Chase Trapp Technology Manager ctrapp@k12.com 208.322.3559 ext. 4005 Andrea Hampton Central Office Manager ahampton@idahova.org 208.322.3559 ext. 4010
Tara Ball Special Education Director tball@k12.com 208.322.3559 ext. 4008 Kelly Edginton Director of Academic Services kedginton@k12.com 208.322.3559 ext. 4004 Heidi Higgins School Growth Coordinator hhiggins@k12.com 208.322.3559 ext. 4006 Allen Wenger Business Manager awenger@k12.com 208.322.3559 ext. 4003
2012-2012 Calendar
Outings/Events
IDVA families will have a variety of opportunities to participate in outings/events across the state. Outing information will be on the IDVA Community Board event calendar, and on our School Calendar at the Big Think IDVA website. IDVA families may participate in outings and academic workshops planned by other IDVA teachers with approval of the IDVA teacher planning the event. Participation may be limited to space availability. IDVA Outings may be included in Attendance Data. Please contact your teacher with any questions.
Video Tutorials: K12 has created a series of short video tutorials to help you do everything that you need for start up, organizing and using the K12 curriculum at IDVA. The link to these video tutorials is http://k12.jlog.com/Client/0400f333-c178-4360-9a7a-9dbc0094c66f
Idaho Code #33-512 (1) requires that each school district adopt a calendar that provides students at each grade level with the following minimum number of hours of instruction. Idaho Virtual Academy (IDVA) requires the following hours:
Idaho Code #33-202 establishes that school attendance is compulsory for students between the ages of seven (7) and sixteen (16), unless the student is comparably instructed. IDVA is one of the public school options available to parents to fulfill this obligation. Parents should understand that IDVA is a public school alternative, not a home school alternative. As a part of the public school system, IDVA has responsibility to account for the attendance and progress of each individual student enrolled and for which IDVA receives public funds. This policy relates not only to attendance issues, but also delineates the procedures by which students can be suspended, expelled and reenrolled, as well as the appeal process. It is necessary to carefully track and document Attendance in the On Line School (OLS) of Idaho Virtual Academy for accountability purposes as well as funding from the State Department of Education. Progress and mastery in the On Line School relate to promotion of the student in the curriculum. Attendance Definition: Attendance is defined as the more advantageous of:
1.) 2.)
actual hours of attendance in the public virtual school on a flexible schedule, or the percentage of coursework completed,
Under either definition, the students time computation must include the actual time the student is engaged in activities of the K-12 curriculum under the direct supervision and/or monitoring of the identified responsible adult who is working with the student on the IDVA educational program. This time can also include activities of 9
the employed teacher directly interacting with the student, as well as time when the student is engaged in K-12 online and off-line activities on the computer. In addition to direct instructional time, additional engaged learning experiences may qualify for attendance computation. Examples of such appropriate general learning experiences include but are not limited to:
1.) 2.)
consultation with a professional in an area of expertise, i.e., a geologist, visit to a historical or art museum as a component of an art or history assignment.
The supervising adult will be responsible for tracking all hours and reporting them as required on the OLS. The OLS will be the official recording of attendance for a student. In order to assure balanced learning, supplemental hours in music, art and Physical Education are limited to two (2) hours in each area per week to be included in the total hours for attendance. Physical education activities are to be structured, organized and supervised. Attendance Goals and Expectations: Except in extraordinary cases, students will be expected to attend 100% of the annual attendance requirements for the student grade level. These hours may be earned through a flexible schedule as provided in the school calendar. Extraordinary circumstances which may be considered acceptable for less than 100% student attendance include: extended illness of the student or other such individualized circumstances that prevent the student from attending to school work
If recorded and reported attendance falls below acceptable standards the Head of School or designee may take initial action to suspend the student for truancy. As outlined below, repeated lack of required attendance may result in action by the Board regarding habitual truancy. Denial of Enrollment Students seeking IDVA enrollment Pursuant to Idaho Code 33-205, IDVA may deny enrollment and attendance to any student who has been expelled from another public school district (LEA) within the state of Idaho or any other state. IDVA recognizes that due to the unique educational structure of the educational program, a student who has been expelled from another public school district (LEA) may be able to attend IDVA and continue their educational advancement, without any risk of harm to other students, faculty or school facilities.
When a student who has been expelled from another school district (LEA) seeks to become enrolled at IDVA, the Administrative team of IDVA shall communicate with the prospective student (parents) and the students former school district (LEA) to determine the basis for the students expulsion as well as the students general 10
disciplinary record. Thereafter, the administrative team shall evaluate whether or not the prospective enrollee poses any danger or risk of harm to other IDVA students, IDVA faculty or IDVA property. If it is determined that there is no risk of harm to other students, faculty or property and IDVA can provide an education to the child, the Board of Directors has authorized the Administration to enroll the student, based upon a behavioral plan individually created to address the specific disciplinary issues for the child. Should the Administration determine that enrollment of the child would pose a danger to other students, faculty or property which can not, in the judgment of the administrative team, be addressed through a behavioral plan, the Board of Directors has authorized the Administration to provisionally deny enrollment into IDVA. Should a student be provisionally denied enrollment due to prior school expulsion, the student will be advised of a right to a hearing before the Board to contest this decision.
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Course Promotion
Academic achievement through content mastery is the cornerstone of the Idaho Virtual Academy. IDVA understands that children do not learn at the same rate or in the same manner. Our program offers families flexibility in scheduling and instructional strategies. IDVA focuses on mastery of lesson objectives, encouraging families and students to spend the time needed daily and throughout the year to master lesson objectives. Students may advance to the next course level upon mastery of the current course work. Sufficient progress in all courses is expected before course level advancement in one area will be considered. Advancement of a student from one course level to the next requires the approval of the IDVA administration. Achievement expectations are outlined in the table below. These will serve as the minimum requirements for promotion to the next course level by the end of the school year. In order to promote to the next course level in any subject during the school year, the student must master 100% of that subject, have submitted the required assignments for the subject, and have sufficient progress in all courses.
Students enrolled in Idaho Virtual Academy will need to show required progress and have turned in the requisite assignments in each curricular area to be promoted to the next course level. The administrative team has looked at each subject individually to form these percentages. Students will master the K12 curriculum to the required level before course promotions will be approved. Note: Students working below grade level in Math and/or LA/English may promote at 80% course mastery.
Promotion Standards for K-8 Students Working in Courses Below Age Appropriate Grade Level in Math and Language Arts/English
In our efforts to provide opportunities and means for each student to achieve academic success and reach proficiency at his/her age appropriate grade level (AAG), Idaho Virtual Academy has developed alternate promotion guidelines for students working in Math and/or Language Arts/English courses below AAG. Percentages will be taken from the view core lessons view of the OLS. Math Language Arts 80% 80%
Students promoting at 80% must master the end of second semester math assessment and/or any semester assessment in the Language Arts/English strands (GUM, Composition, Vocabulary, Test Ready, Literature, etc.) available for the course before the Math and/or LA/English promotion is approved AND submit all required work samples for the portion of the course completed. Teachers will work closely with students and teaching adults to ensure that mastery of core concepts is attained. Students promoting at these lower percentage Promotions are to be submitted to the principal following promotion process and are to include in the notes that the student is working below AAG. Teachers will submit these promotions when the student reaches 75% mastery in the Math or LA course. School administrators may approve promotions at lower percentage of completion at their discretion.
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You are also encouraged to contact the lead teachers for assistance when needed. K8 Master Teacher: Jenny Whelan jwhelan@idahova.org or MS Lead Teacher: Amber Hatrock ahatrock@idahova.org
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Progress Reports
One of the many features offered by the On Line School is an up to date report of each students academic progress and attendance information. A parent may log on to the system at any time and view this information. For student records purposes a Report Card, including On Line School Progress, Attendance Information, and IDVA teacher comments will be sent to the parent/guardian at the conclusion of each school year or upon student withdrawal from IDVA. If warranted, a Red Flag Report Card may be sent to the parent/guardian at any time during the school year. All Report Cards, including Red Flag Report Cards, will be filed in the student file.
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Math
2 credits (Credits are earned through the final grade for the course.)
Mastery of a minimum of 30% of the Math core lessons/units by the end of the end of the first semester (December 21, 2011). Mastery of a minimum of 60% Math core lessons/units by the end of the school year (May 30, 2012). Your final grade will be based on 70% OLS progress and 30% Study Island (assignments and quizzes). In order to meet the minimum standard, your overall grade must be a minimum of 60%=D by May 30, 2012.
Math Grades: (Grades based on 70% online progress and 30% Study Island Assignments.) A= 90% to 100% B= 80% to 89% C= 70% to 79% D= 60% to 69% F= 59% and below How will credits be earned for Math? 60% and above = 2 credits 30% to 59% = 1 credit 29% and below = 0 credits
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Language Arts
2 credits (Credits are earned through the final grade for the course.) Mastery of a minimum of 30% of the overall GUM, Composition, Vocabulary, and Literature core lessons/units by the end of the first semester (December 21, 2011). Mastery of a minimum of 60% of the overall GUM, Composition, Vocabulary, and Literature core lessons/units by the end of the school year (May 30, 2012). *Progress from GUM, Composition, Vocabulary, and Literature will be averaged. Your final grade will be based on 70% OLS progress and 30% Study Island (assignments, quizzes, and essays).
In order to meet the minimum standard, your overall grade must be a minimum of 60%=D by May 30, 2012.
Language Grades: (Grades based on 70% online progress and 30% Study Island Assignments.) A= 90% to 100% B= 80% to 89% C= 70% to 79% D= 60% to 69% F= 59% and below How will credits be earned for Language? 60% and above = 2 credits 30% to 59% = 1 credit 29% and below = 0 credits
** Students who fail both semesters of the same class will be placed on the alternate pathway.
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History, Science, and Elective (Foreign Language, Music, and Art) Grades: Mastery Pass Fail (M) = 80% to 100% progress in the OLS (P) = 60% to 79% progress in the OLS (F) = 59% progress in the OLS and below
How will credits be earned? 60% and above = 2 credits 30% to 59% = 1 credit
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Students will earn letter grades in Math and Language Usage/Composition. Grades will be based on OLS progress and the quality of collected assignments, tests and quizzes in Study Island. Students will not be promoted without fulfilling the requirements of the classes, and grades will become part of the students permanent record with IDVA. IDVAs philosophy is that all curriculum is learned to mastery. Middle school students at IDVA will need to meet the same standards in their graded assignments to successfully promote to the next grade level. Students who do not meet the grading standard will have to repeat the course and finish it successfully to promote to the next grade level. Note: Some of our Language Arts/English courses are shown in strands on the On Line School. Lang Skills, Literature, and Spelling are examples of some of our strands. Ideally, progress in each strand of LA/English will be evenly distributed. If, however, progress in one strand does not meet completion or mastery percentage requirements (promotion requirements), all strands will be marked Incomplete and promotion will occur when each strand meets the required percentage. The exception is Spelling. A Language Arts course may promote if Literature and Language Skills both meet required percentage even if Spelling does not. Additionally, the Language Skills strand must have the Composition, Vocabulary, and GUM sub strands at the required promotion percentages in order to promote the entire course.
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Standardized Testing
IDVA students are required to participate in all Idaho State Standardized Testing. These tests will be administered by IDVA teachers. Each IDVA teacher will contact the parent/guardian of the IDVA student and share testing dates and locations prior to the administration of the test. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to transport the student to the testing location at the appropriate date and time. These tests will provide useful information to parents and teachers regarding student academic achievement. All IDVA students are required and expected to participate in the appropriate standardized testing detailed below:
Participants All Students: Required graded assignment in LA and Math All students in 3rd -8th & 10th Grades
Testing Window Fall: August 17, 2011 September 30, 2011 Spring: May 7, 2012 - May 25, 2012 Spring: Mid-April to Mid-May each year
The individual assessment information we receive is invaluable. Teachers and parents will work together to pinpoint areas of academic strength and weakness, set academic goals and work towards improvement. Student academic success is our main goal at IDVA!
Scantron Testing
k12 Inc has contracted with Scantron to provide accurate assessment and performance tracking to assist you and your childs pursuit for an exceptional education. What is Scantron? Scantron is an easy to use assessment program that will allow you and your teacher to quickly assess the current achievement and potential educational needs of your child. The Scantron Performance Series utilizes a web-based model to identify the instructional level of each student by using your childs answers to previous questions to adapt the difficulty of the subsequent question. The teachers at IDVA want to work with you to provide the best education possible for your child. By using the Scantron Performance assessment you and your teacher will have the performance data necessary to tailor instruction to meet his/her needs. 21
Please be advised: Scantron will replace the ISAT examinations for all IDVA students this fall. There will be no ISAT exams in the fall, but there will be ISAT in the spring. Scantron is all onlinethat means no traveling long distances to test sites! Each child grades 3-10 will take a math, reading and language Scantron exam. Each exam will take about an hour. Scantron offers a detailed report which will be sent to you via email so you and your childs IDVA teacher can immediately begin to use it to inform your teaching and to ensure you are working in the areas most needed.
How does the assessment work? The Performance Assessment is Computer-adaptive test-that lets you quickly pinpoint the proficiency level of your student: the computer will adapt the test based on your childs answers/ability. Am I allowed to help my child? For the purpose of Scantron to be effective, it is necessary for students to work independently. NOTE: Parents of students who are on an IEP or 504 plan may administer the accommodations listed on that plan. Reading tests may not be read to students, even if they are on IEPs or 504 plans. (This also would not be on their list of accommodations for this subject.) Other students should not receive accommodations. Why can I not assist my child? Since Scantron uses the students' own responses to determine the difficulty of subsequent questions, assistance will quickly get your child into a level he/she cannot complete successfully. It is important that you allow the testing software to target the specific instructional level of your child so that the questions adapt to your childs particular needs. How is the test scored? Unlike other tests, the test is not scored on the basis of how many questions the students answers correctly. The incorrect answers give just as information as the correct answers. It is intended that your child will NOT know the answer to all questions. The difficulty of the questions will adjust itself based on the answers your child gives, so if you provide the answers, chances are your child may get even more difficult questions than s/he can answer. Additionally, if students are working too far above grade level, the test may be spoiled. Please do not help your child! How should I encourage my child? Please tell your child that they should expect to see some challenging questions, but do not help your child by pointing to the screen, reading to them, giving them hints, etc. The test will automatically adjust itself to your childs answers. Will this test be used to determine I am doing as a teaching coach? This assessment will not be used to make decisions about course placement, promotion, or participation in any special programs. This assessment will give you specific information on your childs strengths and weaknesses and assist you and the school staff to plan appropriately for your childs education. What are the pre-requisites for my child to take this test? Your child should be able to do these things prior to testing: Use a mouse to point and left click Scroll up and down a web page 22
Enter necessary student information (if required: parent can assist with entering student information only.) If you are not sure that your child has these skills, please talk to your teacher on how to assess their skills or teach them prior to beginning the test. What should I not do? The following types of interactions will not help your child and should be avoided during the test: Reminding them of the time Asking your child about the test Helping them with words or problems that are too difficult for them Reading any part of reading passages to the student Helping your child narrow their answer choices Providing any help with reading passages or question content or meaning Hovering over the students as they are tested. What am I allowed to do? Your child may need help with tasks that do not directly affect the content of the test. Stopping and starting a test for a bathroom break or stopping a test if you notice fatigue. The best practice is to get your student started on the test, tell him or her that you know s/he will do his or her very best and then move into the next room or away from the computer. Tell your child that you will be available if s/he needs to pause the test to go to the restroom or just to take a break. If you need to pause the test for longer than thisto go to a piano lesson, for example, you may, but the test must be completed by the end of the testing window. When possible, it is beneficial for your child to complete the testing in one sitting.
ISP Subsidy
ISP Subsidy Policy: Only students who meet income qualification guidelines for Free and Reduced Lunch will receive the ISP subsidy. Parents/Guardians of students who qualify must fill out an ISP Subsidy survey form online. Information and the link to the survey will be sent in fall and spring. (NOTE: If your income has changed since you filled out an income form with our school, please, click on the following link to update your information: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/familyincome)
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Student shows tremendous growth in an academic area but does not meet all the criteria for the President's Award for Educational Excellence. Growth may be from the Spring to Spring ISAT, achievement in a specific subject or goal area, achievement in the arts such as music or theater, etc. Demonstrate unusual commitment to learning in academics despite various obstacles. Maintain a school record that would have met the school's selection criteria for the President's Award for Educational Excellence but illness, personal crisis, or special needs prevented the student from maintaining such high standards despite hard work. Student must have full attendance for the school year.
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Student Internet Safety Do not reveal on the Internet personal information about yourself or other persons. For example, you should not reveal your name, home address, telephone number, or display photographs of yourself or others to persons outside of the IDVA. Do not agree to meet in person anyone you have met only on the Internet and who is not affiliated with the IDVA. Network Etiquette As an IDVA student, you are expected to follow the rules of network etiquette or netiquette. The word "netiquette" refers to common-sense guidelines for conversing with others online. Please abide by these standards: Avoid sarcasm, jargon, and slang. Swear words are unacceptable. Never use derogatory comments, including those regarding race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, political persuasion, body type, physical or mental health, or access issues. Focus your responses on the questions or issues being discussed, not on the individuals involved. Be constructive with your criticism, not hurtful. Review your messages before sending them. Remove easily misinterpreted language and proofread for typos. Respect other peoples privacy. Don't broadcast online discussions, and never reveal other people's email addresses. Use of Copyrighted Materials All materials in the courses are copyrighted and provided for use exclusively by enrolled students. Enrolled students may print or photocopy material from the website for their own use by or distribution to others is prohibited unless expressly noted. Unauthorized copying or distribution may result in revoked access to course(s). Users shall not upload, download, transmit or post copyrighted software or copyrighted materials, materials protected by trade secrets or other protections using IDVA computer resources. This includes copyrighted graphics of cartoon characters or other materials that you found that may appear to be noncopyright protected. Academic Integrity Idaho Virtual Academy seeks to establish academic integrity within the high school community. IDVA has identified the following as unacceptable practices, including, but not limited to: 1. Cheating in its various forms, whether copying another students work, allowing your own to be copied, using unauthorized aids on an assignment, essay, quiz, or test, having someone else complete an assignment, essay, quiz, or test for you, submitting as your own another persons work, rescheduling a test on a false excuse; 2. Plagiarizing (e.g. presenting as your own the words or ideas of another person), including inadequate documentation of sources (electronic, internet, or print) and excessive dependence on the language of sources even when documented, relying on similar order of sentences while altering a few words or word order; 3. Submitting the same work for more than one course or assignment without prior written approval from the instructor(s); 4. Using copywrited material without appropriate citation or copying software or media files (such as music, movies, etc.) without permission; 5. Fabricating data: This includes falsifying or manipulating data to achieve desired result, reporting results for experiments not done, or falsifying citations in research reports; 6. Destroying, tampering, or altering another students work to impede academic progress; 7. Signing in to an Elluminate session for another student who is not present, or leaving an Elluminate session without logging off or indicating that you have stepped away from the session;
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At the instructors discretion, depending on the nature of the offense, the students grade or ability to earn credit for the course may be affected. All students who violate the principles of academic integrity will be reported to the appropriate administrative authorities. Violations may also lead to further disciplinary action. Monitoring IDVA reserves the right to review any material transmitted using IDVA instructional computing resources or posted to an IDVA instructional computing resource to determine the appropriateness of such material. IDVA may review this material at any time, with or without notice. E-mail transmitted via IDVA instructional computing resources is not private and may be monitored. IDVA Indemnification Provision IDVA assumes no responsibility for information obtained via the Internet, which may be illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or offensive. IDVA assumes no responsibility for any claims, losses, damages, costs, or other obligations arising from the use of instructional computing resources. IDVA also denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through user access. Any statement, accessible on the computer network or the Internet, is understood to be the authors individual point of view and not that of IDVA, its affiliates, or its employees. K12 assumes no responsibility for damages to the users computer system. Nothing in this policy negates any obligation the student and parent have to use the instructional computing recourses as required in the Use of Instructional Property Agreement ("Agreement") the parent or guardian signed as part of the student's enrollment packet. In the event that this Code conflicts with the Agreement, the terms of the Agreement shall prevail.
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Questions, comments contact: Kari Granier IDVA K8 Principal kgranier@k12.com (208) 304-0425 Or Jenny Whelan IDVA K8 Master Teacher jwhelan@idahova.org (208) 954-3196
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