Policies

Student Engagement Policy

Purpose:

To provide an online educational path for students to obtain a CORE 40 high school diploma while maintaining high expectations for students’ success.
To provide a flexible, online educational program while fostering a culture of high expectations and self-discipline for students.

Rationale:
It is imperative that students who are enrolled in an online program, be committed to being continuously engaged in the educational process. Continuous engagement includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Consistent completion of class assignments and assessments to ensure students graduate with their cohort as listed with the IDOE and STN Center;
Students are responsible for doing their best to fulfil the requirements of the course;
Submission of work that reflects a student’s best effort;
Participation in state and federally mandated testing.

Student Expectations:

Completion of school work to the best of their ability
Logging into classes on a daily/weekly basis. The expectation is that students will submit/complete assignments a minimum of three times per week. A student who has not logged in and accessed their classes is considered not engaged, or truant for that week.
Students are expected to attempt all of the assignments associated with the course content. Students who do not complete any assignments for one week may be considered "Inadequately Engaged."
Regular communication with teachers
Participation in state-wide testing (applicable grade levels)

Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Expectations:

Provide oversight of Students logging in: Students are expected to access all the course material presented on a daily basis. Students must actively participate daily during school days to be considered as engaged/in attendance in their online course. A student who has zero log-ins for one school day is considered Not Engaged for that school day.
Supporting the work of the schools and reinforcing school learning at home;
Assuring your child’s daily online attendance in school five days per week; three hours per day;
Maintaining high expectations for your child regarding quality of work;
Modeling learning for your child by maintaining regular contact with your child’s teacher(s).

School Expectations:

Communicate high expectations for every student;
Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction that support students in meeting meet the state’s academic achievement standards;
Provide parents with consistent reports on their child’s progress—progress reports will be sent every four and a half weeks; report cards will be sent every nine weeks. Parents may also view their child’ progress by logging into their Observer Account;
Methods of communication to be used by the school/teachers will include, but not be limited to, the following—email, traditional mail, telephone calls, text messaging, mid-term progress reports; report cards.

Teacher Expectations:

Endeavor to motivate students to learn;
Participate in professional development opportunities that improve teaching and learning in an online environment;
Remain timely in assessing/grading work and entering grades into the grade book;
Provide feedback to students on a consistent basis;
Communicate regularly with families about their child's progress in school;
Respect the school, staff, students, and families.

Interaction with the course content: Students are expected to attempt all the activities associated with the course content and interact with their teacher on a weekly basis. Weekly activities may include completing a quiz, test or submitting an assignment. Students who do not complete all activities may be classified as "Insufficiently Engaged." If a student does not submit assignments for two consecutive weeks they will be classified as Not Engaged. Students should log in daily (on school days) substantial course activity on at least five days each week.

Submissions: Students are expected to complete and submit all formative and/or summative assessments by the specified deadline. If assignments are not submitted, a student will be registered as Insufficiently Engaged.

Reporting Engagement: Indiana Virtual School will alert students and parents directly when a student has been identified as “Not Engaged” for a week. If this Non – Engagement continues to a second week the student and the parent will receive a written notice/warning. A third week of Non – Engagement will necessitate contact with the parent/student in written format. Any student reported as Not Engaged for twenty consecutive school days will be notified to contact the school. If the student/parent does not contact the school within seven days, the student will be withdrawn from the school. Any student on academic probation during the final nine weeks may not be promoted to the next grade level.

Orientation:

Video
Required for the student to review prior to beginning classes.
Provides overview of the school, policy, procedures, expectations and communication methods.

Calendar:

Activity/Daily Attendance:
INVS Attendance
*Participating in state-mandated testing is a requirement of Indiana Virtual School and an essential component of student engagement. A student’s refusal to attend/participate in state-mandated testing may result in the student being withdrawn from the school.
**Once a student reaches the level of academic probation, the school reserves the right to submit the appropriate forms to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in order to revoke driver’s licenses of students who are academically disengaged/truant. Additionally, students may be denied a new work permit of have an existing one revoked.
***Social Security forms: A student’s activity/attendance will be reported on "Certification of School Official" (pg.3) of the SSA-1372 Social Security form as is required.

IC 20-24-7-13(g)

(g) A virtual charter school shall adopt a student engagement policy. A student who regularly fails to participate in courses may be withdrawn from enrollment under policies adopted by the virtual charter school.

The policies adopted by the virtual charter school must ensure that:

(1) adequate notice of the withdrawal is provided to the parent and the student; and (2) an opportunity is provided, before the withdrawal of the student by the virtual charter school, for the student or the parent to demonstrate that failure to participate in the course is due to an event that would be considered an excused absence under IC 20-33-2. Failure of the parent/guardian to notify the school within seven days of withdrawal notice may result in final withdrawal from the school. (h) An authorizer shall review and monitor whether a virtual charter school that is authorized by the authorizer complies with the requirements described in subsection (g).

IC 9-24-2

Chapter 2. Individuals Prohibited From Obtaining a License or Permit

IC 9-24-2-1 Truants, suspended and expelled students, and dropouts

Sec. 1. (a) The bureau shall suspend the driving privileges or invalidate the learner's permit of an individual less than eighteen (18) years of age who meets any of the following conditions: (1) Is a habitual truant under IC 20-33-2-11. (2) Is under at least a second suspension from school for the school year under IC 20-33-8-14 or IC 20-33-8-15. (3) Is under an expulsion from school under IC 20-33-8-14, IC 20-33-8-15, or IC 20-33-8-16. (4) Is considered a dropout under IC 20-33-2-28.5. (b) At least five (5) days before holding an exit interview under IC 20-33-2-28.5, the school corporation shall give notice by certified mail or personal delivery to the student, the student's parent, or the student's guardian that the student's failure to attend an exit interview under IC 20-33-2-28.5 or return to school if the student does not meet the requirements to withdraw from school under IC 20-33-2-28.5 will result in the revocation or denial of the student's: (1) driver's license or learner's permit; and (2) employment certificate. As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.131-1995, SEC.1; P.L.132-1995, SEC.1; P.L.1-2005, SEC.106; P.L.242-2005, SEC.1; P.L.1-2006, SEC.165; P.L.125-2012, SEC.166.

IC 9-24-2-4
Invalidation and revalidation of license; truant, suspended and expelled, and withdrawn students

Sec. 4. (a) If a person is less than eighteen (18) years of age and is a habitual truant, is under a suspension or an expulsion or has withdrawn from school as described in section 1 of this chapter, the bureau shall, upon notification by the person's principal, suspend the person's driving privileges until the earliest of the following: (1) The person becomes eighteen (18) years of age. (2) One hundred twenty (120) days after the person is suspended. (3) The suspension, expulsion, or exclusion is reversed after the person has had a hearing under IC 20-33-8. (b) The bureau shall promptly mail a notice to the person's last known address that states the following: (1) That the person's driving privileges will be suspended for a specified period commencing five (5) days after the date of the notice. (2) That the person has the right to appeal the suspension of the driving privileges. (c) If an aggrieved person believes that: (1) the information provided was technically incorrect; or (2) the bureau committed a technical or procedural error; the aggrieved person may appeal the invalidation of a license under section 5 of this chapter. (d) If a person satisfies the conditions for reinstatement of a license under this section, the person may submit to the bureau for review the necessary information certifying that at least one (1) of the events described in subsection (a) has occurred. (e) Upon reviewing and certifying the information received under subsection (d), the bureau shall reinstate the person's driving privileges. (f) A person may not operate a motor vehicle in violation of this section. (g) A person whose driving privileges are suspended under this section is eligible to apply for restricted driving privileges under IC 9-24-15. (h) The bureau shall reinstate the driving privileges of a person whose driving privileges were suspended under this section if the person does the following: (1) Establishes to the satisfaction of the principal of the school where the action occurred that caused the suspension of the driving privileges that the person has: (A) enrolled in a full-time or part-time program of education; and (B) participated for thirty (30) or more days in the program of education. (2) Submits to the bureau a form developed by the bureau that contains: (A) the verified signature of the principal or the president of the governing body of the school described in subdivision (1); and (B) notification to the bureau that the person has complied with subdivision (1). A person may appeal the decision of a principal under subdivision (1) to the governing body of the school corporation where the principal's school is located. As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.131-1995, SEC.2; P.L.132-1995, SEC.2; P.L.1-2005, SEC.107; P.L.125-2012, SEC.171; P.L.85-2013, SEC.26.

Policy for Work Permit Policy for Grades and Attendance:
Under Indiana law, school corporations have the right to deny a work permit to a student whose academic performance does not meet the school corporation’s standards or whose attendance is not in good standing. They also have the right to revoke a work permit previously issued to a student if the school determines that there has been a significant decrease in the student’s academic status or attendance after he/she begins work. When it appears that a job is detrimental to a student’s academic status, it is our responsibility to advise the parents and employer so we can work together to ensure that the student’s education remains the primary focus.

Therefore, it is important for students, parents, and employers to know the guidelines that accompany the responsibility of the working teen.

Grades:

A student must be actively engaged on school days, received passing grades in all classes and be passing in current classes before a work permit is issued.
If a student does not pass all classes after a work permit has been issued, the student’s parents and employer may be sent a warning letter, and the student may be placed on probation for the next grading period.
If the student does not pass all classes during the probation period, the school may revoke the work permit for the next grading period and the parents and employer will be notified.
The work permit will be reissued to the student when all classes are passed.

Active Engagement:

If, during a semester, a student with a work permit receives notification of being placed on "Academic Probation":

The student’s employer and parents may be sent a warning letter, and the student will be placed on probation for the next period.
The school may revoke the student’s work permit for the next grading period and the employer and parents will be notified.

The work permit will be reissued if the student become "actively engaged" at an acceptable level during the next grading period.

*In the event a student’s work permit is revoked at the end of the school year, special provisions will be given to that student and he/she will be allowed to work during the summer while school is not in session. However, such students will lose their work permit at the start of the new school year until they meet the attendance and grade standards established by the school for receiving a work permit.

**The student has the right to appeal the decision, but the school will override its decision only upon a student’s demonstration of just cause. Appeals are made to the school principal in writing.

The Pacing of Classes

For students who opt to work on one class at a time: In order to stay on track to graduate on time, 1.2 classes per month must be completed with a passing grade.
For students who opt to work on all classes simultaneously: In order to stay on track to graduate, 5% of each class must be completed each week with a passing grade.
Students who are not on-pace will receive communication from teachers and mentors advising them of the requirement to comply with the pacing.

Research & References:
http://www.tehamaschools.org
http://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/district
http://www.gacyber.org/uploads/1/0/2/0/10208267/20162017_parent_and_family_engagement_policy
https://www.bristol.k12.ct.us
http://www.mcduffie.k12.ga.us