What are the procedures for signing up?

 

Independent Work Special Permission

Qualified students recommended by the school principal and onsite facilitator may take an online class during the first OR last class period of the day and work on the course independently at home. Students are required to attend lab for the first two weeks of each course to assure that students know how to use the tools in their online classroom.  If progress reports indicate acceptable progress (minimum grade of 75 in all classes), the student can then begin working independently from home.  This is a privilege that can be revoked at any time by the Onsite Facilitator should acceptable academic progress not be consistently maintained.  Personal Finance students are not eligible for this privilege.

 

Eligible students must:

1. Have access to a computer and a reliable internet connection at home.
2. Attend an orientation session.
3. Work a minimum of 5 days per week on their course.
4. Maintain a passing average and/or keep the pace prescribed by each course.

 

Students who are informed by the Onsite Facilitator that have their privilege revoked for failure to maintain the minimum grade and/or keeping pace, must begin attending lab immediately.  Failure to attend lab as required will result in revocation of the privilege for the remainder of the course and disciplinary action as outlined in individual school policy.

 

Please download and carefully read the VITAL Permission to Work Independently Academic Year form.  This form must be completed and returned to the onsite facilitator at your school along with your other registration materials.

 

 

Refund Policy VITAL and Advanced Placement Courses

Students who drop a VITAL or Advanced Placement Course course by the 15th calendar day (5th day of summer school) by notifying the Onsite Facilitator at their school would receive a fee refund of half of fees paid minus a $25.00 nonrefundable registration fee per course.  There will be no fee refunds after the drop deadline or if students are dropped for failure to attend lab or complete work as required.

 

Fee Waivers for Free/Reduced Lunch Students

Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch status may request to have the course fee waived for one credit (two ½ credit or one full credit course) OR up to a total fee waiver of $360.00 per academic year (July – May). Waivers will be processed as funds are available.  Once available funds are expended, students requesting a waiver will be put on a waiting list pending future funding.

 

High Risk Students

Some students need very little support to be successful in an online course. These students are generally self motivated and can work on their own, however, some students, particularly high – risk students require a greater degree of oversight and assistance with an online class. Lower performing students will need a much higher degree of onsite support.

 

Special Needs Students

Individual schools are responsible for identifying students and providing accommodations for VITAL courses as needed.  The registration form provides an opportunity to identify students as special needs and list modifications required by an IEP or 504 plans.  Any changes in modifications will be communicated to the Virtual Learning Coordinator who will notify the online teacher.

 

Student Attendance and Participation

VITAL students are expected to attend and participate in their VITAL program courses as fully as they would attend and participate in a traditional classroom course. Half credit and recovery courses are designed to require approximately 72?90 hours of work, and full credit courses are designed to require approximately 144?180 hours of work. At a minimum, students are required to login and perform work in their online education courses at least five times a week, dispersed throughout the week (i.e. not five visits in one or two days) totaling an average of 10 hours per week per course.  The actual amount of time required to successfully complete a course varies depending on the pace of the individual student. 

 

Homework and Absence Policy

Students are expected to log into their online course at least five times a week, spread throughout the week, unless otherwise indicated by the instructor. Homework is to be completed by assigned deadlines. If work is going to be late, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor. It is the responsibility of the student to make up work missed due to absence. Work turned in more than 14 days past the due date indicated on the pacing guide for the course will earn a grade of zero on those assignments.

 

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, work should be made up within one week of the student's return to school. In cases of extended student illness (five days or more), the student may either contact the online course instructor directly to notify the instructor of any delay in providing assigned work or the parents may contact the Lab Facilitator or Onsite Facilitator as appropriate to make arrangements for work that will need to be made up.

 

Suspended Students

Students who are suspended from school and are enrolled in courses in the VITAL program are expected to continue their participation at home during the period of suspension.  If students do not have computer/internet access at home, it is the responsibility of the student and parent to provide access at the public library or other site.  All policies concerning attendance and participation in virtual courses apply during suspensions.

 

Progress Reports

The purpose of the progress reporting system is to provide communication to parents, students, Onsite Facilitators and the Virtual Learning Coordinator with the online instructor's assessment of the student's performance in his/her course work. Progress reports will be e-mailed to the student, parents, the Onsite Facilitator, and the Virtual Learning Coordinator.  Progress reports are issued on the 1^st and 15^th of the month during the semester.

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