Spring Elementary and Secondary Student/Parent Handbook

Transcription

1 Spring Elementary and Secondary Student/Parent Handbook Thompson Online Face- to- Face Location Walt Clark Middle School 2605 Carlisle Drive Loveland CO Business Office 2890 N. Monroe Ave. Loveland, CO (970) website online.org Revised December 2013

2 Table of Contents Welcome, Vision, and Mission 3 About Thompson Online 4 Contact Information.5 District Calendar.6 Thompson Online Events..7 Admission and Entrance 8 Expectations..8 Roles and Responsibilities..12 Attendance Requirements..13 Graduation Requirements..18 Frequently Asked Questions.19 2

3 Welcome to Thompson Online! A K- 12 Online School for the Thompson School District Kellie Bashor, Administrator Students and Parents, Welcome to a virtual learning experience where you personalize your learning. You have chosen to learn through an online environment. You know how you like to learn and having access to your learning tools 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere with an Internet connection meets your needs. You know you are responsible for your own success as you apply yourself to each subject and accomplish the learning objectives. If you need support, you know to contact your personal learning network of support through your teachers, your mentor, your family, and your friends both locally and globally. You know you are taking charge of the way you learn and creating success for your future! Thompson School District Mission Empower to Learn Challenge to Achieve Inspire to Excel Thompson School District Goals Top Literacy District in Colorado Excellent Educator Effectiveness Effective Proffessional Learning Communities Thompson Online Mission Empower students to determine a rigorous learning journey meeting individualized needs, strengths, and interests Challenge students with a timeflexible, student-centered, online learning environment that is grounded in the global community and innovative technology Inspire students to build personal learning networks and develop as world-class citizens Thompson Online Vision Thompson Online will provide student online learning options which empower with rigorous learning journeys, challenge with active global community, and inspire with world class citizenship. 3

4 About Thompson Online Thompson Online is an online school offering online education for students Kindergarten through 12th grade through the Thompson School District. Students attend classes as Thompson students through an online portal. Students access the curriculum and assignments 24 hours a day 7 days a week from anywhere with an Internet connection. Online teachers interact with students through multiple venues creating a virtual learning environment. Instructional interactions include individualized feedback in an on- going cycle to discussion board, quiz, project, activity, and assignment postings. Additional instructional delivery and feedback occur through web conferencing or face- to- face learning labs. Weekly teacher and student interactions verify content knowledge acquisition. All courses are instructor led in a manner that allows for pacing to meet student needs while balancing the course requirements within the semester time frame. Thompson Online staff monitor student progress and coordinate with the online teachers to support student success. Thompson Online follows the same high accreditation requirements, including TCAP assessments and Annual Yearly Progress expectations, as any other Thompson school. Thompson Online course content is reviewed and monitored through the Curriculum Improvement Council. Thompson Online students grow, learn, and earn credits toward graduation as a Thompson School District student. Thompson Online is not an alternative high school nor is it a path to recovering lost credits. Thompson Online does have attendance policies and students are expected to meet the same state mandated attendance and assessment requirements. Online education is not for everyone. Students must be responsible, proactive, independent learners to be successful. Thompson Online provides the option for flexibility but requires progress to be made in all online courses regularly. At the end of grade 12 in Thompson Online, students will graduate and earn a degree comparable to all other high schools in our district. Thompson Online provides Thompson School District Kindergarten through 12 th grade students different enrollment options. Students can enroll as full- time online students with at least 360 class hours per semester (6-8 courses). Students can also enroll half time as online students with a minimum of 90 class hours per semester (2 courses). Home school students or students not attending another public school, can enroll as part- time students with Thompson Online in a minimum of 2 courses. Students can choose to concurrently enroll at a Thompson School District brick and mortar school to obtain full- time status (6-8 courses). Concurrently enrolled students will be assigned to one school for Colorado Department of Education reporting and the Per Pupil Revenue for concurrently enrolled students will be split between the schools through internal processes. The Thompson School District is working towards additional blended learning options, combining the best of online and brick- and- mortar learning experiences. Revised December 2013

5 Contact Information Office Hours: 9 am to 2 pm Monday to Thursday, Friday office closed unless by appointment Face- to- Face Location 2605 Carlisle Drive Loveland, CO Phone: (970) Fax: (970) Business Address 2890 N. Monroe Ave. Loveland, CO thompsononline@thompsonschools.org website: online.org If you need then contact Passwords for exams Mentor A quiz reset Help submitting assignments Help contacting teachers Help with concerns about progress To enroll for next year Counselor Enrollment documents Help with enrollment questions Help with course work Teacher Help with assignment requirements Technical difficulties Aventa Technical Support/ K12 Technical Support Name Position Phone Kellie Bashor Administrator kellie.bashor@thompsonschools.org Tracie Altomare Counselor tracie.altomare@thompsonschools.org Tina Pyle Mentor & Office tina.pyle@thomsponschools.org Manager Renee Secondary Social Renee.schachterle@thompsonschools.org Schachterle Studies & English, Elementary Mary Higgins Secondary Math Mary.higgins@thompsonschools.org Molly Watkins Secondary Molly.watkins@thompsonschools.org Science Brianna Tanner Secondary brianna.tanner@thompsonschools.org English Aventa Support Content Provider helpdesk@aventalearning.com K12 Support Content Provider (click customer support)

6 District Calendar School Calendar BOE Approved February 22, 2012 Revised June 20, 2012 Revised May 1, 2013 JULY JANUARY CALENDAR LEGEND S M T W T F S S M T W T F S School Begins - Grades W School Begins - Grades K No School - Holiday No School PD/W Teacher Prof. Dev./ Work Day PT Parent/Teacher Conference Day E Teacher Exchange Day AUGUST Elementary Assessment Day FEBRUARY S M T W T F S S M T W T F S T Transition Day - Grades 6 & TR/Q End of Trimester/Quarter NT NT NT 17 School Ends - Grades K PD/W PD/W PD/W W T School Ends - Grade TR G High School Graduation Day SEPTEMBER MARCH S M T W T F S S M T W T F S SPECIAL DATES August PT/Q E NT - New Teachers All Teachers Transition Day Grades 6 & 9 23&26 Elementary Assessment Days Secondary Classes Begin Elementary Classes Begin September 2 Labor Day OCTOBER October APRIL S M T W T F S 11 End of 1st Quarter 24 No School - Parent/Teacher Conf. Day S M T W T F S No School - Teacher Exchange Day W Q 12 November End of 1st Trimester No School - Teacher Work Day Thanksgiving Break PT E December 20 End of 2nd Quarter Winter Break NOVEMBER January 1-2 Winter Break Continued MAY S M T W T F S 3 No School -Teacher Work Day S M T W T F S 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day February Presidents' Day TR End of 2nd Trimester March 6 No School -Parent/Teacher Conf. Day G 24 W W End of 3rd Quarter TR/Q 31 7 No School -Teacher Exchange Day 31 Spring Break DECEMBER April JUNE 1-3 Spring Break Continued S M T W T F S 4 No School -Teacher Work Day S M T W T F S May Elementary Assessment Days 23 Last Day of School Grade Q High School Graduation Memorial Day Last Day of School Grade K Please visit the TSD website at thompsonschools.org to view this calendar online. 6

7 Thompson Online: Spring 2014 Schedule of Events Required Elementary School Assessments Required Middle School Assessments Required High School Assessments Parent/Teacher Conferences Seniors complete classes (including finals) All other students complete classes TOL Graduation Ceremony Acuity (3 rd through 5 th grades): o January iready (K through 2 nd grades): o February 4 21 o April 28 May 9 TCAP (3 rd through 5 th grades): o 3 rd grade reading February 26 & 27 o 3 rd grade writing March 10 & 11 o 3 rd grade math March 18 & March 20 (no testing March 19) o 4 th grade reading/writing March and March 17 & 18 o 4 th grade math March o 5 th grade - grade reading/writing March and March 17 & 18 o 5 th grade math March CMAS (4 th & 5 th grades): o 4 th grade social studies April 14 May 2 o 5 th grade science April 14 May 2 Acuity Language Arts (6 th through 8 th grades): o February Acuity Math (6 th through 8 th grades): o February & May TCAP (6 th through 8 th grades): o 6 th grade reading/writing/math March o 6 th grade reading/writing March o 7 th grade reading/writing/math March o 7 th grade reading/writing March o 8 th grade reading/writing/math March o 8 th grade reading/writing March CMAS (7 th & 8 th grades): o 7th grade social studies April 14 May 2 o 8 th grade science April 14 May 2 CO ACT (11 th grade) April 23 Acuity Language Arts (9 th & 10 th grades) May Acuity Math (9 th & 10 th grades) February & May TCAP (9 th & 10 th grades): o 9th grade math/reading/writing: March o 10 th grade math/reading/writing: March March 6 (5 to 8 pm) or during this week s teacher hours May 9 May 23 rd (finals week of May 19) May 23 (time to be determined) Revised December 2013

8 Admission and Entrance Thompson Online is a school of choice; therefore, admission can be declined if online learning is not an option in which a student can be successful. If you are interested in joining Thompson Online start by filling out the two- page enrollment/registration page or an enrollment packet available on our website at online.org. Submit the request to the Thompson Online Office at Walt Clark Middle School. Once your request is received, the Thompson Online staff will review it. The staff will be looking at attendance, grades, Internet/technology skills and need for an online learning environment. Online learning is not a good fit for all students. If it is determined that online learning is not a good fit for you, then admission will be denied. Successful learning options can be discussed with the counselor. If it is determined that online learning might be a good fit for you, an interview will be set up with the counselor, student and/or parent(s). The counselor will be asking questions to clarify your understanding of online learning and plans for success. You will be notified of the decision upon completion of the interview and will be required to attend a mandatory orientation at the start of the next semester. Students may be placed on a typical 6+ semester schedule, a 2+2+2=6+ semester schedule or an individualized learning plan=6+ semester schedule. Expectations *****All new students must attend a mandatory orientation before beginning classes (see calendar). Acceptance into Thompson Online is contingent upon attendance. All new students and some returning students must attend weekly/daily on- site Learning Lab for the first month of school. Student may earn the opportunity to check progress through off- site communication once quality work and attendance is shown. Students must work the equivalent of 1 hour per day per class and show the equivalent of roughly 6% progress in each class each week for a typical 6+ semester schedule. A 2+2+2=6+ semester schedule requires 3 hours each in 2 classes or 18% in each class each week for 6 weeks three times during the typical semester. Individualized learning plans=6+ semester schedules require individual progress and completion agreements. Progress monitoring and attendance deadlines must be met, or required on- site Learning Lab will be reinstated immediately. Zeroes may be added to the grade book for assignments not completed on schedule. Communication is essential! When communicating with mentors and counselors, always first. Use phone calls as a secondary method of contacting your mentor. If the 8

9 issue warrants further action, the mentor will refer you to the administrator. When contacting teachers, use first. If support is needed, set up a meeting with your teacher in face- to- face or a virtual classroom/web conference session. It s easier than you think. In most instances, responses will be returned within 24 hours and phone messages will be returned in 48 hours. communication with students and parents will take place daily, or at minimum, weekly. Parents and students must check and class grade books/comments regularly! Quizzes and Exams Quizzes need to be completed in one sitting as they are often timed and do not allow for reentry. If you become locked out of a quiz, contact your mentor. Quizzes will not be reset on a regular basis. Exams require passwords, which you can get from your mentor. They are case sensitive. Contact your mentor at the beginning of the semester for your exam passwords so that you are not delayed when trying to take one. Save unit exam passwords, as they are the password for all of the unit exams in a given class. When you are ready for the final exam, you must come to the Thompson Online Office or a Learning Lab to take it. Contact your mentor if different plans are needed. If you have not taken your final exam or completed 65% of the course work by the last week of the semester, you will be contacted and required to come in immediately. Class Password Class Password Schoolwork Online learning and schoolwork can look very different than what you are used to in a brick and mortar school. Once you log in to the learning management system(s), you will see a list of your class(es). If these are not accurate, contact your counselor immediately. When you are ready to start your class(es), choose one from the homeroom. Then go to course syllabus or course information section. From there, select schedule and print the schedule or enter the start and end dates of the semester if the class has a dynamic scheduler. Dates are on the Thompson School District calendar. You will then get an outline of what assignments need to be done each week to finish in time. If you plan to work more in one class at a time, change your work plans or start and end dates accordingly. You must make progress in each class on a regular basis. With your schedule, now you have a plan and you are responsible to stick with it! Assignments have to be submitted in the learning management system(s). Each assignment will have a link to click to submit. Then attach your assignment the same way you would if you were attaching it to an . Be sure that all 9

10 assignments are in a format that your teacher can open. To do this, go to save as on your document and chose, for example,.rtf as your format. ******Parents can log in to a dashboard to monitor students as well depending on the Learning Management System design. THE BEST WAY to monitor student progress is to LOG IN WITH YOUR CHILD daily and look at the MY GRADES/GRADEBOOK link. Ask questions like: what work has been turned in, when was it turned in, is it graded, what comments have the teachers left, and are you on schedule? Parent username Parent password Changes to Classes Changes to class schedules may be made within the first 10 calendar days of the semester. Any changes made after 10 days may be subject to a fee. If a student drops a class or discontinues progress and attendance in a class after 10 days a grade of F will be recorded. Students are expected to begin classes the first day of the semester and finish the entire scope and sequence anytime before the last day of the semester. Classes cannot be completed in less than three week or the equivalent of 18 week semester hours. Extensions will only be offered on rare occasion in extreme circumstances only. *****The Thompson Online counselor must approve all enrollment changes. Plagiarism and Dishonesty For all assignments, take the time to reword information and apply your own thinking and reflection. Do not copy information directly from the source. If you use direct quotes, you must site the source and provide your thinking as to why a direct quote was required. ***Exams must be taken independently and without any aid from peers or adults. Exams and quizzes must not be reproduced or redistributed in any way. 1. Plagiarism is the act of representing another s ideas, words, expressions, or data in writing or presentation without properly acknowledging the source. 2. Submitting work through the use of another person's password/login is considered dishonest behavior. Any assignments, work, or projects posted while using another student's login will be considered plagiarism. 3. Cheating (intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized material, assistance, or study aids in any academic work). Cheating includes when a student copies 10

11 another student s work and then submits it as his or her own work. 4. Performing work or taking an examination for another student OR having another person perform work or take an examination. 5. Falsification and/or misrepresentation of data by submitting false data or sources. 6. Computer crimes include damaging computer programs, hacking, constructing viruses, introducing viruses into a system, or copying programs. 7. Inappropriate use of , discussion forums, or synchronous chat rooms Aventa Learning 2011 KC Distance Learning, LLC, a K¹² company This information is taken directly from Aventa Learning in an attempt to highlight our contracted agreement with this company to honor their policies. The policy directly reflects the expectations of the Thompson School District and Thompson Online concerning copyright expectations as outlined in Board Policy Student Conduct JIC and, specifically, Code of Conduct JICDA. Digital Citizenship As education becomes increasingly intertwined with technology it is important that students practice digital citizenship. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) defines digital citizenship as follows: Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. They keys to practicing digital citizenship are: Be safe and do not give out any contact information (phone number, address, et.) to anyone online without consent from a parent or mentor. Do not use information found on the World Wide Web without giving credit to the creators. Use technology to learn and not as a means for hurting others through negative s, comments, or discussion postings. Be positive and enthusiastic about using technology and collaborating with peers through technology. Be productive, in other words don t waste time searching the web. Search for information with a clear purpose in mind. Think about what you read and check your information on multiple sites. Just because it is on the web, does not mean it is true. Use technology to be a life long learner. The web can be a great source of information and it is all at the tip of your fingers. 11

12 Roles and Responsibilities Thompson Online Student Parent Provide a learning rich curriculum through Thompson District or Aventa Learning or Edmentum PLATO Offer attentive and involved mentors to support learning and communicate progress Employ high quality teachers to deliver highly effective instruction Counsel students on future school and life decisions Arrange opportunities for support, social interaction and growth Log into all courses daily Complete work in all classes weekly Stay on track to complete courses by the end date Check daily Contact teachers with questions about assignment requirements and content understanding Communicate with mentors about progress Request passwords from mentor Monitor students daily progress Log in with students daily and monitor My Grades/Gradebook/ progress. (Follow PEAK K12 (Aventa) reports or login to check progress weekly) Have an awareness of what is expected for course completion Provide adequate technological tools and software Attend orientation, counseling meetings, and conferences Contact mentors and/or teachers with concerns 12

13 Attendance Requirements If you are a full time student, you are expected to work 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. This usually means you will be working on each class each day for 1 hour. If you choose to organize your work time in another way, you need to notify your mentor and teachers of your plan. Students may be placed on a typical 6+ semester schedule, a 2+2+2=6+ semester schedule or an individualized learning plan=6+ semester schedule. These schedules must be pre- approved. For instance, you may choose to work on one class each day for the entire 6 hours or you may decide to work on 1 class every day until the entire scope and sequence is complete, while still maintaining some progress in all other courses. All courses must be finished to stay within a semester schedule and regular yearly promotion. Students must show weekly progress according to each student s schedule or the student will be considered truant. See policy below. Attendance Policy Thompson Online evaluates attendance based on the following: Typical 6+ semester Schedule: Insufficient Work Completion (Not Completing Assignments, Quizzes and Exams in a Timely Manner) < 6% < 6% < 6% completion completion completion per class each per class each per class each week (this week (this week (this requires about requires about requires about 300 minutes 300 minutes 300 minutes per class each per class each per class each week) week) week) < 6% completion per class each week (this requires about 300 minutes per class each week) 1 st reminder 2 nd Phone call with 3 rd 1 st Attendance letter (via ) 4 th 2 nd Attendance letter (via ) Send to Truancy processing Send to Truancy processing Student on administration hot list. REQUIRED On- site Learning Lab attendance continued until two weeks of no attendance concern. Attendance contract activated. Required student meeting with school. Attendance contract. Medical excuse required. Mandatory student and parent meeting with school and truancy. Parents and students are required to monitor attendance and work completion. 13

14 2+2+2=6+ semester Schedule: Insufficient Work Completion (Not Completing Assignments, Quizzes and Exams in a Timely Manner) < 18% completion per class each week (this requires about 900 minutes per class each week) 1 st reminder < 18% completion per class each week (this requires about 900 minutes per class each week) 2 nd Phone call with < 18% completion per class each week (this requires about 900 minutes per class each week) 3 rd 1 st Attendance letter (via ) < 18% completion per class each week (this requires about 900 minutes per class each week) 4 th 2 nd Attendance letter (via ) Send to Truancy processing Send to Truancy processing Student on administration hot list. REQUIRED On- site Learning Lab attendance continued until two weeks of no attendance concern. Attendance contract activated. Required student meeting with school. Attendance contract. Medical excuse required. Mandatory student and parent meeting with school and truancy. Parents and students are required to monitor attendance and work completion. Individualized Learning Plan=6+ semester Schedule: Insufficient Work Completion (Not Completing Assignments, Quizzes and Exams in a Timely Manner) Individually Determined 1 st reminder Student on administration hot list. Individually Determined 2 nd Phone call Individually Determined Individually Determined 3 rd 1 st Attendance letter (via ) Individually Determined Individually Determined 4 th 2 nd Attendance letter (via ) Individually Determined Send to Truancy processing Send to Truancy processing Parents and students are required to monitor attendance and work completion. 14

15 If students are At Risk or inactive the above Attendance & Action Matrix will be followed. The only exceptions are: Notification of dropped class An attendance contract is on file Signed doctor s excuse is forwarded to the attendance clerk Thank you for your cooperation and action in this matter, Sincerely, Kellie Bashor, Learning Administrator, Thompson Online Attendance Requirements Spring 2014 Parent/Student Copy 1.) Orientation Attendance at orientation is mandatory so that students will learn Thompson Online (TOL) expectations and navigation within the classes. 2.) Weekly Attendance Agreement Although taking classes online allows greater freedom of what time the class work is done, regular attendance and assignment submission is required just like a physical school. TOL monitors attendance and is subject to all state truancy guidelines. TOL evaluates attendance based on the following: Attendance & Action Matrix Parents For Aventa classes: verify your student s online success and progress at A report is ed weekly to parents as well from reports@onlineschoolsolutions.com. If you need peak.k12 login information contact your student s mentor or please call For Aventa, Schoology & PLATO classes: verify your student s online success and progress by logging into your student s account and viewing the gradebook. Insufficient Work Completion (Not Completing Assignments, Quizzes and Exams in a Timely Manner) 15

16 < 6% completion per class each week (this requires about 300 minutes per class each week) < 6% completion per class each week (this requires about 300 minutes per class each week) < 6% completion per class each week (this requires about 300 minutes per class each week) < 6% completion per class each week (this requires about 300 minutes per class each week) Send to Truancy processing 1 st occurrence: reminder 2 nd occurrence: Phone call 1 st Attendance letter (via ) 2 nd Attendance letter (via ) Student on Attendance Attendance administration hot contract contract. Medical list. activated. excuse required. Required student Mandatory meeting with student and school. parent meeting with school and truancy. Parents and students are required to monitor attendance and work completion. Send to Truancy processing Thompson Online will monitor each student s attendance. A student who falls behind in his/her class(es) will have zeros entered into his/her gradebook(s). Students with insufficient work completion may not be allowed to continue their enrollment in Thompson Online in future semesters. 3.) Attendance for the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP) & CMAS are required for all 3 rd 10 th graders. (Per state law, every student enrolled in a public school is required to take the TCAP in the appropriate grade levels and content areas.) In addition, attendance is required for all other assessments for all other grades. Refer to the TOL Spring Events Handout. 4.) Thompson Online is not NCAA eligible. It is the responsibility of the student to verify NCAA requirements. Questions should be directed to the Thompson School District Athletic Office at ) Students interested in military service must verify with their appropriate recruitment officer that enrollment and successful completion in Thompson Online courses will meet military service activation requirements. It is the students responsibility to verify military requirements and maintain documentation. 16

17 6.) Weekly progress (class completion) and current grades will be reported to the athletic department of middle school and high school students participating in a brick and mortar athletic program. Students who do not complete sufficient work and/or have failing grades will not be eligible to participate. 7.) October Count Requirements: Students participating in Thompson Online are eligible for funding if they meet state requirements. One of these requirements requires Thompson Online to document students active participation and attendance in their classes ( (2)(a)C.R.S.). As such, it is the students responsibility to login and submit work in each class before, during, and after the official count window. Refer to October Count Guidelines. 8.) Attendance at face-to-face or on-site Learning Lab or Work Sessions are required in certain situations. All NEW students and any students that have a Personalized Learning Plan identified as Learning Lab or Work session attendance are required to attend face-to-face or on-site sessions. Students who show successful progress after three weeks can earn a change in this requirement. Students must maintain successful progress or face-to-face or onsite attendance is again required. The schedule is posted and any changes are sent by the week prior (known absences for conferences or conflicts). Minimum attendance is once a week for the first three weeks. Note: Thompson Online follows the Thompson School District calendar. 17

18 Graduation Requirements 18

19 Frequently Asked Questions What is Thompson Online? Thompson Online is an online school started fall of 2010, which offers an online education for students K- 12 through the Thompson School District. Students attend classes as Thompson students through an online platform. A student accesses the curriculum and assignments 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet connection. Online teachers and mentors interact with students through multiple venues creating a virtual learning environment. Why online education? Research indicates that within 10 years, 50% of K- 12 courses will be online. In Colorado, 13,093 students K- 12 were enrolled in online programs in the school year. This is a 12.5% increase over the previous year. What is the cost? There is no cost for classes taken when the student is registered as a Thompson Online student. There may be a fee when students enroll in an overload schedule or enroll in courses to recover credit. Students enrolled in AP classes are required to purchase necessary textbooks. Other student fees apply. Does Thompson Online provide an accredited education? Thompson Online is a school within the Thompson School District that exists without a brick and mortar building. It follows the same high accreditation requirements, including TCAP assessments and Annual Yearly Progress expectations, as any other Thompson school. Thompson Online students grow, learn, and earn credits toward graduation as a Thompson School District student. How does a student register for Thompson Online? Registration is limited. Students can deliver enrollment/registration information by , fax or in person. Registration and enrollment information can be located at online.org or through our office. The office can be reached at (970) , fax (970) or thompsononline@thompsonschools.org. Thompson Online is a school of choice; therefore, admission can be declined if online learning is not an option in which a student can be successful. If you are interested in joining Thompson Online start by filling out enrollment/registration information available on our website at online.org. Submit the information to the Thompson Online Office at Walt Clark Middle School. Once your information is received, the Thompson Online staff will review it. The staff will be looking at attendance, grades, Internet/technology skills and need for an online learning environment. Online learning is not a good fit for all students. If it is determined that online learning is not a good fit for you, then admission will be denied. Successful learning options can be discussed with the counselor. If it is determined that online learning might be a good fit for you, an interview will be set 19

20 up with the counselor, student and parent(s). The counselor will be asking questions to clarify your understanding of online learning and plans for success. You will be notified of the decision upon completion of the interview and will be required to attend a mandatory orientation at the start of the next semester. Students may be placed on typical, 2+2+2, or individual semester schedules. Students who do not successfully finish classes in a semester may not be allowed to return the next semester. What is the registration window for the school year? Students can register for Thompson Online until Friday, September 13, 2013 for the school year. If additional space is available, late registration may be considered. Is online learning right for everyone? No. Students should carefully consider whether online learning is a good fit. Thompson Online staff will be able to provide additional suggestions if online learning may not be a good fit. How do I know if Thompson Online is a good fit? Online learning is not easy. Thompson Online provides rigorous learning experiences in an environment that does not require face- to- face interactions. Online learning allows for students to customize learning times during the day to work around other time commitments such as jobs, extra- curricular activities, and learning preferences. Online learning may not be a good fit for students with special needs. If a student has an IEP or 504, a meeting is required to determine if the student's needs can be met through Thompson Online. To help you reflect further on this question, complete the Is Online a Good Fit for Me questionnaire. Does Thompson Online incorporate any face- to- face interactions with peers or teachers? Face- to- face interactions are important in a student s educational journey. Students who live within the district will have opportunities to interact with one another or with other students in the district. For the school year, face- to- face interactions are required for orientation, testing, and conferences. Depending on semester schedule and attendance contract agreements, Learning Lab face- to- face interactions may be required. See the website for Student Organization opportunities. What is the attendance policy for Thompson Online? Attendance is based on online activity logs, assignment completion and ongoing communication with the online teacher and Thompson Online staff. A student is in violation of the attendance policy when minimum requirements are not met. Full- time status requires 360 hours/semester and 6+ courses. Part- time status requires 20

21 90 or more hours/semester or 2 courses. Any student with attendance issues will be subject to Thompson School District Attendance and Truancy policies. Refer to the Attendance and Truancy Policies for Thompson Online. What curriculum will Thompson Online students use? The curriculum for Thompson Online is rigorous and aligned with Thompson School District expectations and Colorado Department of Education Common Core Content Standards. Secondary course content is provided through Thompson District Content, Aventa Learning content and Edmentum PLATO content. Elementary course content is provided through Thompson District Content, K12, Inc and Compass Learning. What teachers will Thompson Online students have? Online teachers are primarily a Thompson School District teacher or some course teachers are a third party online teacher. For Secondary students, highly qualified online teachers provided through Thompson School District for Core classes and most electives and Aventa Learning for elective and other classes (Advanced Placement, world languages, other). Thompson School District mentors will be assigned to all secondary students. At the elementary level, a Thompson School District teacher will teach the classes. How will Thompson Online students be progress monitored? Thompson School District Online staff monitors Thompson Online student progress. Thompson Online staff starts a relationship with students and parents prior to registration to help students understand the requirements of online learning. If a student and parent determine that Thompson Online is a good option, Thompson Online staff, in partnership with parents, will monitor student progress on a weekly or bi- weekly schedule. The Thompson Online staff will maintain regular communication with the online class teachers and students when students are not meeting class requirements. In addition, the online teachers will regularly communicate with students and Thompson Online staff during the class progression. Can a student attend Thompson Online half- time? Half- time enrollment is possible. For example, a student could be enrolled in half of her classes with Thompson Online and half of her classes at an existing Thompson School District school or through home school status. Or if a student were at least 17 years of age, she would be able to attend Thompson Online as a half- time student. A minimum of 2 classes must be attended at Thompson Online or at another location for part- time status. Single class registration is available under some circumstances. Can a Thompson Online student participate in extra- curricular activities? Thompson Online students can participate in extra- curricular activities through Thompson Online or through other Thompson schools if Thompson Online did not offer the specific extra- curricular activities. This is similar to how home- school 21

22 students participate in extra- curricular activities. If extra- curricular activities require certain eligibility, the student would need to meet such eligibility requirements through his or her online course work. Are there fees associated with Thompson Online? Thompson School District fees will be assessed for Thompson Online full- time or primary students as other schools. See Board Policy. 22