The Dallas ISD Virtual School Student Handbook

Welcome to DISD Virtual School!

2909 N. Buckner Blvd. Dallas, TX 75228 972-925-3420

1Last update: February 2011 A copy of this Student Handbook is available for students and parents at http://www.dallasisd.org/Page/12514

2Last update: February 2011 Welcome to DISD Virtual School!

3Last update: February 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION 4-5 A.District Policy B.Mission Statement C.Overview D.Course Options

II. STUDENT PROCEDURES & POLICIES 6-11 E.Eligibility F.Registration Procedures/Reasonable Denial G.Withdrawal/Drop Procedures H.Attendance Requirements I.Course Materials and Tuition J.Discipline K.Student Academic Integrity

III. GRADING & CREDIT 11-12 A.Grade Reporting B.Final Exam/Assessment of Course Performance (ACP) Policy/ The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) End Of Course (EOC) Policy C.Transcript

IV. ONLINE COURSE INSTRUCTORS 12 A.Teacher Qualifications B.Teacher Communication

V. PREPARATION 12-14 A.Different Way to Learn B.Convenience of Time & Place C.Student Success in Online Courses

VI. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS 14 L.Computer Access M.Email Account N.Software Requirements

VII. NON-TRADITIONAL MIDDLE AND NON-TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ______15

VIII. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 16-17

IX. APPENDICES _ 18-22 A.Student Registration Request B.Commitment Letter C.Student Withdrawal Request Form

D.Roles of Virtual School Member INTRODUCTION A. DISTRICT POLICY

This handbook is designed to help students and parents become acquainted with the Dallas ISD Virtual School policies. In these pages, both prospective and current students will find information pertaining to online coursework, rules, and resources for help. This document sets forth the standards and expectations for all participants in the online program. Dallas ISD wants to provide students with a resource, so that they may enjoy the benefits of online learning and be successful in their online course work. The Alternate Methods for Earning Credit Distance Learning Board Policy EHDE (Local) can be accessed from the district’s Online Policy Manual at http://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/361?filename=EHDE%28LOCAL%29.pdf Board policy EHDE (Local) requires the Superintendent or designee to develop an electronic course handbook that shall include all policies, protocols, and procedures for students taking electronic courses as a means of earning graduation credit or middle school units. The policies that relate and or are referenced in this handbook can be accessed from the district’s Online Policy Manual http://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Code/361?filter=GB and searching by the policy name. All district policies related to academic honesty, participation, grade weights, and acceptable use will apply to online courses. (Refer to the following links for more information.) http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/11/code_of_con duct.pdf http://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/361?filename=EIA%28LOCAL%29.pdf http://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/361?filename=CQ%28LOCAL%29.pdf http://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/361?filename=EIC(LOCAL).pdf

B. MISSION STATEMENT The mission for Dallas ISD’s Virtual School is to provide students with alternative resources by which they can successfully pursue their educational goals. Online learning helps 21st century learners do more than just master course content. It assists in developing online communication, collaboration, and creative problem solving skills needed in our technology-driven world.

5Last update: February 2011 C. OVERVIEW Dallas ISD’s Virtual School serves two essential functions in the district: 1) provide high quality online instructional courses to students and 2) assist in the coordination, implementation, and oversight of online programs throughout the district.

All online courses offer students the same rigorous requirements as traditional campus-based courses. All course content is aligned to state and national Standards thus, fully addressing the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). A virtual online course is defined as:

 A course in which instruction and content are delivered primarily over the Internet; A student and teacher are in different locations for a majority of the student’s instructional period; and  Most instructional activities take place in an online environment .

Online courses offer flexibility, responsibility, and compatibility for students who wish to enrich or supplement their educational program.

DALLAS ISD VIRTUAL SCHOOL OPTIONS Students will have the opportunity to choose from the following delivery methods :

Online District-Created Courses The District-Created Online Courses are created by certified Dallas ISD staff. All courses are aligned with state standards and follow The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) standards. In addition, all course facilitators are web-certified instructors. In addition, all course facilitators are web-certified instructors. Online Provider Courses - These courses are provided by online providers and are aligned with state standards. In addition, all the courses have been evaluated and approved by Dallas ISD’s Curriculum and Instruction Department.

II. STUDENT PROCEDURES & POLICIES

Dallas ISD sets high expectations for the success of its students. We are committed to meeting the needs of all students and will work tirelessly to facilitate student success. To maintain instructional momentum, students are required to submit assignments in their course on a weekly basis and to maintain regular contact with their instructors. Students are expected to agree to the following procedures and policies as part of the online registration process.

A. ELIGIBILITY Students can enroll in online courses for course credit. Students can enroll in two online courses per semester. If a student needs both semesters of a 2 semester course, he/she may register for and complete only 1 semester at a time. Should a student need to take additional courses, they may request to do so. This request must be approved by the campus principal and/or designee and the student’s parent or guardian. Online District-Created Courses

 Students currently in secondary grades are eligible to enroll in online courses;  Student must be enrolled in a course that satisfies a curriculum requirement for graduation;  Students with a disability and who are receiving special education services will need the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee to make the determination of whether an online course would meet his or her needs.

Online Provider Courses

For online provider courses, please refer to the individual eligibility requirements of each provider.

Student eligibility will be evaluated by the following criteria:

7Last update: February 2011  Previous academic performance, attendance and behavior; potential for success in an online course;  Computer skills that include the ability to create files, save documents, send emails, etc.;  Parent permission to participate in online coursework; and campus site coordinator and/or campus counselor  Recommendation and approval is made by the campus principal and/or their designee prior to enrollment in the course.

 The admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee of a student with a disability who is receiving special education services will be responsible for making the determination of whether an online course would meet the needs of an individual student.

B. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES In order to register for an online course, the following steps must be taken:

1. Students must first visit with their campus counselor, principal, or designee, who will provide the student with directions on how and where to access the online readiness self-assessment. This survey will help determine if online learning is appropriate for the student. http://www.unc.edu/tlim/ser/ 2. After conferring, if the counselor is satisfied with the results of the self- assessment, he/she will then check the student’s transcript and graduation plan to determine if any of the online courses meet the student’s needs. 3. The student will then pick up the Student Registration Request Form (Appendix A) and the Student Letter of Commitment (Appendix B). 4. After reading the Dallas ISD Virtual School Student Handbook and completing both documents, the student will return the completed forms to the counselor. 5. The counselor will inform the student whether the course selected has a State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) End Of Course (EOC) exam requirement. 6. Upon receipt of the two completed documents, the campus site coordinator will then register the student for the appropriate course.

Reasonable Denial: The district can deny a student’s request to enroll in an online course if one of the following factors is met:

 The district can demonstrate that the course does not meet the state standards or standards of the district that are of equivalent rigor as the district’s standards for the same course provided in the traditional classroom setting  A student attempts to enroll in a course load that is inconsistent with the student’s high school graduation plan or could reasonably be expected to negatively affect the student’s performance on a state assessment instrument.  The student requests permission to enroll in an electronic course at a time that is not consistent with the enrollment period established by the district providing the course.

A student’s parent(s) or guardian may appeal to the commissioner the District’s decision to deny a request to enroll a student in an electronic course offered through the state virtual school network. The commissioner’s decision under this subsection is final and may not be appealed. For more details see Texas Education Code Section 26.0031 available through the following link: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.26.htm#26.0031

C. WITHDRAWAL/DROP PROCEDURES In order to withdraw or drop any online course, students must adhere to the following policies and procedures:

Withdrawal Policies and Process for Withdrawing

In order to withdraw from an online course, the following steps must be taken:  To withdraw, the student must contact his/her counselor and/or campus site coordinator and submit a written request.

9Last update: February 2011  The Student Withdrawal Request Form (Appendix C) must be completed and returned to the counselor and/or campus site coordinator within the allotted withdrawal time frame.

Online District-Created Courses

 A student will have 14 days from the beginning of the course to withdraw from the course. For courses that are designated as accelerated, students will have 4 days from the beginning of the course to withdraw.  If the student drops after the period stated above, the grade will be included on the student’s transcript.

Online Provider Courses

 For specific virtual learning partners, please refer to their individual withdrawal policies.

D. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS Students are expected to meet the attendance requirements established by the teacher of the course. Online Attendance

 Students are required to login to their course regularly.  Course participation and student login activity will be monitored.

 Students are expected to communicate with the teacher on a regular basis.

Face-to-Face Meetings/Blended Course

 In addition, the teacher may require that all students login to the online course at a certain time in order to participate in synchronous (real- time) activities. This will vary by course.

E. COURSE MATERIALS & TUITION

10 Last update: February 2011 Welcome to DISD Virtual School!

While a large part of what the student learns will come from online resources, it is very important that the student pay close attention to the course details in order to see if additional course materials will be needed in order to successfully complete the course. Students are responsible for all course costs and fees unless otherwise noted by the student’s designee and home campus. Some online providers offer scholarships. For information about scholarships, please contact your school counselor and/or refer to the specific online course provider policies.

F. DISCIPLINE Discipline procedures to be followed are the same as those stated in the Dallas ISD Student Handbook, the Dallas ISD Student Code of Conduct, and the Dallas ISD Acceptable Use Policy. Violation of the Acceptable Use Policy or network technologies will result in immediate removal from the course.

G. STUDENT ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Participation in the program and access to the technology utilized by the courses require certain responsibilities and obligations.

1. Technology and Internet Use Students are to use technology and the online course format in a respectful manner and will be expected to:  Adhere to all district policies such as the Student Handbook, Student Code of Conduct, District Acceptable Use Guidelines, and the DISD Virtual School Letter of Commitment, as they work with the technology and the online resources necessary to complete course work;  Communicate respectfully to all people using proper Internet etiquette

2. Honesty Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in online courses. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citations, submitting work of another person as one’s own, or tampering with computer files and/or academic work of other students. Academic dishonesty could result in one or more of the following actions:

11 Last update: February 2011  Loss of grade points;  Removal from course;  Failure to receive credit for the course; and/or

 Loss of eligibility to participate in Online courses

III. GRADING & CREDIT

A. GRADE REPORTING The District’s grading procedures shall apply to all online courses in addition to those outlined below. The teacher is the final authority for assigning grades. All University Interscholastic League (UIL) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) guidelines apply. This means that “No Pass, No Play” does apply to all online courses. Furthermore, only those online courses that meet all the state-required essential knowledge and skills for the courses shall earn graduation credit.

 Grade point average and grade weights for all courses will follow Dallas ISD’s Local Policy located at http://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/361?filename=EIC(LEGAL).pdf

 Students will have constant access to their grades through the online course. Students and parents are encouraged to monitor progress.

B. FINAL EXAM/ASSESSMENT OF COURSE PERFORMANCE POLICY The Assessment of Course Performance (ACP) and The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) End Of Course (EOC) exams are to assist in validating that students have demonstrated mastery of key course concepts and standards. All applicable testing requirements set by the state will apply. Students are required to take and successfully complete an ACP Exam (if available) or STAAR EOC (if required).

C. TRANSCRIPT

 The teacher of the course will report final grades to the campus site coordinator and/ or counselor once the course has been completed.  The counselor will complete the credit evaluation form and return it to the data controller at the campus.  The course will be reflected on the student’s transcript as an online course.  Credit will be granted through each Dallas ISD High School in accordance with district policies.

IV. O NLINE COURSE INSTRUCTORS

A. TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS All online courses are taught by highly-qualified teachers. All teachers are experienced teachers trained within the appropriate field of expertise.

B. TEACHER COMMUNICATION Teachers provide their Dallas ISD email address to students for the sole purpose of student/teacher communication regarding the course in which the student is enrolled. No teacher personal email account is to be publicized for students. Staff district telephone numbers may be provided to students for communication; however, no personal home or cell telephone numbers are to be given to students. Teachers are not permitted to call student cell telephones.

V. PREPARATION Taking an online course presents many advantages. While online courses permit flexibility with regard to daily routine, they lack the regimented structure of the traditional classroom setting. Therefore, students must be well organized and schedule his/her daily activities around classroom obligations.

A. DIFFERENT WAY TO LEARN

13 Last update: February 2011 Before enrolling in an online course, students should understand that online learning is a very different educational medium. Students will possess a greater degree of independence, which in turn requires a greater amount of individual responsibility. The greatest difference between online courses and traditional classroom courses is the face-to-face interaction.

B. CONVENIENCE OF TIME & PLACE Online courses require students to become more highly motivated and organized, and they also afford the convenience of flexibility. Students can login to the Internet from any desired location, whether at home, at school, or in a computer lab. Thus, students can work at their own pace. Online courses are rigorous and require as much, if not more, time than traditional classes. Students will need to have Internet access to do homework or research.

C. STUDENT SUCCESS IN ONLINE COURSEWORK The student’s success relies on his/her own internal motivations. In other words, excellent instruction and comprehensive course materials will not compensate for a student’s inability to manage time efficiently and to submit work on time.

The successful student will recognize that time is a precious commodity and favors the initiative-taking individual. Indeed, online courses are not right for everyone. Students should seek input from their guidance counselors, their parents, and their teachers. In addition, students should see their campus site coordinators to take the Student Online Readiness Self-Assessment http://www.unc.edu/tlim/ser/ in order to ensure that online learning is for them.

Students will be expected to give each assignment their best effort, seek assistance from their teacher regarding course content, and seek support from their Campus Online Learning Mentor. Communication is a very large part of a student’s success in an online course.

Furthermore, parental support and supervision will ensure student success. Parents should assist their child by helping set up his/her workstation, encouraging active ongoing participation in the course and monitoring progress.

VI. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Although each online course may have different technical requirements, there are some minimum requirements that you need to be aware of:

A. COMPUTER ACCESS To participate in online courses, all students must have regular access to a computer with reliable Internet service. Broadband (or high speed) service is preferred.

B. EMAIL ACCOUNT Students will be required to provide a valid email address and a home or parent telephone number for the express purpose of student/teacher contact regarding the current course.

C. SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS Some courses may require downloading applications and installing them on the student computer. ** It is very important that you read all of the requirements for a course and make sure you have access to all required software.

**Dallas ISD is not responsible for any damages to your personal computer due to software installed for an online class or downloads required for a course. Before installing any software on any computer please follow all necessary protocols to avoid any possible damages.

VII. NON-TRADITIONAL MIDDLE AND NON-TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL Accelerated, over-age middle, and over-age high schools can provide accelerated learning opportunities to prepare students to be on track to graduate. These

15 Last update: February 2011 entities are exempt from the following when taking online provider courses and/or district-created online courses:

1. Enrollment Credits earned through a non-traditional middle and non-traditional high school online course are exempt from the two courses per semester limit.

2. Eligibility Students who meet the District’s criteria as an over-age middle school student are eligible to take online course provider and/or district-created online courses. An over-age middle school student is eligible to take an online course based on the approval of the principal and counselor.

16 Last update: February 2011 VIII. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What kind of computer skills should I have?

In order to succeed in an online course, you must be computer literate and have experience in computer communication. That is, you should have good word processing skills, and be familiar with sending and receiving email. You should also feel comfortable navigating the Internet. It is very important that you have these skills before enrolling in an online course because it will take some time for you to become accustomed to the way an online course works. Before you know it, you will need to concentrate on the course material, and you won’t have much time to deal with technical matters.

2. I think I have the technical skills I need, but I’ve never taken a course like this. How do I know if this is right for me?

In order to succeed in an online course, you must be self-motivated and be able to work well independently with minimum supervision. You do not meet regularly with your teacher in the classroom so you must be able to manage your time effectively and stay on track with your coursework. It’s also important that you have strong reading and writing skills. Furthermore, the online pre-assessment that you take will help you determine whether online learning is right for you.

3. Who are the approved online providers?

Please see the updated list on the district website located at http://www.dallasisd.org/Page/12514 . Access to this information can also be found by going to the Dallas ISD website located at http://www.dallasisd.org , clicking on the Department tab, and clicking on the Teaching and Learning Department. Under the Contents section on the left hand side, click on the Dallas ISD Virtual School link.

4. Where do I find more information about the online provider policies?

Please see the updated list on the district website located at http://www.dallasisd.org/Page/12514 . Access to this information can also be found by going to the Dallas ISD website located at http://www.dallasisd.org , clicking on the Department tab, and clicking on the Teaching and Learning Department. Under the Contents section on the left hand side, click on the Dallas ISD Virtual School link. 5. What do I do if I need help?

It’s very important that you get in touch with your teacher as soon as possible if you’re having trouble. You may contact them by work phone or by email.

6. What do I do if I can’t access my course online?

If for some reason you cannot access your course, email or call your teacher. Also, keep in mind that the campus Online Learning Mentor is there to help you as well.

7. What if I find I can’t continue in my course? Can I withdraw from it?

Yes, for information on withdrawal policies please refer to Withdrawal Policies and Process for Withdrawing in this handbook on page 10. Please note that dropping a course is a students' responsibility.

8. Are these courses offered at my high school campus?

Yes, virtual courses are offered at every high school campus in Dallas ISD.

9. I am currently enrolled in the Reconnection Center Program. Can I participate and enroll in online courses?

Yes , the guidelines applied would be the same as the Nontraditional Student outlined in section VII.

10. How do I know what courses are offered at my campus?

Please see your campus counselor or site coordinator to learn what courses are offered at your particular campus. Welcome to Dallas ISD Virtual School!

Appendix A: Student Registration Request Form

Online courses in Dallas ISD are available on a first ‐ come, first ‐served basis for students who meet the prerequisite criteria. Return this completed request to your counselor.

STUDENT SECTION: Submission Date: ____/____/____ Please Print

Student Last Name: First Name: _ M.I.______

Student ID#: ______Grade: ______Campus: ______

Home Phone Number: ______Student Cell Number: ______

Student Email: Circle One Do you have a home computer? YES NO Do you have home internet service? YES NO

PARENT/GUARDIAN SECTION:

Parent Last Name: ______First Name: ______

Parent Work Number: ______Parent Cell Number: ______

Parent Email Address: ______

My child has my permission to request a conference with his/her counselor about enrolling in an online course. My child has my permission to enroll in this course if he/she is eligible. Parent/Guardian Signature ______Date ______Student Commitment Letter for Virtual School

Appendix B: Student Commitment Letter Initial each of the following points below as well as complete the bottom section and sign this commitment letter along with a parent or guardian. Return this form to your counselor.

Student Name:

Student ID#: ______Grade: Campus:______

______I understand that an online course is very rigorous and pledge to participate in the online course regularly, logging in 4 or more times a week, and committing study and learning time to the assignments, readings, activities, labs, and exams.

______I understand that the information I post on the online course is not private and will be monitored by my online instructor.

______I pledge that I have read the DISD Acceptable Use Policy located at http://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Code/361?filter=CQ to abide by all the provisions outlined. I understand that any violation of these provisions may result in suspension from the course.

______I pledge to communicate with my online instructor on a regular basis for the duration of the course and ask him/her for help if I need it.

______I pledge to maintain academic honesty and integrity in my studies.

______I pledge to keep the adults in my life up to date on the activities in this course so they can support my efforts.

______I agree to proactively seek out my counselor and/or online instructor if I am having difficulty completing course work or keeping up with the online class requirements.

______I have read and understood all policies pertaining to the Student Handbook for Virtual School.

Student Signature Date

Parent Signature: ______Date: ______Parent Email Address: ______Welcome to Dallas ISD Virtual School!

Appendix C: Student Withdrawal Request Form If you choose to withdrawal from an online course, you must complete this Withdrawal Request form and return it to your counselor. Refer to the Student Handbook for Virtual Courses for specific details regarding withdrawing from online courses.

Submission Date: ____/____/____

Please Print Student Last Name: First Name: M.I.______

ID#: ______Grade: ______Campus: ______

Student’s Counselor’s Name: ______

Home Phone Number: ______Student Cell Number:______

Student Email Address: ______

Parent Last Name: ______First Name: ______

Parent Work Number: ______Parent Cell Number: ______

Parent Email Address: ______

Course Name: ______Course Number: ______

This type of course was: (Check One)

 TxVSN Course  District-Created Course  Online Provider Course

REQUIRED SIGNATURES:

My child has my permission to withdraw from the online course identified above. I understand that I should schedule a conference with my child’s counselor as soon as possible about this action. I understand that this may affect my child’s graduation status.

1. Parent Signature: Date______/______/______

2. Student Signature: Date______/_____/______

3. Counselor Signature: Date______/_____/_____ Online Learning Mentor Signature: Date______/_____/____ Roles of Virtual School Members

Appendix D: Roles of Virtual School Members

Campus Site Coordinator This is a person, more than likely a campus counselor, located at the student’s campus that will be responsible for online information dissemination, enrollment, registration, and credit posting.

1.Works with the campus principal and online learning mentor to deliver online course information for interested students and parents. 2.Actively promotes online course availability to the student body throughout the year and during enrollment periods. 3.Works individually with interested students to make sure selected courses meet student academic needs. 4. Works individually with students to register them for online courses . 5. Follow all online policies and procedures . 6. Supports and reinforces academic integrity . 7.Accepts final grade awarded and submits paper work so that grades may get reported on student transcripts. 8.Communicates student enrollment and any other vital information to the district’s online learning specialist. 9.Communicates with parents, teachers, and counselors of students who are falling behind in the course.

Online Learning Mentor This is a person located at the student’s campus who has outstanding organizational skills, intermediate technology skills, and strong communication skills. This person will regularly monitor student progress in the course. (The Online Learning Mentor is the point of contact at school for the student.)

1.Monitors progress of students and provides ongoing mentor-like support throughout duration of course.

2.Communicates with parents, teachers, and counselors of students who are falling behind in the course.

3.Helps with proctoring the face-to-face Final Exam or assists in the coordination of locating a proctor for the Exam.

4. Maintains communication records for each student .

5. Maintains communication with course instructors as needed based on observation of student progress. Roles of Virtual School Members

6. Updates the campus site coordinator and parents of each student periodically as to how the student is progressing in the online course.

7. Supports and reinforces academic integrity .

8. Completes an online course survey if requested .

9. Maintains open lab/open office time for students after school on day(s) specified by the campus principal. (if applicable)

10. Maintains a student lab usage log . (if applicable)

Student

1. Discusses online courses as it relates to graduation needs with his/her counselor.

2. Completes a Registration Request and an Online Learning Readiness Self-Assessment http://www.unc.edu/tlim/ser/ .

3. Obtains parent permission.

4. Reads Student Handbook for Virtual Courses and signs the Letter of Commitment.

5. Provides an email account that will be used for communicating with the online instructor.

6. Participates fully in the online course, maintaining communication with the online teacher.

7. Logs into the course at least an average of 3-4 times a week; meets stated deadlines as outlined in the course; completes and submits assignments online; commits time to the course as you would a traditional class in a school.

8. Asks for help from the online learning mentor if needed.

9. Has access to online services, computer hardware, and software that are necessary for the course.

10. Understands that all course work must be completed in order to receive credit for the course.

11. Understands that he/she will be required to take a face-to-face proctored Final Exam(s) and that a passing score must be obtained on the exam in order to receive credit for the course.

12. Follows all academic policies and procedures that are outlined in the handbook.