Each student participating in the Academy full-time with the intent to graduate will have a formal written Student Learning Plan developed and approved by a guidance counselor. The written Student Learning Plan may be developed with assistance from the student and the student's parents or guardians. Any student seeking a diploma will be required to meet our minimum graduation requirements.

Accelerate Academy Graduation Requirements:

1. Total Credits:

*must include one year of lab science

2. Grade Point Average (GPA)

Students must have a 2.0 or above cumulative Grade Point Average and a 2.3 or above Core Grade Point Average (for all courses in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science).

3. Annual Benchmark Testing

In order to receive a high school diploma, all students graduating will complete a culminating project. Students will demonstrate essential skills through reading, writing, speaking, production and/or performance. This project will be introduced to students as they enter the high school and can be completed at any time.

All enrollments have a specific start date and end date, chosen at the time of registration. All coursework is to be completed no later than the end date of the enrollment; once a final grade report is issued, no additional work can be submitted. Each semester represents 18 weeks of class time for approximately 5 hours per week. All core curriculum enrollments are equivalent in seat time. We offer the following options:

A pacing guide is included in each course with target due dates for each activity. Weekly reports and communication will ensure that targets are met. All incomplete work will receive a zero at the end of the enrollment and a final grade report will be issued.

Course extension (end date change) may be granted at the parent's request up to the extent of 1 year (12 months) from the student's start date. Such extensions are granted for extenuating circumstances only and at the discretion of Accelerate Academy's administration.

Course Assignments are set to one attempt to ensure academic integrity. Students can request an assignment-reset if there are technical glitches or special circumstances. Requests must be submitted though email from the learning coach to the course teacher.

If a student is unable to successfully pass the lesson with a 60% or better, their high-qualified online teacher will provide intervention.

The International Center for Academic Integrity defines academic integrity as a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. Plagiarism occurs when someone uses words, ideas, or work products attributable to another identifiable person or source without attributing the work to the source from which it was obtained in a situation in which there is a legitimate expectation of original authorship, in order to obtain some benefit, credit, or gain which need not be monetary.

Accelerate Academy believes in academic integrity and that any form of cheating defeats our ultimate purpose of learning. The goal of this policy is to take measures to ensure that the enrolled students learn the material presented and academically earn the grade. Students are expected to submit original work for all graded assignments. Teachers have access to several anti-cheating tools to verify authenticity of student work. Any student caught cheating will be subject to disciplinary action and the learning coach will be notified of the infraction. Repeated infractions could ultimately result in the student failing the course.

Escalation for cheating is as follows:

• 1st offense: Student will be allowed to redo the assignment for partial credit up to 70%.
• 2nd offense: Student will receive a zero on the assignment.
• 3rd offense: Student will be referred to the administration to determine if a student will fail the course.

Students will have 14 days to change/drop their course enrollment. If a student withdraws within 14 days from the scheduled student start date, Accelerate will refund 100% of any course fees. This withdrawal notification must be received in writing by Accelerate before the grace period ends. After 14 days, the student will earn a grade in the course and the enrollment fee is non-refundable.

All Accelerate Online Academy Instructors are highly qualified, effective teachers who are certified in the content area in which they teach.

A student enrolled in Accelerate Online Academy has access to frequent instructor-initiated interaction. As students complete course assignments, teachers provide student feedback on performance as well as suggestions for future success. They will also initiate extra help through the use of synchronous sessions (webinar, video-chat), phone calls, emails, and text-chat. These interactions between the instructor and student occur on a daily basis.

Students are required to interact with their instructors in real-time during the course. Real-time interaction between the student and the teacher can be for multiple reasons. One-on-one sessions through phone, video chat, text chat, and email occur on an as-needed basis for the purpose of individual tutoring and remediation. Teachers also offer synchronous sessions at the request of students to cover specific content.

Assessments are both teacher-graded and computer-scored. Though the percentage may vary by course, between 30 and 50% of the assessments are graded by the instructor alone.

For electronic assessments, feedback is provided within the document either by using comments or PDF markup tools and then returned to the student through the learning management system. For any synchronous assessments, such as benchmarks or oral assessments, feedback is provided in written format within the LMS rubric in the student gradebook. Also, general feedback is provided within the LMS gradebook utilizing the "comments" section of each assignment. All feedback is captured and stored within Accelerate Academy's LMS. This information remains accessible to the student even after enrollment is complete.

Teachers are expected to grade within 72 hours of receiving an assignment. If multiple assignments are submitted at one time, the 72-hour turnaround time is multiplied by the number of assignments submitted. Students are expected to submit work regularly and continuously within their courses, as teachers need adequate time to provide rich and thorough feedback to students that allow students to grow academically. The feedback provided to students is intended to be instructional so that students have time before the next assignment to apply feedback to subsequent assignments.

Grading Scale:

All grades are reported numerically. Students will receive a percentage score in their final grade report.

Final Grades:

Final grades are available within 72 hours of the student completing 100% of the course, unless multiple assignments are submitted at once at the end of a semester. In that case, teachers may need adequate time to grade and provide thorough feedback.

Cyber Bullying

Accelerate Academy prohibits harassment, intimidation, and bullying by any means.

This includes but is not limited to electronic, written, oral or physical acts, either direct or indirect, when such intentional electronic, oral, written or physical acts physically harm, substantially interfere with a student's education, threaten the overall educational environment and/or substantially disrupt the operation of school.

This includes, but is not limited to, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based upon race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, economic status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, physical appearance, or mental, physical, or sensory disability.

Examples of such bullying include, but are not limited to:

• Sending mean or threatening messages to a classmate via email, IM (instant messaging), or text messages.
• Spreading rumors about classmates through email, IM, or text messages.
• Creating a Web site or social networking page that targets another student.
• Sharing fake or embarrassing photos or videos of classmates with others via a cell phone or the Web.
• Stealing a classmate's login and password to send mean or embarrassing messages from his or her account.

Accelerate Academy reserves the right to discipline any student for actions taken if they are intended to have an effect on a student or they adversely affect the safety and well being of student while in school.

Students are expected to:

• Treat each other respectfully, in person and online.
• Refuse to cyber bully or let others be cyber bullied.
• Refuse to participate in or encourage any form of cyber bullying.
• Report cyber bullying to learning coach, teacher or administrator when you become aware of it.

Online Netiquette

Netiquette means network etiquette, the do's and don'ts of online communication or general guidelines for good cyberspace behavior. Communication online can occur via discussions, blogs, texts, chats, emails or online synchronous sessions. Our top ten rules or expectations for online courtesies during any communication you have with staff and students while enrolled at Accelerate Academy are listed below. These rules are excerpts from the book Netiquette by Virginia Shea.

Communication Rules

In addition to online netiquette, there are expectations we have for students regarding written communication. Communication contributes to the relationship between a teacher and student and among students and therefore essential to the success of all students.

Students are expected to:

• Be concise and to the point.
• Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation.
• Avoid attaching unnecessary files.
• Do not write messages using all CAPS. All CAPS is like shouting!
• Read your message before sending and make any necessary corrections.
• Use a meaningful subject.
• Include all necessary details so the recipient of the message understands what you are trying to communicate.
• Avoid abbreviations and emoticons.
• Do not use profanities or obscenities in any communications.

Violations of these rules will result in a reprimand from the administrator or teacher. If informed and re-informed of email netiquette, then student will be required to correct email messages and resend.

Accelerate Academy's information technology resources, including the learning management system, are provided for educational purposes. Adherence to the Technology Use Policy outlined below is necessary for continued access to the school's technological resources.

Students are expected to:

1. Respect and protect the privacy of others.
   • Use only assigned accounts.
   • Not view, use, or copy passwords, data, or networks to which they are not authorized.
   • Not distribute private information about others or themselves.
2. Respect and protect the integrity, availability, and security of all electronic resources.
   • Observe all network security practices, as posted.
   • Report security risks or violations to a teacher or network administrator.
   • Not destroy or damage data, networks, or other resources that do not belong to them, without clear permission of the owner.
   • Conserve, protect, and share these resources with other students and Internet users.
3. Respect and protect the intellectual property of others.
   • Not infringe copyrights (no making illegal copies of music, games, or movies).
   • Not plagiarize.
4. Respect and practice the principles of community.
   • Communicate only in ways that are kind and respectful.
   • Report threatening or discomforting materials to a teacher or mentor.
   • Not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that violates the school's code of conduct (such as messages that are pornographic, threatening, rude, discriminatory, or meant to harass).
   • Not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that is illegal (such as obscenity, stolen materials, or illegal copies of copyrighted works).
   • Not use the resources to further other acts that are criminal or violate the school's code of conduct.
   • Not send spam, chain letters, or other mass unsolicited mailings.
   • Not buy, sell, advertise, or otherwise conduct business, unless approved as a school project.

Consequences for Violation

Violations of these rules may result in disciplinary action, including the loss of a student's privileges to use the school's information technology resources.

Supervision and Monitoring

School and network administrators and their authorized employees monitor the use of information technology resources to help ensure that uses are secure and in conformity with this policy. Administrators reserve the right to examine, use, and disclose any data found on the school's information networks in order to further the health, safety, discipline, or security of any student or other person, or to protect property. They may also use this information in disciplinary actions, and will furnish evidence of crime to law enforcement.

Accelerate Academy's provides for equal opportunities and does not unlawfully discriminate against any person on the basis of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religious creed, color, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or disability in the educational student programs or activities which it operates and does not tolerate any such discrimination.

Issuing a Complaint

Complaints alleging violation of this policy shall be made to Accelerate Academy or the Equal Opportunity Officer (EOO). Any person, student or employee who believes that he or she has suffered unlawful discrimination or harassment shall immediately report the incident(s) to his or her teacher, learning coach, or administrator.

A written filing shall start the formal complaint procedure or oral complaint as set forth below within sixty (60) days of the alleged discriminatory act. Accelerate Academy shall be responsible for making a thorough investigation of the matter and making recommendations for remedial or affirmative action.

All information gathered will remain confidential.

Step 1

The complainant shall present the matter in writing or orally stating:

• The nature of the problem;
• The date, time and location of the alleged discrimination;
• The persons involved;
• Efforts, if any and results to solve the problem prior to filing the written complaint.

The EOO shall provide the respondent with a copy of the complaint. Within ten days of the receipt of the complaint, the EOO shall notify the complainant, respondent, and the immediate supervisor, in writing of the recommendation for resolving the matter. If the complaint is resolved and no further action is requested in writing or orally within five days of receipt of the Step 1 recommendation, the matter shall be considered closed.

Step 2

The complainant may in writing or orally to the EOO request a conference within five days of receipt of the Step 1 recommendation. This conference shall be held within ten days after the receipt of the written/oral request. The following shall attend:

• The designee;
• The complainant;
• EEO;
• The immediate supervisor or designee;
• A person mutually agreed upon by the respondent and the EEO.

Within five days following the conference, the designee shall notify the complainant and respondent in writing by hand delivery or certified mail the recommendation for resolving the matter.

Step 3

The complainant may in writing or orally to the EOO request a hearing before the Academy's administration within five days after receipt of the Step 2 recommendation. After receipt of such request, a hearing shall be scheduled at the earliest possible date. The complainant and respondent may at their expense have legal representation for this hearing. Within ten days following the hearing, the EOO shall notify the complainant and respondent in writing by hand delivery or certified mail the Academy's recommendation for resolving the matter. Extension of any time limits prior to a request for hearing being filed may be granted by the EEO only for circumstances beyond the control of the complainant or the respondent. No person shall retaliate or in any way discriminate against any person for filing a complaint or participating in an investigation of a complaint. The complainant maintains the right to utilize other appropriate legal or administrative remedies available.

Terms

For purposes of this policy, the following terms are defined:

• Complaint - A problem, dispute, or disagreement regarding discrimination, which cannot be resolved informally. The complaint procedure may be used by any complainant who feels aggrieved or who feels that there has been a violation, misinterpretation, or inequitable application of any policy, procedure, or practice.
• Complainant - Any person filing a complaint.
• Respondent - The employee allegedly committing the discriminatory act or omission.
• EEO - The employee designated to coordinate the Academy's effort to comply with and carry out its responsibility for nondiscrimination.
• Day - Any calendar day excluding Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.

Special education law, or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), defines the legal rights of private school students to publicly funded special education services. Specifically, it states that a private institution student does not have the same legal rights to special education services as a special education student in public school.

For any student at Accelerate Academy with an Instructional Education Plans (IEP), accommodations will be made to the best of the Academy's ability. Copies of a student's IEP will be collected upon enrollment and remain private within the data of the Academy. Public school districts are given a small amount of money each year by the federal government to fund Instructional Education Plans (ISP) for special education students who attend private settings. Public school districts are required to meet with the administrators of private institutions in their area and discuss what services they will provide. The amount varies from year to year. For more information, visit IDEA.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Accelerate Academy takes student privacy very seriously and have developed several policies to ensure privacy.

RIGHT TO INSPECT AND REVIEW AND TO CONSENT TO RELEASE

Parents, legal guardians, and individuals acting as a parent or guardian in the absence of the student's parent/guardian of students under the age of eighteen have the right to access their child's education records and to authorize the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in education records to any third party. Students who have turned 18 years of age, or who are attending a post-secondary institution and are no longer students at Accelerate Academy, are "eligible students" and have the right to authorize disclosure of that information to any third party. If a student currently enrolled in the Academy has reached 18 years of age but is still claimed as a "dependent" under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 152, by the parents, the parents or guardian continue to have the right to inspect and review their student's records, but they no longer have the authority to authorize release of such records.

WHEN CONSENT IS NOT NEEDED FOR THE ACADEMY TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION

A student's education records may be disclosed by the Academy without consent of a parent/eligible student whenever permitted or required by law, such as, but not limited to:

1. School Officials

To "School Officials" when there is a legitimate educational interest. A School Official is:

• Any administrator, certified staff member, or support staff member (including health, medical, safety and security staff) employed by the Academy;
• A contractor, consultant, volunteer, or other party to whom the Academy has outsourced services or functions, such as, but not limited to, an attorney, auditor, cloud storage provider, consultant, expert witness, hearing officer, investigator, insurer/insurance company adjuster, investigator, or any other claims representative, medical providers or consultants, or counselors/therapists, provided that the person is performing a service or function for which the Academy would otherwise use employees, is under the direct control of the Academy with respect to the use and maintenance of education records, and is subject to FERPA requirements governing the use and re-disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records;
• A person serving on a committee appointed by the administration, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee or other review committee.

A School Official has a "legitimate educational interest" when the official needs such information in order to fulfill his or her professional, contractual or other responsibilities for the Academy.

Reasonable methods shall be in place to ensure that School Officials obtain access to only those education records in which they have legitimate educational interests. Employees who access, or allow others to access, education records that they do not have a legitimate interest in accessing, shall be subject to disciplinary action.

2. Other Schools

To officials of other public or private schools or post-secondary institutions in which a student seeks/intends to enroll, or is already enrolled, upon request of that school. Education records provided to any private or public elementary school or secondary school shall include disciplinary records involving any suspension or expulsion and may include discipline records for conduct that posed a significant risk to the safety or well-being of that student, other students, or other members of the school community.

The first official transcript and/or record will be sent free of charge. Each additional copy will cost $5. Written requests can be made by in writing from the Academy's website.

3. Subpoenas and Court Orders

In compliance with judicial order, or pursuant to any lawfully issued subpoena, upon condition that parents and the students are notified of all such orders or subpoenas in advance of the compliance therewith by the Academy. However, when a parent is a party to a court proceeding involving child abuse and neglect or dependency matters, and the order is issued in the context of that proceeding, additional notice to the parent by the Academy is not required. In addition, notice will not be given to parents in situations where the Academy is directed by the issuing authority not to disclose the existence or contents of the subpoena.

4. Foster Care

To an agency caseworker or other representative of a state or local child welfare agency or tribal organization who has the right to access a student's case plan when such agency or organization is legally responsible for the care and protection of the student.

5. Litigation Between Academy and Student/Parent

To the court in any legal action by a parent or student against the Academy, or by the Academy against a parent or student, when necessary to either defend itself or proceed with a legal action as plaintiff.

6. Health or Safety Emergency

To appropriate parties when knowledge of the information is necessary in the judgment of the Academy to protect the health or safety of the student or any other person.

7. Studies

To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the Academy for the purpose of developing, validating, or administering predictive tests, and improving instruction, if there is a written agreement and such studies are conducted in such a manner that each meet the requirements of applicable law.

8. Audit or Evaluation

To certain federal and state officials when needed in order to audit or enforce legal conditions related to a federally or state-supported education program or to enforce or to comply with the federal legal requirements that relate to those programs.

9. Accrediting Organizations

To accrediting organizations in order to carry out their accrediting function.

10. Parents and Students

To any "parent", as defined by FERPA, of a student who has not reached age 18, or to the student. For students who have turned 18, disclosure may be made to a parent without the consent of the student if the student remains a "dependent" of the parent as defined under the Internal Revenue Code.

11. When Allowed or Required by State Law

To state and local officials or authorities to whom such information is specifically allowed or required to be reported pursuant to state law and concerns the juvenile justice system and its ability to effectively serve the student whose records are released and, where required, written certification is provided by the officials or authorities that the information will not be disclosed to any other party except as provided under state law.

12. Audit or Evaluation of Educational Program

To permitted state and federal officials to audit or evaluate educational programs or for enforcement of or compliance with federal legal requirements which relate to those educational programs.

13. When Disclosure is of "Directory Information"

"Directory information" is information from a student's education record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. "Directory Information" MAY be, but is not required to be, disclosed by the Academy without consent of the parent or eligible student. The following items are designated by Accelerate Academy as "Directory Information":

1. Student's name
2. Photographs - including use of student photographs in Academy's publications, on Academy's social media and the Academy's website, and release of yearbook photo upon request by news media
3. Video/film of student when filmed by Academy for educational purposes or for promotional use, and film by news media.
4. Date and place of birth
5. Major field of study
6. Date student enrolled/disenrolled in Academy, enrollment status, and grade level
7. Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
8. Degrees, honors, and awards received
9. The most recent school or school district attended prior to Accelerate Academy
10. Class lists

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Academy does not designate as "Directory Information" any of the above items when and if the Academy determines, in its sole discretion, that the circumstances are such that disclosure of the information could pose a risk to student safety or well-being or has the potential to be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy by the parent or student if disclosure was allowed.

"Directory Information" may, in the discretion of the Academy, be disclosed in circumstances such as but not limited to:

• Academy publications, such as newsletters, calendars, newspapers, event programs, communications, announcements, and news releases
• Academy websites, digital publications and social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
• Print, television and broadcast media
• Honor roll and other school achievements, awards and recognitions
• Programs/playbills showing a student's role in a school activity or production
• Yearbooks and class photos
• Graduation programs/school programs
• Disclosure to outside organizations, such as but not limited to, those that provide school-related products and services, such as yearbooks, class rings etc.
• Military recruiters and institutions of higher education for 11th and 12th grade students to the extent required by law
• Organizations that operate solely to support the Academy, such as community clubs, booster clubs and support groups

Lists of student names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses will not be disclosed by the Academy to political candidates or elected office holders, political parties, or any person or organization involved with a political issue or issue related to the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question. Such information will not be disclosed to commercial entities (other than for school-related purposes), nor will it be provided to any non-profit or non-commercial organization, company or group, other than groups that operate solely to support the Academy, or as required or permitted by law, such as to military recruiters.

"Directory Information" will not be disclosed where to do so would have the effect of disclosing non-directory information.

RIGHT TO PREVENT DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTORY INFORMATION (OPT-OUT)

Parents and eligible students have the right to opt-out of disclosure of "Directory Information," subject to the requirements and limitations of FERPA, state law, and the procedures contained in any regulation(s) to this policy.

Opt-Out forms are effective for the school year in which they are submitted. "Directory Information" will not be disclosed prior to the return date indicated on the Opt-Out form.

Opting-out of disclosure may not be used to impede routine classroom communications and interactions. For instance, opting-out does not prevent the Academy from disclosing or requiring a student to disclose the student's name, school e-mail address, or electronic identifier on school grounds, in class, or at a school-sponsored activity, and does not prevent the Academy from requiring a student to maintain and present upon request a student ID card.

The Academy may disclose "Directory Information" about students no longer enrolled in the Accelerate Academy without providing notice as otherwise required and without providing an additional opt-out opportunity. However, if an opt-out request was in place as of the last day of the student's enrollment, the opt-out request will continue in effect and the Directory Information will not be disclosed.

VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY AND RIGHT TO ACCESS RECORDS

Reasonable methods and safeguards shall be used to identify and authenticate the identity of parents, eligible students, school officials, and any other persons who request access to educational record information.

RECORD OF REQUESTS FOR ACCESS

The Academy shall maintain accurate records of requests for disclosure of information from or access to a student's records as required by law.

ANNUAL NOTIFICATION OF FERPA RIGHTS

Parents and eligible students shall be notified annually as required by law of their rights under FERPA.

EDUCATION RECORD INFORMATION OF DECEASED STUDENTS

"Directory Information" may be disclosed by the Academy regarding a student who is deceased, unless an opt-out request was in place as of the last day of the student's enrollment, in which case the opt-out request will continue to be in effect. The Academy will disclose education record information other than "Directory Information" of a deceased student only if consent is given in writing by the personal representative or other legally authorized representative of the deceased student's estate, or if some other exception in FERPA permits or requires disclosure. If a personal representative or other legally authorized representative has not yet been appointed or is no longer functioning in that capacity, consent must be given by the student's parent, or, if married at the time of death, by the deceased student's widow/widower or by a child of the student provided the child is age 18 or older.

CONCERNS, QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS

If you have a complaint or a concern or question about any of the above rights, we encourage you to first contact and discuss it with Accelerate Academy's administrators. Our hope is to provide answers to whatever questions or concerns that you have.

You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Accelerate Academy to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901