GOLIATH ACADEMY SCHOOL CATALOG 2013 - 2014 ADMISSIONS OFFICE 15165 NW 77th Avenue, Suite 2011 TEL:(305) 512-5994 Miami Lakes, Florida 33014 FAX:1(305) 768-8468 http://www.goliathacademy.org SATELLITE 6685 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 206 TEL:(561) 642-9123 Greenacres, Florida 33413 FAX:1(305) 768-8468 Goliath Academy is a Private, Christian High School duly listed with the Florida Department of Education, registered number #134083 and awards diplomas based on the Sunshine State Standards required (24) twenty-four Carnegie credits and (GPA) grade- point-average of 2.0 or above. A Message from The President Welcome to Goliath Academy. You are starting one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of your life. You have joined a school that strives to prepare graduates for success in an ever-increasing competitive work market. At Goliath Academy our motto is “You’re on your way to a better future”. We are committed to helping you succeed by offering you the opportunity to obtain your High School Diploma and advance professionally, and/or academically. In today’s hard times, with a market full of educated competition, it is imperative that everyone obtain a High School Diploma. Take advantage of the opportunity that Goliath Academy is offering you. We are here to help you grow to your fullest potential. Mrs. Consuelo B. Goliath President 2 Table Of Contents PAGE Accreditation……………………………………... 7 Statement of Control……………………………… 7 Approvals-Memberships and Affiliations………... 7 Philosophy………………………………………... 9 Missions-Goals and Objectives…………………... 9 Student Expectations & Admissions……………... 10 Entrance Requirements……………………… 10 Application Procedures……………………… 11 Florida Virtual School……………………….. 12 Distance Education & Home Schooling…….…… 13 Residency Requirement…………………… 15 Tuition and Fees…………………………………… 15 Withdrawal and Tuition Refund Policy…… 16 Student Services…………………………………… 16 Library Resources…………………………… 16 General School Information………………………. 17 Academic Policies and Procedures……… 19 Unit of Credit……………………………………… 20 Grading System………………………… 21 Graduation Requirements and Transcripts………… 22 Administration and Professional Staff…… 23 Faculty……………………………………… 23 3 This catalog is current as of the time of printing. The school reserves the right to make changes to course content, equipment, materials, organizational policy, tuition, and curriculum as circumstances dictate, subsequent to publication. The school expects students to have knowledge of the information presented in this catalog and other publications. The school is in compliance with the following: Title IV (The Civil Rights Act), Title IX (Discrimination on the Basis of Sex), The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Discrimination in Lending), and The Age Discrimination Act. Goliath Academy, 6685 Forest Hill Blvd., Greenacres, FL., 33413, admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the institution. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other institutionally administered programs. 4 About Goliath Academy ==== STATEMENT OF CONTROL Tutoring Services Inc. DBA Goliath Academy, is a private for profit institution for secondary learning as recognized by the State of Florida and the Internal Revenue Service. THE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS ARE: Mrs. Consuelo B. Goliath – President/CEO Rodys Goliath – Director/Head of Advising Christopher Chadd Goliath– Program Director/Head of Admissions Brenda .E. Felder – Principal/ Head of Academic Affairs GOLIATH ACADEMY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE: Osmundo Goliath Cleon Bethune Brenda .E. Felder, MED. Eda Zulueta Dr.Rodys Goliath, Phd. Antonio Justice Consuelo B. Goliath, BS Caridad M. Bory Christopher Chadd Goliath, BS Hector R. Eusebio Dr. Gilbert Goliath, M.D. Dr. Arecelis C. Castillo,M.D. Dr. Robert Castro, M.D. Dr.Jesse Goliath, Phd. Gabriel Goliath, BS MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS Goliath Academy, its faculty and staff maintain memberships and/or affiliations in the following professional organizations: The College Board: High School Code #101813 Florida Bright Future Scholarship American College Testing Program 5 Educational Testing Service National Athletic Intercollegiate Association Florida Distance Learning Association Home School Legal Defense Association National Collegiate Athletic Association Florida Coalition Christian Private Schools These documents are available for inspection during regular business hours. For additional information relating to memberships or affiliations, contact the Academic department or Program Director at (561) 642-9123. School Background History Goliath Academy was opened in 2001 by a church ministry of education professionals who were interested in helping the youth of the church pass exit exams from high schools, asvab exams for the military, college bound CPT test (Common Placement Test) currently called the PERT Test (Post-Secondary Education Readiness Test), and the SAT or ACT exams. Because some of us had earned graduate degrees through distance learning, at one of the first SACS accredited schools, Novasoutheastern University and alike, we became Tutoring Services Incorporated. As time went on and the need became apparent and greater that students were 6 dropping out of high schools, we became Goliath Academy in 2003. Among us, were veteran college professors from universities and colleges. Some were elementary and high school teachers and administrators from Florida and other states. After months of discussion and planning, this group committed to a venture in the growing world phenomenon of home school education and eventually the traditional classroom setting, virtual schooling (Internet) and the Adult- Education High School Completion Programs came to life. Recognizing that changes to the legal/regulatory environment would likely lead to an explosion in the arena of home school education or distance learning, these ladies and gentlemen set about to establish an institution to address the curricula and academic-support requirements of students and parents/guardians, who wished to take advantage of newly-enacted laws and pursue their secondary educations at a distance or nontraditionally. In a process that is still followed to this day, they enlisted the expertise of state-certified classroom teachers to create or select curriculum appropriate to adults (and teens, sixteen (16) years or older) that would satisfy the state’s requirements for high school content. This goal was undertaken even though it was not required of private high school operating in The State of Florida. Our founders were determined to obtain a Christian curriculum program of impeccable quality. Today, we are contracted and use a SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) approved curriculums 7 which is college preparatory. It was also recognized that the highest aspiration of many students would be to use their high school education to pursue a college degree. For this reason, the founders engaged the services of Christian professionals from all of the arenas in academia. These experts conducted a review of program content in order to establish that Goliath Academy’s academic programs were constructed so that graduates would be adequately prepared to face the scholastic challenge of a college or university. This is a practice that is still undertaken on an annual basis to ensure the ongoing quality and viability of our programs. To this end, our curriculums can be customized to meet the students’ academic level and blended to allow them to work from school and continue with the same work from home. This was made possible when we contracted with Alpha Omega Publications, a division of Glynlyon, Inc. The institution while a tutoring service began operations in the modest home of Mr. Mrs. Goliath at 19212 N.W. 81 Place, in Miami Gardens, Florida - approximately two miles from our main campus today. Because of the contribution of Mr. Mrs. Goliath allowing us to use their home for tutoring; the school was named Goliath Academy. In 2003, after expanding to multiple offices in Miami Lakes, the institution’s primary administrative functions were moved to a facility called the Capitol Office Building. This area was already home to a handful of well known academic and trade schools. 8 From rather humble beginnings – a home, the institution was run almost entirely by the founding church members - to today, Goliath Academy has made considerable progress. Our service and production staff has blossomed and grown leaps and bounds. Although Goliath Academy employed the services of Educational Service Providers International (ESPI), partners of Alpha Omega Publications, and a company who provides preparation for accreditation and Christian curriculums and books for over 30 years. The curriculums are used in schools who are CITA / SACS accredited institutions. Nonetheless, we still use curriculum writers, peer-content reviewers and academic support instructors to make up our faculty and assure our students the best possible learning experiences. Our administration is guided by twelve (12) learned individuals, Board Members or Board of Governors with advanced degrees in their fields of expertise. These individuals are Christians responsible for ensuring that our mission, philosophy, values, and policies remain viable and appropriate to the ever-changing environment