Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy High School Handbook

Transcription

1 Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy High School Handbook

2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION... 1 ADMISSIONS... 1 ADMISSION AND ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS... 1 ADMISSION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH... 1 ATTENDANCE... 2 ATTENDANCE POLICY... 2 SUMMARY OF THE ACADEMY S ATTENDANCE RULES... 4 ILLNESS/EXTENDED INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE... 4 VACATION POLICY... 5 PROCESS FOR WITHDRAWAL AND EXPULSION OF TRUANT OR EXCESSIVELY ABSENT STUDENTS... 5 PROCESS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF STUDENTS WITH 10 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF ABSENCE:... 5 PROCESS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF TRUANT STUDENTS:... 6 CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION... 6 COURSE MATERIALS... 6 GETTING STARTED WITH HIGH SCHOOL AT THE ACADEMY... 7 OFFICE HOURS... 7 ADDING AND/OR DROPPING A CLASS... 8 FINAL EXAMS... 8 SPECIAL PROGRAMS... 9 SPECIAL EDUCATION... 9 SECTION 504 ACCOMMODATION PLANS CHILD FIND RELATED SERVICES GRADES GRADE DETERMINATION GRADING SCALE CLASS RANK AND HONOR ROLL DETERMINATION HONOR CLUB/NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY GRADE PROMOTION AND AWARDING OF CREDIT SEVENTH COURSE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS END OF INSTRUCTION (EOI) TESTING REQUIREMENTS GRADUATION CREDIT RECOVERY SUMMER SCHOOL DRIVEN TO READ PROGRAM HONOR GRADUATES/ VALEDICTORIANS AND SALUTATORIANS EVIDENCE OF MASTERY LATE WORK POLICY GRADE CHANGES WITHIN A COURSE REPORT CARDS/PROGRESS NOTES ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITY POLICY ACADEMIC INTEGRITY... 19

3 GUIDELINES FOR INTEGRITY IN ASSESSMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS EXAMGUARD PLAGIARISM SOURCE CITATION ACADEMIC INTEGRITY CONSEQUENCES TESTING SCANTRON PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS STUDY ISLAND STATE TESTING: OKLAHOMA-END OF INSTRUCTION TESTS (EOI) COLLEGE/CAREER OKLAHOMA PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT VOCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER PROGRAMS (VO-TECH) TECHNOLOGY POLICIES & SAFETY INSTANT MESSAGING POLICY STUDENT INTERNET SAFETY OVCA BULLYING POLICY NETWORK ETIQUETTE MONITORING INDEMNIFICATION PROVISION FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA) READ THE CODE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND ACCEPTABLE USE GUIDELINES ACCOUNTABILITY INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WEAPONS POLICY TOBACCO POLICY DRUG, DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, AND ALCOHOL POLICY OPTIMIZING THE ACADEMY EXPERIENCE STUDENT ACTIONS TO ENSURE SUCCESS CREATING A CALENDAR TIME MANAGEMENT HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS OUTINGS STUDENT DRIVERS FAMILY DIRECTORY PARENT SECTION PARENT ACTIONS TO HELP ENSURE STUDENT SUCCESS CHECKING STUDENT PROGRESS COMPLAINT RESPONSE PROCEDURE I UNDERSTAND STATEMENTS RECORDS TRANSCRIPTS STUDENT RECORDS APPEAL OF FINAL SEMESTER GRADES AND AWARDING OF CREDIT... 42

4 WITHDRAWALS REMOVAL FROM THE ACADEMY VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWALS GLOSSARY... 43

5 Introduction This Student Handbook sets forth some general guidance for parents and students enrolled in the high school program. ADMISSIONS Admission and Entrance Requirements Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy students must reside in Oklahoma in order to be eligible to enroll. Students must meet the age requirements in order to be eligible to enroll in The Academy. Admission to The Academy is based on completion and submission of all enrollment forms, transfer forms, and materials within state guidelines. Parents may submit open transfer applications to their resident school district and The Academy prior to April 1. Parents may submit emergency transfer applications to their resident school district and The Academy after April 1. All transfer applications are reviewed by the partnering school district and The Academy. The partnering school district has the right to deny any transfer application in accordance with the Oklahoma Public School Transfer Law 70 O.S : A. A local school district's board of education that receives a request (written application form) for a transfer for a student who does not reside in the school district, may refuse the transfer in accordance with the provisions of an "Open Transfer Policy" adopted by their local school district's board of education. B. Each local board of education shall adopt an "Open Transfer Policy" for their school district, which specifies their criteria and standards for approval of transfers of students who do not reside in the district. Admission of Homeless Children and Youth The McKinney 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. The act has been amended and is considered the McKinney-Vento Act currently. 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 parents or relatives other than their legal guardians. Individuals who would be 1

6 considered McKinney-Vento students would be in housing temporarily and due to hardship, the housing is substandard or considered inadequate or a student is not living with a parent or guardian. Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy can offer school supplies and other additional services to qualifying homeless youth. Determinations of qualifying students are made on a case-by-case basis. Parents/Students may contact the OVCA Administrative Office at with any questions. If you feel you may be eligible for services please call the OVCA Administrative Office at ATTENDANCE Attendance Policy The Academy requires all students to participate in a total of 1050 hours of instruction during the official program calendar. This is based on the state requirement of 175 instructional days at 6 hours per day. Grade Level Yearly Hours Required Weekly Hours Grades K Suggested Daily Hours 6 (one hour per course, per day, Mon-Fri) A student attends school by reviewing lessons, regularly participating in live class connect sessions, and logging into his or her online courses and completing assignments. Attendance is an indicator of a student s interest to stay engaged in school. Academic progress is the result of that engagement. Students are expected to maintain the following level of engagement in order to be successful in an online learning environment: Attend school on a regular and consistent basis and work online in courses a minimum of 30 hours a week Participate in all live Class Connect sessions or if excused by the teacher, watch the recordings for each course. Students that maintain a course average of 85% or higher may fulfil this instructional requirement through two way communication with the teacher for the purpose of instruction, assessment and feedback through kmail, phone calls, conferences and course tools. Progress in each course by completing a minimum of 75% of all assignments due each week 2

7 Students who fail to maintain adequate course progress or are absent from school and the learning process for extended periods of time are subject to withdrawal. It is expected that all students attend Class Connect teaching/office hours sessions offered by their teachers. Because flexibility in scheduling is an important aspect of schooling with OVCA, upon approval from their teacher, students will be permitted to watch recorded Class Connect sessions when they are unable to participate during live sessions. It is recommended that students attend live sessions to fully benefit from this method of instruction. Students that maintain a course average of 85% or higher may fulfill this instructional requirement through two way communication with the teacher through kmail, phone calls and course tools. Class Connect participation and attendance data will be looked at on a weekly basis. A student will be expected to have multiple records of attendance during the week in order to be reported as in attendance. Students not meeting the minimum attendance requirements of 80% attendance in Class Connect Sessions will be reflected in final grades issued on the final transcript. Therefore final grades will reflect the actual points earned compared with the total points possible, plus an attendance component. Student instructional activity and attendance can be measured through a combination of methods including student login to the system, progress within the courses, reported daily attendance, participation in required conferences, and more. Parents (or their designated learning coach) will record student daily hours of attendance using the attendance tracking system that will be part of the Online School (OLS). Attendance records will be submitted on a regular basis. Teachers will also be able to monitor daily student attendance through the OLS. Teachers will be responsible for submitting attendance records to OVCA administrators according to school rules. Students may log instructional time anytime during the day Sunday through Saturday beginning with the first day of school, August 15, 2013 and the last day, May 23, Instructional time must directly relate to lesson objectives which are aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards. Use of the K 12 curriculum as the primary source for instruction is a key component of the program. Families, however, may enrich the curriculum with field trips or other educational activities such as games, videos or websites provided they directly relate to course objectives. Time spent for these supplemental activities may be logged in the attendance area of the Online School. Supplemental activities are not allowed to replace required completion of K 12 lessons and should be utilized after the required K 12 lessons are complete. Consult your classroom teacher if you have questions regarding what constitutes a supplemental activity. Attendance logged in the OLS must reflect the progress made in the courses. If attendance does not match the progress, teachers have the option of deleting the attendance for those hours logged. The deletion of hours can put students in jeopardy of NOT meeting the mandated state requirement for 3

8 attendance. Since progress and attendance are evaluated weekly, progress in K 12 lessons must be shown for every week that attendance is entered for that subject. Attendance must be logged daily. If no attendance is entered, it is considered an unexcused absence unless the teacher is notified of a valid excuse (illness, family emergency or religious holiday). Unexcused absences are tracked by the teacher and may result in withdrawal. The academy will report to proper authorities according to our truancy policy and state law. Students that are absent for an average of up to an hour a day (five total hours per week) will be counted tardy for each hour missing. These missing hours are accumulated and will be considered as part of the truancy policy. Average missing hours over 6 per week are reported is considered as one full day of absence for every 6 hours missed. These hours are also accumulated and will be considered as part of the truancy policy. Multiple days missed in a week will result in truancy concerns and could put the student in danger of withdrawal according to the 10 consecutive days of absence policy. Summary of The Academy s Attendance Rules Instructional time is compiled each week. Students must attend school a minimum of 30 hours per week. Student attendance will be calculated for each week, and absences will be determined by the total hours entered that week. Weekly missing hours between 1-5 hours (25-29 hours logged) will be recorded as tardies. Missing hours more than 6 hours (less than 24 hours logged) will be recorded as absences at the rate of 6 hours shortage = 1 day absence. Students may make up missing hours within two weeks of the original absence. This allows for flexibility to do less than 30 hours one week, as long as those hours are made up within two weeks. If the absences are planned (ie vacation, special family event), the hours should be made up prior to absence. Students must adhere to the instructional calendar; any changes must be reported to the instructor. All instructional time related directly to the course objectives may be credited for attendance; students do not need to be online to count that time for attendance. All hours entered in the OLS will be compared with time spent in the LMS. Simply logging into the OLS will not constitute attendance. Students must spend time in each course. 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, etc.). 4

9 2. Contact teachers and the academic advisor to explain the situation. 3. Report the problem to the mentor. 4. Discuss class alternatives with the instructor and mentor. 5. Provide a doctor s note from your physician for any illness that requires you to miss school for more than three days. Doctor s notes should have specific dates of absence, including a date the student can resume schooling full-time. Vacation Policy The Academy 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 in order to stay enrolled. This includes logging in and working in the LMS, not just logging days of attendance. 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. Process for Withdrawal and Expulsion of Truant or Excessively Absent Students As a public school program, the academy is required to monitor student progress and attendance in accordance with all applicable statutes. Teachers and administration monitor student attendance. Responsibility for compliance with state attendance statutes and regulations belongs to the parents, but the program is obligated to keep an accurate record of daily attendance. Excessively absent students are not meeting the expectations of the academy and/or state law. School staff follows the procedures outlined below to notify parents of a truancy situation. Truancy may result in withdrawal from the academy. State law also requires students that are absent for 10 or more consecutive days to be withdrawn from the program. Attendance that does not correspond with LMS progress may be removed. Student work must be produced within 3 days of teacher/admin/attendance clerk (school) request, if the work produced does not match attendance logged or if there is no response to the school request for student work, attendance will be removed and the applicable 10 consecutive days of absence policy and/or the Truancy Policy will be followed immediately. Process for Withdrawal of Students with 10 consecutive days of absence: 1. Learning coaches are required to enter attendance daily. Students are expected to attend school 6 hours a day per state law. 2. When attendance is not logged, the student is considered absent without excuse. 5

10 3. The attendance clerk and teachers monitor attendance daily. Families are notified by , phone, or kmail when attendance is not logged. Learning Coaches are expected to enter attendance immediately when a missing attendance reminder is issued. 4. If the Learning Coach does not take action to resolve the attendance issue before 7 consecutive days of absence occur, the student s access to courses will be locked. Attendance must be entered in order to have the courses unlocked. 5. Following these guidelines, the attendance clerk and teachers make several attempts to contact families and correct the attendance issue before 10 consecutive days of absence occur; however, if the 10 consecutive days limit is reached, withdrawal is automatic. 6. Students that have been withdrawn for 10 consecutive days of absence without excuse will not be permitted to re-enroll. Process for Withdrawal of Truant Students: 1) The attendance clerk monitors student attendance weekly for truancy issues. Students are expected to attend school 6 hours a day per state law. Students that do not attend a minimum of 30 hours a week (equivalent of 6 hours a day for 5 days) can be in danger of truancy. Truancy is defined by state law as: 24 (equivalent of 4 days) total hours within a four-week period, At a rate that is 20% below the attendance requirements over a given term OR 60 (equivalent of 10 days) hours within a semester 2) The attendance clerk notifies families that are approaching a truancy situation. Students are expected to immediately correct the truancy situation and begin schooling 6 hours a day, every school day upon receipt of such notice. 3) If the Learning Coach does not take action to resolve the truancy situation, weekly reminders will be issued regarding the approaching truancy situation. Family Support Specialists are available for support with organization, scheduling and motivation to help families resolve the truancy situation. 4) Following these guidelines, the attendance clerk and Family Support Specialists create a plan to help the family correct the situation before a student falls 20% below the given attendance requirements; however, if the student fails to meet the requirements of the plan, the student will be withdrawn for low attendance. 5) Students that have been withdrawn for truancy will not be permitted to re-enroll. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION Course Materials Students are provided with materials and tools to use with the high school courses. Parents and students are advised to take care of the materials. Materials are to be returned at the end of the 6

11 school year (except for consumable materials and optional materials families purchase on their own). Some courses will have not have physical materials and will have digital books and software provided through the course. One of the tools that students will see and use frequently is a web-based Blackboard Collaborate program. This is a real time interaction that helps engage students in hands-on learning. Please go through your kit and use the packing slip to make sure that everything has arrived. If any materials are lost or damaged, please contact k12 immediately for replacements by calling Throughout the year you will also be required to provide some of your own materials. It is important that you check the advance prep information provided in the lessons and by your science teacher(s) so that you are prepared for the labs as they are scheduled. Please note students joining The Academy after the start of the school year should not wait for their materials to arrive before beginning courses. Digital textbooks are available within the courses for the students to use while they wait for their materials. Getting Started With High School at The Academy Student and parent usernames and passwords are unique and must not be shared with anyone. You will have two separate usernames and passwords, one for the parent/mentor and one for the student. Students must work in their own personal student account. Attending an orientation session is a key to success with the high school program at The Academy. The orientation will explain to students and families how to access the curriculum, turn in assignments, check grade reports, and to perform other skills that will help the student be successful in the online environment. Students should log in daily to all of their courses and complete the assignments listed on the course s calendar. The To Do section of the student dashboard only displays graded assignments duestudents should always consult the Course Announcements for any reading assignments or online lessons to complete for the week. It is recommended that students study at least one hour, per course, per day. All work listed for the week is due by midnight on Sunday. Work submitted after the Sunday night deadline is subject to the late policy. Office Hours Teachers and academic advisors hold regular, scheduled office hours. The office hour schedule will be sent via k-mail at the beginning of each semester and is available on each course home page in the 7

12 Learning Management System (LMS). Teacher office hours are dedicated times where students and teachers meet for additional instruction, reviews, question and answer sessions or additional one on one tutoring if needed. Adding and/or Dropping a Class Adds and drops will be made only when conditions meet the currently published criteria for a schedule change. 1. If conditions warrant a schedule change, the student must k-mail the counselor who will then discuss the request of change with the High School Administrator. 2. If a schedule change is approved during the first ten (10) class days of a semester, the earned grade from the dropped class will not be reported or recorded. However, all assignments for the new class must be made up at the teacher s discretion. 3. If a schedule change is approved after the first ten (10) class days, the student will not receive credit for the dropped class. (NC) will be on the transcript. 4. A phone call or k-mail from a parent/mentor is required for all schedule changes. Only the following will be regarded as justifiable reasons for schedule change requests: To correct computer error. To correct graduation deficiencies. To correct class imbalance. To make necessary changes due to prior semester grades. To enable students to meet requirements for post-secondary school admission. To provide for placement in Special Education classes or to implement a student's IEP. Schedules WILL NOT be adjusted for the following conditions: Preference for a different teacher. Preference to be with friends and or siblings in class. Change of mind about taking the course. Failure or fear of failure Final Exams Students will take final exams at the end of both fall and spring semesters. There will not be excused absences allowed for these exams. In order to protect test confidentiality, all exams will be open from 5pm the night prior to the exam to 5pm the night of the exam. 8

13 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 a special education teacher, at least one regular education teacher, the parent/guardian, a professional evaluator, an administrator and the student. Therapists or other professionals are involved on an as-needed basis. The Academy follows the requirements of IDEA 2004 and the laws of Oklahoma. Documentation of the disability must be provided; such as medical records, prior special educational records and a psycho-educational evaluation and Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Eligibility Group Summary documentation. 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 the following: adaptations and modifications to the general education curriculum, specialized instructional strategies, and adjustments in pacing. The program is considered an inclusion program. The student s home is the regular classroom. Services are provided by consultation with a highly qualified special education teacher via phone, k-mail, 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 and student are expected to communicate on a regular basis with the special education teacher through various available communication means. The special education teacher provides the learning coach/parent 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 as scheduled. The special education teacher, the regular education teacher, and the learning coach/parent will meet together for a 3-way conference by phone or ClassConnect online session for the annual IEP review and as requested by the team. 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 [9 week reporting period], 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. 9

14 The student s learning coach/parent is expected to keep records that assist in determining the student s progress towards IEP goals. Section 504 Accommodation Plans The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly referred to as Section 504, is a federal statute that prohibits discrimination against persons on the basis of their disability by institutions that receive financial federal assistance. It states: *No otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Section 504 s purpose is to assure that disabled students have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to nondisabled students. An eligible student under Section 504 is a student who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. If a student is covered by Section 504, schools must provide such accommodations as are necessary to ensure that the student has equal access to services, programs and activities offered by the school. Section 504 protects students from discrimination on the basis of disability to the same extent as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In order to qualify for a 504 the parent and or student MUST present a doctor's note describing the mental or physical disability. If the student is going to be absent for X* number of days/weeks they must present a doctor's note for excuse. The 504 student is still under the general rules of withdrawal if they do not comply with a doctor s note for extended absences. *X = 3-5 consecutive days = doctor's note may be requested if student is not maintaining adequate progress and/or not logging attendance. Child Find Child Find is a process based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C. The purpose is to identify, locate and evaluate individuals with disabilities who may need special education services. Anyone can initiate the process: a parent, doctor, teacher, relative or friend. To ensure that all students are properly identified and served, the parent or guardian will be asked at least twice if their student has ever been evaluated for possible special education services, and if the student has ever received special education services as a student in a public or private school. If so, the parent or guardian will be asked if their student has an active Individual Education Plan (IEP). 10

15 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 The Academy. Related services are provided by independent contractors across the state of Oklahoma. It is important to note that students are expected to keep appointments since missed appointments may result in the contractor refusing to provide services. GRADES Grade Determination The Academy s High School grades are determined by the sum 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%) 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 weighted 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 courses carry the following weighted values: 11

16 A = 5 B = 4 C = 3 D = 2 F = 0 Honor Roll is determined at the end of each semester. Students with a non-cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above for the given semester earn a spot on the honor roll. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above at the end of each semester earn a spot on the Principal s Honor Roll. Honor Club/National Honor Society Students earning a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and who also demonstrate good character and leadership skills may be invited to join the Honor Club. In time, the Honor Club plans to become a chapter of the National Honor Society. The Honor Club currently participates in the same types of activities and holds its members to the same standards as National Honor Society chapters throughout the country. Grade Promotion and Awarding of Credit Students are promoted based on the number of credits earned. Credit is granted for courses in which the student completes the attendance requirement and earns an A, B, C or D; credit is not awarded for courses in which a student earns an F (below 60%). Students may repeat a course in which they have earned an F. However, both grades will be reflected on the student transcript and figured into the overall grade point average. One does not erase the other.. 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 category (Math, English, History, Science, Fine Arts, Computer Technology, or Foreign Language) and the other course will receive credit as an elective class. Both grades will be reflected on the student transcript and figured into the overall grade point average. One does not erase the other. 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 determined by the number of credits a student has at the beginning of the school year and will not change until the next school year. This means that a student will not change classification after a grading period no matter how many credits he/she has. If the student comes from out of state, or an accredited private school, assuming all required documentation is submitted, the student placement will be based on the number of credits earned (see chart below). If the student is coming from a non-accredited institution, including home-school, the student is required by state law to take a proficiency test(s) in order to earn credit for high school coursework. Proficiency tests can only be taken one time. 12

17 The following minimum criteria will be used to determine a student s grade level at the beginning of the school year credits 9 th grade credits 10 th grade credits 11 th grade credits 12 th grade Seventh Course Students who have completed one full semester with The Academy and passed all courses may elect to take a seventh course the following semester. Students may continue to take a seventh course provided they continue to pass all courses in which they are enrolled. Graduation Requirements Academy students must complete 23 credits and pass at least four End of Instruction (EOI) exams to be eligible for graduation (see p.12 for additional details). Students must earn the following credits to graduate with a Standard Diploma: English 4 credits Math 3 credits Science 3 credits Social studies 3 credits (including ½ credit of OK State History, ½ credit of Government) Additional Course 1 credit from an additional course in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, or World Lang. /Comp Sci Fine Arts 1 credit World Lang./Comp. Sci. 2 credits (of the same foreign language or 2 credits computer science) Electives 6 credits, including ½ credit of Personal Finance Personal Financial Literacy Requirement (Title 70 O.S h ) Beginning with students entering the 7th grade in the school year, in order to graduate from a public high school, students must complete and demonstrate satisfactory knowledge in 14 areas of instruction related to financial literacy, including such topics as credit card debt, saving money, interest, balancing a checkbook, understanding loans, identity theft, and earning an income. School districts have the option of determining when the areas of instruction are taught and whether these are integrated into existing courses or taught as a separate course (which may count as an elective credit). Contact your local school district officials for specific details. 13

18 End of Instruction (EOI) Testing Requirements The Oklahoma State Department of Education requires that ALL students take End of Instruction exams after the completion of Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, US History, Biology, English I and English II. The State and The Academy require completion of these tests in order to graduate from high school. Students must pass Algebra I and English II plus two more of the EOIs to earn their diploma. The results of these exams will be placed on the student s high school transcript.. Failure to participate in these assessments will result in the student s removal from the program. Failure to pass these exams will prohibit a student from graduating and receiving a high school diploma. Retesting must be done during the state s mandated window for testing. After a student has attempted an EOI and not passed, alternate testing can be considered. If a student has taken an EOI two times and not passed they are allowed to complete an end of course project in lieu of retesting for a third time. Graduation A live graduation ceremony will be held in May of each school year. The location of graduation will be determined each year by the board and administration. Attendance and participation is optional, but students are required to purchase and wear a cap and gown in order to participate in the ceremony. Caps and gowns will be purchased through a vendor selected by the school, and pricing and ordering information will be given to students in advance. Students meeting at least one of the following criteria will be invited to participate in the May ceremony: Have earned a minimum of 23 credits and passed all required EOI exams as outlined above by the end of May. Have earned a minimum of 22 credits and passed all required EOI exams PLUS agree to enroll in summer school to complete that last 1 credit. Have earned a minimum of 23 credits but are lacking one or more EOI exams PLUS agree to sign up for summer EOI testing. Completed all graduation requirements and officially graduated in December. Students may graduate in December of their senior year if they enter the year needing 3 or fewer credits left to graduate and the only year-long course needed is English 4 (British Literature). Students will take both first and second semesters of English 4 in the fall, plus four additional courses to equal a full time student. Students wishing to graduate early must be approved to do so prior to the start of the school year. There is not a separate graduation ceremony for December graduates. Credit Recovery Students who previously attempted a high school course for credit and did not pass are eligible to enroll in a credit recovery version of the course. Additionally, students failing two or more courses in the Fall semester will be automatically placed in Credit Recovery in place of one of their Spring electives. Returning students needing to make up 1.0 or more credits may enroll in credit recovery courses beginning August 15,

19 o For students who did not pass all 6 courses last semester, the credit recovery course will replace an elective choice, unless a student only needs to make up 0.5 credits. In that case, they student may enroll in credit recovery along with new students (see below). o For students who did pass all 6 courses last semester, they may opt to have the credit recovery course as a 7 th course OR replace an elective if 1.0 or more credits need to be made up. New students and returning students needing to make up only 0.5 credits may enroll in credit recovery courses beginning October 14, 2013, provided they are passing all current courses with a C or better. o This will be a 7 th course for new students in the fall semester. o In the spring semester, these students would follow the above rules for returning students in regards to the credit recovery course being an elective or a 7 th course. Enrollment in a credit recovery course to replace an elective course MUST take place within 10 days from the student s start date to avoid the dropped course showing on the transcript as incomplete. Students work at their own pace in the credit recovery course independently, but may visit teachers office hours or contact them for individual appointments as needed, and teachers will provide recordings to class connects as available. Teachers will monitor student progress in the course and may request students complete specific lessons depending on the results of diagnostic tests, lesson quizzes, and unit tests. Students are responsible for letting the teacher know when they need assistance. Students may add another credit recovery course after they complete their current course provided there are at least 6 weeks remaining in the semester (last Fall add date: 11/8/13; last Spring add date: 4/11/14). Students may take a maximum of 2 credit recovery courses at one time (replacing both electives OR 7 th course/replace 1 elective). So long as students continue to be successful in their credit recovery courses and their regular courses, The Academy will not limit the number of credit recovery courses that can be completed within the given guidelines. Transcripts will be updated at the end of each semester, but grade level is only changed once prior to the start of each school year. It will take up to four business days to close a credit recovery course upon completion and order a new course. No physical materials will be provided for credit recovery courses. Online versions of textbooks, worksheets, and student guides will be incorporated into the course. Any novels or other materials needed must be obtained by the parent or student. 15

20 Summer School The Academy offers credit recovery courses in Summer School, as well as a selection of courses for first time credit. Students may take a maximum of two single-semester courses during the summer session. The fee for summer school courses as well as the courses that will be offered will be determined prior to the end of each academic school year. June 30 Aug 1, 2014 Registration: May 29 June 27, 2014 Payment must be received in the office by Friday, June 27, 2014 Driven to Read Program According to Oklahoma law, any person under the age of eighteen (18) years wishing to apply for a driver license or permit must be regularly attending school, and successfully reading at the eighth grade level. Options for demonstrating reading level include: Demonstrating a satisfactory reading ability at the eighth grade level on the Oklahoma Core Curriculum Reading test required of all eighth graders. Demonstrating a satisfactory reading ability at the eighth grade level on an alternative test approved by the State Department of Education. Having an individualized education plan in reading and be performing satisfactorily according to the plan. In order to obtain a letter from The Academy to present to the DMV, the student or parent must contact the homeroom teacher with the request. Students meeting the testing requirement and who are on track with attendance will be provided a letter in 7-10 business days of the request. Honor Graduates/ Valedictorians and Salutatorians Honor Graduates will be recognized as those students who have maintained a 4.0 or made an A in each course throughout high school based upon a non-weighted, four-point grading scale. The Valedictorian for the senior class will be the student(s) having the highest weighted grade point average and ranked first in his/her graduating class. The Salutatorian will be the student(s) with the second highest weighted grade point average and ranked second in his/her graduating class. To qualify as a valedictorian or salutatorian, the student must be enrolled with The Academy at the beginning of the fall semester of his/her senior year. Cumulative grade point average will be used to determine all graduation honors. All grades are averaged including all repeated courses. 16

21 Evidence of Mastery Grades are determined based on how well a student performs on graded activities within each course. Graded activities include: 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/learning coaches are encouraged to check progress in EACH class by viewing the grade book in each course. The grade book in the course is updated every time an assignment is graded. The information in My Info is updated every 24 hours. 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 on Mondays for work not received by the Sunday night deadline. Late Work Policy Graded assignments whether teacher- or computer-scored are listed on each courses 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. Students will have until the Late Date to turn work in after the Sunday due date, but will incur a 25% late penalty. After the Late Date Deadline has passed, the zero will remain and the student may not make up the assignment. Below are the grading periods and the Late Dates for any late work. Assignments will be accepted up until the Late Date Deadlines as follows: 1 st Semester: o September 22, 2013: All work due between August 15 th and September 20 th. o November 3, 2013: All work due between September 29 th and November 1 st. o December 15, 2013: All work due between November 4 th and December 13 th. 2 nd Semester: o February 16, 2014: All work due between January 3 rd and February 14 th. o April 6, 2014: All work due between February 17 th and April 4 th o May 18, 2014: All work due between April 5 th and May 19 th. 17

22 Under extreme circumstances, teachers may grant due date extensions on assignments. You should never assume that they will automatically grant these requests. Due date extensions must be requested before the due date of the assignment and on a school day. Requests received on or past the due date, or on a non-school day will not be granted. Assignments not received by the scheduled late date will receive a grade of zero, with no exceptions. In case of computer or Internet issues, please have a hardcopy of your teacher s name and phone number. Please be aware that because of the point values assigned to teacher-scored assignments, it is mathematically impossible to pass a course without completing them. Grade Changes Within a Course The Academy understands technical errors occur. Should a technical error result in a discrepancy between the gradebook a student/parent sees and the gradebook the teacher sees, the parent or student must contact the teacher for an appointment. Grades in the gradebook will not be changed by a teacher unless the student meets the teacher in Blackboard Collaborate and shares his/her screen with the teacher so that the teacher can help determine the technical error for proper reporting. Report Cards/Progress Notes Report cards are sent at the end of each semester to notify parents on the student s progress and include final course grades as well as credit earned for each course. Remember, it is only these semester grades that will go on the student transcript. Progress notes are sent every two weeks to help the teachers notify the parents of student progress in each course. The grades on progress notes are not final grades for the semester. Report cards and progress reports are ed to the parent s personal account. It is the parent s responsibility to notify the staff of any changes to your address during the school year. We will send the report cards to the most current address listed. Also, remember that student s grades for each course are available through the course homepage 24 hours a day, and are the most current and dependable method of viewing your student s grades. Academic Responsibility Policy The Academy makes every effort to work with all students to ensure their success in their high school courses. However, we recognize that not all students are successful in the online environment for a variety of reasons. The Academy has designed the Academic Responsibility Program to ensure that 18

23 students are achieving satisfactory academic progress towards graduation in the most appropriate school environment. This program ensures that students are given the support to be as successful as possible. During the course of a semester, student progress is monitored by the administration, counselors, advisors and teachers. Students that are failing 3 or more courses after 4 weeks into the semester, and every 2 weeks after that, are placed in the Academic Responsibility Program. Students in the Academic Responsibility Program will be required to meet weekly with Counselors and Advisors for support and to track progress. Students are expected to increase their course averages every week by turning in assignments on time, completing past missing work within the late date deadline, and working with teachers in Class Connect and Office Hours on challenging assignments. Students who do not fulfill the requirements of the Academic Responsibility program (which includes attending weekly meetings) and who continue to fail 3 or more courses without showing any improvement after 4 weeks may have their transfer to the Academy revoked, or they may be placed in lower level courses second semester. If withdrawn, the student must return to their local school district or the parent must provide a verification letter that the student is being homeschooled. Students are released from the Academic Responsibility Program when they are passing at least 4 courses, and they have maintained that success for at least 2 weeks. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY 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 your progress toward mastery. This information is helpful only if accurate. It can be accurate only if the assessment represents your work and only your work. Unless otherwise instructed by your teacher or by a specific assessment, you are expected to honor the following principles while taking assessments: You and you alone will take the assessment. You will not copy or redistribute any part of the assessment in any way electronically, verbally, or on paper. You will treat the assessment as closed book meaning that you may not use any textbooks, references, or other materials (printed or electronic) during the assessment unless your teacher or the specific assessment otherwise instructs (for example, you are specifically told to refer to certain pages in a book as part of the assessment). 19

24 You 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. The Academy uses a program called Exam Guard to help ensure students are in compliance with this policy. Your answers will represent your work and only your work, free of any outside assistance. You will not plagiarize in any way. You will not confer with other students, family members, or acquaintances, either in person or through electronic communication, during the assessment. You will be asked to submit written assignments for teachers to grade. Your 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. Be sure to ask your teacher if you have questions regarding citing sources. Schools have web tools available to check for student plagiarism. The Academy uses Turn It In (TII), an online tool that checks student papers for plagiarism. It is designed for students to submit papers to be checked before submitting the final paper to their teacher. When a student submits a paper to Turn It In, it is automatically added to a database that allows the system to compare other submissions to it for plagiarism. It is up to each teacher to determine which assignments will be submitted to Turn It In. Unless your teacher or specific directions inform you of exceptions, you are expected to follow these principles while taking assessments and completing written assignments. Only by honoring these principles can you assure both academic and personal integrity. ExamGuard The High School Learning Management System features ExamGuard, a secure browser add-on that limits the student s ability to print, navigate the Internet, and access other programs while taking an online assessment. The default setting activates this functionality for Computer Scored (CS) Unit assessments. Students must download and install a small piece of software called the Respondus Lockdown Browser. When students access these assessments, the ExamGuard software is activated, allowing the student to complete the assessment, but prevents access to any other functionality on the computer. ExamGuard prohibits students from the following when taking an online assessment: Printing functions are disabled Print Screen and capturing functions are disabled Copying and pasting anything into or from the assessment Surfing the Web Opening or using any other applications such as Microsoft Word, , instant messenger, etc. Function keys are disabled 20

25 Selecting on any other area within the course Students will not be able to select the Begin Exam button without the necessary software. Selecting the ExamGuard Download and Instructions link will take student to the download page to download the ExamGuard plug-in. ExamGuard Download Link Plagiarism The definition of plagiarism is copying or imitating the language, ideas, and thoughts of another writer and passing them off as your own original work. Specific examples of plagiarism that will not be 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 the material as your own, even if you have changed some of the words. Having someone else write the assignment or rephrase any portion of that assignment. 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 The Academy. 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 principal and will be subject to disciplinary action. 21

26 Consequences First Offense: You will receive a warning and a chance to redo the assignment for 50% credit. A note will be made in your permanent record. Second Offense: You will receive a zero on the assignment and you will not be allowed to make up the work. This will be your last warning, you will receive a call from administration and a note will be made in your permanent record. Third Offense: Transfer to The Academy is cancelled. Student must return to local school district or provide verification letter that student is being homeschooled. TESTING Scantron Performance Assessments The Academy utilizes the Scantron Assessment Series two times per year to determine the academic needs of our students. The assessments will be taken in the fall and in the spring. These assessments help your child and Academy teachers understand how your child is learning and to watch his/her growth over the course of the year. Students also receive a grade for completing these assessments in their math and English courses. All high school students will complete the Reading and Math Scantron Performance Assessment at the beginning of the year or upon entering the school. This test is a computer adaptive test that will be given in your home. Your student s homeroom teacher will provide you with your child s login information. It is important that you do not help your child with the answers to the test. The purpose of the test is to provide teachers with information on your child s strengths as well as areas that need additional focus this school year. If you assist in any way the test will not be valid. If the test is not valid we will have inaccurate information on your child s abilities and/or the test will be spoiled automatically by the system and the student will need to complete the test again. Likewise if a student quickly moves through the questions without sufficiently reading them, the test will likely spoil automatically. Please simply make sure your student finishes the test carefully and completely. All students should have their first Reading and Math assessments completed within the first week of enrollment of the fall semester. Information will be sent via k-mail regarding test instructions and deadlines for both fall and spring semesters. Beginning and end-of-year Performance Assessments will be compared, and a growth score will be determined. Your student s homeroom teacher will share this information with you after the tests are 22

27 taken. Scantron tests are not optional. Students who do not complete the Scantron tests will have their transfer to the Academy cancelled. Study Island Study Island is the online test preparatory program used by The Academy and all K 12 schools. All high school students are encouraged to use Study Island as a review tool to prepare for weekly skills as well as End of Instruction (EOI) state tests. Research has shown that high school students who score blue ribbons in Study Island score higher on their End of Instruction tests. Study Island may be used as extra credit or as additional assignments in courses that do not have EOI state tests. Completion of Study Island material is a requirement of all EOI courses and is part of the final grade in those courses. Students in EOI courses are also required to complete custom assessments in Study Island. These assessments are benchmark assessments for the EOI exams and are used to identify areas in which students need additional support in order to be successful on the EOI exams. These assessments are required and will count for a grade in the EOI courses. Students who do not complete the custom assessments will be withdrawn from the Academy. State Testing: Oklahoma-End of Instruction Tests (EOI) High school testing requirements are dependent upon the course enrolled. Enrollment in a course is the sole determinant of the test requirements. Even students not passing an EOI course are required by the state to attempt the test. Every high school student shall demonstrate mastery of the state academic content standards in the following subject areas in order to graduate from a public high school with a standard diploma. English II and Algebra I and at least two of the following tests: English III Algebra II Geometry Biology I U.S. History Each student is offered the opportunity for remediation prior to retaking the EOI test or substituting an approved alternate test. All scores from EOI exams are reported on a student s transcript as the permanent record for use by potential employers, colleges, and universities. Multiple Choice Assessments: The EOI asks students to respond to items representing Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS). These seven assessments are administered online. Writing Assessments: 23

28 The EOI ACE English II and ACE English III assessments each include a writing portion in addition to the multiple choice portion, which asks the students to respond to a writing prompt that will partially represent standards of Writing/Grammar/ Usage and Mechanics. The English II and English III tests are all day tests. Students who fail to complete both parts of the English tests will have their transfer to the Academy cancelled. Testing Dates EOI tests will be administered during the testing window of April 14, 2014 through May 2, The Writing tests will be administered on April 23 rd and 24 th, Parents and students will be notified of their exact testing schedule and location in advance. Participation in EOI testing is required. Students who do not participate in EOI testing will have their transfer to the Academy cancelled. COLLEGE/CAREER Oklahoma Promise Scholarship Oklahoma s Promise is a program set up by the Oklahoma Legislature for 8 th, 9 th and 10 th grade students that will help pay for their college education if their parents income from taxed and untaxed sources is $50,000 or less at the time the student applies to the program. Scholarship benefits: If the student meets the program s requirements, Oklahoma s Promise will pay his/her tuition at an Oklahoma public two-year college or four-year university. It will also cover at least a portion of tuition at an Oklahoma accredited private college or university or for courses offered at public technology centers that qualify for credit from an Oklahoma public two-year college. For more information regarding the program or to obtain an online application, visit: or by phone at ( in OKC area) or by at okpromise@osrhe.edu. You may also contact your high school counselor for further assistance. **Please note: Only comprehensive and above classes will qualify for Oklahoma s Promise. College Entrance Exams The ACT and SAT are college entrance tests designed to assess a student s academic readiness for college. These entrance exams are the most important tests that a student can take for college admission and scholarship awards if he/she plans on attending a college and/or university. 24

29 The ACT measures skill levels in English, writing (optional), reading, math and science reasoning. The SAT, typically used for east and west coast school admission, tests reading, writing and math skills as well. If the cost of the test is a concern, you may be eligible for an ACT Fee Waiver. Information about the eligibility requirements and how to request a fee waiver is available from the high school counselor. The following web-sites give information on test dates, location and costs and also serve as an excellent test prep tool as they provide you with sample test questions. Concurrent Enrollment High school juniors and seniors may choose to participate in an early entry program in which they attend college courses for college credit while they are finishing their requirements for high school graduation. State law now requires all concurrent enrollment courses be entered on a student s high school transcript as either academic or elective credit. All concurrent courses will count in GPA and class rank. For a detailed description of requirements, please visit: Eligibility requirements: Student must be eligible for admissions to the college or university under regular admission criteria. Juniors must have an ACT composite score of 21 or above and a sub-score of 19 or above in the desired concurrent subject area. Seniors must have an ACT composite score of 19 or above and a sub-score of 19 or above in the desired concurrent subject area. Students are responsible for their own admission and enrollment process. Student must contact their counselor to fill out the appropriate forms and permission from the Academy MUST be granted for a student to enroll in concurrent classes. Student may enroll in a combined number of high school and college courses per semester NOT to exceed a full time college workload of 19 semester credit hours. High school seniors who meet the eligibility requirements are entitled to receive tuition waivers for up to six hours per semester. Tuition waivers only include the cost of tuition and therefore the student/parent is responsible for additional costs association with fees and books. Concurrent students may not enroll in remedial (zero-level) coursework offered by colleges and universities designed to remove high school deficiencies. Concurrent students who fail Academy courses while attending concurrent classes will no longer be eligible to take concurrent classes. 25

30 Check with your local college or institution to verify they offer concurrent enrollment for high school juniors and/or seniors and for additional admission requirements. The following higher education courses commonly taken through concurrent enrollment have been reviewed by the OSDE and approved for credit: College Algebra General Biology English Comp I English Comp II Chemistry Am Hist to 1877 Am Hist from 1877 Am Fed Govt. Intro to Speech 1 Unit High School Algebra II 1 Unit High School Biology II ½ Unit English IV ½ Unit English IV 1 Unit HS Chemistry ½ Unit HS US History ½ Unit HS US History ½ Unit HS US Government ½ Unit HS Speech Vocational Technology Center Programs (Vo-Tech) Juniors and seniors who are on track for graduation may elect to attend an area Vocational Technology Center program while still attending high school. Some vo-tech centers also offer programs to sophomores. Students are responsible for contacting their local program to determine program offerings, application deadlines, and admission requirements. Students must obtain and complete the appropriate forms from the technology center AND must meet with the counselor in order to be approved by The Academy to attend a vo-tech program. Students are responsible for their own admission and enrollment process. Student must contact their counselor to fill out the appropriate forms and permission from the Academy MUST be granted for a student to enroll in a vocational technology program. Students not on track for graduation will not be approved to participate in a vo-tech program. Students are limited to attending vo-tech half time and must be enrolled in at least 3 Academy courses per semester. Students who do not pass any of their Academy courses while enrolled in Vo-tech will not be approved to participate in vo-tech the following semester. Students must provide proof of their enrollment in a tech program within 10 days of the semester. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of The Academy s approval to participate and the student will be enrolled in a full course load (6) for the semester with The Academy. 26

31 TECHNOLOGY POLICIES & SAFETY Instant Messaging Policy The Academy teachers are available to send and respond to student instant messages during set office hours between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Each teacher is responsible for setting their own office hours during this time frame. Teachers will not be available to send and receive student instant messages before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. or while their status is set to busy or offline. 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 All Yahoo instant message communications between teachers and students are archived in the teachers accounts. The Academy recommends students also archive Yahoo instant messages in their account. This allows everyone to have a record in case information needs to be reviewed at a later date. This also helps ensure that any instant messages between students are appropriate. Message archiving can be turned on in Yahoo under preferences (see below). 27