BASIS SCHOOLS 2013/2014

Transcription

1 BASIS SCHOOLS parent student handbook 2013/2014

2 Table of content Welcome 03 ACCREDITATION 07 ACADEMICS 08 SCHOOL ORGANIZATION 09 BASIS CURRICULUM 12 GRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 29 ACADEMIC RECOGNITION 35 The Handbook Reading Key Primary School Definition External link Reference within the Handbook Reference Definition HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS 37 STUDENT services 38 & extracurricular activities Rules 39 STUDENT RECORDS 74 COMMUNITY 77 Miscellaneous 79 Primary School 80 tables 85 GLOSSARy of TERMS 90 BASIS is a trademark or registered trademark of BASIS Schools, Inc., BASIS Educational Group Inc., BDC, A Public Charter School, Inc., BTX Schools, Inc., and BASIS Independent Schools, LLC.

3 welcome Welcome to BASIS! We are thrilled that you have chosen BASIS as the appropriate educational environment for your child. Founded in 1998 by Olga and Michael Block, BASIS has grown from a single, small, family-run charter school with 56 students to a major player in the advancement of American education. In the school year, your child will benefit from being part of a community of twelve schools: BASIS Tucson, BASIS Scottsdale, BASIS Oro Valley, BASIS Peoria, BASIS Chandler, BASIS Flagstaff, BASIS Tucson North, BASIS Phoenix, BASIS D.C., BASIS Ahwatukee, BASIS Mesa, and BASIS San Antonio. Even as we grow, we retain the commitment to excellence and feeling of family that helped create the strong foundation for our mission and philosophy. Mission BASIS School provides an academically excellent and rigorous liberal arts college preparatory education available to all students. Philosophy The BASIS educational model is simple in concept but complex in practice. It is not hard to imagine a school where the students are held to the highest possible academic standards, where they are asked to take responsibility for their own work, and where the teachers are both highly qualified and motivated to help students in any way possible. Yet imagining this kind of school is not enough. At BASIS, we bring these ideas to life every day. We understand that a student s time to prepare for college is exceedingly short; it is our goal to make the most of their time with us by providing them the most focused and best college preparatory education possible. 03

4 Purpose and Audience The purpose of this handbook is to inform PARENTs and students of the policies, procedures, and operations of BASIS Schools (the School). The content of this book is overseen by the Relevant School Governance Entity (Arizona; Texas; Washington, DC). It presents information highlighting School policies and guidelines necessary for the academic achievement, safety, welfare, and well-being of our students. For the purposes of this handbook, the term parent is used to indicate the student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. The parent is required to review the contents of this handbook and share appropriate information with his/her child. Signing the handbook contract is a necessary condition for the student to be enrolled in a BASIS School and indicates that both the student and parent understand and agree to abide by all school policies and rules. The handbook contract can be found in the First Day Packet sent home with students on the first day of school. PARENT: The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. Communications Electronic Communications Policy: BASIS uses industry-standard technologies to protect and secure the website, including the services. The use of any electronic communication system, such as the World Wide Web, has a number of risks that users should consider before use. BASIS will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of electronic information sent and received, including the use of encryption and other security technologies. However, BASIS cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of Web-based communications, and will not be liable for improper disclosure of confidential information that is not caused by intentional misconduct on the part of BASIS. 04

5 BASIS offers Parents the option of participating in the Electronic Communications Service. Parents who agree to this service agree to receive all general updates, notifications, announcements, newsletters, and school policy (including this Parent Student Handbook) through internet-based communication. This service does not take the place of regular student level communication conveyed to the Parent through the Communications Journal. For those who do not agree to the Electronic Communications Service, all communication will be made available for review in the School Office. PARENT: The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. The School assumes both the mother and father have equal rights as legal guardians of their children. If there is a court order limiting the custody of, communication with, or visitation rights to the student, it is the responsibility of the Parent to submit a copy of the court order to the School Office (see your School s location). Unless the court order is on file, the School must provide equal rights to both parents. All written communication from the School is provided to the parent. Only upon written request, and in compliance with the relevant laws and regulations, will the School provide information to other parties. A student who is 18 years of age or older may provide the School with written notice not to contact his/her parent with grades and other personal information. The School only contacts the student and does not communicate with the parent. It is the Student s responsibility to provide the School with this notice. If the student does not notify the School, the School will continue to communicate with the parent regardless of the student s age. 05

6 On-Site School Management and Staff The Head of School is responsible for the overall education process in the School. It is the Head of School s responsibility to ensure that the education process at the School matches the scope and quality of the BASIS Curriculum. The Head of School supervises the School Directors, faculty, and other school staff-members participating in the education process. Any decision made by the Head of School related to the students education process is final if not otherwise stated in this handbook or in any relevant law or regulation. The Head of Operations is responsible for the operations of the School. All school programs complementing the education process (e.g., the Early bird and Late Bird programs) are supervised by the Head of Operations. The Head of Operations manages financial transactions between the students and the School. All questions regarding financial matters should be directed to the Head of Operations. The School Director(s) is/are responsible for educational services delivered to students and oversee the K 4 Learning Experts, Lower and Upper School teachers. The PARENT should contact the School Director to discuss any issues related to their child s academic progress or the quality of education services provided to their child by the School. Best and Brightest: A collection of the current school year Teachers educational background and teacher bios. Early Bird: Before school program available to all students who arrive at school early. Late Bird: After school supervised study program for students who cannot be picked up from school at their normal dismissal time. Fees for program vary according to BASIS campus. PARENT: The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. BASIS is committed to hiring the Best and Brightest staff teachers. The Teachers educational background can be found on the school website and in the Best and Brightest Binder available for viewing in the School Office. 06

7 ACCREDITATION The schools managed by BASIS Educational Group, DBA BASIS.ed, are accredited by AdvancEd (NCA CASI). Dedicated to advancing excellence in education worldwide, AdvancEd provides accreditation, research, and professional services to 27,000 schools in 65 countries. AdvancEd accreditation is provided under the seals of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditations and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). BASIS.ed received system accreditation from AdvancEd (NCA CASI) in June System accreditation recognizes that increasing student achievement involves more than improving instruction. It is a result of how well all the parts of the education system the community, school, and classroom work together to meet the needs of students. Accreditation: A voluntary method of quality assurance developed more than 100 years ago by American universities and secondary schools, and designed primarily to distinguish schools adhering to a set of educational standards. The accreditation process is also known in terms of its ability to effectively drive student performance and continuous improvement in education. A set of rigorous protocols and researchbased processes for evaluating an institution s organizational effectiveness. BASIS.ed: Management organization for BASIS Schools, BDC A Public Charter School, and BTX Schools. 07

8 ACADEMICS At the heart of the BASIS mission is a strong commitment to rigorous academics. This rigor, however, does not come at the expense of passion. The following is a description of the program that has taken BASIS years to hone and has proven to produce great results. By continually adding experts in a variety of academic disciplines, BASIS relentlessly investigates opportunities for our students to experience the highest levels of education. 08

9 SCHOOL ORGANIZATION Grades At BASIS, grades K 4 are referred to as the Primary School, grades 5 7 as the Lower School, and grades 8 12 as the Upper School. Groups Students are organized in groups based first and foremost on their grade level. Additional factors that may be considered during the group organization process include English and mathematical readiness, academic development, overall program requirements, and scheduling requirements. PARENT: The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. Students may be moved between groups during the school year at the discretion of the School Director; the PARENT is informed prior to any change in group assignment. The School reserves the right to make all final decisions regarding placement to grade, group, elective, or foreign language. Classes The standard instructional day varies based on grade level. For K, the standard instructional day consists of 4 hours of instruction with integrated courses. For grades 1 4, the standard instructional day consists of three 90 minute class periods, two 45 minute class periods, and three recess periods (morning, lunch, afternoon); for grades 5 12, a standard instructional day consists of seven class periods. Refer to the School s Daily Schedule for the specific class period schedule. Students in grades 1 12 move from classroom to classroom during the school day; grade K is self-contained. 09

10 Daily class schedules may vary to allow for flexibility in the curriculum. Refer to your student s schedule for the individual student Instructional Program (content defined by the BASIS Course Sequence). School Year The school year has a total of 180 instructional days. For actual days of instruction and other school year information, refer to the current School Calendar. Pre-Comprehensive Exam days, Comprehensive Exam days, Term Project days, the last day before winter vacation, and the first and last days of school are early release days. All other school days are full instructional days. The School Year includes the Academic Term, Review Period, Project Term, and optional Summer Term: Communicated: The information is conveyed to the parent. grading period: Grading section of (roughly) six weeks that applies to Primary School and Lower School grades. PARENT: The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. Academic Term: starts on the first day of school and ends on the last school day before the Comprehensive Exam Review Period. During the Academic Term, students follow their regular Class Schedules. The Academic Term is divided into five grading periods for the Primary School and Lower School and three trimesters for the Upper School. BASIS requires students in all grades to take any standardized examinations mandated by the state for their grade level as scheduled by Relevant State Authority (Arizona; Texas; Washington, DC). A test calendar will be communicated to the PARENT as soon as these dates are available. 10

11 Review Periods for grades 6, 7, and 8: begin a minimum of five school days before Pre-Comprehensive and Comprehensive Exams. Students in grades K 5 are exempt from both Pre-Comprehensive and Comprehensive Exams and, therefore, do not participate in the Review Periods. PARENT: The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. Project Term: encompasses the four to six school days before the last day of school (early release days). During this time, students work on multidisciplinary projects Term Projects in multi-grade groups. The goal of Term Projects is to challenge students to be cooperative, creative learners and to function as a team to achieve a specific goal. The PARENT is invited to view the projects at the end of the Project Term. Term Projects are graded using the Superior, Pass, Unsatisfactory (SPU) Scale; students who do not participate in Term Projects must complete an Independent Study Project (pre-approved by the School Director). Summer Term: starts after the last day of school and ends before the first day of the following school year. During Summer Term, the School may organize optional summer programs for students. 11

12 BASIS CURRICULUM Courses and Promotion Requirements BASIS Curriculum information is outlined in the BASIS Course Sequences and School Course Catalog. The content of each course is outlined in the course syllabus, presented to students during the first week of school. The PARENT will be notified of any changes to course syllabi. All syllabi for the current school year are available for viewing in the School Syllabi Binder located in the School Office. Notified: The parent is informed. PARENT: The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. The following course requirements are generally applicable; however, a modified curriculum may be applied for the first 3 years of a new schools operation. These distinctions are listed on the schools websites. The course information refers to all levels of math courses as Math. See the BASIS Math Sequence for math course options available and minimum level requirements for different grades. BASIS utilizes the Saxon Math program in grades K 8. Grade K: To be promoted to grade 1, a student must earn a minimum cumulative average of 60% in each of the following courses: Math, Basic Acquisition Skills (coordinated Science, Geography, Social Studies, and Language Arts), Physical Education (PE), and Art. 12

13 Grades 1 through 4: To be promoted to the next grade level, a student must earn a minimum cumulative average of 60% in each course listed in the table below. Grade 5: To be promoted to grade 6, a student must earn a minimum Cumulative Average (see 5 grade Percent Equivalency table) of 60% ( P in PE 5 & Term Project) in each of the courses listed in the table below. courses: Grades 1 5 Grade 1-4 grade 5 Humanities Language Arts Math/ Science Geography Mandarin Art 5 PE Term Project All Connections Math* Fine Arts Classics 5 Term Project Music 5 Science Latin 5 PE 5 Please Note(Arizona): Pursuant to ARS , a pupil in grade three who does not meet or exceed the reading standards measured by the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards test administered pursuant to section shall be provided intensive reading instruction as defined by the state board of education until the pupil meets these standards. There are no 5th grade curriculum modifications at new campuses. *The course information refers to all levels of math courses as Math. 13

14 Grades 6 and 7: To be promoted to the next grade, a student must earn a minimum Cumulative Average (see 5 grade Percent Equivalency table) of 60% ( P in PE 6 & Term Project) in each course listed below as well as pass all Comprehensive Exams (Comps). courses and comps: Grades 6 and 7 courses 6 Comps 6 courses 7 Comps 7 English 6 English 6 English 7 English 7 Math* Math* Math* Math* Biology 6 Biology 6 Biology 7 Biology 7 Chemistry 6 Chemistry 6 Chemistry 7 Chemistry 7 Physics 6 Physics 6 Physics 7 Physics 7 US History US History World History I World History I Latin 6 Latin 6 Foreign Lang. 7 Foreign Lang. 7 PE 6 Logic Fine Arts Elective Elective Term Project Term Project Please Note: there are no 6th grade course sequence modifications at new campuses; some adaptations may be made in course syllabi. *The course information refers to all levels of math courses as Math. 14

15 Grade 8: To be promoted to grade 9, a student must earn a minimum Final Course Grade of 60% ( P in Term Project) in each of the courses listed below as well as pass all Comprehensive Exams. AP Exam scores (available mid-summer) are factored into Final Course Grades using the conversion charts in Upper School Grading Policies and Procedures. courses and comps: Grades 8 courses 8 Comps 8 ap Exam English 8 English 8 Math* Math* Math* Biology 8 Biology 8 Chemistry 8 Chemistry 8 Physics 8 Physics 8 World History II World History II World History** Foreign Lang. 8 Foreign Lang. Economics Economics Elective Term Project *The course information refers to all levels of math courses as Math. **A teacher may recommend an 8th grade student to sit for the AP Exam (see AP Conversion table). Any student not taking the AP Exam must take the relative Comprehensive Exam. Please Note: A first-year BASIS School combines World History I and II into a single 8th grade course. Due to the necessary adaptations, students in this course are not expected to take the AP Exam. 15

16 8th Grade LEAP Courses: BASIS offers an accelerated program entitled LEAP (Learning Enrichment Accelerated Program) in several subjects for 8th graders: English, Physics, Biology and Chemistry (specific course offerings are at the discretion of the individual school). Students who wish to take a LEAP course must apply in the 7th grade; only those students whose applications are accepted (pending approval by 7th and 8th grade teachers and School Directors) may be granted a spot in LEAP courses. Successful completion of a LEAP course, as defined in the LEAP syllabi, may permit a student to enroll in the subsequent AP course as a 9th grader. Should a student choose not to take the subsequent AP course, the student will take the honors level course between grades 9 11 (i.e., If a student is in LEAP Biology but does not take AP Biology the following year, the student must take Honors Biology between grades 9 11). Students may transfer from LEAP courses to the regular course in that subject at any time during the school year. LEAP: Learning Enrichment Accelerated Program in subjects: English, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry, offered to 8th graders who are seeking more challenge in certain disciplines. Requires interested students to apply during their 7th grade year. Must be approved by School Director and subject teacher. Completion of LEAP course may permit student to enroll in subsequent AP course as a 9th grader. Grades 9 11: BASIS students in grades 9 11 must complete the courses of study outlined on the next page to earn sufficient credits and a high school diploma (see High School Credit Policies and High School Diploma Requirements). Students are required to take at least six College Board AP Exams between grades 9 and 12 to graduate, including one each in English, Math, Science, and Social Science. Additionally, each grade has a minimum number of AP Exams required. Courses that vary based on the sequence are marked with an asterisk (*). For course options for each grade, please see BASIS Curriculum Course Sequence. 16

17 courses: Grades 9 11 grade 9 1 AP Exam required grade 10 2 AP Exams required grade 11 3 AP Exams required Honors English Lang. English* English* Honors English Literature AP European History AP US History AP US Govern. & Politics Math* Math* LEAP: Learning Enrichment Accelerated Program in subjects: English, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry, offered to 8th graders who are seeking more challenge in certain disciplines. Requires interested students to apply during their 7th grade year. Must be approved by School Director and subject teacher. Completion of LEAP course may permit student to enroll in subsequent AP course as a 9th grader. Math* Honors Science* Honors Science* (an additional science may be taken if the student successfully completed a LEAP Science in 8th grade) Honors Science* AP Science (may substitute an AP Elective) AP Science (may substitute an AP Elective) Foreign Lang. I Foreign Lang. II Foreign Lang. III or AP Foreign Lang. Elective Elective Elective Please Note: During the first year of operation, all 9th and 10th grade students will take the courses listed under Grade 9. These students will substitute AP World History for AP European History in their second year. *Courses that vary based on the sequence (Math = All levels of math courses). 17

18 Comprehensive, Final, and External Exams Pre-Comprehensive and Comprehensive Exams (grades 6 8 only) are cumulative exams created, audited, and approved by BASIS.ed in cooperation with BASIS teachers. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 prepare for these examinations by taking Pre-Comprehensive Exams shortly following Winter Break. The purpose of the Pre-Comprehensive Exam is to: 1. Provide students with the experience of taking a cumulative examination 2. Provide teachers, PARENT(s), and students with invaluable information about the students progress and academic standing BASIS.ed: Management organization for BASIS Schools, BDC A Public Charter School Inc., and BTX Schools. PARENT: The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. Final Exams are produced and graded by BASIS teachers in non-ap courses for grades The weight carried by each exam for the Final Course Grade is specified in the course syllabus. Format (multiple choice, essay, etc.) and content (comprehensive/ non-comprehensive) are at the teacher s discretion. Advanced Placement (AP) Exams are produced and graded by the College Board. The College Board assesses a fee for each exam ordered. BASIS graduation requirements compel students to take six AP Exams (see Diploma Course Requirements table). As long as a student maintains a cumulative grade of D or above in any AP course (by the end of the 3rd trimester), BASIS will pay for the minimum required number of AP Exams each year. 18

19 BASIS will pay for additional AP Exams under the following conditions: In 8th grade, upon teacher recommendation; In 9th grade for the second or any additional, non-required exam, upon teacher recommendation; After the 9th grade, students must maintain an average score of 3 or above on all AP Exams or the student may not receive full financial support for AP Exams beyond the six that are required for graduation. OECD/PISA: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/ Program for International Student Assessment. BASIS does not pay for AP Exams under any other circumstances. If a student leaves BASIS before graduating, the cost of any AP Exams taken while attending BASIS will be deducted from the student s security deposit. OECD Test for Schools (Program for International Student Assessment) In 2012 BASIS Scottsdale and BASIS Tucson participated in the OECD Test for Schools pilot. This test, based on the highly respected Program for International Student Assessment or PISA, is an internationally benchmarked school-level assessment tool that measures critical thinking skills and how well 15 year-olds can apply their knowledge of reading, math, and science to real-world problems. Based on the results, both schools earned international recognition. The test measures students problem solving abilities and requires no prior preparation. Since this exam is critical for BASIS 19

20 to determine international benchmarking, all eligible fifteen-year-old students are required to take the exams during the school year. BASIS will pay the testing fees for students to participate in the OECD Test for Schools Examination. Please Note: While BASIS is more than happy to share a student s grade profile with an authorized parent, federal privacy in education laws (FERPA) and our own security protocols prevent us from granting access to the data system used to track and monitor student grades and progress by any parent or third party. High School GPA: Average of the grades for courses taken at BASIS in grades Calculated on a 0 4 point system. Additionally, to maintain test security and to prevent the opportunity for undue disadvantage, BASIS does not provide copies of Comprehensive and Pre-Comprehensive Exams. BASIS commits to working with students and parents to understand the areas on exams where a student is unsuccessful and will provide educationally appropriate support and intervention to help achieve success in these areas. High School Credit Policies High School Credit Awarded for Courses Completed in grades 5 8: BASIS High School Transcripts contain a record of all courses for which BASIS awards high school credit, including some BASIS courses taken in grades 5 8. These credits are counted toward the student s total high school credits; however, the courses are not included in the student s high school GPA. In accordance with state Department of Education rules and all applicable laws, 8th grade students who continue to attend BASIS Upper School in the 9th grade receive: 1.5 credits for Algebra I/Geometry 1.5 credits for Algebra II/Geometry 20

21 1 credit for any Pre-Calculus or AP Math course 0.5 credits for 8th grade Economics 1 credit for 8th grade World History trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. These are the only courses that carry high school credit if taken prior to 9th grade. Please Note: 8th grade students who do not continue at BASIS Upper School do not receive any high school credits. These students may request a letter from BASIS describing the academic level of the BASIS courses, but the student s new high school determines whether or not to accept these courses and award credit. BASIS has no jurisdiction over the enforcement of other high schools credit policies. Required Course of Study Credits: Grades 9 11: A student must complete an entire course, attending all classes in order to receive credit for that course. Only courses completed in their entirety are posted to the student s transcript. BASIS does not award partial credit for any course that the student has withdrawn from before the end of the term regardless of the reason for the withdrawal. Students who accrue excessive absences in any course may not be awarded credit for that course (see Attendance). Upon successful completion of a course students are awarded: 0.33 credits per course for trimesters 1 and credits per course for trimester 3 21

22 Students must fulfill the following requirements in order to successfully complete and earn credit for any course (see next page): Honors course requirements: 1. Earn a minimum Final Exam Grade of D- 2. Earn a minimum Final Course Grade of D-. The Final Course Grade is a weighted average of trimesters 1, 2, and 3 and the Final Exam Grades. Grades are weighted at the discretion of the teacher; specific weights are described in the course syllabi. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. Please note: Final Exams cover material from all three trimesters, may be written, oral, or a combination of both, and may include results of a final lab practical or project presentation, as specified in the course syllabus. AP course requirements: (including AP courses taken in the 8th grade) 1. Complete the corresponding College Board Advanced Placement Exam or take the AP-Alternative Exam. 2. Earn a minimum Final Course Grade of D-. If the student elects to take the AP Exam, the Final Course Grade is calculated based on the score earned on the AP Conversion table (see Grading Policies and Procedures). If the student elects to take the AP-Alternative Exam, the Final Course Grade is calculated as a weighted average of trimesters 1, 2, and 3 (60%) and the AP-Alternative Exam (40%). 22

23 Please Note: AP-Alternative Exams are written by the course teacher and are similar in structure and grading to the College Board s AP Exam. The Exam questions and essay prompts from previous years AP Exams, which may have been used in the course for review and exam preparation, are used to create the AP-Alternative Exam. The exam is administered at the same time as the College Board s AP Exam. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. Capstone, Elective, and Post-AP course requirements: To receive credit for capstone, elective, and post-ap courses, students must earn a minimum Final Course Grade of D-, calculated according to the procedures specified in the course syllabi. Please note: To qualify for Graduation With Honors or High Honors students must earn a minimum Final Course Grade of B- in all capstone courses. Senior Project Requirements: The Senior Project is worth 3 credits. By the end of the 2nd trimester students must pass all capstone courses with a cumulative grade of B- or higher in order to advance to the 12th grade Senior Project trimester. To be eligible for participation in the Senior Project, students must meet all of the following deadlines: End of the third week of school: All seniors must have made an appointment to meet with the Senior Project Coordinator to discuss their plans to complete or not to complete a Senior Project and graduate with High Honors. 23

24 End of first trimester: Submit a Senior Project Proposal to the SENIOR PROJECT ADVISOR and the Senior Project Coordinator (one copy each). The Senior Project Proposal must follow the Senior Project requirements (outlined in the syllabus). Last School Day in October: Submit the first draft of the Senior Project Plan, which incorporates comments/ideas from the Senior Project Advisor to the Senior Project Coordinator. The Senior Project Coordinator and other members of the Senior Project Committee may make suggestions to change some Senior Project parameters or may deny the option to graduate with High Honors. Second Friday in January: Submit the final draft of the Senior Project Plan and syllabus to the School Director and the Senior Project Committee. The Senior Project Committee will then approve or deny the Senior Project Plan. Senior Project Advisor: The faculty member within BASIS who advises and grades a student s senior project. Not the same as the on-site Senior Project Mentor. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. Students who do not qualify for participation in the Senior Project graduate with Honors or without any distinction, based on their fulfillment of capstone requirements, at the end of the 2nd trimester. To receive credit for the Senior Project and qualify for graduation with High Honors, students must: Fulfill all communication and activity requirements set in the Senior Project Plan Present the Senior Project to the entire BASIS Upper School community by the date set in the Senior Project Plan Earn a passing grade for the Senior Project 24

25 Elective credit substitution requirements Students in grades 9 12 who would like to receive credit for sports or fine arts activities outside of the regular BASIS curriculum must petition the School Director. The two necessary conditions for earning substitute credit for an elective are: instructional hours, validated by an official at the sport/art education institution 2. The School Director s approval and recognition as a valid activity for the credit Transfer Credit from Outside Institutions Prior to BASIS Enrollment: Courses from other middle or elementary schools do not carry high school credit at BASIS. BASIS accepts all credits issued by other high schools as additional elective credits. To gain core course credit for a relevant course completed at another institution (e.g. Algebra II), students must petition the School Director to take an exam designed by a BASIS teacher. Upon successful petition, if the student passes the exam, the student will be awarded credit for the core course. Concurrent BASIS Enrollment: To receive credit for courses completed at a non- BASIS institution, students must receive approval from the School Director prior to enrollment in the outside coursework. Only credits which a student has received pre-approval from the director are eligible for BASIS credit transfer. 25

26 Failed Comprehensive Exam and/or Course (grades 6 8) Students who do not fulfill all grade promotion requirements do not qualify for PROMOTION STATUS. To remedy the child s promotion status, the PARENT must submit a formal request, in writing, asking for permission to obtain CONDITIONAL PROMOTION STATUS. The request must be made within two calendar weeks of the receipt of the student s Final Grade Report. Students who file a request before the deadline will be awarded conditional promotion status and receive an invitation to meet with the School Director to discuss the conditions for receiving promotional status. The conditions for receiving promotion status may include, but are not limited to, the following: Students who fail any Comprehensive Exam (score <60%) are offered the opportunity to retake and pass the failed exam on a date specified by the School. Students who fail courses are offered the opportunity to complete a summer project (assigned and graded by the teacher) due on a date specified by the School. Students may also be placed on Academic Support or Academic Probation (see Student Services) in order to address the causes of the failure to receive credit. 8th graders who receive a one (1) on their AP World History exam can petition to take the World History Comprehensive Exam on a date specified by the School. The student must earn a minimum 60% on the Comprehensive Exam to pass the course and be promoted to the 9th grade. conditional promotion status: Issued by the School Director, upon written request, to students in grades 6 8 who did not meet the promotion requirements for a course. Student is required to fulfill the conditions determined by the School Director during the Summer Term. Students who fulfill the all conditions will earn promotional status and advance to the next grade level. PARENT The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. promotion status: Indicates whether or not a child has met all requirements to be promoted to the next grade. 26

27 Failed Final Exam and/or a Course (grades 9 12) Any student in grades 9-12 who fails a Final Exam or a course is placed on an Individual Academic Plan (details below). In order to make-up a failed final exam or a failed course, the student and his/her PARENT must contact the school no later than two weeks after the Final Grade Report is issued (for a schedule of grade reports, see Grading Policies and Procedures). PARENT The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. Students who fail any Final or AP-Alternative Exam are offered the opportunity to retake the failed exam on a specified date prior to the first day of the next school year. The grade earned on the retake exam will replace the failing grade on the original exam, whether it is higher or lower. Students who fail courses are required to make up the credit. This may be achieved by either: 1. Successful completion of an equivalent course outside of BASIS (following the rules identified in Transfer Credit Concurrent BASIS Enrollment). 2. Retaking the course during a later year. This option is limited by the school schedule and may not be available until the 12th grade. 27

28 Upper School Students on an Individual Academic Plan Are not guaranteed to graduate within four years as they may not have completed all of the prerequisites needed to take courses in the sequence outlined above. Take a course load proposed by the College Counselor and approved by the School Director. The School Director may modify elective requirements and/or the timeline for fulfilling required credits as part of an Individual Academic Plan (the modified required course of study must be in compliance with BASIS graduation requirements). May be ineligible for Graduation with Honors and High Honors (see Graduation Options table). Are eligible for graduation only after they earn the number of credits specified in the BASIS High School Diploma Course Requirements table. All credit deficiencies should be fulfilled during the grade 12 year since students graduating without Honors are not required to take Capstone Courses or participate in a Senior Project. However, students who have deficiencies in two or more sequential required courses (e.g., Pre-Calculus and AP Calculus AB) may be required to take missing credits in a 5th year (enrolled at BASIS as part-time students). 28

29 GRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The following are the general policies and procedures observed by all BASIS teachers. Teachers may identify additional grading policies specific to each of the courses they teach in their course syllabus. Should the teacher s specific policies contradict these general policies, the policies in this handbook prevail. Progress Grade Report The Primary School and Lower School have five GRADING PERIODs, each roughly six weeks long. Students receive PROGRESS GRADE REPORTS at the end of each grading period, with the exception of the 5th grading period, which is combined into a Final Grade Report for the year. The Upper School has three TRIMESTERS, each roughly 12 weeks long. Students receive Progress Grade Reports at the end of each trimester. Additionally, all students in grade 8 receive a MID-TRIMESTER GRADE in their Communication Journal approximately six weeks into each trimester. Students in grades 9 12 earning a C- or lower in any subject receive a Mid-Trimester Report (mailed to the PARENT but not included on Progress Grade Reports or transcripts). The Progress Grade Reports include all Course Progress Grades, Course Cumulative Averages, and Report Cumulative Average for the student as of the date of the report. grading period: Grading section of (roughly) six weeks that applies to Primary School and Lower School grades. Mid-Trimester Grade: Applies to 8th grade students, course grade at midtrimester (sixth week/each trimester) point recorded in student s communication journal by subject teacher. PARENT The student s caregiver(s) as identified in the student s registration documents as the person or people with whom the student resides. Progress Grade Reports: Progress report for GP 1 5 and Tri 1 3. Only the final grades count as true grade reports. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. 29

30 A Course Progress Grade reflects a student s performance in a course during a given grading period. Each teacher and Content Expert (grades K 4) calculates the grade according to his/her grading policy published in the course syllabus and any grading period-specific regulations. An Incomplete (I) may be given if the teacher does not have enough information to assign a grade due to excused absences or if the student was excused from significant amounts of class time for other reasons (e.g., additional tutoring during class time). This grade does not affect any of the grade averages. Term Projects use the SPU (Superior/Pass/Unsatisfactory) Grading Scale; these grades do not carry a percentage equivalent and do not factor into cumulative grades. (see Superior, Pass, Unsatisfactory (SPU) Scale table) Primary School: Students receive percentage grades, with the exception of PE, the Term Project, Art Connections, and All Connections courses. Teachers use a five-letter grading scale described in the 5 Grade Percent Equivalency table. PE, Art Connections, and All Connections courses use the SPU Grading Scale; these grades do not carry a percentage equivalent and do not factor into cumulative grades. (see again 5 Grade Percent Equivalency table) Lower School: Students receive percentage grades, with the exception of PE and the Term Project. Additionally, teachers use a five-letter grading scale described in the 5 Grade Percent Equivalency table. Students receive SPU scores in 5th and 6th grade PE; these grades do not carry a percentage equivalent and do not factor into cumulative grades. grading period: Grading section of (roughly) six weeks that applies to Primary School and Lower School grades. Incomplete (I): I status given if the teacher does not have enough information to assign an actual grade, usually due to excessive, excused absences. I status does not affect any grade averages. SPU: Acronym for grading scale, Superior, Pass, Unsatisfactory. SPU grades do not carry a percentage equivalent and do not factor into cumulative average. 30

31 The Progress Course Grade calculation for Grading Period 3 is modified for COMPREHENSIVE COURSES to include the Pre-Comprehensive Exam grades: the grade is calculated as a weighted average of the course grade (calculated by the subject teacher and worth 50%) and the Pre-Comprehensive Exam grade (worth 50%). Upper School: Students receive percentage grades, with the exception of college counseling, projects and the Senior Project. Teachers use a twelve-letter grading scale described in the Twelve-Letter Grade and Percent Equivalence Table (see 12 Grade Point Equivalency table). Students receive SPU scores in college counseling, Term Projects, and the Senior Project. The Progress Course Grade calculation for Trimester 2 is modified for Comprehensive Courses to include the Pre-Comprehensive Exam grades: the grade is calculated as a weighted average of the course grade (calculated by the subject teacher and worth 70%) and the Pre-Comprehensive Exam grade (worth 30%). Comprehensive Courses: Courses in which there is a comprehensive exam. grading period: Grading section of (roughly) six weeks that applies to Primary School and Lower School grades. SPU: Acronym for grading scale, Superior, Pass, Unsatisfactory. SPU grades do not carry a percentage equivalent and do not factor into cumulative average. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. If the student withdraws from BASIS before the end of the school year his/her most recent Progress Grade Report is filed in the student s permanent file. Course Cumulative Average After Trimester 1, students will receive both Course Progress Grade and a running cumulative grade, which is an average of the grades earned in each grading period. 31

32 Report Cumulative Average This is calculated as a weighted average of all Course Cumulative Averages. In the case that the student is not enrolled in the course for all grading periods the relevant Course Cumulative Average is weighted by the ratio of number of periods enrolled and total number of periods (e.g if the student was enrolled only one trimester). Final Grade Report Students in grades K-7 receive their Final Grade, which is the average of the cumulative course grades (courses using the SPU Grading Scale are not included in this average). Students in grades 8-11 receive their Final Grade Report after AP scores have been reported and incorporated into student grades. If none of 8th grade students take AP exams (e.g. in first year of campus operation) the 8th grade report is sent at the same time as the report for K-7 students. grading period: Grading section of (roughly) six weeks that applies to Primary School and Lower School grades. SPU: Acronym for grading scale, Superior, Pass, Unsatisfactory. SPU grades do not carry a percentage equivalent and do not factor into cumulative average. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. Students in grade 12 receive their Final Grade Report after the end of 2nd trimester, or if they participate in Senior Project after the end of 3rd trimester or after AP scores have been reported and incorporated into student grades. K-5th grades Final Grade Report includes the last grading period Course Progress Grades, the Final Course Grades, and the Final Cumulative Average for the year. 32

33 6-8th grades Final Grade Report includes the last grading period Course Progress Grades, the Comprehensive Exam scores for COMPREHENSIVE COURSES the Final Course Grades for all subjects and the Final Cumulative Average for the year. 12th grade Final Grade Report includes the Trimester 2 Course Progress Grades and the Final Course Grade for each Capstone Course, Elective, and College Counseling. In addition, the Final Grade Report for students in 12th grade who are graduating with High Honors includes the Final Course Grade for the Senior Project. Final Course Grade The cumulative grade for the subjects graded with the SPU Grading Scale is determined based on the Superior, Pass, Unsatisfactory (SPU) Scale table. For the courses graded on the five or twelve-letter scale, the calculation depends on the type of course: Comprehensive Courses: Courses in which there is a comprehensive exam. grading period: Grading section of (roughly) six weeks that applies to Primary School and Lower School grades. SPU: Acronym for grading scale, Superior, Pass, Unsatisfactory. SPU grades do not carry a percentage equivalent and do not factor into cumulative average. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. Comprehensive Courses in Grades 6-8: The Final Course Grades are calculated as the average of the Course Cumulative Average for each subject (50%) (for 8th grade, this is the average of trimesters 1, 2, and 3) and the Comprehensive Exam Score (50%) in that subject. AP Courses: Final Course Grades for courses in which the student is taking an AP exam are calculated according to the conversion rules summarized in AP Conversion table. 33

34 Other Courses in grade K 7: Final Course Grades are calculated as an average of all grading period Course Progress Grades. Other Courses in grade 8 12: The Final Course Grade is calculated as the weighted average of all available trimesters and the Final Exam score using the weight specified in the course syllabi. Final Cumulative Average Final Cumulative Average is calculated as the weighted average of all Final Course Grades of subjects graded on the five or twelve-letter grading scale. In the case that the student is not enrolled in the course for all grading periods the relevant Course Final Grade is weighted by the ratio of number of periods enrolled and total number of periods (e.g., 0.33 if the student was enrolled only one trimester). grading period: Grading section of (roughly) six weeks that applies to Primary School and Lower School grades. High School GPA: Average of the grades for courses taken at BASIS in grades Calculated on a 0 4 point scale. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. High School Transcript The transcript includes final course letter grades (no percentages), the credit value received for each course, and the cumulative high school GPA (grades 9-12). The cumulative high school GPA is calculated on a 4-point scale using 12 Grade Point Equivalency table. Final Course Grades for courses that include the student s AP Exam results are designated on the transcript. The most recent transcript is filed in the student s permanent file. Please Note: Cumulative grades on grade reports are rounded. The same rounding algorithm is used for all students, courses, and types of calculations. 34

35 ACADEMIC RECOGNITION BASIS recognizes high academic performance at the end of each grading period by listing students on the DISTINGUISHED HONOR ROLL (Lower & Upper School only), HONOR ROLL (Lower & Upper School only), MOST IMPROVED HONOR ROLL, 90 S CLUB (Primary & Lower School only) and COMMENDED SCHOLAR List (Upper School only). The academic criteria Distinguished Honor Roll: Top 5 percent of students with the highest Cumulative Averages (Lower & Upper School students only; not awarded for Grading Period) grading period: Grading section of (roughly) six weeks that applies to Primary School and Lower School grades. trimester: Grading section of (roughly) 12 weeks that applies to BASIS Upper school grades. Honor Roll: Top 15 percent of students with the highest averages for the current grading period (Lower & Upper School students only) Most Improved Honor Roll: Top 5 percent of students in terms of total percentage improvement between the previous grading period and the current one (not awarded for Grading Period 1) 90 s Club: All Primary School & Lower School students earning a Cumulative Average of 90% or higher for the current grading period (Primary School and Lower School only) Commended Scholar List: All Upper School students earning a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher for the current trimester (Upper School students only) An Academic Honors and Awards Assembly will be held at the conclusion of each of the first four Grading Periods in the Primary School and Lower School and at the conclusion of first two Trimesters in the Upper School. 35