K 12 International Academy

Transcription

1 STUDENT AND PARENT HANDBOOK SCHOOL YEAR

2 Table of Contents SECTION 1: WELCOME AND SCHOOL OVERVIEW... 5 Welcome to K 12 International Academy... 5 The K 12 International Academy Mission Statement... 6 K 12 International Academy School Values and Commitments... 6 K 12 International Academy and K 12 Inc SECTION 2: ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION... 8 Academic and Holiday Calendar... 8 Term Completion... 9 SECTION 3: GETTING STARTED WITH K 12 INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY...10 PROGRAM INFORMATION...10 Full-Time Student Option...10 Part-Time Student Option...10 COURSE SELECTION AND TRANSFER CREDIT...10 Transcripts, Report Cards, and Other Documentation...10 Course Prerequisites...11 Transfer of Credits Taken Prior to Full-Time Upper School Enrollment...11 NCAA Eligibility...11 Transfer Credits Taken While Enrolled...11 Transferring Credits Taken with K 12 International Academy...11 Transfer/Posting of Credits Earned While Homeschooling...12 Dual Enrollment at a College or University...12 LEARNING COACH RESPONSIBILITIES...12 Lower School (K-5)...12 Middle School (6-8)...13 Upper School (9-12)...13 Monitoring K-mail...13 Supporting Students in Course Consistency and School Staff Communication...13 Encouraging Students to Set Up Skype Accounts...13 ROLE OF THE ACADEMIC COACH...13 ROLE OF THE TEACHER...14 STUDENT ONBOARDING PROGRAM...14 Lower School (K-5)...14 Middle School (6-8)...15 Upper School (9-12)...15 SECTION 4: ACADEMIC AND OPERATIONAL POLICIES...17 UPPER SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS...17 GRADING SCALES...17 Lower School (K-5)...17 Middle School (6-8)...18 Upper School (9-12)...18 STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT...18 AIMS Testing

3 Scantron Performance Series...19 Advanced Placement (AP) Exams...19 PACING AND ATTENDANCE...19 Truancy and Inactivity...20 Illness/Extended Inability to Participate...20 COURSE COMPLETION...21 Assignment Due Dates: Upper School (9-12)...21 Late Work Submission: Upper School (9-12)...21 Late Work Policy...21 Course Acceleration Requests...22 Course Extension Requests...22 COURSE CHANGES REQUESTS...23 Full-Time Student Course Change Requests...23 Part-Time Students Course Change Requests...23 Course Add/Drop Period...23 Course Withdrawals...23 REPORT CARDS...24 Lower and Middle School...24 Upper School...24 EARNING COURSE CREDIT...25 Course Credit...25 Grade Appeals...25 Course Failure and Repeat Credit...25 Credit Recovery...26 GPA AND CLASS RANK...26 Grade Point Average...26 Determining Class Rank...26 GRADE LEVEL ASSIGNMENT AND PROMOTION...26 PROGRAM WITHDRAWAL...27 REQUESTING SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS...27 Record Hold Policy...27 SECTION 5: STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT...28 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT...28 Honor Code...28 Inappropriate Behavior...28 Harassment...29 Bullying...29 Off-Campus Behavior...29 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY...29 Use of Copyrighted Materials...30 Academic Integrity Violations...31 RESPONSIBLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY...31 Objectionable Materials Policy...32 School-sponsored Publications and Productions...32 SECTION 6: SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND STUDENT LIFE

4 College Counseling for Full-Time Students...33 Advanced Learner Program...33 Online Clubs...34 Virtual Field Trips and Special Events

5 SECTION 1: WELCOME AND SCHOOL OVERVIEW Welcome to K 12 International Academy K 12 International Academy is an accredited private institution serving students worldwide. While K 12 International Academy is a diploma-granting school in itself, we also partner with other schools to provide opportunities for students in our part-time and full-time student models. K 12 International Academy is accredited by AdvancED and is recognized by the Virginia Council for Private Education. Accreditation means that our programs and curriculum have been reviewed and meet rigorous standards that are recognized by colleges, universities, and employers. K 12 International Academy is staffed by highly qualified, state-certified teachers spanning kindergarten through grade 12 with experience and training to teach K 12 courses using our own national instructional model tailored for the virtual environment. K 12 has dedicated the most experienced and qualified team members to provide extensive support for families. You will be well cared for through the extended efforts of your support team composed of teachers, Academic Coaches, counselors, administrators, Admissions Advisors, registrars, enrollment consultants and customer service and technical support representatives. All teams work collaboratively and consistently to provide the proper support and guidance students need to flourish educationally. K 12 International Academy team members truly share a common passion for educating young people. Providing support to students is a priority for K 12 International Academy. This Student Handbook is just another way that we support our students and parents. Please use this handbook as a centralized location for policies and program information so that you stay informed about what K 12 International Academy and its teachers expect from students as well as what you can expect from us. At K 12, every staff member and teacher is focused on helping you be successful. Welcome, from the entire staff of K 12 International Academy! If you wish to contact the K 12 International Academy, please feel free to reach out to the school at: K¹² International Academy 2300 Corporate Park Drive Herndon, VA Phone: Fax: icademy@k12.com K 12 International Academy reserves the right to modify, discontinue or add policies and procedures as it deems appropriate at any time and without notice.k 12 International Academy does not require student or family acknowledgment or consent in order to enforce the policies herein. 5

6 The K 12 International Academy Mission Statement At K¹² International Academy, we are committed to bringing individualized learning to all kinds of minds, and removing barriers that keep children from reaching their true potential. We encourage our students to: Share in our excitement of learning Achieve mastery of core knowledge Contribute to the community Embrace and respect diversity and change Act with kindness and strength of character Passionately pursue academic and extracurricular interests Reach their unique, innate personal potential K 12 International Academy School Values and Commitments The following values and commitments describe how K 12 International Academy and its students will work together to meet the above mission. School Culture All K 12 International Academy students, parents, faculty and staff participate in learning as a lifelong process and actively support the learning of others. Students are actively engaged in their academic coursework. Parents and student advocates utilize K 12 International Academy tools and resources to monitor and motivate student learning. Faculty and staff work to design and implement programs and services that improve student achievement. Faculty engages in ongoing individual professional improvement. Engagement Success is achieved by collective and individual engagement. Students show activity within their courses in an appropriate amount of time. Students complete their courses within the specified amount of time. Students have the opportunity to be involved in clubs and organizations. Parents, guardians, and school officials are engaged with their students education. Students have the opportunity to actively communicate with teachers and school community. Instruction All K 12 International Academy students are supported by faculty and staff who provide meaningful learning experiences and opportunities for individual academic success. Students are supported by faculty and staff who are proficient in their content area and use a variety of instructional strategies. Students utilize instructional tools designed to promote academic honesty and achievement. Faculty creates connections with students through meaningful content, personalized feedback, and individual support. K 12 International Academy ensures student success by providing continued supervision and support of faculty and analysis of instructional strategies. 6

7 Achievement All K 12 International Academy students, parents, faculty and staff view their role as critical to attaining a common mission: empowering students to achieve their academic and personal goals. Students, parents, faculty, and staff are provided appropriate resources and services to meet the needs of students. K 12 International Academy conducts regular programmatic evaluations of student performance to inform school improvement. K 12 International Academy works with the parent organization to enhance organizational collaboration in support of student achievement. K 12 International Academy staff leverages opportunities for sharing, communication, and collaboration to develop a broader sense of the K 12 community. K 12 International Academy and K 12 Inc. K 12 International Academy, a part of K 12, offers curriculum from K¹², a leading provider of online education for grades K-12 in the U.S. and around the world. We have a commitment to deliver world-class, individualized education with the singular goal to help each student reach his or her true, personal potential. As such, K 12 International Academy can offer its students and families the strength of K 12 curriculum and school design. For more information about K 12, please visit 7

8 SECTION 2: ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Academic and Holiday Calendar Courses led by K 12 International Academy teachers start multiple times throughout each semester. Due to the paced delivery of K 12 Upper School, students must start their courses on a term start date. Term Name Start Date HS End Date LS and MS End Date Fall Term 1 8/6/ /18/2014 5/20/2015 Fall Term 2 8/20/2014 1/14/2015 6/4/2015 Fall Term 3 9/3/2014 1/28/2015 6/17/2015 Fall Term 4 9/17/2014 2/12/2015 7/1/2015 Fall Term 5 10/8/2014 3/6/2015 7/23/2015 Fall Term 6 10/29/2014 3/26/2015 8/11/2015 Spring Term 1 1/7/2015 5/27/ /5/2015 Spring Term 2 1/21/2015 6/9/ /20/2015 Spring Term 3 2/4/2015 6/23/ /3/2015 Spring Term 4 2/18/2015 7/6/ /16/2015 Spring Term 5 3/11/2015 7/27/ /10/2015 Spring Term 6 4/8/2015 8/13/2015 1/8/2016 The following school holidays and in-service days are observed during the school year: Labor Day 9/1/2014 Columbus Day 10/13/2014 Teacher In-Service 10/17/2014 Veteran's Day 11/11/2014 Thanksgiving 11/26/ /28/2014 Winter Break 12/23/2014 1/2/2015 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 1/19/2015 Teacher In-Service 2/6/2015 President s Day 2/16/2015 Teacher In-Service 3/13/2015 Spring Break 3/30/2015 4/6/2015 Memorial Day 5/25/2015 Independence Day 7/3/2015 Students may complete school work during school holidays and in-service days, but teachers and Academic Coaches will not be available on those days. Students and families may observe additional holidays beyond the official K 12 International Academy Holiday Calendar. Students must inform their teachers and Academic Coaches in advance of any additional holidays that they will be observing, so that lesson schedules and assignment due dates can be discussed. 8

9 Term Completion All students enrolled in Upper School courses will move into Spring Courses according to their Fall Start Dates. It is academically important that students complete their current courses well in advance of when the next semester of their courses begin. Students Fall and Spring courses need to remain in alignment to ensure their assignments, final grades, and transcripts are processed successfully. Students are not permitted to overlap A and B Courses. In rare, extenuating circumstances, a Learning Coach may request via the Academic Coach that a student move to an earlier Spring Start Date. However, the student will need to accelerate their current Fall course(s) in order to remain in alignment with their desired Spring Start Date. Review the handbook section on Course Acceleration (page 21) for more information. 9

10 SECTION 3: GETTING STARTED WITH K 12 INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY PROGRAM INFORMATION Full-Time Student Option The full-time program at K 12 International Academy is tuition-based and designed to meet the diverse needs of students throughout the world who seek a comprehensive online school experience and access to a wealth of private school services, such as clubs, activities, school based re-enrollment services, and college counseling. Full-time upper school students typically enroll in 6 courses, which is the maximum semester course-load. The minimum semester course-load is 4, with the exception of re-enrolling final-semester seniors who have taken at least 2 semesters with K 12 International Academy and fulfilled all other school graduation requirements. Students can purchase one or more additional course(s) when it is educationally appropriate and with the approval of the Academic Coach. In addition to completing the enrollment requirements, full-time students must have successfully completed the required course prerequisites as detailed in the K 12 International Academy Course Catalog. Each of these courses is led by a certified teacher. Full-time students are also assigned an Academic Coach to provide non-instructional support. K 12 International Academy is typically the full-time student s school of record. Full-time Upper School students are offered the opportunity to earn a K 12 International Academy Upper School diploma if they successfully fulfill the school graduation requirements. Part-Time Student Option The part-time program at K 12 International Academy is very flexible to meet the diverse needs of students throughout the world. Part-time students can enroll in up to 6 individual courses at a time. Each of these courses is led by a certified teacher and, upon completion, students can order an official transcript to enable the student to earn credit at his or her primary school. Students are responsible for contacting their school for pre-approval of transferability of credits earned at K 12 International Academy. Part-time enrollees enjoy the same curriculum, the same teacher support, and the same online school platform as their full-time counterparts. However, access to extracurricular activities, clubs, school based re-enrollment services, and college counseling services is reserved for full-time students. COURSE SELECTION AND TRANSFER CREDIT After completing the enrollment application, speaking to an enrollment coordinator, and submitting the necessary forms and documentation, an Admissions Advisor will be assigned to your student and will schedule a conference to discuss course recommendations and transcript analysis, as needed. Full-time Students who are interested in NCAA eligible courses through K 12 International Academy should discuss their expectations with their Admissions Advisors upon enrollment so that appropriate courses can be selected. Transcripts, Report Cards, and Other Documentation Proof of and success in prior coursework helps our Admissions Advisors determine the appropriate courses for students. As such, documents such as report cards (for Lower School and Middle School only) and transcripts (for Upper School course credit) must be submitted as part of the enrollment process. All received documents are reviewed upon receipt and placed in the student s file. Official school records are stored at the Registrar s Office and will be 10

11 approved or denied based on school criteria. Official transcripts from each issuing institution are required in order to transfer credits into the school. All relevant documentation can be sent to or faxed to Course Prerequisites Many of our higher level courses require successful completion of lower level courses. For a student to enroll in a course with an established prerequisite, the student must provide documentation of successful completion/earned credit for the prerequisite. Please see the K 12 International Academy course catalog for a listing of course prerequisites. Transfer of Credits Taken Prior to Full-Time Upper School Enrollment K 12 International Academy allows the transfer of up to 18 Upper School course credits for fulltime students, provided an official transcript is submitted from the previous school. It is at K 12 International Academy s discretion as to which credits are recognized and in which subject credit is awarded. Credits earned at other K 12 private school programs will be accepted for transfer to K 12 International Academy. Students transferring from any school are subject to K 12 International Academy s diploma requirements found in this policy handbook. While an unofficial credit analysis is done by the Admissions Advisor during enrollment to assist in course placement, full-time students hoping to transfer an Upper School course credit taken elsewhere will not receive an official audit and posting of transfer credit until they are fully matriculated. Official transcripts are analyzed by the Registrar s Office, and students will receive notification of transfer credit decisions and posting of credits. Official transcripts from other institutions that have been presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student s academic file and are not returned or copied for distribution. NCAA Eligibility Many K 12 International Academy courses can be used for NCAA athletic eligibility. For more information and a listing of eligible K 12 International Academy courses, please visit the NCAA site and use CEEB code Transfer Credits Taken While Enrolled Fully matriculated Full-time Upper School must request pre-approval prior to taking courses outside of K 12 International Academy, if they intend to transfer credits back into the school. Interested students should discuss this with their Academic Coach and fill out necessary Pre- Approval forms. Transferring Credits Taken with K 12 International Academy Course credits earned at K 12 International Academy are transferrable at the discretion of the receiving school. It is the right of each school to award or deny credit transfer based on their policy. If you are taking a course with the K 12 International Academy and wish to transfer credit back to your school of record, we encourage you to gain pre-approval for these courses. You can fill out a Credit Acceptance Form to take back to your school of record. This form can be found at 11

12 Transfer/Posting of Credits Earned While Homeschooling Many students who enroll full-time in K 12 International Academy have been homeschooled or have learned in similar nontraditional programs. In order for previous homeschool experience to be considered for transfer credit, K 12 International Academy has developed the following guidelines: Students enrolled in K 12 International Academy may be offered credit for previous homeschool or independent study courses that are consistent with the high academic standards and policies of the school. The school recognizes the value of supervised independent study to enrich students academic experience. Families should submit detailed documentation or student assessment documents as part of their request. K 12 International Academy will carefully evaluate and assess the student s previous homeschool or independent study work to determine how that work may be accepted as Upper School credit. If you are considering transferring credits earned as a homeschooled student, please discuss with your Admissions Advisor and he or she will provide you with additional information about required documentation. Dual Enrollment at a College or University Full-time students can take dual credits in their junior and senior years. This means that students are dually enrolled with K 12 International Academy and also at a college or university. Before enrolling in a concurrent program, students should work with their K 12 International Academy Academic Coach, College Counselor, and the Office of the Registrar to ensure that dual enrollment credits will transfer. The following stipulations should serve as a guideline for accepting credit under dual enrollment for K 12 International Academy: Students should notify K 12 International Academy prior to enrollment in the concurrent program. The student s Academic Coach is required to fill out a pre-approval form for any program other than The University of Maryland University College (UMUC). NOTE: UMUC requires an approval letter from the College Counselor. Students seeking dual enrollment will need to provide a course description that includes the credit value that will be earned for approval. Number of credits awarded for each college course taken will be determined on a caseby-case basis. Only credits that count toward the K 12 International Academy diploma will be awarded on the official transcript. Students should be aware that dual enrollment will not always count as college credit at other post-secondary institutions. Students should check college policies on transfer credits. LEARNING COACH RESPONSIBILITIES Lower School (K-5) In the Lower School, the parent (or other responsible adult), working in conjunction with an experienced K 12 International Academy teacher, serves as a Learning Coach to the student, facilitating progress through the daily lessons and working to modify the pace and schedule according to the child s needs. A teacher is assigned to the student and communicates via K- mail, telephone, and online meetings. A suggested weekly lesson plan is provided, which updates automatically as the child progresses through the courses. The Learning Coach can vary the lesson plan to accommodate the child s pace or abilities. 12

13 Middle School (6-8) In Middle School, the Learning Coach works closely with K 12 International Academy instructional staff, the Academic Coach, and the student. At K 12 International Academy, students learn from content-specific teachers to ensure they master the more challenging concepts presented in the core subjects, such as Pre-Algebra. K 12 International Academy ensures teachers are seasoned in every subject to support and provide guidance to students as they prepare to transition to Upper School. Upper School (9-12) Finally, in the Upper School, students are expected to be more accountable for their daily progress and time management. They have a subject-specific teacher for each course and an Academic Coach for all non-instructional assistance and mentoring. Teachers are responsible for reviewing all student work and providing instructional feedback. Teachers work together and employ a cooperative team-teaching approach. The student is expected to move at a more consistent pace with her or his class in each subject, though there is room for flexibility. The Learning Coach plays an important supportive role to help the student stay on task and to help ensure the student follows through on his or her assignments but the student is expected to begin managing his or her own time and schedule more directly. The role of the Learning Coach can vary depending on the grade and skill level of the student; basic responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Monitoring K-mail K-mail is our internal ing system. The Learning Coach is cc d on all student-based K- mails, so it is important to check K-mail daily. School staff is only permitted to communicate through our closed internal K-mail system, IM/Skype, Class Connect, or telephone. Supporting Students in Course Consistency and School Staff Communication Students can log in and access course work at any time of the day, 24 hours a day during their enrollment period. Students are expected to stay on pace and consistently work through all their courses on a daily basis. Teachers and Academic Coaches will conduct regular synchronous outreach attempts. School staff is expected to return phone calls and K-mails within a 24-hour time frame on regular school days. Teachers hold online office hours and Class Connect sessions at scheduled times; students will need to log in at the scheduled time if they wish to take advantage of this interaction. Teachers schedule and post recordings of online sessions in the Learning Management System for students to easily access. Students and Learning Coaches are encouraged to contact teachers and Academic Coaches whenever they have a question, concern, or need help. Encouraging Students to Set Up Skype Accounts We understand that students have busy life and academic schedules. All K 12 International Academy staff use Skype and are online during their working hours. We encourage students to set up the free version of Skype to use as an academic communication tool. This allows students to quickly ask questions or provide updates. ROLE OF THE ACADEMIC COACH In grades 6-12, the Academic Coach is the key coordinator and drives the academic activities of the student, family, and/or school partner. The Academic Coach supports the entire online learning experience from onboarding to course(s) completion by providing a high touch approach and superior customer service. 13

14 Academic Coaches serve as a single point of contact for all non-instructional topics for students, Learning Coaches, and/or school partners. They conduct orientation sessions and onboarding activities at the beginning of each school term, monitor student academic progress, pacing and overall activity on an ongoing basis. Academic Coaches create the Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) for full-time students and then provide support and interventions to students to ensure academic and online learning success. ROLE OF THE TEACHER In Lower School, we assign your student a single "homeroom" teacher a highly qualified professional with specific expertise in the younger grades. This online teacher oversees all facets of the instructional experience for every subject, while the Learning Coach works side-byside with your child to facilitate his or her progress through the daily lessons. Throughout the week, your teacher stays in close contact with you and your student, communicating regularly by K-mail, over the phone, and in one-to-one, real-time meetings that take place online. The Middle School parent or designated Learning Coach continues to work closely with their student to facilitate progress through the daily lessons. Students are exposed to more contentspecific teachers in grades 6-8. Middle School instructors possess deep expertise in their dedicated subjects. They provide feedback on student work samples in their content-specific subjects to help prepare students on their journey towards Upper School. Throughout the month, your teacher stays in close contact with you and your student, communicating regularly by K-mail, Skype, over the phone, and in one-on-one, real-time meetings that take place online via Class Connect and Study Hall sessions. Upper School courses are taught by teachers specifically experienced in their respective subjects. They grade students' assignments and assessments, respond to student questions via K-mail or phone, conduct Class Connects to reinforce difficult topics, and conduct online "office hours" to allow students to "drop in" with questions. STUDENT ONBOARDING PROGRAM To facilitate a successful virtual education experience for your student, K 12 International Academy has developed a Student Onboarding Program to ease students into the online learning environment and to prepare them for the start of school. The program will begin up to one week before the start of school depending on date of enrollment, after the student has successfully proceeded through the enrollment and admissions process. The onboarding process will vary depending on the student s grade level. Lower School (K-5) The homeroom teacher will host an open house for grades K-5 for students and Learning Coaches to help familiarize them with the Online School (OLS) and tools associated with the program. Students will also be automatically enrolled in a Welcome to Online Learning course one week before the term begins to give the student and Learning Coach time to gain hands-on experience with the OLS. Learning Coaches and students in grades K-5 are required to participate in scheduled virtual conferences with their K 12 teacher. The conferences are conducted bi-weekly at the beginning of the year at dates and times mutually agreeable for the Learning Coach and teacher. The conference is an opportunity for Learning Coaches and/or students to voice concerns, relay good news about the student, obtain enrichment ideas, and discuss attendance and progress 14

15 through the curriculum. For the teacher, the conference is also the time to discuss the student s mastery of skills and objectives for their course(s). The conferences are vital for tracking student accomplishment of assignments and attendance. Since regular attendance is required to stay enrolled in K 12 International Academy, it is expected that students and Learning Coaches attend all scheduled conferences and provide 24-hours notice if a cancellation is required; a rescheduled conference time will be determined by the teacher. Full-time students who fail to participate in the conferences may be removed from the program or grade level retention for the academic school year. Middle School (6-8) The Middle School Academic Coach will host an open house for Middle School students and Learning Coaches to help familiarize them with the OLS and tools associated with the program. Each Middle School subject area hosts subject specific orientations as well to review the unique qualities of their subject and answer questions during the first weeks of the term. Students will also be enrolled automatically in a Welcome to Online Learning course one week before the term begins to give the student and Learning Coach time to gain hands-on experience with the OLS. Throughout the school year, the Middle School Academic Coaches and teachers will contact students monthly to touch base and discuss what the student is presently working on as well as review progress in their courses. Upper School (9-12) To facilitate a successful virtual education experience for students, K 12 International Academy Academic Coaches help families and partner schools prepare for the start of school. Students and Learning Coaches can expect a detailed welcome call and k-mail at the term start to provide important onboarding information and details. Academic Coaches serve as the families main point of contact for all non-instructional related questions, support, and general help throughout the school year. On or before the first day of school, students will take a required one-day Online Learning Course to introduce them to the virtual classroom environment. Students will spend the majority of their orientation time (two to four hours) working asynchronously in this course. There are required online assessments to complete within the course. This course provides almost all of the orientation and instruction required for both new and returning students. The course content is available for reference for the remainder of the school year. Learning Coaches are encouraged to review the Online Learning Course with their student. The Academic Coach will oversee the progress and completion of this course. On or before the first day of school, the Academic Coach will also host a 45-minute orientation session with students. This will be a virtual presentation on how to log in to the K 12 system, expectations for the term, as well as a high-level discussion on how to use our system. All students, new and returning, must attend this orientation. Recorded sessions will be available for further review by the student and Learning Coach. After the first day of school, your student will start his or her subject-specific courses. Although students will have access to all of their courses on their term start date, K 12 International Academy teachers pace the start of each course during the first week of school to ease into the online learning experience. Some students may only be taking one course with if they are parttime, while full-time students may be taking a full load of courses. 15

16 During the first month of school, students and Learning Coaches are expected to attend a Policies and Procedures virtual session and attend their teachers scheduled course orientations. A recording of the Policies and Procedures session will be posted in the student s Online Learning Course for review. In addition, recordings of the course-based orientations will be posted for review. The list below is an example of K 12 International Academy s staggered start schedule of courses during the first week; each subject-specific course equates to roughly minutes of activity per school day. Day 1: Complete Online Learning Course Day 2: Begin English, Math, and AP Courses Day 4: Begin World Language and History Courses Day 5: Begin Science and Electives Courses 16

17 SECTION 4: ACADEMIC AND OPERATIONAL POLICIES UPPER SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS To be eligible for a K 12 International Academy diploma, students must not be older than 21 years of age at the start of their final semester. Students must also successfully complete 24 credits, as outlined below. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 6 credits with K 12 International Academy and must spend their senior year (the last 2 consecutive semesters of their academic tenure) as a full-time student. Individual exceptions will be considered for students with credits from a public school or accredited private institution with a grade of C or above in all courses, provided that the student completes one academic year as a full-time student with K 12 International Academy. Students must fulfill all graduation requirements by August 31, 2015 in order to earn a diploma in the 2014/2015 school year. English Math 4 credits 4 credits (Algebra 1 and higher) Science 4 credits (must include 2 lab science credits) * History World Language Physical Education Health Electives Total 4 credits (must include 1 credit of US History)** 2 credits (must be 2 credits of the same language; must be a non-english language course) 0.5 credit 0.5 credit 5 credits 24 Credits * Students who successfully complete Forensic Science or Environmental Science course(s) in SY14/15 and beyond may use this course to fulfill science graduation requirements. Students who successfully completed either of these courses prior to SY14/15 will receive elective credit for these courses. ** Full-time Students who enroll within the Upper School for their Freshman (less than 6 Upper School credits earned) or Sophomore (between 6-12 Upper School credits earned) school year and are seeing a diploma and will need to meet the graduation requirement of the successful completion of U.S. History. Full-time students who enrolls during the school year for their Junior (between Upper School credits earned) or Senior (18 or more Upper School credits earned) year will have the option to take U.S. History or another History course to fulfill their History graduation requirements. GRADING SCALES Lower School (K-5) The K-5 program is mastery based; students will not receive a formal letter grade in courses. At the end of the academic school year, one of the following grades will be assigned to each course on the student s Progress Report for grades K-5: M: Mastered An M indicates that the student has completed the course with the highest possible level of mastery. To receive an M, students must have mastered and achieved the goals set by their K 12 International Academy teacher (95%-100% completion of the curriculum). C: Completed A C indicates that the student has mastered between 80%-94% of the course and is ready move on to the next course in the subject sequence at the end of the school year. 17

18 I: Incomplete An I indicates that the student has not yet completed or reached the goals set for the course. The course can be carried over to the next school year at K 12 International Academy. Middle School (6-8) K12 International Academy recognizes the need to prepare Middle School students for Upper School. As a part of the preparation process, students will receive letter grades, A, B, C, D, or F in the English, Mathematics, Science, History, and World Language courses. Elective courses will receive a P (progressing) or N (not progressing). The grades in Middle School will be generated by two factors: 25% of the grade will come from overall progress within the course, and 75% of the grade will come from the last attempt, not necessarily the highest attempt, on the unit assessment. As students work through their core courses (English, Mathematics, Science and History), if a unit assessment or teacher graded assignment (Lab, Composition or Offline Assignment) is skipped, a zero will be placed in the teacher s grade book. If the student has not yet reached the unit assessment (and has not moved into the next unit) the assessment will not be counted towards Semester 1 overall grade. Attempts will be made by the instructor to remind the student to submit the skipped work through Kmail and or phone/ Skype before the next report card period. If the skipped work is submitted prior to the semester due date, it will be graded for full credit earned by the student. If the skipped work is not submitted by the student by the semester date, then the zero will remain as the grade for the semester in the teacher grade book. Any grades or zeroes for Semester 1 remain within Semester 1 for the Midyear Grade. Any grades or zeroes for Semester 2 will remain within Semester 2 for the Semester 2 grade. At the end of the year, the Semester 1 Midyear Grade and Semester 2 grade will be averaged for a Final Course Grade. Upper School (9-12) Percent Grade Quality Points % A % B % C % D % and Below F 0 N/A WP or WF 0 AP Courses add 1.0 quality point Honors Courses add 0.5 quality point STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT K 12 International Academy does not require individual state testing; however, we assess student progress and achievement in the curriculum. Standardized tests will be administered by K 12 International Academy, and results will be provided to Learning Coaches and teachers to further individualize the curriculum for the student. The following standardized tests are utilized: 18

19 AIMS Testing Administered to full-time students in grades K-1 (and upon discretion to some students in 2 nd and 3 rd grade), AIMS is used as a diagnostic tool to ensure that our students have a strong foundation in literacy. The AIMS test is a required assessment administered to our students 3 times each year at the beginning, middle and end of the terms. The results provide immediate data for the Learning Coaches and students to target areas of need and monitor student growth. Teachers use these results to create goals for our students and communicate with Learning Coaches about student achievement. Scantron Performance Series Pre- and Post-Scantron assessments are administered to full-time students in grades 2-10 in reading and mathematics, The Scantron Performance Assessment is a required computeradaptive assessment that enables instructional staff to pinpoint proficiency levels individually and as a whole. This acts as a guide to diagnose the instructional needs and measurements of student gains across reporting periods. The Scantron Performance Assessment is administered twice each year and records are maintained to monitor student achievement over time. Tests are administered remotely and are proctored by Learning Coaches for students in grades 2-8. Upper School students complete The Scantron Performance Series remotely by following specific instructions provided by their Academic Coaches. Advanced Placement (AP) Exams AP exams are given annually and can be taken by any student. A student does not need to have taken AP courses to sit for an exam; however, students who perform well on these exams have typically taken the related AP course and done well. These are standardized exams that measure how well the students have mastered college-level coursework. Please keep in mind that AP exams are offered at certain locations. They are offered in all states in the United States but are not offered in every country. If a student is taking an AP course in order to prepare to take the AP exam, it is highly recommended that he or she contacts the College Board at to see the available locations. The K 12 International Academy CEEB code needed for AP exam registration is PACING AND ATTENDANCE K 12 curriculum allows students flexibility in the amount of time spent on schoolwork. K 12 International Academy views student success in terms of lesson mastery, not attendance hours; however, we have found that lesson mastery requires consistent and substantial attendance. The following chart represents typical attendance hours required to achieve lesson mastery in a full, six-course load: Grade Level Yearly Hours Suggested Weekly Suggested Daily Hours K Hours 20 4 Grades Grades , Students in grades 9-12 are responsible for accessing daily assignments and their calendar when they begin each of their courses. Daily assignments are provided by teachers through the Learning Management System. Daily assignments specify the expected activities that should be submitted within an appropriate time period to complete the course in the time allotted. Students 19

20 should log in to each course daily during the academic week. Students can expect to spend minutes per course, per day (more for Honors and AP courses). Truancy and Inactivity Definition of Truancy For students to be successful at K 12 International Academy, they need to be fully engaged in learning. We define truancy when a student is inactive for 10 or more days in their course(s); no log-in data, not completing lessons and assessments, not responding to contact attempts, and/or not taking attendance if a full-time student. This could manifest in multiple ways, including, but not limited to: Failure to make required classroom discussion posts Failure to complete lessons or assignments as posted in daily schedule Failure to communicate with teachers and other K 12 International Academy staff Failure to log in or failure to work within the window once logged in Definition of Inactivity A student is considered inactive in an individual course if he/she has spent less than 1 hour logged into the course over 10 consecutive school days OR less than 2 hours for 20 consecutive school days. Inactivity may occur in one or all courses, and a student can be withdrawn from one or more courses due to insufficient online activity and/or failure to submit or complete required class work. This inactivity could manifest in multiple ways. In order to remain active in each course, a student must: Make required classroom discussion posts Complete lessons or assignments as posted in daily schedule Communicate with teachers and other K 12 International Academy staff Log in and submit work within the window once logged in If a student exhibits signs of truancy, the teacher and/or Academic Coach will make multiple attempts to reach out to the student and Learning Coach. If the student and/or Learning Coach are still unresponsive, an official truancy warning letter will be sent. If the student and/or Learning Coach do not respond to this letter, a final truancy letter will be sent, and the student will be administratively withdrawn from all courses and the program. Students who are administratively withdrawn for truancy will not be eligible for a tuition refund, nor will future payment obligations for the term be suspended. Students withdrawn for truancy or other administrative reasons will receive W s on their transcript in all the courses they were enrolled in at the time of withdrawal. Illness/Extended Inability to Participate If a student is going to be out (unable to log in) for a period of 3 or more days, their teacher (K- 5) or Academic Coach (6-12) must be contacted in advance to report the expected absence. It is the responsibility of the student and Learning Coach to make arrangements with the teacher(s) regarding missed assignments. Students should, whenever possible, work ahead before a planned absence rather than falling behind and having to catch up. Scheduled school work will not be waived. 20

21 COURSE COMPLETION Assignment Due Dates: Upper School (9-12) Students taking Upper School courses should view the course calendar for a list of lessons and assignments required each day for each course. It is important that students adhere to the course schedule indicated in the course calendar. Assignments during the week must be submitted no later than that following Sunday at 11:59 pm (Eastern Time). It is highly recommended that students submit work on the actual due date. Staying on schedule is important to facilitate a collaborative learning environment for all students in each course. If a student cannot adhere to this schedule, they should familiarize themselves with and be mindful of the Late Work Policy. Late Work Submission: Upper School (9-12) It is the student s responsibility to access and complete daily assignments as outlined in each course calendar. Due dates for assignments are posted in each course calendar to ensure students are informed of appropriate pacing. There will be a posted last day to submit work for each course according to the student s term start date; no assignments will be accepted after 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) that day. Working ahead is perfectly acceptable and preferred if a student is going to miss any days. A student is required to inform his or her teacher(s) and Academic Coach of their travel plans before a trip occurs. Special exceptions will not be considered for students who do not communicate their travel plans to school staff. Late Work Policy Computer-Scored (CS) Assessments and Teacher-Graded Assignments (TGA) must be completed and submitted no later than 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on the Sunday after the posted due date. Temporary zeroes are entered as grades for every assignment not received by the Sunday deadline. The temporary zeroes will be calculated into the overall course scores. Students are permitted to complete CS Assessments after the Sunday deadline and up to the last day to submit work for the term. Thereafter, the temporary zeroes already entered for all CS Assessments not received become permanent and are calculated into the final course score. Students are permitted to complete TGAs up to 4 weeks after the Sunday deadline. The new grade will then replace the temporary zero in the grade book. The four-week allowance will not extend past the the last day to submit work for the term. Refer to the announcement on your course s main page for permanent zero dates. TGAs received 4 weeks after the due date will not be accepted or graded unless prior arrangements have been requested. Thereafter, the temporary zeroes already entered for TGAs not received will become permanent.. Please note that assessments including both computer-graded questions and teachergraded questions are considered TGAs. Due-date extensions on assignments are permitted under some extenuating circumstances with advance approval from the Upper School Department Head. Extensions must be requested on a school day before the actual due date of the assignment. 21

22 Course Acceleration Requests Upper School courses were developed to be taught over a 90-day period. However, some students may choose to complete these courses more quickly. We allow students to request course accelerations when the student meets the following criteria: Must be in the course for a minimum of eight (8) weeks Must be on pace with course assignments Must have a C average or better in all active courses (exceptions may be made for Partner Program students) Students who wish to request a course acceleration must contact their Academic Coach for a Course Acceleration Request Form. Because our Lower and Middle School courses were designed to be self-paced, requesting a Course Acceleration for Lower and Middle School is not required or necessary. Course Extension Requests Students may find that they cannot finish their course in the allotted timeframe. In these cases, we allow students to request course extensions; however, these are reserved for those students who experience extenuating circumstances. Simply not keeping up with coursework over the course of a semester is NOT a valid reason to request a course extension. It is important to remember that to qualify for consideration, the adverse circumstances or events must be unforeseeable or unpreventable and sufficiently disruptive to have a significant adverse effect on the student s academic performance or ability to complete assignments by the due date. Student must have been working in the course on a consistent basis Student must have a reasonable expectation of passing (>50% in the course) Student can be granted up to a maximum of 10 instructional days for an extension; all assignments and final exams the student is permitted to complete must be submitted on or before their extension end date Circumstances or events that merit consideration may include: Suffering a serious illness or injury The death or critical/significant illness of a close family member/dependent A significant family crisis leading to acute stress A natural disaster or catastrophe Moving In order for a request to be considered, documentation of the circumstance or event is required (for example, a doctor s note confirming serious illness). The Learning Coach and/or student must request an extension in writing in advance, on or before 2 weeks prior to the student s term end date. All requests submitted after this time period must be approved by school administration. Students who wish to request a course extension must contact their Academic Coach for a Course Extension Request Form. All course extensions must be complete before a student can move into the next level of a course and any extension request for more than 10 days will require additional administrative approval. Despite the reason for the extension, extensions may involve extra fees. If your student is enrolling in 2 or more courses for the next semester, their term start date for these courses will be moved to the next available term. 22