The Insight Academy of Arizona Handbook

Transcription

1 Insight Academy of Arizona The Insight Academy of Arizona Handbook F h t t p : / / w w w. k 1 2. c o m / I n s i g h t A c a d e m y o f A r i z o n a

2 Table of Contents 1. General Education a. Office Hours b. Support Groups c. MathOnDemand Lab d. Attendance Policy e. Summary of the Arizona Department of Education attendance rules f. Illness/Extended Inability to Participate g. Final Exams h. Vacation Policy i. Process for Withdrawal and Expulsion of Truant or Excessively Absent Students 2. Testing a. Arizona State Law b. AIMS and Stanford 10 c. Scantron 3. Grades a. Grade Determination b. Grading Scale c. Class Rank and Honor Roll Determination d. Evidence of Mastery e. Late Work Policy f. Guidelines for Integrity in Assessments and Assignments g. Plagiarism h. Source Citation i. Academic Integrity i. Consequences 1. First Offense 2. Second Offense 3. Third Offense j. Report Cards k. Student Records l. Appeal of Final Semester Grades and Awarding of Credit m. Grade Promotion and Awarding of Credit n. Graduation Requirements 4. Technology Policies a. Instant Messaging Policy b. Student Internet Safety c. Network Etiquette d. Internet Service Provider (ISP) Reimbursement Policy e. Monitoring f. INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA Indemnification Provision

3 g. Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) h. I Understand Statements 5. Behavior Expectations a. Read the Code b. INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA Student Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Guidelines i. Failure to Follow these Guidelines ii. Accountability iii. Inappropriate Behavior 6. Optimizing the High School Experience a. Getting Started With High School at INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA b. Student Actions to Ensure Success c. Creating a Calendar d. Time Management 7. Parent Section a. Review Teacher Credentials b. Parent Actions to Help Ensure Student Success c. Checking Student Progress d. Family Directory e. Complaint Response Procedure 8. Special Programs a. Special Education b. Special Needs Students at INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA Response to Intervention (RTI) c. Title I Program d. McKinney Vento Act e. Child Find f. Related Services 9. Glossary Introduction Insight Academy of Arizona (ISAZ) was granted Alternative Status by the Arizona Department of Education on May 23, ISAZ offers an alternative middle and high school program for students in 7 th -12 th grade and provides an alternative program for students who are in poor academic standing or need additional support due to family needs or personal learning style preferences. This Insight Academy of Arizona Handbook sets forth some general guidance for parents and students enrolled in the Insight Academy of Arizona. INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA is a charter school and is subject to the rules and regulations of the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools. The State Board for Charter School's guidelines are available online at The INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA charter contract is available from the INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA office.

4 INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA Mission Statement Insight Academy of Arizona is a public online charter school that uses K12, Inc. programs and curricula to meet the needs of diverse student populations through innovative uses of technology, effective teachers and instruction, and partnerships with families and community, while specifically serving students who are struggling academically, severely academic credit deficient, and are at a higher risk for dropout. Insight empowers students to think critically and achieve academic success and personal growth with specialized support and programs. Insight Academy is accessible for all Arizona students- regardless of geographic, financial, or demographic circumstance and to provide online education alternatives that are as unique as the students we serve. Getting Started Whether you are first starting with INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA or just reading through this guide as a refresher before beginning the new school year, the sheer volume of the material can often be daunting. You can always contact your student s Advisor and he or she will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Calendars

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6 Admission and Entrance Requirements INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA students must reside in Arizona in order to be eligible to enroll in Insight. Additionally, at least 80% of our new students for must have been enrolled in and attended a public school (including charters) during the school year. Up to 20% of our new-student population may be comprised of students who did not attend a public school during the school year. Pursuant to ARS I, Insight Academy of Arizona teachers and administrators confer with parents of students whose academic achievement declines while attending Insight. Insight Academy of Arizona evaluates progress within the Learning Management System and standardized test scores to determine academic achievement. If a student s academic achievement declines while attending Insight Academy of Arizona, the school s administration meets with the parents to discuss whether the student should continue to participate in this school. General Education

7 Office Hours Schedule for Teachers hold office hours throughout the day and these times are unique for each teacher. Teachers office hours can be found, and are posted, in ClassConnect. Teachers also have blocks of time daily and even some evening hours for open office tutoring sessions. This is a time when students and teachers meet for additional instruction, reviews, or question and answer sessions. All sessions will be scheduled in the ClassConnect area of the OLS. Students who are failing courses will be required to attend live remediation office hours weekly. If a student does not attend as required and continues to fail his or her courses, he or she will be considered for withdrawal due to academic decline. Support Groups A variety of support groups are offered to our Insight students. Topics that are covered include: bullying, substance abuse, grief, coping, conflict resolution, time management, job/volunteer skills, and selfesteem. All support groups are held online in ClassConnect. The support groups schedule will be available at the beginning of each block and a kmail will be sent by Erin Jones, Family Support Coordinator. These groups offer a safe place for students to learn, share, and to offer support. MathOnDemand Lab MathOnDemand is a tutoring lab that students can access for extra assistance in their math courses. Students are encouraged to attend when experiencing a challenge in math. Hours are from 2:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m., Monday Friday. All students taking a math course will see the ClassConnect invitation to the MathOnDemand Lab in the OLS. Announcements are also posted in all math courses. Attendance Policy All Insight Academy of Arizona high school students are enrolled solely as on a full time basis. Students must enroll in a minimum of five (5) courses total each semester, with a typical course load during each block being three (3) courses. All students must enroll in at least 5 classes total each semester to equal five (5) courses, and five (5) credits, each school year. Insight Academy of Arizona requires that all students attend school a minimum of 25 hours per week and 900 hours per academic year. Requirements are aligned to The Arizona Department of Education requirements for

8 all Arizona high school students. This means our students must work in their courses for at least 25 hours per week, however, most students will work in courses for 30 hours per week 2 hours daily for each course. Insight Academy of Arizona reports weekly attendance to the state, beginning with the first day of our school year. If a student can only attend school for 20 hours during a week, he or she is behind five (5) hours for that week. If the student attends school for 30 hours the following week, Insight can credit the additional attendance time towards the prior week s attendance. Students should try to stay consistent in their weekly schooling hours, but flexibility does exist for our families as long as students maintain at least the average attendance hours. In addition, students should adhere to the school s instructional calendar, but students may swap vacation days or holidays. Student attendance hours will be tracked according to the school s excessive absence and truancy policy. A student may be withdrawn if he or she is below 90% of the required attendance hours. Students must be withdrawn if they miss ten (10) consecutive days of school (consecutive calendar days.) Arizona statute requires Insight to withdraw the student on the 10 th consecutive day of absence. Summary of the Arizona Department of Education attendance rules Instructional time is calculated each week Students must attend school a specific number of hours each week, based on grade level Students should adhere to the Insight Academy of Arizona instructional calendar; however, students may school on non-instructional days or swap vacation days during a semester as long as they are schooling adequate hours and completing all coursework. Students who swap instructional days beyond the Monday-Friday school week should consult with their teachers to ensure no deadlines are missed. Student absences will be calculated for each week day where a student attends school fewer hours than required Students must adhere to the Insight Academy of Arizona instructional calendar; attendance will not be tallied on non-instructional days. All instructional time may be credited for attendance ; students do not need to be online to count that time for attendance. However, students should be logging into their classes every day even when they are working offline in order to avoid a discrepancy between user activity hours and logged attendance hours. Offline hours will vary by course, but they must make up no more than 10% of total hours logged for attendance. Discrepancies of more than 10% may be investigated to ensure that students are not logging false attendance. We will continue to take a stand against this antiquated legislation. In the meantime, it is critical that both parents and students understand and adhere to these regulations. Please contact AZ Parents for Education for additional information regarding efforts to eliminate these

9 burdensome rules. If you have further questions regarding this issue, please contact the Insight Academy office at (602) Illness/Extended Inability to Participate If an unexpected situation should arise and there is an extended leave of three days or more needed from courses, students must follow these steps: 1. Determine if Internet access is available (through libraries, family, friends, etc.). 2. Contact teachers, Advisor, and the guidance counselor to explain the situation. 3. Discuss class alternatives with the instructor and learning coach. Final Exams Middle school students must take final exams at the end of both fall and spring semesters (7 th and 8 th graders). High school students must take final exams at the end of each block (9 th -12 th grade). There are a total of four blocks per year and each block is approximately ten weeks long. Excused absences are not allowed for these exams. In order to protect test confidentiality, all exams must be taken on assigned days. Students who cheat and/or plagiarize in any way on a final exam or final project shall not be allowed to resubmit it for credit. Vacation Policy The Insight Academy of Arizona is a public school. Students must attend at least 90% of the possible instructional hours for the school year AND must not miss school for 10 consecutive days. If a family needs to plan a vacation, this vacation must not include more than 10% of the possible instructional hours and must not last more than 10 consecutive days. Assignments due during a family-scheduled vacation must be completed prior to the vacation, so it is the student s responsibility to contact his or her teachers prior to this absence. There are no exceptions to this policy. Assignments that are completed late due to a family-scheduled vacation during school are subject to the late work policy.

10 Process for Withdrawal and Expulsion of Truant or Excessively Absent Students 1. Student attendance will be monitored regularly. 2. Students who miss 5 or more consecutive days or who have logged less than the 90% of the required hours will be notified. Students are considered excessively absent when they have missed 10 consecutive instructional days and/or their cumulative attendance is 90% or less than what is mandated by the state. Insight Academy of Arizona policy states that we may withdraw any student who does not meet these attendance requirements. Once a student has been withdrawn from Insight, he or she will receive a letter from K12 detailing all materials that must be returned. State Testing Arizona State Law Pursuant to A.R.S B, Insight Academy of Arizona must notify students and parents of mandatory state testing requirements. If Insight Academy of Arizona fails to test 95% of its students, the students who did not test become ineligible to continue enrollment in Insight. AIMS and Stanford 10 High school testing requirements are dependent upon the cohort year. The cohort year is determined by the first time a student attends 9 th grade. If a student attended 9 th grade in , he or she is considered cohort year If a student is attending 9 th grade for the first time in the school year, he or she is considered cohort year Insight Academy of Arizona 9 th grade students in cohort year 2017 must take the 9 th grade Stanford 10 test on Thursday, April 10th, Insight Academy of Arizona encourages 9 th grade students in cohort year 2017 who are enrolled in a high school biology course to take the AIMS HS Science test on April 9, Insight high school students in cohort year 2016 must complete AIMS HS Writing Test on Monday, February 24, 2014, the AIMS HS Reading test on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, the AIMS HS Math test on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 as well as the AIMS HS Science test on Wednesday, April 9, 2014.

11 Insight high school students in cohort year 2015 or beyond who need to pass the AIMS-HS test to receive a diploma have two opportunities a year to take the test. Fall testing occurs on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 for the AIMS HS Writing test, Wednesday, October 23, 2013 for the AIMS HS Reading test, and Thursday, October 24, 2013 for the AIMS HS Mathematics test. Spring testing occurs on Monday, February 24, 2014 for the AIMS HS Writing test, on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 for the AIMS HS Reading test, the AIMS HS Math test on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 as well as the AIMS HS Science test on Wednesday, April 9, Scantron All 9 th and 10 th graders are expected to complete Scantron testing at the beginning of each school year (or upon enrollment) and at the end of the school year. Two tests are required: reading and writing. Links, logins, and other Scantron information will be communicated to students by their counselor and/or Advisor. Students who do not complete required testing (Stanford 10, AIMS, Scantron) will be locked out of courses and/or will have grades/transcripts withheld until compliance with school policy. Grades Grade Determination Insight Academy of Arizona school grades are determined by the sum total of points a student earns on all graded assignments and tests. Points earned by student/ Total points possible = Grade Example: In his or her math class, the student earns 563 points out of a total of 700 possible points. The grade would be 80%. 563/700 = 80%

12 Grading Scale A = % B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = 0 59% Class Rank and Honor Roll Determination Class rank is determined by rank ordering the cumulative grade point average of all students within a grade level. The following values are assigned to semester grades in each course: A = 4 B = 3 C = 2 D = 1 F = 0 Advanced Placement/Honors courses carry the following weighted value*. A = 5 B = 4 C = 3 D = 2 F = 0 Students earning a semester grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for the Honor Roll. *Students enrolled in Honors or AP courses must receive a grade of A, B or C to remain in the same level of course for the following semester. Students who do not receive a grade of A, B or C will be placed in the Comprehensive or Core level of the course for the following semester.

13 Evidence of Mastery Grades are determined based on how well a student performs on graded activities within each course. Graded activities include but are not limited to: Practice Lessons Threaded Discussions Web Explorations Labs Journal Entries Class Discussions Quizzes Tests Some assignments are teacher graded, and others are computer graded. During the semester, students and parents can always view grades in the grade book for each course. It is important to note that these grades are updated every time an assignment is graded. Warning: If a deadline has passed and the teacher has not entered a zero for that assignment, the student s grade may be temporarily inflated. Zeros are typically entered by Tuesday for work not received by the Sunday night deadline. Late Work Policy Graded assignments whether teacher or computer scored are listed on the course calendar. These assignments must be completed and submitted no later than midnight the Sunday following the due date for that assignment to receive full credit for the work. Any work that is assigned during the week that is not received by Sunday will be considered missing and assigned a zero. Late work submitted after the weekly Sunday deadline will be accepted. Graded assignments whether teacher or computer scored are listed on course calendars. Students are expected to stay current with their studies in order to master the material in their courses. Under extreme circumstances, teachers may grant due date extensions on assignments. Families should never assume that they will automatically grant these requests. Due date extensions must be requested before the due date of the assignment during the school week. Requests received on or past the due date, or on a non-school day will not be granted. Assignments not received by the last date of the block will not be accepted. In case of computer- or internet-issues, students are required to contact their classroom teachers immediately to communicate the issue, so please have a hardcopy of all teachers names and phone numbers.

14 Academic Progress Insight Academy of Arizona makes every effort to work with all students to ensure their success in Insight Academy. However, we recognize that not all students are successful in the online environment for a variety of reasons. Insight Academy has designed the Academic Progress Policy to ensure that students are achieving satisfactory academic progress toward graduation. This program ensures that students are given the support to be as successful as possible. However, if students are not making satisfactory academic progress, we will encourage them to locate an alternate school placement. During the course of a semester, student progress is monitored by the administration, guidance counselors, advisors, and teachers. If a student exhibits signs of academic risk over the course of a semester, we will meet with the learning coach and student and devise strategies to assist the student. Academic Decline Student Action Plan When students are failing one or more courses, Insight Academy of Arizona guidelines mandate that the student must attend weekly open office sessions with their teacher(s) to help improve their grades and receive additional help on a weekly basis until their course grades are at least 60% (passing). We want students to be successful at Insight Academy of Arizona; these open office sessions with teachers will help ensure that they are given additional help to complete their academic assignments. Students whose semester grade average falls below 60% will be on an academic action plan for the remainder of the semester. During this time, they are required to attend and actively participate in open office sessions for all of their courses they are failing and increase their grades in each failing course. Students must attend these sessions, submit their weekly assignments and remain up to date with their attendance while on the academic action plan. Students who do not comply with this action plan will be withdrawn from Insight Academy of Arizona for academic decline. Every week, school administration will review student grades and Class Connect attendance to ensure that students remain in compliance with this action plan. Students who are withdrawn for academic decline may appeal the decision at a scheduled, in person meeting with a school administrator at the Insight Academy office in Phoenix. We want all of our students to be successful at Insight Academy of Arizona and we expect students to actively participate in school and their education by attending open office sessions, turning in assignments, and asking for help when necessary.

15 Guidelines for Integrity in Assessments and Assignments Assessments, such as quizzes, and tests, are a critical part of any academic program. They offer important information about the student s progress toward mastery. This information is helpful only if accurate. It can be accurate only if the assessment represents the student s work and only his or her work. Unless otherwise instructed by the teacher or by a specific assessment, the student is expected to honor the following principles while taking assessments: The student: and the student alone will take the assessment (in other words, the student will take the assessment independent of any assistance). will not copy or redistribute any part of the assessment in any way electronically, verbally, or on paper. will treat the assessment as closed book meaning that he or she may not use any textbooks, references, or other materials (printed or electronic) during the assessment unless the teacher or the specific assessment otherwise instructs (for example, the student is specifically told to refer to certain pages in a book as part of the assessment). will treat the assessment as single browser meaning that during the assessment you may not log in a second time to your course, or open your course or related materials on another browser on another computer. answers will represent his or her work and only his or her work, free of any outside assistance. The student will not plagiarize in any way. will not confer with other students, family members, or acquaintances, either in person or through electronic communication, during the assessment. The student will be asked to submit written assignments for teachers to grade. The student s written work should be completely free of plagiarism. Plagiarism is copying another person s work without providing direct reference to the author, original print material or website. Put simply, always give credit where it is due. The student must ask his or her teacher if he or she has questions regarding citing sources. Remember that INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA utilizes web tools to check for student plagiarism. Unless the teacher or the assessment s specific directions state exceptions, the student is expected to follow these principles while taking assessments and completing written assignments. Only by honoring these principles can the student assure both academic and personal integrity. Plagiarism The definition of plagiarism is copying or imitating the language, ideas, and thoughts of another writer and passing them off as the student s own original work. Specific examples of plagiarism that will not tolerated are Copying, paraphrasing or summarizing another person s work without citing that source. Using material, including photographs, from the internet or any other source and representing as the student s own, even if he or she has changed some of the words. Having someone else write the assignment or rephrase any portion of that assignment.

16 Directly copying or rephrasing student aids (Cliff Notes, for example), critical sources, or reference materials in part or whole without acknowledging those sources. Source Citation Many courses require written work where students need to cite sources. Any direct quotations from a textbook can simply be cited as (Author, page number). Any quotations from outside sources require full citations, including author, title, publisher, date of publication, and page number. If a student cites information found on a website, he or she must provide the complete web page or site title, URL, author (if known), page number (if applicable), publication date of the site (if available), and date of access. Students are responsible for their own work on unit tests and final exams. Students are not allowed to use notes, quizzes, or textbooks on unit tests or on the final exams. Students are not permitted to share work with other students on unit tests or final exams. If a student does not complete his or her own work or shares work with others on unit tests and/or final exams, he or she will not receive credit for the work and is at risk of suspension or expulsion from Insight Academy of Arizona. Students must cite sources in all assignments, tests, and exams. Students do not receive credit for work that does not appropriately cite sources. Academic Integrity All assignments are assumed to be the student s original work. Therefore, if the student utilizes any ideas that are not his or her original thoughts, the student must cite his or her sources using MLA format. A student who fails to abide by these standards will be reported to the high school assistant principal and will be subject to disciplinary action. Consequences First offense The student and parent will receive a kmail and/or call from the classroom teacher. The student will not receive credit for the plagiarized assignment unless the following steps are completed: 1. The student will be required to review the plagiarism recorded lesson and complete the plagiarism worksheet (provided by the teacher). 2. When the student has complied, he or she will be allowed to redo and resubmit the assignment for credit.

17 Second offense The student and parent will receive a call from the High School Principal or Assistant Principal. The student will not be allowed to rewrite the assignment and a grade of zero will be posted for the assignment. Third offense Expulsion. Please note that because Insight Academy of Arizona considers plagiarism a serious offense, these consequences apply to all instances of plagiarism in a student s high school career here at Insight Academy, regardless of grade level or subject. These consequences do not start over each new semester or school year; all instances are documented for the entirety of a student s tenure at Insight Academy of Arizona. Report Cards Report cards are issued for high school students in June for the academic year. For middle school, report cards are sent by semester. Student Records Student records are maintained at the school office. Learning Coaches/parents and/or guardians may contact the school office to obtain a copy of student records. A copying fee may be assessed. If Learning Coaches/parents and/or guardians change their address, telephone number, address, or place of employment, they are asked to notify their teacher immediately. Learning Coaches are responsible for keeping contact information current within the My Account section of the OLS. Arizona Virtual Academy and Insight Academy of Arizona follow the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records retention schedule. The schedule can be found at: General Education records have a destruction schedule and Special Education records (including placement records, referrals, evaluations, testing data and other related records) are destroyed 4 years after the fiscal year of final enrollment in the program. AZVA destroys records based on the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records retention schedule. Appeal of Final Semester Grades and Awarding of Credit Students and parents may appeal a student s final grade or the school s decision to award credit for a course up to 30 days after the end of a semester. Appeals will not be considered later than 30 days after the end of a semester.

18 Grade Promotion and Awarding of Credit Students are promoted based on the number of credits earned. Credit is not awarded for courses in which a student earns an F or fails to log 90% (65 hours) of the required attendance. Students may repeat a course in which they have earned an F. If the student passes the course on the second attempt they will receive that grade but the previous failed course will remain on the transcript. Credit is granted for courses in which the student completes the attendance requirement and earns an A, B, C or D. Students may repeat courses for a higher grade if they choose to do so. If this occurs, credit will only be granted once for that class and the other course will receive credit for an elective class. Students enrolling in a course 30 days after the official school semester start date are on audit status and not eligible to earn credit. Grade-level classification is based on the number of credits earned and is reviewed at the end of each semester. 0 5 credits 9 th grade 6-11 credits 10 th grade credits 11 th grade credits 12 th grade Graduation Requirements Insight Academy of Arizona students must complete 22 credits to be eligible for graduation. Students must earn the following credits to graduate: Subject Graduation Requirements--Meets Arizona state requirements for a high school diploma. English Math Science Social Studies Fine Art Electives Total 4 credits--english I, II, III & IV (One semester may be Journalism.) 4 credits--algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II are required. 4th credit maybe any combination of Integrated Math, Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus. 3 credits--earth Science, Biology & Chemistry 3 credits--world History (1 credit), American History (1 credit), Government (.5 credit) & Economics (.5 credit) 1 credit 7 credits 22 credits Below are the general university admission requirements:

19 Subject English Math University Admission Requirements--Credit requirements for students who wish to apply to a university immediately after high school. 4 credits--english I, II, III & IV 4 credits--can be Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry/Pre- Calculus and/or Calculus. Science Social Studies Fine Art Electives Total 3 credits--earth Science, Biology & Chemistry 3 credits--world History (1 credit), American History (1 credit), Government (.5 credit) & Economics (.5 credit) 1 credit 7 credits--2 must be of the same foreign language, e.g., Spanish I & II. 22 credits Please note: In addition to earning the required credits, students must also pass the Reading, Writing & Math portions of the AIMS test in order to graduate. Technology Policies Instant Messaging Policy Insight Academy of Arizona teachers and counselors are available through instant messages (IM) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Insight Academy teachers will not be available to send and receive student instant messages before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. The subject matter of teacher/student instant messages will be limited to discussions about school policies and academic issues. Students and families are encouraged to use instant messenger to contact their teachers, but it is not required. K-mail is the preferred means for contacting teachers. Student Internet Safety

20 Students must not reveal on the Internet personal information about themselves or other persons. For example, a student should not reveal his/her name, home address, telephone number, or display photographs of him/herself or others to persons outside of the Insight Academy of Arizona. Students cannot agree to meet in person anyone they have met only on the Internet and who is not affiliated with the INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA. First meetings with Insight Academy affiliated students should be at school-sponsored events. Network Etiquette Insight Academy of Arizona students are expected to follow the rules of network etiquette or netiquette. The word "netiquette" refers to common-sense guidelines for conversing with others online. Students are encouraged to abide by these standards: Establish Instant message user names and addresses that are appropriate for the school setting. Avoid sarcasm, jargon, and slang. Swear words are unacceptable. Avoid using abbreviations or inappropriate contractions. When students type these abbreviations they are telling everyone that they cannot type well enough to use complete words. For example: Appropriate you your see you later Inappropriate u ur cya Never use derogatory comments, including those regarding race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, political persuasion, body type, physical or mental health, or access issues. Focus your responses on the questions or issues being discussed, not on the individuals involved. Be constructive with your criticism, not hurtful. Review your messages before sending them. Remove easily misinterpreted language and proofread for typos. Respect other people s privacy. Do not broadcast online discussions, and never reveal other people's e- mail addresses. Internet Service Provider (ISP) Reimbursement Policy

21 The Insight Academy of Arizona has a new policy regarding the provision of internet subsidies and student computers. For the school year, students enrolled in the Insight Academy of Arizona who are eligible for free/reduced lunch as determined by the National School Lunch Program standardized form are eligible to receive an internet service provider subsidy of $12.95 per month. Students meeting these requirements are eligible to receive an internet service provider subsidy if the students participate in the Online School (grades K-8) or Learning Management System (high school) for sixty (60) calendar days, are enrolled in Insight Academy of Arizona on the last day of the school year, participate in all required standardized testing, meet academic progress guidelines described in the Insight Academy of Arizona Hand Book, and demonstrate an average of 6 hours of attendance per instructional day. Students who have a current Individualized Education Plan that requires assistive technology will receive an internet service provider subsidy of $12.95 per month. Subsidies are limited to one per family. Students enrolled prior to the 15th of each month will be eligible for the subsidy for that month. Students enrolling after the 15th of the month will qualify for the subsidy beginning the first day of the following month. Subsidies are mailed to students parents after the end of the school year. Students enrolled in the Insight Academy of Arizona who are eligible for free/reduced lunch as determined by the National School Lunch Program standardized form may request a student computer and printer that will be provided on loan to the student while enrolled in Insight. Students who have a current Individualized Education Plan that require assistive technology may request a student computer and printer that will be provided on loan to the student while enrolled in Insight. Monitoring Insight Academy of Arizona reserves the right to review any material transmitted using Insight Academy instructional computing resources or posted to an Insight Academy instructional computing resource to determine the appropriateness of such material. Insight Academy of Arizona may review this material at any time, with or without notice. transmitted via Insight Academy instructional computing resources is not private and may be monitored. Insight Academy of Arizona Indemnification Provision

22 Insight Academy of Arizona assumes no responsibility for information obtained via the Internet, which may be illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or offensive. This school assumes no responsibility for any claims, losses, damages, costs, or other obligations arising from the use of instructional computing resources. Insight also denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through user access. Any statement, accessible on the computer network or the Internet, is understood to be the author s individual point of view and not that of INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA, its affiliates, or its employees. Insight Academy of Arizona assumes no responsibility for damages to the user s computer system. Nothing in this policy negates any obligation the student and parent have to use the instructional computing recourses as required in the Use of Instructional Property Agreement ("Agreement") the parent or guardian signed as part of the student's enrollment packet. In the event that this Code conflicts with the Agreement, the terms of the Agreement shall prevail." Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides Learning Coaches and students over 18 years of age ( eligible students ) certain rights regarding the student s education records. These rights are: (1) The right to inspect and review the student s education records within 45 days of the day the School receives a request for access. To request an inspection and review, the Learning Coach or eligible student should submit a written request to the Operations Manager that identifies the record (s) they wish to inspect. The Operations Manager makes arrangements for access and notifies the Learning Coach or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. (2) The right to request an amendment of the student s education records that the Learning Coach or eligible student believes are inaccurate. Learning Coaches or eligible students may ask the School to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the Operations Manager, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the School decides not to amend the record as requested by the Learning Coach or eligible student, the School notifies the Learning Coach or eligible student of the decision and advises him/her of his/her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures is provided to the Learning Coach or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing. (3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student s education records, except to the extent that FERPA allows disclosure without consent. One exception that permits the School to disclose information without consent is when the School discloses information to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by or contracted to provide services to or designated by the contractor to provide services to the School as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law

23 enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the Board of Directors of the School; a person or company with whom the School has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a Learning Coach or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the School discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. (4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the School to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C (5) FERPA requires that the School, with certain exceptions, obtain a Learning Coach s or eligible student s written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from a child s education records. However, the School may disclose directory information without written consent, the Learning Coach or eligible student, have advised the School in writing that he/she does not want all or part of the directory information disclosed. The method for objecting to disclosure of directory information is specified below. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the School to include the following information from education records in certain school publications or disclose it to certain parties. Examples include: shipment of computer and school materials to and from student s home, entry of student enrollment information into a computer database for use by school officials, honor roll or other recognition lists, sports activity sheets, such for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members, and school yearbook. Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can be disclosed to outside organizations without a Learning Coach s prior written consent. In addition, federal laws requires the School to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories names, addresses and telephone listings unless Learning Coaches or eligible students have advised the School in writing that they do not want their student s information disclosed without prior written consent. The School has designated the following information as directory information: name, address, telephone number, address, photo, athletic information, honor roll status, grade level, activities and clubs, and awards. If there are certain items the School has chosen to designate as directory information that Learning Coaches/parents or guardians do not want disclosed from their student s education records, without their prior written consent, Learning Coaches/parents or guardians are encouraged to send an identifying the information they do not want disclosed, the student s name, and the name of the virtual academy or affiliate

24 school in which the student is enrolled to: This must be sent within 30 days of the first day the student attends school. Notice of these rights is available, upon request, on audiotape, in Braille, and in languages other than English. The Arizona Department of Education may be contacted at I Understand Statements I understand that I am required to have access to a computer with a working microphone and internet access at all times during my student s enrollment in the Insight Academy of Arizona. I understand that I am responsible for personal computer repairs. I also understand that I am responsible for submitting work on time even if I am experiencing computer difficulties. Behavior Expectations Read the Code Prior to the start date for each school year, students must read the Student Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Guidelines and agree to abide by its terms. Insight Academy of Arizona Student Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Guidelines This document describes the policies and guidelines for the use of the Insight Academy of Arizona and exists to ensure that all Insight students are aware of and understand their responsibilities when accessing and using Insight resources. Insight Academy of Arizona reserves the right to update or alter this agreement at any time. Such revisions may substantially alter access to Insight instructional computing resources. Insight Academy of Arizona instructional computing resources include any computer, software, or transmission system that is owned, operated, or leased by Insight. Students enrolled in Insight Academy of Arizona should be aware of the following guidelines and expectations. Any activity that is not listed here, which violates local, state, or federal laws, is considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Guidelines.

25 Failure to follow these guidelines could result in the removal of student access to Insight Academy of Arizona instructional computing resources, which could result in his/her inability to complete learning activities, suspension or expulsion from Insight Academy of Arizona, and involvement with law enforcement agencies and possible legal action. Accountability Posting anonymous messages is not permitted unless authorized by the course s online teacher. Impersonating another person is also strictly prohibited. Students must use only their own user names and passwords, and must not share these with anyone. Students must log into ClassConnect sessions not scheduled via the ClassConnect link within the OLS with first name and last initial only. Students may not interfere with other users ability to access Insight Academy of Arizona or disclose anyone s password to others or allow them to use another user s account. Students are responsible for all activity that is associated with their usernames and passwords. Students should change their password(s) frequently, at least once per semester or course is encouraged. Students must not publicly post their personal contact information (address and phone number) or anyone else s. Students must not publicly post any messages that were sent to them privately. Students must not download, transmit or post material that is intended for personal gain or profit, non-insight ACADEMY OF ARIZONA commercial activities, non-insight Academy product advertising, or political lobbying on an Insight owned instructional computing resource. Students may not use Insight instructional computing resources to sell or purchase any illegal items or substances. It is not allowed to upload or post any software on Insight instructional computing resources that are not specifically required and approved for student assignments. Students may not post any MP3 files, compressed video, or other non-instructional files to Insight Academy of Arizona server. Inappropriate Behavior Inappropriate behavior includes insults or attacks of any kind against another person, use of obscene, degrading, or profane language, harassment (continually posting unwelcome messages to another person) or use of threats, posting material that is obscene or defamatory or which is intended to annoy, harass or intimidate another person. This includes distributing spam mail, chain , viruses, or other intentionally destructive content. Optimizing the High School Experience

26 Getting Started With School at Insight Academy of Arizona Student and parent usernames and passwords are unique and must not be shared with anyone. Each will have separate usernames and passwords, one for the learning coach and one for the student. Attending an orientation session is a key to success with the high school program. Course Teachers offer live orientations during the first week of school. You will be notified of these orientations via K-mail. Should you miss any of the live course orientations, you will be able to access a recorded version located in the class connect section of each course. If you have trouble locating the recording, please contact your course teacher. You should attend or view the course orientations before getting started in each course. Students should log in daily to all of their courses and complete the assignments listed on the course s calendar. It is recommended that students study at least one-two hours, per course, per day. All work listed for the week is due by Sunday night. Work submitted after the Sunday night deadline is subject to the late policy. Student Actions to Ensure Success 1. Follow the daily assignments in the announcements section of each course. 2. On the first day of school, make sure you can access all your courses and send/receive K-mail 3. Contact your Advisor to make sure you re all set up and to schedule any necessary meetings. 4. Log into your courses in the Learning Management System every day and spend 120 minutes in each class reading and completing the daily assigned coursework per day. 5. Organize yourself each week by determining what you need to complete for each course and setting up a plan to complete the assignments by their deadlines. Use the course tools (announcements, calendar, grade book) to help set up your personal plan. 6. Check your grade book tab in each course to make sure that you have been included. Contact your teacher if your name does not appear. 7. Log into your k-mail daily to read and respond to k-mail from your teachers and other high school staff. 8. Attend course Office Hours as often as you can to ask questions, discuss course topics, and reinforce online learning. 9. Communicate regularly with your teachers, Advisor and Academic Counselor. Ask questions often! 10. Work with your learning coach/parent at home- having a cheerleader or a support system at home helps when the going gets tough!

27 Creating a Calendar Insight Academy of Arizona has provided a suggested calendar based on each classes course syllabus. The calendars are specific to each course and cannot be adjusted to individual paces. To stay on track, students are advised to check this suggested calendar provided for each class and the course announcements daily. The calendar can be found on the course page under the Calendar link on the left hand side of the page. Time Management In an online course, time management is critical to success because most activities can be accomplished asynchronously (this means that the students do not have to be online at the same time as the instructor or other students). As with any traditional course, there is a risk of receiving a lower grade if a student falls behind. If your student struggles with time management, then he or she should contact his or her guidance counselor for assistance. A proven way to manage time is to create a schedule of daily activities and stick to it. Below is an example of managing and planning a busy schedule (students are not required to follow this but instead encouraged to create a schedule that works for each individual). By incorporating time management techniques, students can be involved in extracurricular activities and still perform well in school. Sample High School Time Management Schedule Monday 8:00 8:30 Check 8:30 9:30 Art Lesson 9:30-10:30 Algebra lesson 10:30 10:45 CCAT Time 10:45-11:45 English lesson 11:45-12:30 Lunch 12:30-1:30 Earth Science lesson 1:30-1:45 Break 1:45-2:00 Attend English teacher s office hours

28 2:00-3:00 World History lesson 3:30-4:30 Karate class 4:30-6:30 Free time, dinner 6:30 7:00 Check discussion board postings and responses 7:00 8:00 Spanish lesson 8:00 - Free time, send , etc. Parent section Review Teacher Credentials Pursuant to A.R.S F., parents may review resumes of Arizona Virtual Academy and Insight Academy of Arizona teachers by calling the school office at (602) Parent Actions to Help Ensure Student Success 1. Attend an orientation session for a general overview of the high school program. These dates and times will be communicated via kmail. 2. Log into the Learning Management System with your child so that you can learn the systems together. 3. Help your student organize and prepare for this virtual setting. Arrange a designated an area where the student has space to work. Also make sure that the computer and scanner/printer/fax machine are all in good working order. Help your student create a personal calendar each week to ensure that he or she has a plan to complete those weekly assignments. Monitor each week the student s organization plan until your student has his or her routine in working order and is experiencing academic success. 4. Log into both the Parent and Student Account Daily to read/check K-mails. 5. Log into the parent account regularly to Log student attendance each day in the Learning Management System. Don t forget to include time spent off line that entails academics, such as reading a novel, visiting a museum, or watching a history documentary. (These are just a few examples) 6. Stay in regular communication with your student s counselor tech. 7. Take advantage of parent trainings, meetings, and informative sessions.

29 Checking Student Progress There are tools within the Learning Management System environment that allow parent/learning coaches and students to quickly check student s work, determine missing assignments, view midterm and final deadlines and grades, and access cumulative reports. Contact your Advisor for help with this tool if needed. Complaint Response Procedure The Insight Academy of Arizona is dedicated to establishing student/family satisfaction. The following procedure is in place to ensure that designated employees address student/family grievances in a timely manner. INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA prohibits discrimination against students/families on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, or religion. The student and parent(s), custodian(s) or legal guardian(s), must address in writing any concern or grievance to the program director. The program director shall respond within ten (10) working days. If the concern or grievance is not resolved by the program director, the parent(s), custodian(s) or legal guardian(s) may, within ten (10) working days of the program director s response, request in writing a meeting (via phone or in person) with the program director to discuss the concern or grievance. He/she shall investigate and respond within ten (10) working days. If the family s concern is not resolved at the meeting with the program director, the family may file a complaint with the Insight Academy of Arizona governing body. The Insight Academy of Arizona governing body may address the complaint directly, or the family may file a complaint with the State Board for Charter Schools. Insight has 30 days to respond in writing to a formal complaint filed with the State Board for Charter Schools. Special Programs Special Education Special education services are available to students identified with a disability by a multi-disciplinary team. A multi-disciplinary team consists of teachers, the parent/guardian and oftentimes a school psychologist, therapist and the student. Insight Academy of Arizona follows the requirements of IDEA 2004 and the laws of Arizona. Documentation of the disability must be provided; such as medical records, prior educational records and/or a psychological evaluation. For new referrals, Insight uses Response to Intervention (RTI) school-wide

30 as a first level support; to assist in the identification of educational needs; and to document the student is unable to learn with scientifically based interventions. Students in need of adapted learning support services are those whose complex learning needs impact their academic achievement and their ability to make sufficient progress in the general education setting. Services offered may include: adaptations and modifications to the general education curriculum, specialized instructional strategies, and adjustments in pacing. The student s home is the regular classroom. Services are provided by consultation with a highly qualified special education teacher via phone, and the ClassConnect online classroom. What to expect: Every special education student will be assigned a special education teacher in addition to his or her regular course teachers. The learning coach/parent or guardian and student are expected to meet regularly with the special education teacher in the ClassConnect online classroom and by conference call. The special education teacher provides the learning coach/parent or guardian assistance to modify and adapt the learning environment as well as curriculum paths for success. The special education teacher provides direct instruction to the student in the ClassConnect online classroom on a regular basis. The special education teacher, the regular education teacher, and the learning coach/parent or guardian will meet together for a 3-way conference by phone or ClassConnect online session a minimum of once a semester. The special education teacher is available as a resource for instructional strategies, adaptations and modifications to the curriculum. The special education teacher will provide a progress report at the end of each semester, noting the progress on the student s IEP goals. Special Education students are required to meet the same attendance policies as their peers. The home environment, one-on-one instruction, and flexible schedule create a learning environment which meets the student s specific needs. Special needs Students at Insight Academy of Arizona Response to Intervention (RtI) Insight Academy of Arizona uses Response to Intervention (RtI) school-wide as a first level support, to assist in the identification of educational needs, and to provide scientifically based interventions for struggling students. Students in need of extra assistance are identified by placement tests, prior state test results, parent input and progress in the curriculum. Students may be identified at any time during the school year. Highly-qualified teams provide instructional and behavioral strategies. Interventions may include teaching and behavior modification strategies, and attendance in ClassConnect office hours.

31 If you believe your child has a learning problem, the first step is to request an RtI consultation with your child s assigned guidance counselor. If you have further questions contact: Hope Terhaar at hterhaar@k12.com Title I Program Insight Academy of Arizona offers a Targeted Assistance program through Title I, Part A funding. Title I is a federally funded program formed under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of Schools receive federal funds based on income forms from the total school population; however, services are available to children who qualify based on academic need, regardless of family income. The Insight Title I program provides individualized support to empower students to meet high academic standards and supplements the general Insight program through additional instruction time, extended academic resources, and personalized support by a Highly Qualified teacher. The Title I teacher monitors progress in the student s LMS course to effectively design and implement relevant practice with content. Title I support does not replace the support of the Insight teacher, curriculum, or program. Conversely, the Title I program adds to the general school program to expand the academic support available to ensure students succeed. McKinney Vento Act The McKinney Vento Act of 1987, or P.L , ensures that each child of a homeless individual, and each homeless youth shall have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youth. Under the Act, schools are prohibited from delaying a homeless child s entry into school due to delays in obtaining school records. Rules regarding guardianship must be waived for homeless students living with foster Learning Coaches or relatives other than their legal guardians. Insight Academy of Arizona can offer school supplies to qualifying homeless youth. Determinations of qualifying students are made on a case-by-case basis. Insight Academy of Arizona can offer school supplies to qualifying homeless youth. Determinations of qualifying students are made on a case-by-case basis. Learning Coaches may review the school Admission of Homeless Children and Youth policy by calling the school office.

32 Child Find AzEIP (Arizona Early Identification Program for Infants and Toddlers) is a program that identifies children who have special needs, provides a Service Coordinator, offers screening/evaluation services and helps families to find services. It is funded by and based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C. The law grants primary responsibility for planning and implementation to a single state agency named by the Governor. In Arizona, this is the Department of Economic Security (DES). The law requires the lead agency to obtain interagency agreements covering the fiscal and programmatic responsibilities for Part C. The Governor appoints an Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) to advise and assist the lead agency in carrying out its responsibilities. Early Intervention is simply a name for services which are provided for children (birth to threeyears-old who have developmental delays or established conditions known to be associated with developmental delays) and their families. Services include but are not limited to audiology, family counseling and home visits, nursing services, nutrition, occupational and physical therapy, psychological services, special instruction, transportation, speech and language pathology, vision services, and others. These services are designed to help children become ready to learn. AzEIP s mission is to optimize the developmental potential of Arizona children, birth to three-years-old, who have developmental delays or established conditions known to be associated with developmental delays, and their families. This is accomplished through the development and implementation of a comprehensive, coordinated, community-based service delivery system that is family-focused and culturally appropriate. AzEIP has established a public awareness program focusing on early identification of eligible infants and toddlers. AzEIP must inform the public and primary referral sources about the program and the child find system, including how to make referrals and how to gain access to evaluation and services. AzEIP established a comprehensive child find system with an effective method for hospitals, physicians, parents, day-care programs and other providers to refer children to the early intervention system for evaluation and assessment. You may call the school office, if you require further information or assistance. Additionally, you may refer children for evaluation to the State online at or if you live in the Phoenix area call Related Services Related services may include occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and/or physical therapy when it is necessary for the child to make adequate progress in the general curriculum. Related services, placement and goals are determined by the IEP team. Options for related services should be discussed with the special education staff before the family decides to enroll with INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA. Related services are provided by independent contractors across the state of Arizona. It is important to note that students are expected to keep appointments since missed appointments may result in the contractor refusing to provide services.

33 Glossary Asynchronous: Instruction that does not require students and teachers to be in a common place at the same time. Discussion boards are an example of an asynchronous type of instruction.. Elluminate: The online synchronous meeting platform where live class instruction and reviews take place for each course. Guidance Counselor: The students contact for school-wide issues. The guidance counselor oversees attendance and provides support to students and families. K 12 : Insight Academy of Arizona s primary curriculum provider. LMS: Learning Management System. The platform used for Insight Academy of Arizona courses and instruction. Learning coach: A responsible adult who assists students and monitors their progress. Office hours: A regular time set by teachers each week during which they are available to answer questions or assist students. Synchronous: Instruction that requires students and teachers to be in a common location at the same time. Elluminate sessions are examples of synchronous interaction.