High School Parent and Student Handbook 2013-2014

Transcription

High School
Parent and Student Handbook
2013-2014
11990 Grant St., Suite 402
Northglenn, CO 80233
Main Office: 303-255-4650
Fax: 303-255-7044
Contents
Welcome Letter ............................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION ................................................................................................................... 8
Mission Statement .................................................................................................................................... 8
Vision Statement ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Provisions .................................................................................................................................................. 8
High School Model .................................................................................................................................... 8
Advisor/Content Teachers/Counselors ..................................................................................................... 9
Parent and Student Responsibilities ....................................................................................................... 10
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES .................................................................................................................. 10
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................................................ 11
ACADEMICS ................................................................................................................................................. 12
School Calendar ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Curriculum............................................................................................................................................... 12
Activity and Course Fees ......................................................................................................................... 13
Grading Policy ......................................................................................................................................... 13
Class Connect Sessions............................................................................................................................ 13
Teacher Tutor Time (Office Hours) ......................................................................................................... 13
Extra Credit ............................................................................................................................................. 14
Late work Policy ......................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Academic Integrity .................................................................................................................................. 14
Academic Progress .................................................................................................................................. 15
Assessments ............................................................................................................................................ 16
The Colorado Basic Literacy Act (CBLA) .................................................................................................. 16
COUNSELING ............................................................................................................................................... 17
Academic Requirements ......................................................................................................................... 17
Credit Requirements ............................................................................................................................... 17
Graduation Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 17
AdvancedED Requirements .................................................................................................................... 18
Colorado Virtual Academy High School Handbook, Page 2 |
Grade Level Determination/Promotion .................................................................................................. 18
Grade Point Average (GPA) ..................................................................................................................... 19
Pass/Fail .................................................................................................................................................. 19
Recorded Grades..................................................................................................................................... 19
Grade Dispute ......................................................................................................................................... 19
Credit Recovery Options ......................................................................................................................... 19
AP (Advanced Placement Courses) ......................................................................................................... 20
Post-Secondary Enrollment Options and/or Concurrent Enrollment Options ....................................... 20
Outside Credits........................................................................................................................................ 20
Transcripts............................................................................................................................................... 20
Course Add/Drop Policy .......................................................................................................................... 21
Changing/Dropping Classes .................................................................................................................... 21
High School Credit for TCAP/ACT ............................................................................................................ 21
ADVISING .................................................................................................................................................... 23
Communication....................................................................................................................................... 23
Professionalism in Communications ................................................................................................... 23
My Info and K-Mail.................................................................................................................................. 23
K12 Support Contact Information ........................................................................................................... 24
Change of Information ............................................................................................................................ 24
Materials ................................................................................................................................................. 24
ENGAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS ................................................................................................................... 24
Required Participation ........................................................................................................................ 25
Student Transition and Recovery Success Plan (STAR Success Plan) .................................................. 25
Leave Policy ............................................................................................................................................. 26
Remote Working Policy........................................................................................................................... 27
Undue Hardship Exclusion ...................................................................................................................... 27
Maternity/Paternity Leave Policy ........................................................................................................... 27
Bereavement Policy ................................................................................................................................ 27
Withdrawing from COVA ........................................................................................................................ 27
Probationary Status ................................................................................................................................ 28
COMMUNITY AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ................................................................................... 28
Activity Calendar ..................................................................................................................................... 28
Homeroom Sessions ............................................................................................................................... 28
New Parent/Student Onboarding ........................................................................................................... 28
COVA Student Clubs ................................................................................................................................ 29
Fieldtrips and Other Activities ................................................................................................................ 29
COVA High School Event and Field Trip Guidelines/Policy/Procedure ................................................... 30
COVA Policy on Dances: .......................................................................................................................... 30
Cancellation Policy for Events ................................................................................................................. 31
Dress Code .............................................................................................................................................. 31
Emergency Policy/Procedure: ................................................................................................................. 32
Infractions of Policy/Procedure: ............................................................................................................. 32
3-Strike Policy:..................................................................................................................................... 33
Student Health, Illness and Attending Events......................................................................................... 33
Zero Tolerance Policy .............................................................................................................................. 33
Extracurricular and Interscholastic Activities.......................................................................................... 34
Student Work Permits/Age Certificates.................................................................................................. 34
SAFETY......................................................................................................................................................... 35
Netiquette ............................................................................................................................................... 35
Cyberbullying ...................................................................................................................................... 35
Harassment Reporting ............................................................................................................................ 37
Discipline Policy and Procedures ............................................................................................................ 37
Monitoring .......................................................................................................................................... 37
ENROLLMENT IN COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY ...................................................................................... 38
Home Based Education Program Admittance/Enrollment Guidelines ................................................... 38
Student Part-Time and Dual-Enrollment Policy ...................................................................................... 38
Part-Time Enrollment .......................................................................................................................... 38
Prior Home Schooled Enrollment Guidelines ......................................................................................... 39
Accepting Home School credits .......................................................................................................... 40
Placement ............................................................................................................................................... 40
Student Records ...................................................................................................................................... 40
Transcripts............................................................................................................................................... 40
SPECIAL SERVICES ....................................................................................................................................... 41
Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) ................................................................................................... 41
Special Education .................................................................................................................................... 41
English Language Learners (ELL) ............................................................................................................. 41
FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA) ........................................................................... 41
GRIEVANCES ................................................................................................................................................ 43
Grievance Policy and Procedure ............................................................................................................. 43
TECHNOLOGY .............................................................................................................................................. 47
Technology Issues ................................................................................................................................... 47
Computer/Software Restriction.............................................................................................................. 47
Communication Security ......................................................................................................................... 48
INTERNET SUBSIDY POLICY ......................................................................................................................... 48
APPENDIX .................................................................................................................................................... 50
COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT HANDBOOK .......................................... 50
Concurrent Enrollment Application Deadline ..................................................................................... 50
Approval Process................................................................................................................................. 51
COVA Concurrent Enrollment Contract .............................................................................................. 52
Colorado Virtual Academy High School Prior Approval of Outside Course and Credit .......................... 54
INTERNET SUBSIDY DIRECT DEPOSIT AUTHORIZATION FORM ............................................................... 55
Permission for Non-Custodial Adults to Pick Up Students from School Events or Activities ................. 56
STUDENT FIELD TRIP PERMISSION FORM ............................................................................................... 57
OUTDOOR EDUCATION PERMISSION FORM........................................................................................... 58
COVA HIGH SCHOOL VISITOR PERMISSION SLIP ..................................................................................... 60
COVA HS REQUEST FOR LEAVE FORM .................................................................................................... 61
COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY LEVEL ONE—EMPLOYEE/STUDENT/PARENT COMPLAINT FORM ....... 63
COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY LEVEL TWO APPEAL NOTICE—EMPLOYEE/STUDENT/PARENT
COMPLAINT FORM .................................................................................................................................. 65
COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY LEVEL THREE APPEAL NOTICE—EMPLOYEE/STUDENT/PARENT
COMPLAINT FORM .................................................................................................................................. 67
Dear High School Students and Parents,
On behalf of the high school staff, we would like to welcome you to Colorado Virtual Academy (COVA).
We are excited and honored that you have selected COVA as your school of choice.
This handbook was created to provide families with specific and helpful information about policies and
procedures of COVA.
The COVA community has had a hand in the development of our high school, which we believe meets
the unique needs of high school students in a virtual setting. Some of the high school model
components include:
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Parents and students receiving direct instruction and support from Colorado State certified
content specific teachers.
Opportunities for students to interact academically and socially with their peers.
Virtual classrooms offering students academic instruction from our teaching staff.
Advisors and Counselors to guide our students through COVA HS.
Partnering with an online school as a student, parent, or staff member is an exercise in a pioneering
spirit. We look forward to traveling with you toward our destination of collaboration, accountability and
academic success.
We encourage you to familiarize yourselves with this handbook and keep it handy for reference as
needed. The high school handbook addresses many topics pertinent to all of our students and families.
Again, thank you for choosing Colorado Virtual Academy. We look forward to an exciting year with you!
Sincerely,
COVA HS Administration
11990 Grant Street #402
Northglenn, CO 80233
INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION
Colorado Virtual Academy is a public charter school in the state of Colorado. COVA’s charter is granted
through Adams County Five Star School District 12 (Adams 12). COVA maintains an independent school
board and is managed by K12, Inc. (K12), which also provides the curriculum and online delivery system.
This Parent/Student Handbook is intended to inform COVA parents and students of relevant policies and
procedures and to identify specific responsibilities pertaining to families enrolling in COVA. Additional
policies are covered in the booklet titled Rights & Responsibilities of Parents and Students published by
Adams 12 Five Star Schools. District policy can be found at http://www.adams12.org/files/dms/8900Rights_and_Responsibilities.pdf
COVA firmly agrees with state statute 22-33-104 5(a) “the general assembly hereby declares that two of
the most important factors in ensuring a child’s educational development are parental involvement and
parental responsibility. The general assembly further declares that every child under such parent’s care
and supervision receives adequate education and training.”
For all questions regarding policy & procedures, technology, or curriculum, your experienced advisor is
your first point of contact.
Mission Statement
COVA, a state-wide, online k-12 public school, brings alive an individual, content-rich curriculum to
students, supported by highly skilled teachers in partnership with parents.
Vision Statement
Colorado Virtual Academy offers Colorado elementary and secondary students a researched-based and
content-rich online public education. Our students are supported by state-of-the-art technology and a
highly-skilled teaching staff. Our students master classical core subjects, are culturally literate, and are
prepared for college. Colorado Virtual Academy is known for its academic excellence and its ability to
support the individual needs of students statewide.
Provisions
Policies and procedures listed in this Handbook may be changed at the discretion of COVA without prior
notice. Any alterations to this document will be communicated to affected parties via e-mail and will
come from the student advisor.
High School Model
Our high school community works together to significantly improve our high school to ensure it is
meeting the unique academic and social needs of our students. This section provides a brief overview of
our high school. Additional details will be provided in later sections of this handbook.
Highlights of our high school include:
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Parental control and high parental commitment. Parents or guardians of high school students
are the Learning Coaches of their students. The Learning Coach is responsible for ensuring daily
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attendance in school. They also have the ability to utilize lesson and unit learning objectives to
determine the focus of critical skills and concepts. They have immediate access to academic
progress information on the LMS, and play an integral role in partnership with COVA.
Individualized learning experience. Students take courses not based on their ages or grade
level, but rather their abilities. We offer a large range of courses which suit students’
differentiated abilities.
Instructional and academic support to parents and students. Both parents and students receive
direct instructional and academic support from our highly qualified and caring teaching staff.
Students and parents receive support from teachers through the use of phone, email, threaded
discussions, and a live online learning environment.
Developing community among students. High school students will have countless opportunities
to meet with their peers at high school student fieldtrips, discuss their course work through
threaded discussions, or in cutting-edge interactive online learning environments. Student clubs
allow for more opportunities for COVA high school students to join and support our community.
Developing community among parents. Parents will have numerous opportunities to connect
with other parents of high school students all around the state to share best practices and
success stories. Please stay in close touch with your advisors, teachers, and administrators
about these opportunities.
Motivating learning experience. Motivating a high school student can be a real challenge. We
believe we have created a high school that gets students excited about learning. Our recipe for
a successful high school experience includes frequent interactions with their peers, increased
choice, and the opportunity to take ownership for their own learning.
Advisor/Content Teachers/Counselors
A COVA student is assigned a highly qualified COVA teacher who is responsible for student achievement
in each course. The COVA teacher will be in regular contact with the parent-assigned Learning Coach to
guide educational decisions and ensure accountability for school expectations. People assisting with
education outside of COVA are called Mentors, for the purposes of clarity in communications.
A healthy, supportive relationship between students and the assigned COVA advisors, counselors, and
content teachers is essential. All COVA teachers hold valid Colorado teaching licenses, participate in
extensive and ongoing teacher professional development, and represent a diverse spectrum of
educational backgrounds and experiences. COVA advisors are the first points of contact for parents with
questions or general issues, and the advisors will respond to parent and student communications within
24 hours on regular school days whenever possible.
Advisor responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
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Providing logistical and non-instructional support to high school teachers and students
Assisting students in academic success and planning
Gathering and evaluating student attendance and achievement data
Interacting several times a year face to face with students via orientations, field trips, outings,
sponsoring clubs, etc.
Hosting weekly Homeroom sessions
Establishing relationships with students as adult mentors
Ensuring students have all materials and questions answered at the start of the school year
Content Teacher responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
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Providing academic support and instruction to students enrolled in their courses
Grading assignments and assessments as well as assigning final grades
Facilitating Class Connect sessions and virtual interactions for students enrolled in their courses
Proctoring standardized assessments
Interacting several times a year face to face with students via orientations, field trips, outings,
sponsoring clubs, etc.
Counselor responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
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Advising students regarding course selection and creating a four-year plan (or graduation plan)
for students
Counseling students toward future career and college paths
Facilitating relationships with colleges throughout the United States
Social/emotional support as needed
Parent and Student Responsibilities
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Parents are an essential component in the education of children, particularly in the online educational
environment. Successful online students have parents who work with them on a daily basis to ensure
understanding, progress, and completion of assignments and courses.
Parents are responsible for providing a computer, high speed internet, printer/scanner, microphone (for
Class Connect sessions, especially in World Languages and English Languages courses), software (for
specified technology classes) and Internet access in order to participate in the program. The LMS works
best with High-Speed Internet service.
BEGINNING OF YEAR:
· Report to COVA any changes in contact information (including phone or email) by logging onto
MyInfo . If you are changing your home phone number, you will need to change it for each of your
enrolled students.
· Report to COVA any changes in mailing address, or shipping address information by filling out the
Change of Address form and Affidavit of Colorado Residency form; return both to the COVA office.
· Report missing/damaged materials to http://webform.k12.com/ within 2 weeks of delivery.
DURING THE YEAR:
· Access Learning Coach account on a regular basis
· Log attendance on a regular basis
· Review lessons with student on a regular basis
· Check student progress and provide assistance as needed on a regular basis
· Check K-Mails from COVA staff on a regular basis
· Attend or schedule student-parent-teacher conferences
· Attend for you student: IEP or 504 placement meetings (if your child is identified with special
needs), RtI (Response to Intervention) conferences
· Complete parent surveys for K12 and COVA
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Attend orientation sessions
Record contact information changes immediately (address, email, phone) using the methods
mentioned above.
Ensure your student’s attendance in mandated State Assessments - enrollment includes full
participation in all mandated state testing on the required dates and at the assigned location.
Read and respond to emails, K-Mails, and phone calls from the COVA teachers in a timely
manner.
END OF YEAR:
· Gather returnable materials and prepare for shipping back to K12 in original boxes
· Review/discuss course placement with your student’s guidance counselor for the following year
PROBLEM RESOLUTION
Please follow these procedures for general information or for assistance in resolving a problem:
Step 1. All concerns and academic issues should first be directed to the student’s teacher.
Step 2. All non-academic issues that are unresolved in Step 1 should be directed to the student’s
advisor.
Step 3. Escalated issues can be reported to the High School Assistant Director or the High School
Director.
Step 4. If there are still questions or concerns, issues can be sent to the Head of School.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
BEGINNING OF YEAR:
· Attend and participate in virtual orientations
· Set up student account
· Complete Introduction to Online Learning Course
· Set up learning space and organize materials
· Take Scantron testing if requested (for 9th and 10th grade students)
DURING THE YEAR:
Students are most successful when they work on a regular, consistent schedule. We recommend you
spend 4-6 hours during the day time on school and do an additional 2-3 hours a night on homework.
While we recognize that many individuals have chosen online school to accommodate their need for
flexibility, students should attempt to log into every class, every school day if possible. On average,
students will need to spend 60 minutes online/offline each day for each class and additional time on
homework.
Check K-Mail
Log into each course
Read announcements in each course
Review the calendar, the schedule posted in announcements and the “course checklist” at the
bottom of the course home screen to determine the lessons and assignments to be addressed
Post questions in the Raise Your Hand area found in each unit (in each LMS classroom) or K-Mail
your teachers with questions
Complete work for each course and submit assignments through the dropbox tool (unless they are
computer scored)
Respond to staff email, K-Mail, and phone calls in a timely manner (24 hours)
Before you log out of a course, make sure you have completed all of the work for the day, including
the non-graded lesson work and go to the Course Checklist and check off the sections that you
completed fully that day.
AS REQUIRED:
· Attend training sessions and testing workshops
· Report contact information changes immediately (address, email, phone) to your Advisor
· Attend Homeroom sessions
-Complete ILP conference with COVA staff
END OF YEAR:
· Gather returnable materials and prepare for shipping/pick-up back to K12 in original kit boxes
· Review/discuss course placement with your teacher for the following year
STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SAVE COPIES OF THEIR ASSIGNMENTS
• All students must save a copy of their assignments to their hard drives. These must be saved until the
semester grades are received, or until they exit the class. (Assignments that have not been saved
first to a student’s hard drive are oftentimes difficult to attach and submit through the online
Dropbox.)
• Each student should create a file folder for each class, each semester (teachers may give you a
specific format to save your assignment). It is highly recommended that students also back-up these
folders once a week to a disc or thumb drive in case their hard drive crashes
• Each assignment should be saved with the name of the class and the name of the assignment
ACADEMICS
School Calendar
The school calendar is published annually. The school calendar provides important information such as
the first and last day of school, holidays, days when teachers are not available, and the TCAP testing
window.
Curriculum
COVA uses the K12® Online curriculum for students in grades K-12. The K12® curriculum is mandatory
for students enrolled in COVA. Parents seeking to provide the best possible education for their children
often enrich the curriculum with extra activities or family trips. Time spent for these academic
enhancements may be logged in the attendance area of the Online School. It is important that plans for
additional activities and curricula be discussed ahead of time with the assigned COVA teachers so as not
to interfere with required curricular objectives. It is also important to note that additional activities and
curriculum do not replace completion and mastery of the student’s K12 lessons.
High school students must take a total of six courses or credits each semester at the secondary level to
include core and electives courses. Students wishing to take additional courses may incur a cost per
course above the six required courses. Please refer to the COVA High School Course Catalog for a
complete listing of our current courses and course descriptions.
Activity and Course Fees
Activity and course fees for some elective courses may be issued at the beginning of the school year.
*Other fees may be applicable for field trips and extra-curricular clubs/activities.
**Fees also may apply for courses requested above the six course (per semester) requirement.
***Summer School courses require a fee.
Grading Policy
Graded activities will be assigned points. Final grades will reflect the actual points earned compared
with the total points possible. A percent grade will be calculated using those points and teachers will
then assign letter grades according to grading policies. Late assignments will be handled by the content
teacher/department on a case by case basis. All concerns on late assignments should be directed to the
specific teacher.
Grading Scale
90-100%
A
80-89%
B
70-79%
C
60-69%
D
Below 60%
F
Please note: Grades of a D or higher are considered passing and student will receive the associated
credit.
Please note: Student who are in the COVA Middle School and taking COVA High School courses may
receive a grade, but will not receive credits for high school courses under any circumstance.
Class Connect Sessions
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 COVA, 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.
Teacher Tutor Time (Office Hours)
Students are encouraged to attend content teachers’ Tutor Times weekly. This is an open session where
a content teacher is available via IM, phone, and Elluminate to offer live academic support to students
who have specific questions on assignments or lessons or who need extra academic support. These
times are scheduled by teachers. Please refer to your course to know specific hours and attend when
you need help.
Extra Credit
Extra credit will be offered based on teacher discretion. It is not required or offered in all courses.
Please contact each teacher for further information.
Late work Policy
Students are expected to turn work in on time in order to keep up with their courses and benefit from
working alongside their peers. Teachers will assign due dates with assignments and students should
strive to stay on pace. All work for the week is due by Sunday night at midnight.
The late work policy is intended to assist students that have had a circumstance that prevented them
from completing schoolwork (illness, family circumstance, technology complications, etc.).
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All assignments/assessments will have a specific due date associated with it. Teachers allow for
a free grace period beyond this date to the Sunday night (midnight) of that same week.
Assignments from the week that are not submitted by Sunday at midnight will be replaced with
a zero in the grade-book.
When a student needs to submit work later than the Sunday date, the student should
communicate directly with the teacher and advisor as soon as the student is able. Teachers will
accept work that is late for up to full credit when reasoning is sufficient and communication is
timely from the student. Timely communication is either before an excused absence or within
one week of an unexpected absence (student needs to notify teacher within this time period of
the absence of work and reasoning for it).
Academic Integrity
COVA seeks to establish academic integrity within the high school community. COVA has identified the
following as unacceptable practices, including, but not limited to:
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Cheating in its various forms, whether copying another student’s 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 person’s
work, rescheduling a test on a false excuse, etc.
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
Using any answers from yahooanswers, or any other similar site, as your own.
Submitting the same work for more than one course or assignment without prior written
approval from the instructor(s)
Using copyrighted material without appropriate citation or copying software or media files (such
as music, movies, etc.) without permission
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Fabricating data: This includes falsifying or manipulating data to achieve desired result,
reporting results for experiments not done, or falsifying citations in research reports;
Destroying, tampering, or altering another student’s work to impede academic progress;
Signing in to a Class Connect session for another student who is not present, or leaving a Class
Connect session without logging off or indicating that you have “stepped away” from the
session;
Falsely reporting completion of reading assignments
Many courses require written work in which you will need to cite sources. Any direct quotations from
your textbook or online material must be cited. For textbook citations, (Author, Page Number); for
online material citations, (UnitX, LessonY, Page Number). Any quotations from outside sources require
full citations, including author, title, publisher, date of publication, and page number. If a student is
citing information found on a website, they must provide the complete Web page or site title, URL,
author if known, page number if applicable, and publication place and date of the site, if available.
Violations of our Academic Integrity policy carry escalating consequences with each infraction.
Infractions will be recorded in the student’s permanent COVA record. The total number of infractions is
not considered per course, but cumulative over the student’s time at COVA.
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1st offense – teacher will notify student and parent and determine best action on assignment
2nd offense – zero on assignment, teacher will notify student and parent. Administrator will
also contact student and parent.
3rd offense – fail the course
4th offense – expelled
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. 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 COVA computer resources. This
includes copyrighted graphics of cartoon characters or other materials that you found that may appear
to be non-copyright protected.
Academic Progress
The LMS (Learning Management System) provides a recommended schedule that will ensure all lessons
in each content level are presented in one academic school year. The LMS is designed to provide lessons
on selected days as specified by the teacher for each student. Progress data is used by COVA teachers
and parents to evaluate student progress and learning and to efficiently prepare the student for
required standardized testing. Excessive absences from the online school can interfere with student
learning and consistent progress.
Assessments
All COVA students will be assessed on progress towards learning benchmarks and state standards using
various standardized assessment tools. Assessments and grading standards are applied consistently to
students of similarly demonstrated ability. Assessments include LMS lesson assessments, unit and
semester assessments, and standardized assessments determined by COVA. It is important to
understand that students are expected to complete LMS assessments unassisted in order to insure that
the student’s ability and knowledge is accurately assessed.
Students in 9-12 will participate in literacy assessments to comply with Colorado Basic Literacy Act
requirements. Students may also be required to participate in math proficiency and other assessments
as requested.
Student attendance and participation in scheduled standardized assessments includes, but is not limited
to, TCAP and literacy and numeracy assessments. Participation is mandatory during our standardized
testing window. As a public school, all students enrolled in grades 3 through 10 participate in the
Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP) during the state mandated time frame. Student
grade level rather than course level determines the level of standardized testing. All testing times,
dates, and locations, including testing information for students enrolled will be communicated to
students and parents by their COVA advisors and teachers. COVA will provide as much notice as
possible to facilitate family scheduling and planning. TCAP testing window information can be found on
our school calendar, which is located in the Appendix of this handbook. Families are required to be
available during the entire TCAP testing window.
Additionally, all students in grade 11 will be required to take the Colorado ACT during the state
mandated time frame. Participation by grade 11 students in Colorado ACT is mandatory. All testing
times, dates, and locations, including testing information for students enrolled will be communicated to
students and parents by COVA advisors and counselors.
The data collected from standardized assessment is used in a number of ways by the parent, teacher,
and in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our program. All individual results are also provided to the
parent of each student.
If a student fails to take TCAP, ACT, or required COVA testing, the family will be required to attend a
face-to-face meeting at the COVA office in Northglenn, which will include additional testing and a
meeting with the COVA administration. Additionally, the family waives ISP (Internet Service Provider)
reimbursement for the coming year.
The Colorado Basic Literacy Act (CBLA)
A literacy framework is in place to ensure literacy achievement and adequate monitoring of individual
student progress. Students reading below grade level or performing below grade level in math will
receive specific attention. A document will be created to define individualized goals and benchmarks for
progress and to provide clarity for the teacher and parent on goals. Student growth will be monitored
on a regular basis by parent and teacher using a variety of assessment tools until students are
performing at grade level.
COUNSELING
Academic Requirements
It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of graduation requirements and entrance
requirements for colleges and universities in which he or she may be interested. Colorado Virtual
Academy faculty and administration make every effort to keep students and parents informed about
their student’s progress and any graduation requirement updates. However, it is the student’s
responsibility to be familiar with the necessary requirements in order to graduate and receive a COVA
high school diploma. Students are encouraged to meet with their counselor throughout the school year
to make sure they are on track towards graduation, enrolled in the correct courses, and to discuss any
career/college plans or goals following high school completion.
Students must have completed all graduation requirements by the last day of school to be eligible for
participation in the graduation ceremony.
Credit Requirements
The State of Colorado and Adams Twelve Five Star Schools requires all students to be enrolled in a
minimum number of courses per semester. All courses at COVA are worth .5 credit per semester. The
only exception to this is the course Finding Your Path which is worth .25 credit each year it is taken.
Finding Your Path is taken every year as a part of CDE’s requirement that each student maintain an
Individualized Career and Academic Plan. Within Finding Your Path, students will be expected to
participate in test prep Study Island assignments and Pathfinder college-prep questionnaire inventories.
Grade
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
# of courses/credits
6 courses/3 credits
6 courses/3 credits
6 courses/3 credits
6 courses/3 credits
# of core subject courses required
*4 core courses
*4 core courses
*4 core courses
*3 core courses
*Core course subject areas: English, mathematics, science, social studies, World Language.
Graduation Requirements
Students must earn 23 credits in grades 9-12 to receive a Colorado Virtual Academy High School
diploma. These credits must be as follows:
Subject
English
Math
Science
Social Studies
World Language
Physical Education
# of credits
4.0
4.0
3.0
3.0*
2.0**
1.5
Health
Electives
0.5
5.0
*Students are required to meet the following course/credit requirement in Social Studies in order to
graduate from COVA: World History (1 credit), US History (1 credit), Geography & World Cultures (.5
credits), Civics (.5 credits).
**Both world language credits must be completed in the same language. Two world language credits
must be completed by every high school student, including students transferring in from other schools.
Contact the school counselor for further credit and language requirements.
**American Sign Language has been approved as a world language by COVA. This course will be treated
the same as other world languages under the above policy. Note that not all colleges accept sign
language as a fulfillment of their world language entrance requirement.
AdvancedED Requirements
COVA is accredited by Advanced Ed. COVA is committed to providing a rigorous, quality enriched
education for all students. Accreditation is designed to help educational institutions boost their ongoing
performance efforts for the benefit of their students. AdvancED insists on a relentless pursuit of
excellence – for itself and for the institutions it accredits. This ethic of excellence ensures that
institutions will find rich benefits from accreditation and that parents can confidently make informed
decisions about their children’s education, knowing their child’s school is accredited. Accreditation
matters because our students deserve the highest level of educational excellence possible. As an
AdvancedED accredited school, all students seeking to graduate and receive a diploma from Colorado
Virtual Academy must complete a minimum of 6 credits of COVA online schooling. This includes
newly enrolled seniors who must take and pass all courses each semester to be compliant with this
requirement.
Grade Level Determination/Promotion
It is COVA’s expectation that students who regularly attend school and achieve academic success will be
promoted to the next grade level. The high standards and rigor of the K12 curriculum are more
challenging than most traditional curricula. Students are expected to make sufficient progress in
mastering a year’s worth of curricular content and objectives in a year’s time, according to the Colorado
State Standards. Grade level determination is based on a comprehensive view of reasonable progress in
skill development, satisfactory attendance, satisfactory achievement, and student’s age.
A student’s grade level is determined by the student’s age. A student will have the ability to move from
one grade to another at the beginning of each school year only. For questions on grade placement by
age, please contact your student’s counselor.
Students are able to obtain a copy of their transcript, to determine credits earned and grade level
placement by contacting our high school registrar at 303-255-4650 ext. 5008.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A grade point average (GPA) is an average of all the grades earned and the number of classes
attempted. The following point scales will be used to compute grade point average on COVA HS
transcripts:
Unweighted
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
D = 1 point
F = 0 points
Weighted
A = 5 points
B = 4 points
C = 3 points
D= 2 points
F = 0 points
*Please note: Only AP courses earn a weighted grade point average. Honors courses are not weighted.
**Honor Roll status will be awarded each year in June to students with a 3.5GPA or higher for the
school year.
Pass/Fail
Grade marks “P” will not be figured into a student’s GPA, but will be recorded on the transcript as a “P.”
A failing grade will be figured into the student’s GPA and recorded on the transcript as an “F.” Pass/Fail
courses are Physical Education, Finding Your Path, and some independent study courses. Passing is
defined as a grade of 60% and higher.
Recorded Grades
A grade for each course must be recorded on the student’s permanent record and may not be removed
or changed without the approval of the teacher and the Director of High School.
Grade Dispute
If for some reason a parent or student has a valid dispute about a final grade given in a class, this dispute
for change must begin within three months from the end of the semester when final grades were
posted. The parent should contact the High School Director with any grade disputes.
Credit Recovery Options
Students who fail classes must schedule an appointment with their counselor to explore credit recovery
options. Students may not be able to continue on in the required sequence of core classes unless they
show an effort to make up failed classes. Students can participate in many programs to retrieve lost
credit, including, but not limited to: summer school, night school and correspondence courses. Any
courses taken outside of COVA require the student complete the Prior Approval for Outside
Credit/Course form prior to enrolling in the course (to receive the transfer credit). It is imperative that
prior to the student enrolling in any outside correspondence course, the student communicates with
their counselor to ensure COVA will transfer the credit for the graduation requirements. There will be
costs to the student for credit recovery and summer school programs. Costs for Credit Recovery and
Summer School courses are the responsibility of the student.
For COVA or K12 Credit Recovery courses, it is still a requirement for students to log in daily, check KMails and participate in class. Due to the condensed nature of these courses, students are required to
return phone calls and K-Mails in a timely manner. Students can count on working more than an hour a
day for these courses in order to finish in the shortened time period. Communication throughout the
credit recovery course with the student’s counselor is highly encouraged.
AP (Advanced Placement Courses)
Advanced Placement, or AP®, courses may be taken by 11th and 12th grade students. Successful
completion of prerequisites, teacher/school counselor recommendation, and a strong interest in the
subject are required for enrollment in an AP® course. This is a state-wide norm and is due to the
extreme rigor of these courses. Students who take AP® courses through COVA are eligible to sit for the
AP® Exam.
AP® exams are taken during the first two weeks in May. Students will be notified through AP® classes
about expected dates. It is the responsibility of the student to secure their test site location (typically at
a high school within their district of residence, however it is the discretion of that school to approve a
space for the student) and cover the financial cost of the exam(s). The cost is $86 (cost dictated by the
College Board and subject to change) per exam for which students are financially responsible. The
College Board does offer some financial assistance to those who are in need, so please visit their website
(www.collegeboard.com) for more information.
Post-Secondary Enrollment Options and/or Concurrent Enrollment Options
The Concurrent Enrollment Handbook and Procedures is located in the APPENDIX of this handbook.
Please use the information in the Concurrent Enrollment Handbook information and contact your
counselor for all details regarding Concurrent Enrollment options.
Outside Credits
Students wishing to take courses outside of COVA other than Concurrent Enrollment courses with the
intent of applying credits towards graduation must first complete a Request for Outside Course/Credit
Approval Form. Students must submit the completed form to the school Counselor 30 days before
signing up for the course to ensure that the credit earned will transfer to the student’s transcript and
apply to graduation from COVA. Classes must be taken from an accredited public institution, (not
another public high school), be taught by a Colorado licensed teacher, and formal grades must be
assigned and be accompanied by an official transcript (other stipulations may apply, please contact your
counselor for further guidelines and policies).
Students who are dually enrolled with another high school institution in addition to attending COVA will
be given the choice to withdraw from one of the institutions.
Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts will be issued twice a school year - once after the end of the first semester and
again shortly after the end of the school year. Students who withdraw during the school year will be
issued a progress report that can be used for enrolling in a future school. While transcripts will be
issued twice a year, students and their parents always have up-to-the-minute access to their grades 24
hours a day, 7 days a week on the LMS (Learning Management System). At the end of each semester,
unofficial transcripts will be mailed to students in lieu of progress reports.
A student who withdraws from a course without completing the entire semester will receive a grade of
withdrawal-passing or withdrawal-failing based on the student’s grade at the time of the withdrawal.
Credit will not be received if the student has not completed the entire course and taken the final exam
for the class. Students may not work ahead to finish a course in order to earn credit before they
withdraw from COVA, unless at the direction of the counselor, and approved by the Director of High
School.
Students may only withdraw or change a course with no grade penalty the first ten school calendar days
after the beginning of a course.
Course Add/Drop Policy
It is essential that students make responsible educational decisions. To that end, students are given the
opportunity to learn about and select the courses they wish to take during the academic year. Though
some course changes may be necessary to make, only course drop requests due to academic
misplacement may be considered. If there is an academic misplacement, the student must request a
course change directly through their assigned COVA Counselor within the first 10 school days of the start
of each semester. Students with approval from their counselor will not be penalized during this time
frame. Students may add, drop or make changes to their course schedules within the first 10 school days
of the start of each semester without penalty as long as the minimum credit and core requirements are
not impacted. Any class change/withdrawn after the 10 day period will result in a “WD/F” on the
transcript. Year-long courses are designed so that students remain in the course for the entire year.
Changing/Dropping Classes
Students may be removed from semester or year-long courses for valid academic reasons; however,
changing or dropping classes may impact a student’s progress toward graduation. Requests must be
discussed with the individual teacher, guidance counselor and/or administrator. Students who drop a
course may not be eligible for computer or internet subsidy and may impact the student’s track toward
graduation.
Course changes are granted only with the approval of a counselor or administrator. Students should
choose their classes wisely during registration because changes are often not possible at the beginning
of a semester due to course capacity and availability.
High School Credit for TCAP/ACT
These procedures will be reviewed annually and may be updated.
All credits will be awarded on transcripts the fall of the following year as an academic elective credit (ie.
For the spring 2014 TCAP, credits will be awarded on the transcript for fall of 2014).
TCAP:
9th grade students may earn up to a maximum of .5 credits (.25 for Language Arts and/or .25 for Math)
for scoring at the identified level on the TCAP assessment. Please note: this would begin with the
testing of spring 2013.
Students will receive .25 credit of academic elective Language Arts credit if their TCAP Reading and
Writing scores reflect one of the following:
o
o
o
Proficient or advanced;
Raise their score from unsatisfactory to partially proficient; or
Raise their partially proficient scores by .5 or more on the TCAP Reading and Writing.
They must score this on BOTH assessments in order to receive the .25 academic elective
Language Arts credit.
Students will receive .25 academic elective Math credit if their TCAP Math assessment score reflects one
of the following:
o
o
o
Raise their partially proficient scores by .5 or more.
10th grade students may earn up to a maximum of .5 credits scoring at the identified level on the TCAP
assessment.
Please note: this would begin with the testing of spring 2013.
Students will receive .25 credit of academic elective Language Arts credit if their TCAP Reading and
Writing scores reflect one of the following:
o
o
o
Raise their partially proficient scores by .5 or more on the TCAP Reading and Writing.
They must score this on BOTH assessments in order to receive the .25 academic elective
Language Arts credit.
Students will receive .25 academic elective Math credit if their TCAP Math assessment score reflects one
of the following:
o
o
o
Raise their partially proficient scores by .5 or more.
Students will receive .25 academic elective science credits if on their TCAP science assessment their
score is proficient or advanced.
ACT
11th grade students may earn up to .5 credit for their preparation and score on the State Mandated ACT
testing on the identified state-wide testing day.
This credit will be awarded based on the following criteria.
o
o
Scoring a 22 (composite score) on the test will award the student .5 academic elective
credit; or
Students who take a standard ACT preparation training from the school (to be given by
the counselors early March-April 2013 during a live Elluminate session) and earn a score
of 19 and above will receive:
.25 academic elective credit for attending the live preparation training; and,
.25 academic elective credit for a score of 19 and above
ADVISING
Communication
In a virtual model, consistent and appropriate communication between parents, students, and COVA
staff is essential for the success of the program. It is also a requirement for enrollment in COVA as a
public school. The primary responsibility for communication compliance between school and home lies
with parents and students. Parents are responsible for maintaining an active Internet connection and an
active e-mail account. All e-mail communications requiring a response should be replied to in a timely
manner and generally within 24 hours. Parents are expected to check K-Mail daily.
Professionalism in Communications
All communication between the COVA administration, the COVA staff, parents/learning coaches,
students, K12 Inc., and other parties directly related to COVA must be conducted with appropriate
professionalism. Demeaning language, foul language, or derogatory remarks/innuendos are not
acceptable. This includes communication during virtual interactions, communication in e-mail, and
fieldtrips.
Things to Avoid:
• Intentionally insulting someone
• Threatening someone
• Sending Spam
• Making offensive or obscene remarks
• Making inappropriate comments
• Posting or sending inappropriate pictures, documents, cartoons, etc.
These should be kept in mind when posting for chats, in online threaded discussions, in email responses,
when document sharing, in shared journals, and in virtual classroom sessions.
My Info and K-Mail
K-Mail is a primary communication platform for COVA teachers,
administration, parents and students (email is a secondary resource).
The majority of academic information needing to be communicated to the COVA families will be sent via
K-Mail. Often, the information is time-sensitive and many items require a specific response. Therefore,
parents are expected to inform their COVA advisors promptly of any changes to their e-mail and physical
address. Parents and students are responsible for checking their K-Mail daily and replying promptly
(within 48 hours) to any K-Mail requests received from COVA or K12 Inc. Be aware that teachers and
administrators have complete access to your K-Mail so nothing you do with your school email account is
considered private. Any inappropriate use of K-Mail will result in administrative action.
K12 Support Contact Information
High school students and their parents (mentor/learning coach) who are experiencing technical or
materials related issues should contact the K12 Support Team directly. If after following up with the K12
Support Team, a student or parent feels they need additional support, then they should contact their
Advisor.
Contact information for the K12 Support Team:
K12 Help Web Site:
help.k12.com
Email Form:
http://help.k12.com/support/contact-support
K12 Customer Support:
1-866-K12-CARE (1-866-512-2273)
K12 Technical Support:
1-866-626-6413
Change of Information
Parents (mentor/learning coach) are responsible for promptly notifying their Advisor of any changes to
address, phone number, e-mail address, or other pertinent information. Learning coaches are expected
to keep all family records and email addresses up to date on the OLS. The Advisor will then direct the
parent on how to change their personal information.
Materials
COVA provides specific materials to families to support the Online School. These materials are public
property assigned to the school and must be kept in good condition. Parents (mentor/learning coach)
enrolling students in COVA accept the responsibility of paying for lost, stolen, or damaged school
materials. Parents are responsible for following all materials return procedures promptly at the
conclusion of the school year or upon withdrawal from COVA. Misuse of hardware or software may be
determined grounds for exclusion from COVA. In the case that materials are missing, damaged or lost,
parents should complete the online request form at
http://m1.k12.com/mk/get/CONTACT_US_SUPPORT. Advisors can provide additional support when
needed.
ENGAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS
Colorado State Statute CRS 22-30.7-105(2)(a) notes “A student who is participating in an on-line
program shall be subject to compulsory school attendance … and shall be deemed to comply with the
compulsory attendance requirements through participation in the on-line program.”
A student “attends” school by reviewing lessons, 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.
While we encourage students to “attend” each of their courses on a regular and consistent basis, we
recognize that many of our students have personal, work and family responsibilities that make daily
course attendance challenging. Many individuals enroll at COVA because of the flexibility we offer in
how students can approach their school work. Some students might focus on one course at a time for
several days or concentrate their school work to specific days of the week. Students are not penalized
for failing to work in each course every day. There are designated time frames for assignment
completion.
As a matter of guidance, we suggest students 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 25-35
hours a week
Participate in all live Class Connect sessions or watch the recordings for each course
Progress in each course by completing a minimum of 75% of all assignments due each week
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 the following provisions. Students should notify
their Advisor or the school administration if they know they will be “absent” from school for any reason.
Required Participation
If your student has a plan that encompasses Required Participation, he/she must attend the services as
outlined in that plan. Services include, but are not limited to, small group CC sessions, individual CC
sessions and face to face teacher support. Required Participation includes all students with a formal
support plan: Response to Intervention, Special Education and English Language Learners.
Communication of the requirements of each participation plan will come from the student’s
teacher. Failure to participate in the required support sessions will result in the implementation of the
STARS process. Required participation is implemented to meet the needs of students for extra academic
support as demonstrated by student data.
Student Transition and Recovery Success Plan (STAR Success Plan)
Success Plan
If a student is not meeting the minimum participation requirements, the student will be placed into the
STAR program, the student will receive a Success Plan from their homeroom teacher or Advisor to
review their academic requirements and their goals for academic success. The Success Plan will be
initialed and signed by the student and Learning Coach.
If a student is not participating daily the following will occur:
5 consecutive school days of non-attendance: If the Advisor identifies that there is deficient
attendance, the Advisor will communicate with the student and LC to engage them in the learning
process and realign student progress. Communication will be conducted through phone calls, Elluminate
and/or email/K-Mail. It is our intention to identify concerns early so students do not lose ground in their
courses.
6-10 consecutive school days of non-attendance: In the event a student does not log in for 6-10 days,
an Advisor will contact the family to arrange a meeting to determine what assistance is needed. Follow
up will take place with the Advisor for six (6) weeks in various forms, including phone calls/Elluminate
and/or email/K-Mail. Once the communication has been made, and a STAR plan will be established and
followed, no further discipline procedures will take place.
11+ consecutive days of non-attendance: A letter from the Dean of Students will be sent to the family.
A mandatory meeting will be held online or at the COVA office in Northglenn with the family and Dean
of Students to discuss the family’s options for continued enrollment of the student. Academic probation
and a STAR plan will be established for the student.
No forward movement in student account after multiple interventions have failed: In the event that
the agreement is not upheld, a truancy case may be opened in the family’s district court of
residence. The family will receive notification from the school and our legal staff with instruction on
when their court appearance will be. Further disciplinary procedures may follow. This may include but
is not limited to contacting the home school district or the county of residence social services to file an
Educational Neglect Report.
Implied Withdrawal: If the family reaches a total of 10 consecutive school days of non-attendance and
there has been no online activity in the program during that same time and no communication has been
returned to the Truancy/Resource Officer or other school administrator, a petition for truancy may be
filed in the family’s district court of residence. This case will remain open until the student re-engages in
COVA or confirmation of enrollment from the local school district is received by COVA registrar. In
addition, COVA reserves the right at any point in this process to withdraw the student from school based
on non-participation. If the student is 17 or older, and COVA administration has had no response to
meeting request with the family, and the family has made no contact or logged in school, the student
will be withdrawn from COVA at this time.
Leave Policy
Assignments due during a family-scheduled vacation from school must be completed prior to the
vacation. Assignments that are completed late due to a family-scheduled vacation from school are
subject to the late work policy. Due to the remote log-in capability of the curriculum, there will be no
exception to this policy. Please note that the vacation must not last more than 10 consecutive school
days. Please communicate with your advisor for approval of any vacation at least 2 weeks prior to the
trip.
Remote Working Policy
Any student who legally resides in Colorado is eligible to attend the Colorado Virtual Academy. While
working in any remote location, students are responsible for following all policies set forth by COVA
which includes adhering to attendance requirements and meeting assignment deadlines. Participation in
weekly ClassConnect sessions is strongly encouraged to keep consistent contact between teacher and
student. It is the student’s and the family’s responsibility to contact the school if a situation occurs that
prevents the student from attending classes on a daily basis.
Undue Hardship Exclusion
In the event of extenuating family circumstances or natural disasters, undue hardship extensions may be
put into place following a meeting involving the parent, student, and student’s counselor. The counselor
must be contacted within seven days of such circumstance by email or by phone. Necessary steps will be
taken and a progress plan will be created for the student. The student’s counselor must be contacted
within seven days of the incident, or extensions will not be granted. There will be no exceptions.
Maternity/Paternity Leave Policy
Students must contact their school counselor by the end of the first trimester to notify him/her of the
anticipated due date so that any necessary accommodations can be made. Once the expecting
student’s baby is delivered, he/she must have someone contact his/her counselor within 72 hours by KMail, phone or email. We want to ensure that proper and timely notification is made so that supports
for the student are put into place. Upon delivery of baby, the student (mother and/or father) will be
awarded two weeks (10 school days) of maternity/paternity leave. After the 10 school days, the student
will have a reduced course work-load for four weeks (20 school days) as identified by each individual
teacher. The student will be responsible for all of the content in each course and must coordinate the
reduced workload expectations with each teacher. If the student fails to notify his/her counselor of the
anticipated due date and/or time of delivery, the policy may not be applicable and accommodations
may not be awarded.
Bereavement Policy
In the unfortunate event of a death in the immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse or child), the
student’s guidance counselor must be notified within 48 hours by K-Mail, phone or email so that
appropriate accommodations and supports can be put into place for the student. Verification of the
event may be requested in any case prior to awarding accommodations.
We care about your emotional well-being and want to allow you and your family time to grieve,
however, if notification has not been made to the guidance counselor within 48 hours, the Bereavement
Policy may not be applicable and accommodations may not be awarded.
Withdrawing from COVA
If a student wishes to withdraw from COVA, the parent of student must contact the student’s advisor to
communicate their desire to withdraw. Parents will need to communicate to the advisor the name of
the school their student will be attending and the reason for the withdraw from COVA. Please note,
withdrawals cannot take place approximately one month prior to the end of the semester (contact your
advisor for the exact date.) COVA cannot officially withdraw students without a forwarding school or a
communication that the parent will be home schooling. COVA/K12 will contact parents to arrange for
the recovery of all school equipment and materials. Parents are expected to return all school property
in the prescribed time frame and in good condition. If the choice is to home school after withdrawal,
Colorado state home school law can be accessed at the Colorado Department of Education website.
www.cde.state.co.us/
Probationary Status
Students with poor discipline and/or excessive absences at their previous school or during the year at
COVA may be placed on scholastic probation. The probationary requirements shall be determined on a
case-by-case basis by the COVA administration. Students wishing to re-enroll in COVA after having been
withdrawn due to non-compliance of any type (such as lack of attendance/progress, lack of
communication with a COVA teacher or failure to participate in standardized testing) must seek and
obtain approval for re-enrollment by the COVA administration. As per the charter application Enrollment
Policy, students may be denied admission based on grounds set forth in Section 22-33-106 of the
Colorado Revised Statutes.
COMMUNITY AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Activity Calendar
COVA supports an activity calendar that includes dates, times, and links for virtual interactions,
fieldtrips, and other important dates for high school students and their parents. The calendar can also
be accessed at: http://localendar.com/public/COVA.
Homeroom Sessions
COVA staff members want our students to feel actively engaged in the happenings and online
experiences that take place at the high school level. Homeroom is a universal time set aside when the
advisors meet with their designated COVA high school students through an Elluminate session.
Homeroom should be treated like any other class. Be sure to attend and actively participate in this
unique experience.
During Homeroom, students will engage in a variety of activities. Every meeting will include weekly
updates and different activities including: club presentations, school information presentations, trivia
games, student sharing opportunities and other information to assist the students in being successful in
the online experience. Homeroom should last between 30 to 60 minutes. Attendance will be taken
during Homeroom and documented.
New Parent/Student Onboarding
One of the most important tools that COVA High school uses to inform parents (mentor/learning coach)
and students of how our school functions is through virtual and face to face Parent/Student Orientation
sessions. This is a time for students and parents to learn more about COVA High School, their teachers,
virtual interactions, students clubs, grading policy, attendance, and much more. Parent/Student
Orientation also includes training from which all our families can benefit in learning how to utilize the
Online School. COVA’s orientations are often held in August and September to accommodate different
start dates that families may have, depending on when they enrolled. In order to remove any barriers
that students and parents may face by having to travel to a Back to School Orientation, the high school
orientations are hosted virtually, over the Internet.
Students and parents will be provided ample notice of when the orientations will be held. Returning
students and their parents new to high school are strongly encouraged to attend. Parent/Student
Orientation sessions are typically based upon specific content and Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions
will also be offered.
COVA Student Clubs
Students and parents have the opportunity to develop student clubs. These clubs provide high school
student’s opportunities to connect with other high school or secondary students enrolled in COVA who
share the same interests.
These clubs hold elluminate sessions on a regular basis on various themes related to their club which
can include presentations, videos, and guest speakers. Depending on the club they may schedule club
related outings as well throughout the school year.
The establishment of student clubs will require a staff sponsor, and administrative approval.
The formation of student clubs is authorized by the Director of High School or their designee. Any
individual or group wishing to organize a club should plan the following:
1. To have aims, ideals, goals, and activities that provide constructive value to that group in
particular, and to the school in general.
2. To have a member or members of the Colorado Virtual Academy faculty act as the club sponsor
(adviser/monitor).
3. To have a parent or parents of a club member as one of its advisers/monitors.
4. To have equal opportunity for eligible COVA students who might desire membership.
5. To develop and present application for approval to the Director of Secondary Education or their
designee.
Fieldtrips and Other Activities
Fieldtrip opportunities will be offered regularly to students. Participation in fieldtrips is not required.
Students attending a fieldtrip must have completed a permission slip for that specific fieldtrip. Parents
are responsible for any costs incurred while attending an Academy sponsored event, including, but not
limited to: transportation, entrance fees, meals, etc. Parents are expected to provide transportation to
and from events as well as pick students up no later than ten minutes after the event is scheduled to be
over. Credit for field trips is not offered in lieu of the regular curriculum; however, time spent at COVA
sponsored events may be logged in the attendance area of the LMS. Inappropriate behavior deemed
cause for expulsion in a typical school may be cause for suspension from COVA field trips and/or
activities. All Adams 12 Five Star Schools Safe Schools Policies apply to all COVA students at all outings.
COVA High School Event and Field Trip Guidelines/Policy/Procedure
Guidelines for field trips:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Some events require parent/guardian supervision at all times; other events are structured such
that the adult can drop-off and pick-up student(s) at a scheduled time. Please refer to the
individual event to find out the nature of the specific field trip. This is to be determined by
chaperones with the approval of administration and will be communicated in writing to families.
Parents/guardians are responsible for transportation of student(s) attending field trips. Students
must be picked up on time at the end of the event, or they will be contacted immediately by the
chaperone and may lose future privileges for attending COVA sponsored events per discretion of
administration. Students who are not picked-up within one hour of the posted time for the end
of the event will be accompanied by a chaperone until the police and social services have taken
over the situation.
Students unaccompanied by an adult chaperone (parent or guardian) must arrive with the
official COVA HS completed permission slip in hand with appropriate signatures and emergency
contact information. If a student does not have necessary documents, the parent/guardian will
be contacted and asked to pick up student or return with completed forms.
With chaperone discretion, students who arrive unaccompanied by an adult without the
necessary permission slip will be required to contact adult by phone. COVA chaperones will
verify via verbal authorization of student permission to attend the event. The chaperone will
document verbal authorization. If no contact is made, the student will not be permitted to
attend or participate in the event.
COVA staff is not permitted to have students or guests in their vehicle for pick-up, drop-off, or
interim transportation between locations. This is a district policy that must be followed. One
exception is in the case of a physical emergency when student must be transported for
emergency care services.
Carpooling is not organized by COVA staff. Families and students are welcome to utilize K12
Directory to find families/students in their area for carpooling purposes. COVA staff will not
make formal or informal arrangements for students to carpool. COVA is not responsible for
information shared in the directory and assumes no responsibility for interactions or
communications that result.
COVA Policy on Dances:
The following guidelines will be in effect at all COVA sponsored dances. These guidelines will help ensure
safety, security, and guarantee an enjoyable time for all.
• Dress must be appropriate for a high school dance. Determination is subjective to the discretion of
school administration. Those students not complying will be allowed to go home and change into
more appropriate attire.
• We will follow Safe School policy and COVA Rules and Regulations during dances.
• Guests must be approved prior to the dance by COVA Advisor and will be allowed to attend only at
the discretion of the COVA High School Advisor. Forms are located in the APPENDIX and must be
submitted to your advisor at least two days prior to the dance.
• Guests must provide their school/Colorado IDs. Students who bring guests are responsible for their
guest’s behavior during the dance/activity. COVA students and guests are expected to arrive
together and remain together for the entire activity.
• All guests of COVA students must be high school age, up to and including 20 years of age. This
includes Prom and the Fall Dance.
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COVA students wishing to invite guests who are over 21 must submit a background check to their
advisor at least two days prior to the dance. Background checks can be obtained from
https://www.cbirecordscheck.com/CBI_New/CBI_newIndex.asp Colorado Bureau of Investigations
web page for a $6.85 fee (subject to change – contact CBI).
Any student who is suspended or expelled during the time of a scheduled dance will not be allowed
to attend the event.
If a student leaves the dance, he/she and his/her guest will not be allowed to return.
Parents are welcome to stop by and enjoy the event or volunteer to be chaperones.
Dance moves need to be appropriate for a high school dance.
Cancellation Policy for Events
COVA faculty chaperones may need to cancel within 48 hours of the event by sending emails to
participants, and will e-mail cancellation notices. Reasons for cancellation may include low attendance,
severe weather, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Dress Code
School districts are required by Colorado law to adopt policies that define and prohibit students from
wearing apparel that is deemed disruptive to the classroom environment or to the maintenance of a
safe and orderly school. It is the philosophy of Adams 12 Five Star Schools that appropriate school attire
should meet workplace standards and should not distract from the learning environment. Clothes
should fit appropriately and the body should be sufficiently covered so as to avoid distracting others.
In order to promote a safe environment that focuses on education and minimizes distractions students
are expected to abide by the following general guidelines:
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Shirts must be fitted and long enough to naturally touch the top of the lower garment
and/or be tucked in;
Shirts must cover the shoulders;
All attire should be sized to fit without exposing undergarments, buttocks, stomachs or
cleavage;
Shorts and skirts must be fingertip length when arms are resting at sides;
Shoes/sandals must be worn at all times.
Restrictions upon freedom of student dress will be imposed, at the discretion of school administration,
whenever the mode of dress in question is potentially unsafe for the student or others, or is destructive,
disruptive or otherwise distracts from or interferes with the educational environment of the school. The
following items or clothing are specifically prohibited:
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spaghetti straps, tank tops and halter tops;
transparent/mesh clothing;
make-up that makes a student unidentifiable;
exposed undergarments;
pajamas and house slippers;
shirts with revealing necklines or armholes;
shirts hanging longer than the fingertips when arms are fully extended;
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sunglasses or caps worn indoors;
gloves worn indoors;
hairnets, bandanas, and du-rags;
caps, athletic headbands and armbands (prohibited indoors except
when the wearer is participating in a sporting event);
clothing or accessories that promote drugs, alcohol or tobacco either
by brand or message;
clothing or accessories with sexually suggestive language or messages;
clothing or accessories that promote violence, criminal activity, intimidation or intolerance
of others (based on religion, ethnicity, gender or lifestyle);
clothing or accessories that could readily be used as a weapon or
might otherwise injure the wearer, including items with spikes or loose hanging chains;
attire, accessories or manners of grooming indicative of affiliation with a gang, secret
society or disruptive group as defined in Superintendent Policy
o This includes, but is not limited to clothing, gang-related colors or numbers, bandanas,
sports logos/apparel, make-up, hats, emblems, trademarks, badges, insignia, logos, belt
buckles, colored shoe strings, and jewelry;
trench coats and other like jackets capable of easily concealing weapons
clothing or accessories affiliated with Insane Clown Posse, including all items related to the
band’s record label “Psychopathic Records” and other groups it sponsors in addition to
Insane Clown Posse, including but not limited to Twiztid, Blaze, Boondox, Psychopathic
Rydaz and Dark Lotus.
Dress guidelines for special events or school-sponsored purposes, including, but not limited to dances,
extra-curricular activities, and fundraisers shall be at the discretion of school staff based upon the
nature of the particular event. Students may avoid the risk of being asked to leave or change clothing at
an event by having attire approved in advance by school staff.
Staff members retain the authority to exclude students in inappropriate dress from participation in
school events. Please refer to the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Safe Schools Policies for all dress code
policies.
Emergency Policy/Procedure:
In case of an emergency, please contact the Director of High School immediately. If the student
becomes ill during a school-sponsored event, the parent/guardian will be contacted immediately by the
COVA chaperone/staff member and notified of the situation.
Per COVA policy, if a medical emergency arises during a COVA field trip, 911 will be called and the
parent/guardian will be contacted immediately. Chaperones will document emergencies for COVA files
and records.
Infractions of Policy/Procedure:
Threatening behavior, fighting, and inappropriate language will result in the parent/guardian being
contacted immediately. No smoking, drinking or illegal substances are permitted at COVA sponsored
events. The student will be removed from field trip until adult arrives for pickup and depending on the
severity of the situation, the police may become involved immediately. The infraction will be reported
to the Director of High School for review and possible future exclusion from field trips or expulsion from
COVA. High School staff utilizes a 3-Strike Policy and a Zero Tolerance Policy as outlined below:
3-Strike Policy:
1. Notification of parent/guardian and documentation of violation as well an administrative notification.
2. Referral resulting in formal meeting with parent/guardian, student, chaperone(s) and administration.
3. Suspension of participation in COVA field trips for the remainder of the academic semester (face-toface field trips, events, and clubs)
**Above policy is based on discretion and final decision of Director of High School or their designee. At
the discretion of administration, steps may be excluded from this policy dependent on the severity of
the infraction.
Examples of 3-Strike Infractions:
1. Inappropriate language or gestures
2. Dress code violations
3. Inappropriate displays of affection
4. Late pick-up of students
5. Missing permission slips and forms required for field trip
6. Not paying fees or costs associated with field trip
**This list is not comprehensive, but instead, is simply a sample of behaviors and possible situations.
Student Health, Illness and Attending Events
For the benefit and safety of all participants, a student should be in good health prior to participating in
events sponsored by COVA. Students and other participants running a fever or experiencing diarrhea or
vomiting should be symptom-free for 24 hours prior to attending an Academy event.
Zero Tolerance Policy
Situations or behaviors demonstrated by students that are enough to warrant immediate action and/or
permanent suspension from current and future activities include but are not limited to:
1. Use or presence of weapons or violence
2. Threatening behavior/language to chaperones, students and the general public
3. Sexually explicit behavior
4. Use, presence or influence of alcohol, drugs and/or cigarettes
5. Leaving venue/chaperoned area unaccompanied or without permission
6. Stealing or destruction of property
7. Leaving with strangers or individuals without permission
**This list is not comprehensive, but instead, is simply a sample of behaviors and possible situations.
COVA staff and Administration reserves the right to determine the definition of “appropriate” in each
individual situation.
** The action will be determined by administrative review and consultation with the district.
Extracurricular and Interscholastic Activities
This is a summary of Colorado State Statutes and Colorado High School Activities Association guidelines
that pertain to on-line school students participating in extracurricular and/or interscholastic activities.
Summary of the Law
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Students enrolled in an on-line program may participate on an equal basis in any extracurricular
or interscholastic activity offered by a public school, assuming the on-line program doesn’t
already offer such extracurricular or interscholastic activity.
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A school may charge any student participating in an activity a participation fee as a prerequisite
to participation. The fee amount is determined in accordance with current state law.
Key Statutes
22-33-104.6.(4) (b) For purposes of this subsection (4), a child who is participating in an on-line program,
other than a child who is participating in the on-line program after having been expelled from a
public school, may participate on an equal basis in any extracurricular or interscholastic activity
offered by a public school or offered by a private school, at the private school's discretion, as
provided in section 22-32-116.5.
22-32-116.5. (b) If a student's school of attendance or nonpublic home-based educational program does
not offer an activity in which the student wishes to participate, the student may participate in the
activity at another public school in the student's school district of attendance or in the student's
school district of residence. If the activity is not offered at any public school in the school district
of attendance or the school district of residence, the student may participate in the activity at a
public school in a school district that is contiguous to the student's school district of residence or
at the nearest public school that has the facilities for and offers the activity, even if the public
school is not in a contiguous school district.
(6) (a) A school may charge any student participating in an activity a participation fee as a prerequisite to
participation. The fee amount that a school of participation charges a non-enrolled student shall
not exceed one hundred fifty percent of the fee amount the school of participation would charge
an enrolled student to participate in the activity.
(10) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Activity" means any
extracurricular or interscholastic activity, including but not limited to, any academic, artistic,
athletic, recreational, or other activity offered by a school.
Student Work Permits/Age Certificates
COVA does not provide student work release documents. If necessary, school administration may sign
off on student-provided documents for students in good academic standing only. Work permits are not
required by Colorado law. Any minor fourteen or fifteen years of age who wishes to work on school
days during school hours shall first secure a school release permit. Such permit is issued only by the
school district superintendent or his/her agent. Any employer desiring proof of the age of any minor
employee or prospective employee may require the minor to submit an age certificate. Age certificates
are issued by or under the authority of the school superintendent of the district or county in which the
applicant resides.
SAFETY
Netiquette
COVA students are expected to follow the rules of network etiquette or netiquette. The word
"netiquette" refers to common-sense guidelines for conversing with others online. Students are
encouraged to abide by these standards:
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Establish Instant Message (IM) usernames and e-mail addresses that are appropriate for the
school setting.
Grammar and punctuation should be consistent with rules of English. For example, capitalize the
first letter of a sentence, correct spelling, use punctuation marks, etc.
Do not capitalize all letters when writing; this means you are shouting.
Refrain from using abbreviations or use sparingly as the teacher may not be able to decipher
what it means.
Focus your responses on the questions or issues being discussed, not on the individuals
involved.
Be constructive with your criticism, not hurtful.
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.
Review your messages before sending them. Remove easily misinterpreted language and
proofread for typos.
Respect other people’s privacy. Do not broadcast online discussions, and never reveal other
people's e-mail addresses.
Think before you send as you cannot un-send.
At COVA we do not allow SPAM emails or Instant Messaging to circulate between
students. SPAM clogs up email and is a nuisance to students. If you are caught sending SPAM
you will conference with your Academic Advisor and parents. If you have any concerns about
SPAM you can contact your advisor throughout the school year.
Cyberbullying
"Cyberbullying" occurs when a minor is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed, or
otherwise targeted by another minor using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile
phones. In order for it to be considered cyberbullying, the infraction needs to be between two minors.
Whether it be in a school related programs, like academic online discussions, Elluminate sessions, or
non-school related technologies like emails, MySpace, Facebook or Twitter, cyberbullying is not
tolerated in any form at COVA High School.
Cyberbullying includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Assuming a false identity online to trick others.
2. Spreading lies and rumors about victims.
3. Tricking people into revealing personal information.
4. Sending or forwarding mean text messages.
5. Posting pictures of victims without their consent.
Effects of Cyberbullying include, but are not limited to:
1. Physically, emotionally or mentally harming a student.
2. Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical, emotional or mental harm.
3. Placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to or loss of personal property.
4. Creating an intimidating or hostile environment that substantially interferes with a student’s
educational opportunities.
How to Prevent and Stop Cyberbullying
Below are some preventative measures students can take to minimize their risk of being cyberbullied, as
well as stop the cyberbullying cycle
1. Never share personal information with anyone (even if they are your best friend). Remember,
anything posted online can be available to be viewed by millions of people.
2. Be careful who you interact with online (block any messages from people you don’t know).
3. Do not pass along cyberbullying messages.
4. Tell friends to stop cyberbullying.
What you should do if you are cyberbullied
1. The most important thing to do if you are being cyberbullied is to tell a trusted adult. An adult,
whether it is a parent, teacher or school administrator, needs to get involved.
2. Save and document all occurrences of cyberbullying.
Essentials of cyberbullying
1. Anyone can be a victim regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or financial status.
2. Cyberbullying is illegal and violators can be prosecuted.
3. Cyberbulling is no longer an anonymous crime; technology allows for easy tracking of the source.
4. Parent/guardian- if your student comes to you and reports being bullied, report it immediately to the
school office and your local authorities.
School Responsibilities
1. If the accused is a student of the school, school administration will investigate the accusation and if
the accusation is proven true, the school discipline policy will apply.
2. If the accused is NOT a student of the school, the school office will help the victim and their family
contact local authorities and/or the resident school district.
School Discipline Policy for Cyberbullying
If a student is found guilty of cyberbullying the following consequences will apply based on the severity
of the infraction:
First Offense or Minor Infraction: The student will receive a verbal warning and the student and parent
will meet via phone with the school counselor and/or school advisor to learn about cyberbullying.
Second Offense or Severe Infraction: Repeated offenses or severe infractions will require a meeting with
the student, parent, counselor and/or advisor and school administrator. A record of incident will also be
placed in student file.
Third Offense: Expulsion from COVA HS.
To learn more about cyberbullying visit the following websites:
1. http://www.ncpc.org/cyberbullying
2. http://www.vetoviolence.org/stryve/resources.html
3. http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm
Harassment Reporting
It is important for students who feel they are being harassed in the high school environment to report
the problem immediately to their Instructional Coordinator or Teacher. Harassment comes in many
forms including the following:
Spam (unsolicited e-mails not pertaining to the course)
Threatening communications
Offensive communications or any other kind of communication that makes you feel
uncomfortable
• Contacting a fellow student that does not wish to be contacted and has expressed this to you.
Disciplinary action will be taken against students, such as removing them from the interaction,
contacting parents and/or suspension from such interactions. If necessary, the student may enter the
formal discipline procedure.
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Discipline Policy and Procedures
As a public charter school, the COVA’s students are subject to the discipline policies of Adams 12. Given
the unique make-up of the virtual school setting, the following issues are clarified:
• “Classroom” does not equate to the home. “School Grounds” will be considered the grounds of any
COVA sponsored event and instructional property including computer, materials, printer, and any
other resource made available by COVA.
• Student conduct expectations around appropriate treatment of instructional property apply to the
school printer, computer, curriculum, materials and any other resource provided through COVA.
Misuse of hardware or software may be grounds for exclusion from COVA HS.
• Students may be removed from COVA due to disciplinary action, lack of attendance or progress,
failure to communicate with the assigned teacher, failure to participate in state- and districtmandated assessments or non-disclosure of an IEP or a combination of issues thereof.
• Students attending school events are subject to the school’s dress code.
Any policy not specifically addressed in this section will be covered in the Adams 12 Rights and
Responsibilities Handbook.
Monitoring
COVA reserves the right to review any material transmitted using COVA instructional computing
resources or posted to a COVA instructional computing resource to determine the appropriateness of
such material. COVA may review this material at any time, with or without notice to students. E-mail
transmitted via COVA instructional computing resources is not private and may be monitored.
ENROLLMENT IN COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY
There is no discrimination in the admission of students to COVA on the basis of race, creed, color,
handicapping condition, or gender. COVA provides a free, appropriate public education to all of its
students. As a public charter school, COVA is committed to being open for enrollment to all students
who reside in Colorado, given enough capacity, as required by Colorado Open Enrollment laws, subject
to restrictions placed on enrollment by District 12 policy and state law.
Upon admission of any special needs student, COVA complies with all federal and state laws and does
not limit admission to students on the basis of intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude,
or athletic ability. Parents of all students with a current IEP (Individual Education Plan) must consult
with COVA administration and a special education staffing team to determine suitability of COVA’s
program to the student’s needs prior to enrollment.
Home Based Education Program Admittance/Enrollment Guidelines
Students who enroll in COVA, after having participated in a home-based educational program, shall be
placed in the age-appropriate grade level, subject to review as deemed necessary by COVA. Initial
placement review may include but is not limited to competency testing and home-based education
program review.
Student Part-Time and Dual-Enrollment Policy
Colorado Virtual Academy (COVA) will offer a part-time program called “COVA Part Time Enrollment
Option (CPTEO)” for grades 9-12. CPTEO will have limited availability, and enrollment will be based on a
wait list if the program is filled to capacity.
Below are conditions and/or consequences of part-time/dual-enrollment:
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COVA does not accept dual-enrollment, which is defined as a student enrolled both at COVA and
another publicly funded school or program in the State of Colorado.
However, a student may choose to attend extra-curricular activities outside of normal school
hours, as long as no course credit is given, at the discretion of the other school district and with
prior approval of COVA.
A student who elects to enroll in courses at another public school or school district at any time
during the school year, other than extra-curricular activities, will be asked to either withdraw
from COVA or withdraw from the other school, as COVA does not accept dual enrollment.
COVA is not required to monitor or report academic performance or attendance for extra-curricular
activities taken at another school or school district.
Part-Time Enrollment
• COVA defines part-time enrollment as a student enrolled for a minimum of 90 hours, but not
more than 360 hours per semester.
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A student enrolled part-time is required to enroll in a minimum of two courses, and cannot take
more than three courses per semester from an approved COVA course offering list.
A request for change from part-time to full-time status after September 28th, 2012 will not be
granted for the 2012-2013 school year.
Part-time students are not eligible to receive a computer or internet service subsidy.
The twenty (20) CPTEO slots are filled with priority given to returning students and on a first come, first
served basis.
Prior Home Schooled Enrollment Guidelines
A parent/guardian of a student, who is applying for admission into CPTEO, whether currently enrolled or
applying as a new student, and have participated in or will be establishing a home school educational
program, will be required to abide by the following guidelines:
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All requests for home schooled education credit toward graduation must be presented at the
time of enrollment.
Prior to requesting an evaluation of home schooled education program transcripts, students
who have resided in Colorado during the current school year must show verification of having
“registered” as a home schooled education student for the current school year. Home schooled
verification of registration (“Letter Of Intent”), shall be provided to COVA a minimum of one
week prior to the student’s first day of attendance.
It is the home schooled student’s responsibility to provide transcripts and course content
documentation prior to having transcripts evaluated by the COVA high school administration.
Transcripts shall be provided to the school a minimum of five school days prior to the student’s
first day of attendance. Students are subject to assessment to verify competency in a given
course for which graduation credit is being requested.
Credit will be based primarily on the curriculum standards of similar courses for which credit is
being requested. COVA administration shall have the discretion to assign credit in either elective
or core content areas based on the documentation of learned content. The transcript, at the
discretion of COVA administration, may reflect a specific course or may reflect the subject area
of the coursework completed through home schooled study.
To be eligible to receive a COVA Diploma, at least one full semester (2.5 credits) must be earned
at COVA during the student’s senior year, and the student must be enrolled at COVA during their
final graduating semester.
“HOME SCHOOLED PROGRAM” will be listed as the school of record on the student’s transcript
for all home schooled education courses for which credit is granted.
Letter grades will not be awarded for credits gained through home schooled education
programs. Either a “CG” (Credit Granted) or a “NC” (No Credit) will be recorded on the transcript
alongside the title of the course.
In order to be eligible for academic honors at COVA, the home schooled education student must
meet COVA’s established requirements pertaining to such awards.
Appeals of decisions related to the granting of home schooled education credit will be directed
to the COVA High School Administration responsible for home schooled education programs.
Policies listed above are subject to change anytime during the school year at the discretion of the COVA
Administration.
Accepting Home School credits
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All requests for home-based education credit toward graduation must be presented at the
time of enrollment in high school.
Prior to requesting an evaluation of home-based education program transcripts, students
who have resided in Colorado during the current school year must show verification of
having “registered” as a home-based education student for the current school year.
It is the home-based student’s responsibility to provide transcripts and course content
documentation prior to having transcripts evaluated by the high school. Transcripts shall be
provided to the school a minimum of five school days prior to the student’s first day of
attendance. Students are subject to assessment to verify competency in a given course for
which graduation credit is being requested.
Credit will be based primarily on the curriculum standards of similar courses for which credit
is being requested. School administration shall have the discretion to assign credit in either
elective or core content areas based on the documentation of learned content. The
transcript, at the discretion of the administration, may reflect a specific course or may
reflect the subject area of the coursework completed through home-based study.
To be eligible to receive an Adams Twelve Five Star School District Diploma, at least one full
semester (2.5 credits) must be earned at the high school issuing the diploma during the
student’s senior year, and the student must be enrolled at the high school issuing the
diploma during their final graduating semester.
Placement
COVA is committed to placing students in courses based upon multiple factors, not just the grade level
of a student. All placement decisions will be handled by the placement team in consultation with the
parent during the enrollment process. New students will be placed in appropriate level courses based
on age, transcripts received from previous school of enrollment and other relevant information provided
by the parent and student.
Student Records
Parents always have access to student records. A request to view student records may be made and an
appointment determined in advance with the school office. For specific procedures, reference Code
5125, Adams 12 Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
Transcripts
Official transcripts are provided by the High School Registrar. Please email or call the COVA office with
your request. Transcripts must be requested by parents or guardians; students may not make requests,
unless they are over the age of 18. Schools may send requests to the COVA office. Allow ten business
days for the processing of official transcripts. All transcripts must be requested in writing and require a
parent/guardian signature. Transcript requests are submitted directly to the COVA Registrar and are
completed within 3-7 business days.
*NOTE: A Transcript Request form must be completed each time a transcript is requested. Please
contact your guidance counselor for any assistance here.
SPECIAL SERVICES
Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)
COVA’s GATE Program is specifically designed to meet the needs of gifted students. This unique program
focuses on meeting the social and emotional needs of gifted students by creating opportunities not only
in intense areas of interest, but also providing opportunities with other students in the GATE Program.
The K12 curriculum will not be changed for GATE students; however, curriculum may be compacted and
differentiated to allow more in-depth studies in high areas of interest. The program will include an ALP
(Advanced Learning Plan) for the student which focuses on specific goals and course sequence to meet
the individual needs of each student. Plans may include parent (and student) workshops focusing on the
gifted child, opportunities to participate in clubs with other students (who may not necessarily be in the
GATE program), independent studies, and more. There is an application process which will occur each
fall.
Special Education
Please consult the Director of Special Education, Stacy Altman, at [email protected]. Please refer to the
Adams 12 Five Star School District Special Education Policies for specific information regarding students
with IEP’s. Reference code 8400 Adams 12 Rights and Responsibilities.
English Language Learners (ELL)
Please consult the Director of Special Services, Stacy Altman, at [email protected]. Please refer to the
Adams 12 Five Star School District English Language Learners ELL Policies for specific information
regarding ELL Students.
FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allow parents and students over 18 years of age
(“eligible students”) certain rights regarding the student’s education records. These rights are:
(1) The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the School
receives a request for access.
To request an inspection and review, the parent or eligible student should submit a written request to
the Program Director that identifies the record (s) they wish to inspect. The Program Director makes
arrangements for access and notifies the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the
records may be inspected.
(2) The right to request an amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible
student believes is inaccurate.
Parents or eligible students may ask the School to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They
should write the Program Director, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify
why it is inaccurate. If the School decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or
eligible student, the School notifies the parent or eligible student of the decision and advises them of
their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the
hearing procedures is provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
(3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s
education records, except to the extent that FERPA allows disclosure without consent.
One exception, which permits the School to disclose information without consent, is when the School
discloses information to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a
person employed by or contracted to provide services to or designated by the contractor to provide
services to the School as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including
health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the Board of Directors
of the School; a person or company with whom the School has contracted to perform a special task
(such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an
official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in
performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record
in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, the School discloses education records without consent to officials of another school
district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the
School to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers
FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
(5) FERPA requires that the School, with certain exceptions, obtain a parent’s or eligible student’s
written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from a child’s education
records. However, the School may disclose “directory information” without written consent, unless you,
the parent or eligible student, have advised the School in writing that you do not want all or part of the
directory information disclosed. The method for objecting to disclosure of directory information is
specified below. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the School to include the
following information from education records in certain school publications or disclose it to certain
parties. Examples include:
Shipment of computer and school materials to and from student’s home
Entry of student enrollment information into a computer database for use by school officials
Honor roll or other recognition lists
Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members
School yearbook
Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of
privacy if released, can be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent.
In addition, federal laws requires the School to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three
directory information categories – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents or eligible
students have advised the School in writing that they do not want their student’s information disclosed
without prior written consent.
The School has designated the following information as directory information:
name
address
telephone number
e-mail address
photo
athletic information
honor roll status
grade level
activities and clubs
awards
If there are certain items the School has chosen to designate as directory information that you do not
want disclosed from your child’s education records, without your prior written consent, please send an
e-mail identifying the information you do not want disclosed and your student’s name, to your student’s
academic advisor.
GRIEVANCES
As problems arise, COVA personnel and parents or Learning Coaches agree that they must work
together to solve them. For assistance in resolving a problem, parents should first direct all concerns,
issues, and questions to the student’s teacher(s) (setting up an appointment by phone or email). If the
concern is not resolved at this level, the grievance policy may be followed as listed below. No retaliation
can occur against students or family members who voice concerns or file grievances.
Grievance Policy and Procedure
COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY
“STEPS”—SOLUTIONS TO ELIMINATE PROBLEM SITUATIONS
In most circumstances in which a complaint involves a problem with an administrator, a teacher, the
student or parent will be expected to discuss the matter with that person before requesting a conference
with that person’s supervisor. Before initiating a formal complaint under this policy, all parties are
encouraged to resolve concerns by scheduling an informal conference with the appropriate
administrator. However, if the informal conference does not resolve the issue, then the formal complaint
process should be initiated.
The student may be represented by an adult at any level of the complaint.
For purposes of this policy, “days” will mean business days.
All evidence/information must be submitted with the Level One – Employee/Student/Parent Complaint
Form. No additional information will be considered if the complaint process continues. Newly
discovered evidence may be presented if the complainant resubmits this information back to Level One.
Failures to meet the deadlines set forth through the STEPS process by the school allow the complainant
to move to the next level in the process. Failure to meet the deadlines set forth through the STEPS
process by the complainants ends the complaint.
The process is:
1.
If the issue is not resolved informally, submit form Level One – Employee/Student/parent
Complaint Form within ten days of the incident, or reasonable discovery of incident, to the
appropriate administrator. The appropriate administrator will hold the conference within seven
days after receipt of the written request. The administrator will have five days following the
conference within which to respond in writing.
2.
If the concern is still not resolved, submit within five days of receipt of the administration’s
decision or expiration of the time line to the Head of School or designee Level Two Appeal Notice –
Employee/Student/Parent Complaint Form. The appropriate administrator will hold the
conference within seven days after receipt of the written request. After receiving a Level Two
complaint form, the appropriate administrator will request the file from Level One from
administration then notify and conduct the conference within seven days after receipt. The central
office administrator will have 7 days following the conference within which to respond in writing.
3.
Any issue not resolved adequately at the Head of School or designee level may be appealed to the
Board for consideration at their regularly scheduled meeting. The complainant will submit within
five days of receipt of the decision or the expiration of the time line to the Head of School or
designee Level Three Appeal Notice – Employee/Student/Parent Complaint Form. The Head of
School will inform the employee, student or parent of the date, time, and place of the meeting.
The presiding officer at the Board meeting will establish a reasonable time limit for complaint
presentations. The school may make an audiotape record of the proceedings before the Board. The
Board will hear the complaint and will then make its decision, which may be communicated orally or in
writing at any time up to and including the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.
If the complaint involves concerns or charges regarding an employee, it will be heard by the Board in
closed meeting unless the employee to whom the complaint pertains requests that it be heard in public.
Please refer to APPENDIX of this handbook for forms to use when submitting grievances.
Procedure for expulsion or supplemental extension of suspension - Prior to any contemplated
expulsion or supplemental extension of suspension of any student, the following procedure, shall be
followed.
General notice - COVA Administrator or designee shall cause written notice of such proposed action
to be delivered to the student and his/her parent, guardian or legal custodian a reasonable time
prior to the date of contemplated action. Such delivery may be in person or by registered United
States mail and shall be deemed to be completed, when handed to the addressee or the notice is
deposited in the United States mail addressed to the last known address of the student or his/her
parent or guardian.
Contents of Notice The notice shall contain the following basic information:
•
A statement of the allegations leading to the contemplated denial of admission or
expulsions;
•
The nature of the evidence supporting the charges;
•
A statement of the date, time, and place of a hearing on the question of expulsion,
supplemental extension of suspension, or denial of admission;
•
A statement that the student may be present at the hearing during the presentation of all
information, shall have an opportunity to present relevant information, and may be
accompanied and represented by the parent, guardian, legal custodian and/or an attorney;
and, a statement that failure to participate in such hearing constitutes waiver of further
rights in the matter.
HEARING
* The Administrator or designee prior to any recommendation to the COVA Board for expulsion
shall conduct a hearing for expulsion. When the Administrator or designee recommends
expulsion, the COVA Board shall conduct a hearing.
* Hearings shall be closed except to participants and witnesses, or, upon agreement by both
parties, may be open to such individuals as the parties may specify.
* The Administrator or designee shall conduct the hearing for extension of suspension.
* Testimony and information shall be presented under oath: however, technical rules of
evidence shall not be applicable and any hearing official may consider and give appropriate
weight to such information or evidence as he/she deems appropriate. The student or his/her
representative may question individuals presenting information.
* A sufficient record of the proceedings shall be kept so as to enable a transcript to be prepared
in the event either party so requests. Preparation of the transcript shall be at the expense of the
party requesting the same. The hearing officials may retire to closed session to review and
consider the evidence.
* The hearing officials shall render a written opinion within five (5) days after the hearing. All
decisions rendered must be submitted in writing to the appropriate personnel, student, and
parent or guardian.
* Waiver of condition – By mutual agreement between the chairperson/administrator and the
student or his/her representative, time limits and other conditions of this procedure may be
waived.
* Every effort shall be made, when appropriate, to administer discipline so that the student will
not suffer a substantial loss of the educational program.
Administrative Hearing
* A person with an Administrative Class D license shall conduct hearings described in this
section. Such a hearing may be presided over by a committee of not more than three persons,
with the Class D licensed person chairing the committee.
* When a designee conducts the hearing, he/she shall forward findings of facts and
recommendations to the Administrator or designee at the close of the hearing.
* The Administrator or designee shall advise the COVA Board of the circumstances, the action
taken, and the reasons for the action taken, with respect to each hearing conducted by the
Administrator/designee.
Right to Appeal
* An appeal may be taken from the decision of the Administrator or designee to the COVA
Board.
* The Administrator may give the student the option to withdraw if such expulsion were not
likely to occur under District policies. If the student appeals the decision to Head of School then
he/she forfeits the option to withdraw prior to expulsion.
* In the case of proposed expulsion, appeal to the Head of School shall be automatic.
Board Hearing
* The appeal to the Board may be taken by filing a notice of appeal within two (2) weeks of the
date of the notice of recommendation for expulsion or date of expulsion hearing, whichever is
later.
* If COVA Board, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, makes a determination
that the student should not be educated in the school, the board shall determine if sufficient
grounds exist to expel the student at that time and shall proceed with the expulsion.
When a pupil is expelled by COVA for the remainder of the year, the parent, guardian, or legal
custodian is responsible for seeing that the compulsory school attendance statute is complied with
during the period of expulsion from school. Expulsion from COVA does not necessarily constitute
expulsion or exclusion from any other schools.
When COVA receives information that a petition or charges have been filed on a student regarding
commission of an offense, which would constitute a crime of violence, the student shall be
suspended pursuant to section 4.0 and its sub-parts and CRS 22-33-106 and parts (4)(d) for
investigation of the circumstances surrounding the matter. The COVA Board or their administrative
delegate shall meet in executive session for the purpose of conducting a hearing to determine
whether the student has exhibited behavior that is detrimental to the safety, welfare, and morals of
the other students or COVA personnel in COVA and whether educating the student in COVA may
disrupt the learning environment in COVA, provide a negative example for other students, teachers,
and other COVA personnel.
* If the COVA Board, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection (3), makes a
determination that the student should not be educated in the school, the board shall
determine if sufficient grounds exist to expel the student at that time and shall proceed with
the expulsion.
* Alternatively, the COVA Board may determine that it will wait until the conclusion of the
judicial proceedings if they have been filed in juvenile court to consider the expulsion matter, in
which case it shall be the responsibility of COVA to provide said student with an appropriate
alternate education program or a home-based education program. Information made available
to COVA and not otherwise available to the public pursuant to the provisions of section 19-1119, C.R.S. shall remain confidential.
* No student who is being educated in an alternate education program or a home-based
education program pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection (3) shall be allowed to return to
the education program in COVA until there has been a disposition of the charge. If the student
pleads guilty, is found guilty, or is adjudicated a delinquent juvenile, COVA may proceed in
accordance with section 22-33-106 to expel the student.
Denial of Admission - The Administrator or designee may deny admission to students on the basis of
grounds set forth in section 22-33-106, Colorado Revised Statutes.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology Issues
All issues surrounding technology should be reported to the K12 customer support center and then to
the assigned advisor. It is important that the parent contact K12 and the advisor as soon as a technical
problem has occurred to reduce the impact on student learning. Access to the Internet via equipment
and resource networks are provided to the student as a result of his/her enrollment in COVA and are
intended to serve and pursue educational goals and purposes. COVA does not provide technical or
hardware support for non-COVA computers.
The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was signed into law in 2000. This law requires that
computers students use for learning must include filtering software to block Internet access for children
to materials that are obscene, contain child pornography, or are deemed to be harmful to minors.
Computer/Software Restriction
Due to contractual agreements with computer suppliers and software providers, Academy provided
computers and subsequent software cannot be exported outside the United States. Communications
and Internet access should be conducted in a responsible and professional manner reflecting COVA’s
commitment to honest, ethical, and non-discriminatory practice. Therefore, the following is prohibited:
•
•
•
•
Any use that violates federal, state or local law or regulation
Knowing or reckless interference with the normal operation of computers, peripherals, or
networks
The use of COVA Internet-related systems to access, transmit, store, display, or request
inappropriate materials
Any use that is deemed to adversely affect COVA
Communication Security
COVA seeks to provide a secure environment in every way possible. Although COVA Community Board
is password protected, posts should never include any personal identifying information. Whenever
possible, avoid using full student names or addresses in emails. COVA uses encryption software to
protect sensitive personal information.
INTERNET SUBSIDY POLICY
COVA will reimburse limited internet expenses for eligible families and students who satisfy certain
conditions and requirements. More information about ISP eligibility, direct deposit, and payout
schedules, as well as the attendance and progress requirements, is set forth in the Internet Subsidy
Policy. This policy is sent to families by K-Mail on October 1 and April 1 of each year.
APPENDIX
COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT HANDBOOK
2013-2014 School Year
The State of Colorado provides several options for high school students who meet high school standards
to begin college early. The purpose of the Concurrent Enrollment option include promoting content
standards, providing academic challenges, and providing access to academic courses that may not be
available at a local high school to meet high school graduation requirements.
Persons under twenty-one years of age, enrolled in Colorado Virtual Academy, who demonstrate
academic preparedness, are eligible to apply for Concurrent Enrollment. To enroll at an eligible postsecondary institution a student must have completed the minimum Concurrent Enrollment prerequisites
and all required assessments as outlined in this handbook and in the Concurrent Enrollment Guidelines.
High School students who are ready for college-level coursework in one or more subject areas are
encouraged to apply to COVA’s Concurrent Enrollment Program.
Concurrent Enrollment Application Deadline
Spring Application Deadline: October 1, 2013
Students interested in applying for Concurrent Enrollment during the spring 2013 semester must meet
eligibility criteria as outlined in the Colorado Virtual Academy Concurrent Enrollment (CE) Guidelines
(listed on page 3) and submit the following application materials to their assigned COVA Counselor:
Graduation plan
o must be COVA Counselor approved and reflect college courses planning to enroll
Individual Career and Academic Plan - ICAP
o Completion of the Finding Your Path course each year beginning with 2010-2011 school
year.
Statement of Interest
o Outline your interest in the Concurrent Enrollment program and explain how you will
benefit from this opportunity if approved. Also to include how this opportunity would
fit into your post-secondary goals.
Proof of College Opportunity Fund registration (COF)
Course description, syllabus and scope/sequence, and number of college credit hours per course
(maximum of 2 CE courses per semester to total 6 college credits per semester)
Prior Approval of Outside Course/Credit Form
Statewide Agreement/Co-Enrollment Form (from college)
o An agreement between the school and higher education institution is necessary for a
student to enroll in courses. COVA will make every effort to create relationships with
higher education institutions.
COVA Concurrent Enrollment Contract & Guidelines (initial), and signature form
All Approvals must be finalized by December 1, 2013
Fall 2014 Application Deadline: May 1, 2014
Students interested in applying for Concurrent Enrollment during the fall 2013 semester must meet
eligibility criteria as outlined in the Colorado Virtual Academy Concurrent Enrollment (CE) Guidelines
(listed on page 3) and submit the following application materials to their assigned COVA Counselor:
Graduation plan
o must be COVA Counselor approved and reflect college courses planning to enroll
Individual Career and Academic Plan - ICAP
o Completion of the Finding Your Path course each year beginning with 2010-2011 school
year
Statement of Interest
o Outline your interest in the Concurrent Enrollment program and explain how you will
benefit from this opportunity if approved. Also to include how this opportunity would
fit into your post-secondary goals.
Proof of College Opportunity Fund registration (COF)
Course description, syllabus and scope/sequence, and number of college credit hours per course
(maximum of 2 CE courses per semester)
Prior Approval of Outside Course/Credit Form
Statewide Agreement/Co-Enrollment Form (from college)
o An agreement between the school and higher education institution is necessary for a
student to enroll in courses. COVA will make every effort to create relationships with
higher education institutions.
COVA Concurrent Enrollment Contract & Guidelines (initial), and signature form
All Approvals must be finalized by the last day of school; June 7, 2014
Approval Process
Student will submit completed Concurrent Enrollment application materials to their assigned
COVA Counselor by the specified application deadlines.
The COVA Counselor will review students’ application and eligibility based on the outlined
Concurrent Enrollment guidelines. Student who are new to COVA in the fall are eligible to apply
for Concurrent Enrollment for the spring semester.
Upon review and reference, the COVA Counselor will submit students’ application to both the
Head of School and the HS Director for final recommendation for the Current Enrollment
program.
Student will be notified of his/her application status by June 30, 2013 for the fall semester 2013
semester, and by December 1, 2012 for the spring semester 2013 by their Counselor.
COVA Concurrent Enrollment Contract
Semester____________Year______________
Colorado Virtual Academy Concurrent Enrollment Guidelines
Student and parent understand and agree to the following (initial next to each):
Colorado Virtual Academy is responsible for paying for college base tuition up front with participating postsecondary institutions. Base tuition is the cost of tuition only (not to include fees, books and other materials).
Students who receive a letter grade of D or lower in the course(s), or who drop from COVA prior to the end of
the semester/course completion will be required to reimburse Colorado Virtual Academy for the base tuition
within 60 days of the end date of the course.
Colorado Virtual Academy is responsible for paying for college base tuition up front. Base tuition is the
cost of tuition only (not to include fees, books and other materials). Students who receive a letter grade
of C or lower in the course(s) will be required to reimburse Colorado Virtual Academy
Student must be registered for the College Opportunity Fund (COF) prior to approval of the college course.
(Printed confirmation of registration must accompany this application).
For high school credit to be awarded, official transcripts must be submitted to COVA’s Main Office upon
completion of the course. Credit will be awarded for classes where students pass with a C or higher.
Students may take up to two Concurrent Enrollment courses (two credit hour +) per semester at the
Students must provide the COVA Counselor with a description of course-work to include a course syllabus
participating post-secondary institution each semester according to the COVA school calendar year.
and scope of sequence, COVA CE Contract, and Request for Outside Course/Credit Approval Form by the
Summer courses are not included as part of the Concurrent Enrollment program.
indicated deadline. . Student must complete and submit a statewide agreement/concurrent-enrollment form
each semester of participation.
Full time students must be enrolled in a minimum of four COVA courses (if approved to take the maximum of
two Concurrent Enrollment courses per semester, maximum of 6 college credits per semester0). Part time
students do not qualify for this program
Students must pass all COVA courses prior to applying for CE and during their CE with an average GPA of B
(3.0) or higher in order for approval.
Courses taken through COVA and the approved post-secondary institution will be determined as per the
student’s completed graduation plan and Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) – students must
complete and submit a graduation plan to the assigned COVA Counselor, and must have exhausted all
courses offered by COVA in the specific core content area – including Advanced Placement courses.
Students must meet established admissions requirements at the approved post-secondary institution as well
as meet appropriate prerequisites for any course. Please note that some courses at the institution may
require Accuplacer Testing, and may require additional cost in which COVA is not responsible.
COVA Concurrent Enrollment Contract: Signature Page
Student must have taken the ACT exam (CSAP and/or Scantron Assessments) prior to approval.
__________________________________
Student
___________
Date
__________________________________
Parent
___________
Date
__________________________________
Counselor
___________
Date
__________________________________
Principal
___________
Date
__________________________________
Head of School
___________
Date
Colorado Virtual Academy High School Prior Approval of Outside Course and
Credit
Student should submit this form as thirty (30) days prior to registering for an outside course in order to
provide Colorado Virtual Academy High School administration ample time to determine whether outside
course and credit will be approved.
Name of Student:
______________________________________________________________________
First
Middle
Last
Date: _____________________
Course Provider & phone number (Name of high school, college, etc.):
______________________________________________________________________
Contact person at Course Provider: _________________________________________
Course Code: __________________________________________________________
Course Title: ___________________________________________________________
Number of Credits: ______________________________________________________
Which graduation requirement is the student requesting the credits to be applied to?
______________________________________________________________________
Semester course is taken (select one): Fall only / Spring only / Fall & Spring
Is the student taking the course for? (select one):
Grade
Pass/Fail
Graduation Plan (Include Here)
INTERNET SUBSIDY DIRECT DEPOSIT AUTHORIZATION FORM
Permission for Non-Custodial Adults to Pick Up Students from School Events
or Activities
I, ___________________________________ (parent/guardian’s name printed), grant permission for the
non-custodial adults listed below to pick up my student(s) from any Colorado Virtual Academy
sponsored events or activities.
The only non-custodial adults who are allowed to pick up by children from events or activities are:
Name
Relationship to student
Phone number
1. ___________________________
_____________________
_____________
2. ___________________________
_____________________
_____________
3. ___________________________
_____________________
_____________
List the names of COVA students:
I understand that these adults must provide proof of their identity upon pick-up, and that others will be
restricted from picking up my student.
______________________________________________________________________
Parent’s/Guardian’s name (Please Print)
Parent’s/guardian’s signature
Colorado Virtual Academy (ADAMS TWELVE Five Star Schools)
STUDENT FIELD TRIP PERMISSION FORM
Dates of Fieldtrip/Outing: _______________ Hosting Teacher: ________________________
Student's First & Last Name:_____________________________________
Grade Level:_____
Location of Outing________________________________ Date and time of Outing: _______________________
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1.
2.
3.
I understand that the above identified trip will take place away from school property; may involve
transportation as indicated above; and may involve activities beyond the scope of traditional school
functions conducted on school district property.
I exempt the Board of Education, the School District, its employees and authorized sponsors and
volunteers from all claims arising from the student's participation in the above identified activity unless
caused by actions for which the School District would otherwise be liable under Colorado law.
I understand and give full authority for the School District to take whatever action it deems necessary to
safeguard the health and well being of the participating student including, but not limited to, consenting
to emergency medical care.
INSURANCE - I understand the School District does not purchase, or have, any insurance to cover medical, dental
or hospitalization to cover injuries to or loss of life of students, damage to or loss of personal property or to
indemnify parents/guardians for any expenses in connection therewith, and that if any insurance is desired, it must
be purchased by the parent/guardian.
EXPECTED STUDENT CONDUCT - Students of Adams Twelve Five Star Schools representing a class, sport or activity
have the responsibility to maintain the same behavior standards expected of them while they are in school and are
subject to consequences for breaches of such standards just as though they were in school.
As parent/guardian of the above-named student, I/we have read the above and do hereby grant permission for
him/her to participate in the above identified activity.
_____________________________________________________________
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Signature
Date
Home Phone #
_____________________________________________________________
Work Phone #
Cell Phone #
Emergency contact & ph. number __________________________________
OUTDOOR EDUCATION PERMISSION FORM
Dates/Time of Outdoor Education:
Student's Last Name ______________________________________
Student's First Name ______________________________________
Grade Level _______________
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. I understand that this Extended Field Trip/Student Activity Trip will take place away from school
property; may involve transportation provided by common carriers or other non-school provided
means; and, overnight stays in hotels, motels or other non-school facilities; and may involve activities
beyond the scope of traditional school functions conducted on district property.
2. I understand that the student's participation in the above identified trip is voluntary and that such
participation potentially involves risks and obligations that are impossible to predict but which may
be beyond the scope of those normally associated with traditional school functions on school
property. These risks may include, but are not limited to, the loss or damage of/to personal property,
sickness, personal injury or fatality and the obligation for payment of all costs associated with the
trip.
3. I further exempt the Board of Education, the School District, its employees and authorized sponsors
and volunteers from all claims arising from the student's participation in the above identified activity.
4. I understand and give full authority for the School District to take whatever action it deems necessary
to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the participating student including, but not limited to, the
authorization to secure medical treatment for the participating student, or, in the discretion of the
district, to return the participating student to his/her home.
5. The student's participation in the Extended Field Trip/Student Activity Trip may be terminated for the
student's failure to abide by district and school policies, for failure of the student to abide by the
instructions of his/her teacher guide during the trip, or for failure to make timely payment of all fees
and expenses. If the termination occurs during the trip, the undersigned parent/guardian agrees to
bear all costs of the student's return home. When it is necessary to return a student home, the
sponsoring teacher will personally notify a parent/guardian and will accompany and supervise the
student to boarding and observe the departure of the student on the transportation system used to
return the student home.
6. I understand the School District reserves the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient participation,
adverse weather conditions, or other circumstances beyond its control. The School District also
reserves the right to alter or change the itinerary or to adjust program costs to reflect changes in
exchange rates, in fuel costs or in extraordinary inflation overseas.
7. The undersigned, as the responsible parent/guardian, agrees to inform the sponsoring teacher of any
history of any mental/physical/emotional problems of the student and provide a note from the
attending physician of any medications which the student is required to take and the instructions for
administering such medication.
INSURANCE - I understand the School District does not purchase, or have, any insurance to cover
medical, dental or hospitalization to cover injuries to or loss of life of students, damage to or loss of
personal property or to indemnify parents/guardians for any expenses in connection therewith, and that
if any insurance is desired, it must be purchased by the parent/guardian.
EXPECTED STUDENT CONDUCT - Students of Adams Twelve Five Star Schools representing a class,
sport or activity have the responsibility to maintain the same behavior standards expected of them
while they are in school and are subject to consequences for breaches of such standards just as though
they were in school.
As parent/guardian of _________________, I/we have read the above and do hereby grant permission
for him/her to participate in the above identified activity.
_____________________________________________________________
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Signature
Date
Home Phone #
_____________________________________________________________
Work Phone #
Cell Phone #
COVA HIGH SCHOOL VISITOR PERMISSION SLIP
PERMISSION/MEDICAL RELEASE FOR VISITORS/GUESTS
NAME ______________________________________ PHONE ______________
ADDRESS _____________________________ CITY ______________________
ZIP _______ BIRTH DATE ___/___/___ SCHOOL __________________________
GRADE _____ AGE
PARENT/GUARDIAN’S NAME __________________________________________
COVA STUDENT YOU ARE ATTENDING WITH _______________________________________
I GIVE PERMISSION FOR MY CHILD TO ATTEND THE ________________________________, SPONSORED BY COVA
AND STAFF. I HEREBY RELEASE THEM COVA AND STAFF FROM RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR ANY ILLNESS OR INJURY
THAT MY CHILD MAY SUSTAIN DURING THIS ACTIVITY. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, I HEREBY AUTHORIZE AN ADULT
LEADER OF THIS ACTIVITY AS AGENT FOR ME, TO CONSENT TO ANY X-RAY EXAMINATION, MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR SURGICAL
DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND HOSPITAL CARE ADVISED AND SUPERVISED BY A PHYSICIAN, SURGEON, DENTIST (AS
APPROPRIATE), LICENSED TO PRACTICE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE WHERE SERVICES ARE RENDERED, EITHER AT A
DOCTOR’S OFFICE OR IN ANY HOSPITAL. I EXPECT TO BE CONTACTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE VALID FOR THIS EVENT, DATED:_____________________________________________
PARENT’S SIGNATURE ________________________________________________________
DATE: ______________________________
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS: 1. ____________________ 2. _____________________
MEDICAL INFORMATION: (REQUIRED FOR ALL VISITORS WITHOUT PARENTAL SUPERVISION)
ALLERGIES __________________________________________________
MEDICATIONS BEING TAKEN ____________________________________
PHYSICAL HANDICAPS _________________________________________
COVA HS REQUEST FOR LEAVE FORM
Vacation: Please complete form and send to your student’s Advisor at least 1 week prior to vacation. Form
must be completed if your student has, or will be missing three or more school days in order to avoid a truancy
notice. Please work with your teachers to create a plan to make up the missed course work prior to a vacation.
Teachers will not be able to honor late assignments due to vacation.
Leave Policy:
Assignments due during a family-scheduled vacation from school must be completed prior to the vacation.
Assignments that are completed late due to a family-scheduled vacation from school are subject to the late work
policy. Due to the remote log-in capability of the curriculum, there will be no exception to this policy. The vacation
must not last more than 10 consecutive school days.
For extended illness/surgery, an instructional plan must be in place as well as a medical note submitted to the
student’s Advisor. Please complete this form and return within 48 hours of absence.
VACATION /EXTENDED ILLNESS
Today’s Date:____________________
Student Name:____________________________________________________
Student Name:____________________________________________________
Number of School Days
requested
Beginning Date – End Date
Reason for Absence
Please provide any information that will help us understand the need for missing school, and your
plans for completing the work for school days missed:
Learning Coach Name:
______
Contact # for Learning Coach:______________________________
COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY LEVEL ONE—EMPLOYEE/STUDENT/PARENT
COMPLAINT FORM
To file a formal complaint, please fill out this form completely and submit it by email, hand delivery, fax
or U.S. mail to the appropriate administrator within the time established. All complaints will be heard in
accordance.
Name
Phone
Address
Department/School Division
If you will be represented in voicing your complaint, please identify the person representing you:
Name
Phone
Address
Please describe the decision or circumstances causing your complaint (give specific factual details):
Date of decision or circumstances causing your complaint:
Please explain how you have been harmed by this decision or circumstance:
Please describe any efforts you have made to resolve your complaint informally and the responses to
your efforts:
With whom did you communicate?
On what date?
Please describe the outcome or remedy you seek for this complaint:
Employee, Student or Parent Signature
Signature of Representative (if present)
Date of Filing
Please note: A complaint form that is incomplete in any material way may be dismissed, but may be
refiled with all the required information if the refiling is within the designated time for filing a complaint.
Attach to this form any documents you believe will support the complaint; if unavailable when you
submit this form, they may be presented no later than the Level One conference. Please keep a copy of
the completed form and any supporting documentation for your record.
COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY LEVEL TWO APPEAL NOTICE—
EMPLOYEE/STUDENT/PARENT COMPLAINT FORM
To appeal a Level One decision or lack of a timely response after a Level One conference, please fill out
this form completely and submit it by email, hand delivery, fax or U.S. mail to the area superintendent
within the timeline established.
Name
Phone
Address
Campus
Name
Phone
Address
To whom did you present your complaint at Level One:
Date of conference:
Date you received a response to the Level One conference:
Please explain specifically how you disagree with the outcome at Level One:
New information will not be accepted.
Attach a copy of your original complaint and any documentation submitted at Level One.
Attach a copy of the Level One response being appealed, if applicable.
Signature of Representative
Date of Filing
COLORADO VIRTUAL ACADEMY LEVEL THREE APPEAL NOTICE—
EMPLOYEE/STUDENT/PARENT COMPLAINT FORM
To appeal a Level Two decision or lack of a timely response after a Level Two conference, please fill out
this form completely and submit it by email, hand delivery, fax or U.S. mail to the Superintendent within
the time established.
Name
Phone
Address
Campus
Name
Phone
Address
To whom did you present your complaint at Level Two:
Date of conference:
Date you received a response to the Level Two conference:
Please explain specifically how you disagree with the outcome at Level Two:
New information will not be accepted.
Attach a copy of your original complaint and any documentation submitted at Level One and a copy of
your Level Two appeal notice.
Attach a copy of the Level Two response being appealed, if applicable.
Signature of Representative
Date of Filing

High School Parent and Student Handbook 2013-2014

Transcription

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