demonstrated the rigorous preparation needed for admission to a major research institution and reflects the diversity of our state and region. To that end, UC Riverside has developed an admission program for homeschooled or other nontraditionally educated students in recognition of the benefits of the education they have received, including the depth of learning, socialization, maturity, creativity, and vision. These qualities provide excellent foundations for pursuing an education at UC Riverside. Examples of nontraditional educational settings include those where the high school education was: primarily home-based completed as home-based after leaving a traditional high school during the last year or two based on courses from various sources such as high school, community college, and online program, with or without extensive home-based education completed early by taking the California High-School Proficiency Exam AND performing additional studies outside of class or participating in significant educational life experiences such as charity work or experience in another country taken at a charter school emphasizing an innovative educational approach that doesn't have a UC-approved "a-g" course list taken at a high school with a UC-approved "a-g" course list, but the student graduated without fulfilling the "a-g" course work because the student emphasized homeschooling or another novel educational approach instead Admission Requirements Students who wish to apply to UC Riverside through this admission program must satisfy the following requirements Meet high school qualifications: 23

25 o Students must have attended the nontraditional school for a significant part of their education o Students must earn either a High School Diploma, GED, or Certificate of Proficiency Meet the examination requirement: o Either the SAT Reasoning or the ACT with writing o Two (2) SAT Subject Tests in two (2) different areas (two subject tests are not required beginning Class of 2012) Complete the University of California (UC) application for admission Submit a portfolio to UC Riverside please contact UC Riverside admissions for more information. 24

26 Mid Term Progress Report In an effort to insure that all of our students are successful, we are providing you with a mid-term progress report each semester. It is our hope that this report will guide you in successfully completing your high school courses. At the learning record meeting students are expected to show work that is commensurate with the number of school days in the learning period. If the student does not demonstrate adequate academic progress in a single learning period a truancy may be issued. At the mid-term point in the semester students should have made adequate progress toward completing the course with a grade of C or better by the end of the semester. Course work should be 50% complete or greater. If your ES has estimated, based on student progress, that your student is not likely to complete the course, or if the student may earn a grade of D or F, the ES will issue a NP (not progressing) on the mid-term progress report. Recommendations will be offered in an effort to guide your student toward successful completion of coursework. A mid-term P (progressing) indicates that the student is progressing toward completion of the course with a grade of C or better The mid-term progress report is kept in the ES s student s file -- it is not part of the permanent cumulative file. It is meant to be a helpful tool in guiding your student toward successful completion of all high school courses. If you have questions, please contact your ES. Student: ES: Year/Semester: Mid Term Progress Report Student number: Grade Level: Date: Key: P= Progressing - Student is making adequate progress toward completion of course by end of semester with a likely grade of C or better NP= Not Progressing - Student is not likely to complete course and/or is likely to earn grade of D or F* *See recommendation. Attach an additional sheet if necessary. 25

27 Course Name P/NP % Complete Recommendation P/NP P/NP P/NP P/NP P/NP P/NP P/NP P/NP P/NP ES Signature: Date: Parent Signature: Date: Student Signature: Date: 26

28 Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty To be signed by parent and student each school year. Honest behavior is an expectation for all students at Sky Mountain Charter School. By signing this form parents and students acknowledge their understanding of the school s plagiarism and academic dishonesty policy. The purpose of this policy is to create and maintain an ethical academic atmosphere. Definition of Plagiarism: According to Dictionary.com, plagiarism is defined as: 1. The unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work. 2. Something used and represented in this manner. Examples of Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty: Quoting someone else's words, sentences, paragraphs, or an entire paper without acknowledging the source Paraphrasing someone else's ideas, opinions, or theory without acknowledging the source Imitating someone else's structure or argument without acknowledging the source Using more of a source than you acknowledged in your citation Copying a fellow student's work, paper, and/or essays and turning it in as your own Copying another student's computer file and submitting the work as your own, or allowing such to happen Buying an essay, paper, or written work online without acknowledging the source Using teacher manuals or answer keys If you do any of the above listed, even if you did not intend it, you have committed plagiarism/academic dishonesty. 27

29 Consequences of Plagiarism: The staff at Sky Mountain Charter School will not tolerate plagiarism or academic dishonesty. If an ES suspects or has confirmed that a student has committed plagiarism or academic dishonesty, a meeting will be held with the student, parent and the ES. This meeting will be conducted to: 1. Confirm the student has conducted plagiarism or academic dishonesty 2. Set up a plan to help the student learn about plagiarism and dishonesty, and how to avoid it in the future 3. Explain that the student will receive an F for the work turned in If the student is caught committing plagiarism or academic dishonesty a second time then there will be more serious consequences at the discretion of the school. The ES will take the information to their ES advisor and the school director to determine the disciplinary action. This can include suspension or expulsion from the school. Family # Parent Signature Date Student Signature Date Student Signature Date Student Signature Date Student Signature Date Student Signature Date ES Signature Date REV. 2/13 POPULAR INTERNET WEBSITES College Search and Planning American College Testing (PLAN/ACT) Acceptly (College Planning) Web Address ( act.org acceptly.com 28

30 Art Schools aicad.org Black Collegian blackcollegian.com California Career Zone cacareerzone.org Campus Tours campustours.com Cappex cappex.com College Apps collegeapps.com College Board (PSAT/SAT/AP) collegeboard.com CollegeXpress collegexpress.com CollegeNet collegenet.com College and University Search universities.com College View collegeview.com College Zine (Kaplan) kaplan.com FastWeb(Scholarships) fastweb.com Historically Black Colleges and Universities hbcu central.com National Association for College nacac.com Admission Counseling Nursing Information and Resources nursingworld.org Peterson s (searching majors) petersons.com Princeton Review princetonreview.com Schools in the USA schoolsintheusa.com US News and World Report usnews.com UnCollege uncollege.org/resources Women s Colleges womenscolleges.org XAP xap.com Zinch zinch.com College Applications and Information University of California universityofcalifornia.edu California State University csumentor.edu California Private/Independent Colleges aiccu.edu California Community College Information cccco.edu College Options in California californiacolleges.edu Common Application commonapp.org Financial Aid/Scholarships 29

31 Fastweb fastweb.com FinAid finaid.com National Association Student Financial Aid nasfaa.org Nellie Mae nelliemae.org Sallie Mae salliemae.org Scholarships 101 scholarships101.com California Student Aid Commission csac.ca.gov FAFSA Express fafsa.ed.gov FAFSA Forecaster planning website fafsa4caster.ed.gov Athletics NAIA NCAA NCAA eligibility and online application naia.org ncaa.org ncaaclearinghouse.net Helpful Resources Sky Mountain Charter School High School Completion Chart Suggested schedule of courses: rses_files/high_school_completion_plan.pdf Sky Mountain Charter School Graduation Requirements Worksheet: Sky Mountain Charter School Life Skills requirements information: nformation.html Sky Mountain Charter School Approved (HQT) Curriculum: Sky Mountain Charter School Writing Assignments: ments.html 30

32 Sky Mountain Charter School Subject Matter Expert (SME) courses and a-g Courses: Sky Mountain Charter School Work Permit Information: SAT/AP Test Information: College and University Information: State of California Content Standards: State of California Released Test Questions: University of California a-g Guide California State University CSU Mentor guide Student College Planner This is a suggested plan. Parents and students should check with individual colleges and universities to determine what their entrance requirements are. Sky Mountain Charter School does not administer the SAT, PSAT or AP exams. For more information on those exams visit: Visit Virtual College Fairs: Checklist 8th Grade Checklist Talk to ES 31

33 Think about pursuing extracurricular activities 9th Grade -- Freshman Year Checklist Talk to ES Create a file of documents and notes Start thinking about colleges to attend Take Sky Mountain Charter School Life Skills CP Course Create a free account on CollegeBoard.org s Big Future program: 10th Grade -- Sophomore Year Checklist Talk to ES Take Sky Mountain Charter School Life Skills CP Course Update file of documents and notes Continue extracurricular activities Continue participation in academic enrichment programs Take the PSAT in October Register, in April, for the SAT II for any subjects to be completed before June Take the SAT II in June Continue to plan using College Board s Big Future program 11th Grade -- Junior Year Checklist Maintain grades during junior year Talk to guidance counselor or teachers Continue to plan using College Board s Big Future program. August Obtain schedules and forms for the SAT I, SAT II, ACT, and AP exams September Register for the PSAT exam offered in October October 32

34 Take the PSAT Begin scheduling interviews with admissions counselors November Review your PSAT results with your ES December Sign up for an SAT preparatory course and/or work through SAT Test Prep guide January Tour campuses to further narrow list of colleges February Register for the March SAT or the April ACT tests March Take the March SAT I exam Sign up for the AP exams April Take the April ACT test May Take AP, SAT I, and SAT II exams Talk to teachers/es about writing letters of recommendation June Add new report cards, test scores, honors, or awards to file Take the SAT I, SAT II and the ACT tests Send thank-you notes for interviews or visits Summer Between Junior and Senior Years Practice writing online applications 33

35 Review applications, especially the essays Decide about applying under early decision or early action programs Read college mail and send reply cards to schools of interest 12th Grade -- Senior Year Checklist September Check transcripts for credits to get into colleges of choice Continue to plan using College Board s Big Future program Register for October/November SAT I, SAT II, and ACT tests Take another look at list of colleges, and make sure that they still satisfy requirements Double-check the requirements and deadlines for colleges, and apply Give recommendation forms to the appropriate teachers or counselors Consider early decision and early action applications due between October 1 and November 1 October Make a final list of schools of interest Take SAT or ACT tests and have the official scores sent to colleges and universities Continue thinking about and begin to write any essays November Submit your college admission applications December Watch for early decision replies Make sure official test scores are being sent to the colleges Schedule any remaining required interviews January 34

36 Complete and submit college financial aid application and the FAFSA Go to the FAFSA on the Web form Investigate purchasing a computer for college Request that high school send official transcripts to colleges Make sure parents have completed income tax forms Contact the admissions offices to make sure that information has been received February Receive Student Aid Report (SAR) -- make corrections and return it Complete Cal Grant application by the end of February: Complete scholarship applications Contact the financial aid offices to make sure that your information has been received March/April Receive acceptance letters by April 15 Compare acceptance letters, financial aid and scholarship offers Choose an accepting college, pay non-refundable freshman tuition deposit May Take AP exams or SAT II Make decision by May 1, notify the school by mailing commitment deposit check Contact waiting list colleges if necessary June Have school send final transcripts to college of choice Contact college to determine when fees for tuition, room and board are due and how much they will be Summer After Senior Year 35

37 Participate in summer orientation programs for incoming freshmen Get student health insurance Graduation Pathway Options Course Completion Options Notes Please refer to these documents on the school website: _plans_parent.html 36

38 37

39 38