F

2013 - 2014

The AZVA HS

Handbook

h t t p : / / w w w . k 1 2 . c o m / a z v a

Arizona Virtual Academy

Table of Contents

1. General Education

a. Teachers’ Live Sessions

b. CCAT (Cyber Cats All Together) Time

c. Outings

d. High School Clubs

e. Attendance Policy

f. Summary of the Arizona Department of Education attendance rules

g. Illness/Extended Inability to Participate

h. Final Exams

i. Vacation Policy

j. Process for Withdrawal and Expulsion of Truant or Excessively Absent Students

2. Testing

a. Arizona State Law

b. AIMS and Stanford 10

c. Scantron

3. Grades

a. Grade Determination

b. Grading Scale

c. Class Rank and Honor Roll Determination

d. Evidence of Mastery

e. Late Work Policy

f. Academic Progress and Probation Policy

g. Guidelines for Integrity in Assessments and Assignments

h. Plagiarism

i. Source Citation

j. Academic Integrity

i. Consequences

1. First Offense

2. Second Offense

3. Third Offense

k. Report Cards

l. Student Records

m. Appeal of Final Semester Grades and Awarding of Credit

n. Grade Promotion and Awarding of Credit

o. Graduation Requirements

4. Technology Policies

a. Instant Messaging Policy

b. Student Internet Safety

c. Network Etiquette

d. Internet Service Provider (ISP) Reimbursement Policy

e. Monitoring

f. AZVA Indemnification Provision

g. Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

5. Behavior Expectations

a. Read the Code

b. AZVA Student Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Guidelines

i. Failure to Follow these Guidelines

ii. Accountability

iii. Inappropriate Behavior

6. Optimizing the High School Experience

a. Course Materials

b. Getting Started With High School at AZVA

c. HS Family Support

i. On-boarding Checklist

d. Student Actions to Ensure Success

e. Creating a Calendar

f. Time Management

7. Parent Section

a. Review Teacher Credentials

b. Parent Actions to Help Ensure Student Success

c. Checking Student Progress

d. Family Directory

e. Complaint Response Procedure

8. Special Programs

a. Special Education

b. Special Needs Students at AZVA Response to Intervention (RTI)

c. Child Find

d. Related Services

9. Glossary

10. Legal Notices

Introduction

This AZVA Handbook sets forth some general guidance for parents and students enrolled in the Arizona Virtual

Academy (AZVA) high school program. AZVA is a charter school and is subject to the rules and regulations of

the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools. The State Board for Charter Schools guidelines are available

online at http://www.asbcs.az.gov/. The AZVA charter contract is available from the AZVA office.

AZVA Mission Statement

Arizona Virtual Academy is a public online charter school that uses K12, Inc. programs and curricula to meet

the needs of diverse student populations through innovative uses of technology, effective teachers and

instruction, and partnerships with families and community. AZVA empowers students to think critically and

achieve academic success and personal growth. AZVA is devoted to making quality public education

accessible for all Arizona students- regardless of geographic, financial, or demographic circumstance – and to

provide online education alternatives that are as unique as the students we serve.

Getting Started

Whether you are first starting with AZVA or just reading through this guide as a refresher before beginning the

new school year, the sheer volume of the material can often be daunting. That is why AZVA, in partnership

with k12®, has created a variety of terrific support websites to help you so you can quickly become familiar

with AZVA and its programs; this list can be found at http://azva.k12start.com. If you are having trouble

getting started, you can always contact your student’s Counselor Tech (your “advisory” class teacher) or

Homeroom Teacher (all homeroom kmails are noted with the word “homeroom” in the subject line;

Homeroom Teachers will also identify themselves as such when calling), and he or she will be happy to answer

any questions you may have. With all these great resources at your disposable, you will be navigating the

AZVA pages with ease in no time, quickly customizing the program to best suit your needs as a Learning

Coach.

Calendars

Admission and Entrance Requirements

AZVA students must reside in Arizona in order to be eligible to enroll in AZVA. Additionally, at least 80% of our

new students for 2013-2014 must have been enrolled in and attended a public school (including charters)

during the 2012-2013 school year. Up to 20% of our 2013-2014 new-student population may be comprised of

students who did not attend a public school during the 2012-2013 school year.

Pursuant to ARS 15-808 I, AZVA teachers and administrators confer with parents of students whose academic

achievement declines while attending AZVA. AZVA evaluates progress within the Learning Management

System (LMS) and standardized test scores to determine academic achievement. If a student’s academic

achievement declines while attending AZVA, the school’s administration meets with the parents to discuss

whether the student should continue to participate in AZVA.

Back to top

General Education

Teachers’ Live Sessions

Each teacher will host live teaching sessions as well as open office times throughout the week. The schedule

for live sessions is posted in the Teacher Contact Info area of each course as well as noted in ClassConnect. All

sessions will be scheduled in the ClassConnect area of the OLS. Some live sessions may overlap occasionally.

When this occurs, students can make the decision as to which session they will attend. All teaching sessions

will be recorded and teachers will be available at other times to meet with students as needed when overlap

does occur.

MathOnDemand is a tutoring lab that students can access for extra assistance in their math courses. Students

are encouraged to attend when experiencing a challenge in math. Hours are from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.,

Monday – Thursday. All students taking a math course will see the ClassConnect invitation to the

MathOnDemand Lab in the OLS. Announcements are also posted in all math courses.

Back to top

CCAT (Cyber Cats All Together) Time

AZVA staff members want our students to feel actively engaged in the events and exciting online experiences

that take place at the high school level. CCAT, a universal time set aside each week for AZVA high school

students to meet, is scheduled for each Monday at 12:00PM. CCAT should be treated like any other class;

therefore, students need to attend and participate in this unique weekly experience.

During CCAT students will engage in a variety of activities. Every meeting will include weekly updates, student

government updates, club presentations, school information presentations, and activities intended to help

students be successful in the online learning environment, trivia games as well as opportunities for students to

share their own talents. Attendance will be taken and used for documentation purposes.

Outings

To assist parents in providing social experiences for their students, AZVA hosts monthly regional outings

throughout the state. These outings may be attended by any student, regardless of the area in which a family

resides. It is AZVA’s goal to provide quality and educational outings that also promote a social atmosphere.

High School Clubs

It is AZVA’s goal to foster a sense of community for our families during the school year. In an effort to help

families build more meaningful relationships, AZVA offers in-person and online clubs based on students’ and

families’ interests. Clubs meet online and/or at specific locations throughout the state. AZVA teachers

facilitate clubs in which students may participate.

Further information about clubs can be obtained by contacting the staff sponsor(s) as well as checking the

school announcements for updates and activities.

Back to top

Attendance Policy

All Arizona Virtual Academy high school students are enrolled solely on a full time basis. Students must enroll

in a minimum of five (5) courses each semester, with a typical course load equaling six (6) courses per

semester.

AZVA requires that all students attend school a minimum of 25 hours per week and 900 hours per academic

year. Requirements are aligned to The Arizona Department of Education requirements for all Arizona high

school students. This means our students must work in their courses for at least 25 hours per week or

approximately five (5) hours per week per course. Students taking six (6) courses should complete a minimum

of 30 hours per week.

AZVA reports weekly attendance to the state, beginning with the first day of our school year. If a student can

only attend school for 20 hours during a week, he or she is behind five (5) hours for that week. If the student

attends school for 30 hours the following week, AZVA can credit the additional attendance time towards the

prior week’s attendance. Students should try to stay consistent in their weekly schooling hours, but flexibility

does exist for our families as long as students maintain at least the average attendance hours.

In addition, students should adhere to the school’s instructional calendar, but students may “swap” vacation

days or holidays.

Student attendance hours will be tracked according to the school’s excessive absence and truancy policy. A

student may be withdrawn if he or she is below 90% of the required attendance hours. Students must be

withdrawn if they miss ten (10) consecutive days of school (consecutive calendar days.) Arizona statute

requires AZVA to withdraw the student on the 10th consecutive day of absence.

Back to top

Summary of the Arizona Department of Education attendance rules

Instructional time is calculated each week.

Students must “attend” school a specific number of hours each week, based on grade level.

Students should adhere to the AZVA instructional calendar; however, students may school on non-

instructional days or swap vacation days during a semester as long as they are schooling adequate

hours and completing all coursework. Students who swap instructional days beyond the Monday-

Friday school week should consult with their teachers to ensure no deadlines are missed.

Student absences will be calculated for each week day during which a student attends school fewer

hours than required

Students must adhere to the AZVA instructional calendar; attendance will not be tallied on non-

instructional days.

All instructional time may be credited for “attendance”; students do not need to be online to count

that time for attendance. However, students should be logging into their classes every day even when

they are working offline in order to avoid a discrepancy between user activity hours and logged

attendance hours. Offline hours will vary by course, but they must make up no more than 10% of total

hours logged for attendance. Discrepancies of more than 10% may be investigated to ensure that

students are not logging false attendance.

AZVA will continue to take a stand against this antiquated legislation. In the meantime, it is critical that

both parents and students understand and adhere to these regulations. Please contact AZ Parents for

Education www.azparents.org for additional information regarding efforts to eliminate these rules. If

you have further questions regarding this issue, please contact the AZVA office at (602) 476-1320.

Illness/Extended Inability to Participate

If an unexpected situation should arise and there is an extended leave of three days or more needed from

courses, students must follow these steps:

1. Determine if Internet access is available (through libraries, family, friends, etc.).

2. Contact teachers and the Guidance Counselor to explain the situation.

3. Report the problem to the Learning Coach.

4. Discuss class alternatives with the instructor and Learning Coach.

Final Exams

Students must take final exams at the end of both fall and spring semesters. Excused absences are not

allowed for these exams. In order to protect test confidentiality, all exams must be taken on assigned days.

Students who cheat and/or plagiarize in any way on a final exam or final project shall not be allowed to

resubmit it for credit. Final exam schedules are posted in course calendars at the beginning of the semester;

further information is posted in course announcements and kmailed to families throughout the semester.

Vacation policy

The Arizona Virtual Academy is a public school. Students must attend at least 90% of the possible instructional

hours for the school year AND must not miss school for ten (10) consecutive days. If a family needs to plan a

vacation, this vacation must not include more than 10% of the possible instructional hours and must not last

more than ten (10) consecutive days. Assignments due during a family-scheduled vacation must be completed

prior to the vacation, and it is the student’s responsibility to contact his or her teachers prior to this absence.

There are no exceptions to this policy. Assignments that are completed late due to a family-scheduled

vacation during school are subject to the late work policy.

Back to top

Process for Withdrawal and Expulsion of Truant or Excessively Absent Students

1. Student attendance will be monitored regularly.

2. Students who miss five (5) or more consecutive days or who have logged less than the 90% of the

required hours will be notified. Students are considered excessively absent when they have missed ten

(10) consecutive instructional days and/or their cumulative attendance is 90% or less than what is

mandated by the state. AZVA policy states that we may withdraw any student who does not meet

these attendance requirements.

Once a student has been withdrawn from AZVA, he or she will receive a letter from K12 detailing all materials

that must be returned.

Arizona State Law

Pursuant to A.R.S. 15-808 B, AZVA must notify students and parents of mandatory state testing requirements.

If AZVA fails to test 95% of its students, the students who did not test for that testing session become

ineligible to continue enrollment in AZVA.

AIMS and Stanford 10

High school testing requirements are dependent upon the cohort year. The cohort year is determined by the

first time a student attends 9th grade. If a student attended 9th grade in 2010-2011, he or she is considered

cohort year 2014. If a student is attending 9th grade for the first time in the 2013-2014 school year, he or she is

considered cohort year 2017.

AZVA 9th grade students in cohort year 2017 must take the 9th grade Stanford 10 test on Thursday, April 10,

2014.

AZVA encourages 9th grade students in cohort year 2017 who are enrolled in a high school biology course to

take the AIMS HS Science test on April 9, 2014.

AZVA high school students in cohort year 2016 must complete AIMS HS Writing Test on Monday, February 24,

2014, the AIMS HS Reading test on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, the AIMS HS Math test on Tuesday, April 8,

2014 as well as the AIMS HS Science test on Wednesday, April 9, 2014.AZVA high school students in cohort

year 2015 or beyond who need to pass the AIMS-HS test to receive a diploma have two opportunities a year to

State Testing

take the test. Fall testing occurs on Tuesday, October 22, 2014 for the AIMS HS Writing test, Wednesday,

October 23, 2013 for the AIMS HS Reading test, and Thursday, October 24, 2013 for the AIMS HS Mathematics

test. Spring testing occurs on Monday, February 24, 2014 for the AIMS HS Writing test, on Tuesday, February

25, 2014 for the AIMS HS Reading test, the AIMS HS Math test on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, as well as the AIMS

HS Science test on Wednesday, April 9, 2014.

Scantron

All 9th and 10th graders are expected to complete Scantron testing at the beginning of each school year (or

upon enrollment) and at the end of the school year. Two tests are required: reading and writing. Links, logins,

and other Scantron information will be communicated to students by their Counselor Tech or Family Support

Specialist.

Students who do not complete required testing (Stanford 10, AIMS, Scantron) will be locked out of courses

and/or will have grades/transcripts withheld until they comply with school policy.

Grade Determination

AZVA High School grades are determined by the sum total of points a student earns on all graded assignments

and tests.

Points earned by student/Total points possible = Grade

Example: In his or her math class, the student earns 563 points out of a total of 700 possible points. The grade

will be 80%.

563/700 = 80%

Grading Scale

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 60-69%

F = 0 – 59%

Grades

Class Rank and Honor Roll Determination

Class rank is determined by rank ordering the cumulative grade point average of all students within a grade

level. The following values are assigned to semester grades in each course:

A = 4

B = 3

C = 2

D = 1

F = 0

Any student who fails a course (F) will not earn credit. If that credit is required for graduation the student will need to retake the course at a later time.

Advanced Placement®/Honors courses carry the following weighted value*.

A = 5

B = 4

C = 3

D = 2

F = 0

Students earning a semester grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for the Honor Roll.

*Students enrolled in Advanced Placement® courses must receive a grade of A, B or C to remain in the same

level of course for the following semester. Students who do not earn a grade of A, B or C in Advanced

Placement® will be placed in the Comprehensive level of the course for the following semester.

Students enrolled in Honors courses must submit the Honors project (or a portion of the project) by a specific

date, communicated by the Course Teacher in the course calendar. Students who do not submit this project

by this date will be removed from the honors course immediately and placed in the Comprehensive level of

the course for the remainder of the semester. Students who do not earn a grade of A, B, or C in their Honors

course will be placed in the Comprehensive level of the course for the following semester.

Evidence of Mastery

Grades are determined based on how well a student performs on graded activities within each course. Graded

activities include but are not limited to:

Practice Lessons Threaded Discussions Web Explorations Labs Journal Entries

Class Discussions Quizzes Tests

Some assignments are teacher graded, and others are computer graded. During the semester, students and

parents can always view grades in the grade book for each course. It is important to note that these grades

are updated every time an assignment is graded, so the course gradebook within the Learning Management

System (LMS)* is always going to be the most current grade for that course.

*To see the most current grades for world language courses, students and Learning Coaches can view grades

within the Power Speak platform, where the world language curriculum is housed.

Warning: If a deadline has passed and the teacher has not entered a zero for that assignment, the student’s

grade may be temporarily inflated. Zeros are typically entered by Tuesday for work not received by the

Sunday night deadline.

Back to top

Late Work Policy

Graded assignments – whether teacher- or computer scored – are listed on the course calendar. These

assignments must be completed and submitted no later than midnight the Sunday following the due

date for that assignment to receive full credit for the work. Any work that is assigned during the week

that is not received by Sunday will be considered missing and assigned a zero. Late work submitted

after this Sunday deadline through the locking date at the end of the semester will be eligible to earn

up to 70% credit. Due dates and late penalties are determined by individual teachers within these

guidelines.

While AZVA is a flexible learning environment, students are expected to stay current with their studies

in order to master the material in their courses.

Please check the course syllabi for teacher/department-specific late policies.

Under extreme circumstances, teachers may grant due date extensions on assignments. Families

should never assume that teachers will automatically grant these requests. Due date extensions

must be requested before the due date of the assignment during the school week. Requests received

on or past the due date, or on a non-school day, will not be granted.

Assignments not received by the scheduled locking date at the end of the semester will receive a grade

of zero, with no exceptions.

In case of computer- or internet-issues, students are required to contact their classroom teachers

immediately to communicate the issue, so please have a hardcopy of all teachers’ names and phone

numbers.

Please be aware that because of the point values assigned to teacher-scored assignments, it is

mathematically impossible to pass a course without completing them.

Back to top

Academic Progress and Probation Policy

AZVA makes every effort to work with all students to ensure their success in their high school

courses. However, we recognize that not all students are successful in the online environment for a variety of

reasons. AZVA has designed the Academic Progress and Probation Policy to ensure that students are

achieving satisfactory academic progress towards graduation in the most appropriate school

environment. This program ensures that students are given the support to be as successful as

possible. However, if students are not making satisfactory academic progress, we will encourage them to

locate an alternate school placement.

During the course of a semester, student progress is monitored by the administration, Guidance Counselors,

Counselor Techs, and Teachers. If a student exhibits signs of academic risk over the course of a semester, we

will meet with the Learning Coach and student and devise strategies to assist the student.

After the first month of school, students who are failing multiple classes will be notified and required

to attend a session once a week with their Counselor Tech. These sessions will be used to identify areas

of concern for struggling students as well as to help them develop an action plan for success.

Attendance will be taken each week and sent to administration. Any student who is required to attend

this session and does not will be in danger of being withdrawn for not complying with the school’s

requirements.

If the student’s academic progress does not improve throughout the semester and the student fails more than

50% of his or her high school courses in any given semester, the AZVA HS academic team will place the student

on academic probation status. The academic probation program, called StARS, provides additional support

and mentoring to students to improve their academic progress throughout the following semester.

1. The student will participate weekly in the StARS course to design weekly goals and assignments, which

will be monitored by the StARS Coordinator.

2. The student must attend weekly CCAT meetings in the StARS coordinator’s Blackboard Collaborate™

room where strategies for success will be discussed for each given week. If a student cannot attend the

live session, the recording will be posted in the StARS course for viewing at a later time that same

week.

3. The student and Learning Coach will respond in a timely manner to all kmail and/or phone

communications from teachers and the StARS coordinator. Failure to communicate could potentially

result in being locked out of the student’s courses until communication is re-established with the AZVA

staff.

4. The student is strongly encouraged to attend at least 1 hour of live sessions per week in each academic

class for clarification, instruction, and support.

5. The student must demonstrate matching attendance in the LMS and OLS. If these do not match, the

OLS attendance may be removed and the student may be withdrawn due to truancy. In addition, not

only will false attendance be cause for withdrawal or truancy, but it will also count as a violation of

AZVA’s academic probation policy.

6. The student must strive to maintain a grade of 60% or above in all courses.

7. Verified violations of cheating and/or plagiarism will not be excused or tolerated at AZVA. Students will

receive a zero on the assignment and the violation will be counted as an infraction of AZVA’s academic

probation policy.

8. Students must pass a minimum of 4 out of 6 courses in order to graduate from the StARS program. If a

student does not graduate from StARS after a total of 2 semesters, he or she will not be allowed to re-

enroll in AZVA.

Back to top

Guidelines for Integrity in Assessments and Assignments Assessments, such as quizzes, and tests, are a critical part of any academic program. They offer important

information about the student’s progress toward mastery. This information is helpful only if accurate. It can be

accurate only if the assessment represents the student’s work and only his or her work.

Unless otherwise instructed by the teacher or by a specific assessment, the student is expected to honor the

following principles while taking assessments:

The student:

will take the assessment independent of any assistance.

will not copy or redistribute any part of the assessment in any way—electronically, verbally, or on

paper.

will treat the assessment as “closed book”—meaning that he or she may not use any textbooks,

references, or other materials (printed or electronic) during the assessment—unless the teacher or the

specific assessment otherwise instructs (for example, the student is specifically told to refer to certain

pages in a book as part of the assessment).

will treat the assessment as “single browser”—meaning that during the assessment the student may

not log in a second time to the course, or open the course or related materials on another browser on

another computer.

answers will represent his or her work and only his or her work, free of any outside assistance. The

student will not plagiarize in any way.

will not confer with other students, family members, or acquaintances, either in person or through

electronic communication, during the assessment.

The student will be asked to submit written assignments for teachers to grade. The student’s written work

should be completely free of plagiarism. Plagiarism is copying another person’s work without providing direct

reference to the author, original print material or website. Put simply, always give credit where it is due. The

student must ask his or her teacher if he or she has questions regarding citing sources. Remember that AZVA

utilizes web tools to check for student plagiarism.

Unless the teacher or the assessment’s specific directions state exceptions, the student is expected to follow

these principles while taking assessments and completing written assignments. Only by honoring these

principles can the student assure both academic and personal integrity.

Plagiarism

The definition of plagiarism is copying or imitating the language, ideas, and thoughts of another writer and

passing them off as the student’s own original work. Specific examples of plagiarism that will not tolerated are

Copying, paraphrasing or summarizing another person’s work without citing that source.

Using material, including photographs, from the internet or any other source and representing as the

student’s own, even if he or she has changed some of the words.

Having someone else write the assignment or rephrase any portion of that assignment.

Directly copying or rephrasing student aids (Cliff’s Notes, for example), critical sources, or reference

materials in part or whole without acknowledging those sources.

Source Citation

Many courses require written work where students need to cite sources. Any direct quotations from a

textbook can simply be cited as (Author, page number). Any quotations from outside sources require full

citations, including author, title, publisher, date of publication, and page number. If a student cites

information found on a website, he or she must provide the complete web page or site title, URL, author (if

known), page number (if applicable), publication date of the site (if available), and date of access.

Students are responsible for their own work on unit tests and final exams. Students are not allowed to use

notes, quizzes, or textbooks on unit tests or on the final exams. Students are not permitted to share work

with other students on unit tests or final exams. If a student does not complete his or her own work or shares

work with others on unit tests and/or final exams, he or she will not receive credit for the work and is at risk of

suspension or expulsion from AZVA.

Students must cite sources in all assignments, tests, and exams. Students do not receive credit for work that

does not appropriately cite sources.

Back to top

Academic Integrity

All assignments are assumed to be the student’s original work. Therefore, if the student utilizes any ideas that

are not his or her original thoughts, the student must cite his or her sources using MLA format. A student who

fails to abide by these standards will be reported to the high school assistant principal and will be subject to

disciplinary action.

Consequences

First offense – The student and parent will receive a kmail and/or call from the classroom teacher. The

student will not receive credit for the plagiarized assignment unless the following steps are completed:

1. The student will be required to review the plagiarism recorded lesson and complete the plagiarism

worksheet (provided by the teacher).

2. When the student has complied, he or she will be allowed to redo and resubmit the assignment for

credit.

Second offense – The student and parent will receive a call from the High School Principal. The student will

not be allowed to rewrite the assignment, and a grade of zero will be posted for the assignment.

Third offense – Expulsion.

Please note that because AZVA considers plagiarism a serious offense, these consequences apply to all

instances of plagiarism in a student’s high school career here at AZVA, regardless of grade level or subject.

These consequences do not “start over” each new semester or school year; all instances are documented for

the entirety of a student’s tenure at AZVA.

Report Cards

Fall semester report cards are issued in January, and spring semester report cards are issued in June.

Student Records

Student records are maintained at the AZVA office. Please contact the AZVA office to obtain a copy of student

records. A copying fee may be assessed. If families change their address, telephone, or place of employment,

they must notify the school immediately by contacting infochange@azva.org with the new information.

Parents are responsible for keeping contact information current within the My Info section of the LMS.

Appeal of Final Semester Grades and Awarding of Credit

Students and parents may appeal a student’s final grade or the school’s decision to award credit for a course

up to 30 days after the end of a semester. Appeals will not be considered later than 30 days after the end of a

semester.

Grade Promotion and Awarding of Credit

Students are promoted based on the number of credits earned. Credit is not awarded for courses in which a

student earns an F or fails to log 90% (65 hours) of the required attendance. Students may repeat a course in

which they have earned an F. If the student passes the course on the second attempt they will receive that

grade but the previous failed course will remain on the transcript. Credit is granted for courses in which the

student completes the attendance requirement and earns an A, B, C or D. Students may repeat courses for a

higher grade if they choose to do so. If this occurs, credit will only be granted once for that class and the other

course will receive credit for an elective class. Students enrolling in a course 30 days after the official school

semester start date are on audit status and not eligible to earn credit. Grade-level classification is based on the

number of credits earned and is reviewed at the end of each semester.

0 – 5 credits 9th grade

6 -11 credits 10th grade

12-17 credits 11th grade

17- 22 credits 12th grade

Graduation Requirements

AZVA students must complete 22 credits to be eligible for graduation. Students must earn the following

credits to graduate:

English 4 credits

Math 4 credits

Science 3 credits

Social studies 3 credits (including 1 credit of World History, 1 credit of US History, and ½ credit of American Government and ½ credit of Economics)

Fine Arts 1 credit

Foreign Language 2 credits (of the same foreign language)*

Electives 5 credits

*AZVA requirement

Back to top

Instant Messaging Policy

Technology Policies

AZVA teachers and counselors are available through instant messages (IM) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. AZVA

teachers will not be available to send and receive student instant messages before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00

p.m. The subject matter of teacher/student instant messages will be limited to discussions about school

policies and academic issues. Students and families are encouraged to use instant messenger to contact their

teachers, but it is not required. Kmail is the preferred means for contacting teachers.

Student Internet Safety

On the Internet, students must not reveal personal information about themselves or other persons.

For example, a student should not reveal his or her name, home address, telephone number, or display

photographs of him/herself or others to persons outside of the AZVA.

Students cannot agree to meet in person anyone they have met only on the Internet and who is not

affiliated with the AZVA. First meetings with AZVA affiliated students should be at school-sponsored

events.

Network Etiquette

AZVA 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:

Establish Instant Message user names and e-mail addresses that are appropriate for the school setting.

Avoid sarcasm, jargon, and slang. Swear words are unacceptable.

Avoid using abbreviations or inappropriate contractions. For example:

Appropriate Inappropriate

“you” “u”

“your” “ur”

“see you later” “cya”

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.

Focus responses on the questions or issues being discussed, not on the individuals involved.

Be constructive with criticism, not hurtful.

Review 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

personal information.

Back to top

Internet Service Provider (ISP) Reimbursement Policy

The Arizona Virtual Academy has a new policy regarding the provision of internet subsidies and student

computers.

For the 2013-2014 school year, students enrolled in the Arizona Virtual Academy who are eligible for

free/reduced lunch as determined by the National School Lunch Program standardized form are eligible to

receive an internet service provider subsidy of $12.95 per month. Students meeting these requirements are

eligible to receive an internet service provider subsidy if the students

participate in the Online School (grades K-8) or Learning Management System (high school) for sixty

(60) calendar days,

are enrolled in AZVA on the last day of the school year,

participate in all required standardized testing,

meet academic progress guidelines described in the Arizona Virtual Academy Hand Book, and

demonstrate an average of 6 hours of attendance per instructional day (kindergarten students must

demonstrate an average of 3 hours of attendance per day).

Students who have a current Individualized Education Plan that requires assistive technology will receive an

internet service provider subsidy of $12.95 per month.

Subsidies are limited to one per family. Students enrolled prior to the 15th of each month will be eligible for

the subsidy for that month. Students enrolling after the 15th of the month will qualify for the subsidy

beginning the first day of the following month. Subsidies are mailed to students’ parents after the end of the

school year.

Students enrolled in the Arizona Virtual Academy who are eligible for free/reduced lunch as determined by

the National School Lunch Program standardized form may request a student computer and printer that will

be provided on loan to the student while enrolled in AZVA. Students who have a current Individualized

Education Plan that require assistive technology may request a student computer and printer that will be

provided on loan to the student while enrolled in AZVA. Please direct questions on this policy to

techpolicy@azva.org.

Back to top

Monitoring

AZVA reserves the right to review any material transmitted using AZVA instructional computing resources or

posted to an AZVA instructional computing resource to determine the appropriateness of such material. AZVA

may review this material at any time, with or without notice. E-mail transmitted via AZVA instructional

computing resources is not private and may be monitored.

AZVA Indemnification Provision

AZVA assumes no responsibility for information obtained via the Internet, which may be illegal, defamatory,

inaccurate or offensive. AZVA assumes no responsibility for any claims, losses, damages, costs, or other

obligations arising from the use of instructional computing resources. AZVA also denies any responsibility for

the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through user access. Any statement, accessible on the

computer network or the Internet, is understood to be the author’s individual point of view and not that of

AZVA, its affiliates, or its employees. AZVA assumes no responsibility for damages to the user’s computer

system.

Nothing in this policy negates any obligation the student and parent have to use the instructional computing

recourses as required in the Use of Instructional Property Agreement ("Agreement") the parent or guardian

signed as part of the student's enrollment packet. In the event that this Code conflicts with the Agreement,

the terms of the Agreement shall prevail.

FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives 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, and 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, your student’s name, and the name of the virtual

academy or affiliate school where your student is enrolled to: directoryinformation@k12.com. This e-mail

must be sent within 30 days of enrolling in AZVA.

Notice of these rights is available, upon request, on audiotape, in Braille, and in languages other than

English. You may contact the Arizona Department of Education at 602-542-3111.

Back to top

“I Understand” Statements

I understand that I am required to have access to a computer with a working microphone and internet

access at all times during my student’s enrollment in the Arizona Virtual Academy. I understand that I

am responsible for personal computer repairs. I also understand that I am responsible for submitting

work on time even if I am experiencing computer difficulties.

Read the Code

Prior to the start date for each school year, students must read the Student Code of Conduct and Acceptable

Use Guidelines and agree to abide by its terms.

Back to top

Behavior Expectations

AZVA Student Code of Conduct and Acceptable Use Guidelines

This document describes the policies and guidelines for the use of the AZVA High School and exists to ensure

that all AZVA students are aware of and understand their responsibilities when accessing and using AZVA

resources.

AZVA reserves the right to update or alter this agreement at any time. Such revisions may substantially alter

access to AZVA instructional computing resources. AZVA instructional computing resources include any

computer, software, or transmission system that is owned, operated, or leased by AZVA.

Students enrolled in AZVA should be aware of the following guidelines and expectations. Any activity that is

not listed here, which violates local, state, or federal laws, is considered a violation of the Student Code of

Conduct and Acceptable Use Guidelines.

Failure to follow these guidelines could result in the following:

removal of student access to AZVA instructional computing resources, which could result in his/her

inability to complete learning activities,

suspension or expulsion from AZVA, and

involvement with law enforcement agencies and possible legal action.

Accountability

Posting anonymous messages is not permitted unless authorized by the course’s online teacher.

Impersonating another person is also strictly prohibited.

Students must use only their own user names and passwords, and must not share these with anyone.

Students must log into ClassConnect sessions not scheduled via the ClassConnect link within the OLS

with first name and last initial only.

Students may not interfere with other users’ ability to access AZVA or disclose anyone’s password to

others or allow them to use another user’s account. Students are responsible for all activity that is

associated with their usernames and passwords.

Students should change their password(s) frequently; at least once per semester or course is

encouraged.

Students must not publicly post their personal contact information (address and phone number) or

anyone else’s.

Students must not publicly post any messages that were sent to them privately.

Students must not download, transmit or post material that is intended for personal gain or profit,

non-AZVA commercial activities, non-AZVA product advertising, or political lobbying on an AZVA

owned instructional computing resource.

Students may not use AZVA instructional computing resources to sell or purchase any illegal items or

substances.

It is not allowed to upload or post any software on AZVA instructional computing resources that are

not specifically required and approved for student assignments.

Students may not post any MP3 files, compressed video, or other non-instructional files to any AZVA

server.

Back to top

Inappropriate Behavior

Inappropriate behavior includes

insults or attacks of any kind against another person,

use of obscene, degrading, or profane language,

harassment (continually posting unwelcome messages to another person) or use of threats,

posting material that is obscene or defamatory or which is intended to annoy, harass or intimidate

another person. This includes distributing “spam” mail, chain e-mail, viruses, or other intentionally

destructive content.

Course Materials

Students are provided with materials and tools to use with the high school courses. Parents and students are

advised to take care of the materials. Materials are to be returned at the end of the school year (except for

consumable materials and optional materials families purchase on their own). One of the tools that students

will see and use frequently is a web-based Blackboard Collaborate™ program. This is a real-time interaction

that helps engage students in hands-on learning.

Back to top

Getting Started With High School at AZVA

Student and parent usernames and passwords are unique and must not be shared with anyone. Each will

have separate usernames and passwords, one for the Learning Coach and one for the student.

Attending an orientation session is a key to success with the high school program. Course Teachers offer live

orientations during the first week of school. You will be notified of these orientations via kmail. Should you

miss any of the live course orientations, you will be able to access a recorded version located in the

ClassConnect section of each course. If you have trouble locating the recording, please contact your Course

Teacher. You should attend or view the course orientations before getting started in each course. Students

Optimizing the High

School Experience

should log in daily to all of their courses and complete the assignments listed on the course’s calendar. It is

recommended that students study at least one hour, per course, per day. All work listed for the week is due

by Sunday night. Work submitted after the Sunday night deadline is subject to the late policy.

HS Family Support Specialist 2013-2014

New students to AZVA will be assigned to a Family Support Liaison and placed in a homeroom. The Family

Support Liaison will send a welcome kmail, make a welcome call to explain the on-boarding/Strong Start

process, answer any questions, and monitor/track completion of Strong Start items. Follow-up calls, kmails,

and conferences will be held for any student who has not completed their Strong Start items. Any students

who are unresponsive to contact within 10 days after the start of school will be submitted for withdrawal per

school attendance/enrollment policies.

Once a student has completed all of the items on the Strong Start Checklist, the Family Support Liaison will

remain connected to the family for the duration of the semester. At the end of the semester, the Family

Support Liaison will conduct an exit interview with the family to verify they are proficient in schooling with

AZVA.

Strong Start On-boarding Checklist

In order to be considered proficient, students and Learning Coaches must complete the following items:

Attend one orientation

Create Learning Coach and student accounts

Demonstrate understanding of kmail by sending or replying to at least one kmail

Complete Math and Reading Scantron Tests

Complete the Online Learning Course

Attendance must be up-to-date in the parent account and progress must be made in all courses

Student and Learning Coach must complete Exit Interview with their Family Support Liaison

Student Actions to Ensure Success

1. Follow the daily assignments in the announcements section of each course.

2. On the first day of school, make sure you can access all your courses and send/receive kmail

3. Contact your Guidance Counselor to make sure you’re all set up and to schedule any necessary

meetings.

4. Log into your courses in the Learning Management System (LMS) every day and spend 60 minutes in

each class reading and completing the daily assigned coursework.

5. Organize yourself each week by determining what you need to complete for each course and setting

up a plan to complete the assignments by their deadlines. Use the course tools (announcements,

calendar, grade book) to help set up your personal plan.

6. Check your grade book tab in each course to make sure that you have been included. Contact your

teacher if your name does not appear.

7. Log into your kmail daily to read and respond to kmail from your teachers and other high school staff.

8. Attend live sessions offered by your Course Teachers as often as you can to ask questions, discuss

course topics, and reinforce online learning.

9. Communicate regularly with your teachers and Guidance Counselor. Ask questions often!

10. Work with your Learning Coach/parent at home - having a cheerleader or a support system at home

helps when the going gets tough!

11. Connect with other students through homeroom, clubs, outings, the online community center, and

other activities. Build a support network!

Creating a Calendar

AZVA has provided a suggested calendar based on each course syllabus. The calendars are specific to each

course and cannot be adjusted to individual paces. To stay on track, students are advised to check this

suggested calendar provided for each class and the course announcements daily. The calendar can be found

on the course page under the “Calendar” link on the left hand side of the page.

Time Management

In an online course, time management is critical to success because most activities can be accomplished

asynchronously (this means that the students do not have to be online at the same time as the instructor or

other students). As with any traditional course, there is a risk of receiving a lower grade if a student falls

behind. If a student struggles with time management, then he or she should contact his or her Guidance

Counselor for assistance.

A proven way to manage time is to create a schedule of daily activities and stick to it. Below is an example of

managing and planning a busy schedule (students are not required to follow this but instead encouraged to

create a schedule that works for each individual). By incorporating time management techniques, students

can be involved in extracurricular activities and still perform well in school.

Back to top

Sample High School Time Management Schedule

Monday

8:00 – 8:30 Check kmail

8:30 – 9:30 Art Lesson

9:30 - 10:30 Algebra lesson

10:30 – 10:45 CCAT Time

10:45 - 11:45 English lesson

11:45 - 12:30 Lunch

12:30 - 1:30 Earth Science lesson

1:30 - 1:45 Break

1:45 - 2:00 Attend English teacher’s office hours

2:00 - 3:00 World History lesson

3:30 - 4:30 Karate class

4:30 - 6:30 Free time, dinner

6:30 – 7:00 Check discussion board postings and responses

7:00 – 8:00 Spanish lesson

8:00 - Free time, send e-mail, etc.

Review Teacher Credentials

Pursuant to A.R.S. 15-183 F., parents may review resumes of Arizona Virtual Academy teachers by calling the

school office at (602) 476-1320.

Parent Actions to Help Ensure Student Success

1. Attend an orientation session for a general overview of the high school program. These dates and

times will be communicated via kmail.

2. Log into the Learning Management System (LMS) with your student so that you can learn the systems

together.

Parent section

3. Help your student organize and prepare for this virtual setting. Arrange a designated an area where

the student has space to work. Also make sure that the computer and scanner/printer/fax machine

are all in good working order. Help your student create a personal calendar each week to ensure that

he or she has a plan to complete those weekly assignments. Monitor each week the student’s

organization plan until your student has his or her routine in working order and is experiencing

academic success.

4. Log into both the Parent and Student Account Daily to read/check kmails.

5. Log into the parent account regularly to log student attendance each day in the Online School

(OLS) Don’t forget to include time spent off line that entails academics, such as reading a novel,

visiting a museum, or watching a history documentary. (These are just a few examples)

6. Stay in regular communication with your student’s Counselor Tech.

7. Take advantage of parent trainings, meetings, and informative sessions.

Back to top

Checking Student Progress

There are tools within the Learning Management System environment that allow parent/learning coaches and

students to quickly check student’s work, determine missing assignments, view midterm and final deadlines

and grades, and access cumulative reports. Directions for accessing the report information is provided in the

“Online Learning Course” assigned to each student.

Family Directory

Building school community is important at AZVA. One of the tools available to families is the school directory.

Families who choose to do so may have their directory information listed. The family directory is a searchable

data base that helps connect AZVA families with others in their area. Please contact your guidance counselor

for more information.

Complaint Response Procedure

The Arizona Virtual Academy is dedicated to establishing student/family satisfaction. The following procedure

is in place to ensure that designated employees address student/family grievances in a timely manner. AZVA

prohibits discrimination against students/families on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, gender, national

origin, or religion.

The student and parent(s), custodian(s) or legal guardian(s), must address in writing any concern or grievance

to the program director. The Program Director shall respond within ten (10) working days.

If the concern or grievance is not resolved by the program director, the parent(s), custodian(s) or legal

guardian(s) may, within ten (10) working days of the program director’s response, request in writing a meeting

(via phone or in person) with the program director to discuss the concern or grievance. He/she shall

investigate and respond within ten (10) working days.

If the family’s concern is not resolved at the meeting with the program director, the family may file a

complaint with the AZVA governing body. The AZVA governing body may address the complaint directly, or

the family may file a complaint with the State Board for Charter Schools. AZVA has 30 days to respond in

writing to a formal complaint filed with the State Board for Charter Schools.

Back to top

Back to top

Special Education

Special education services are available to students identified with a disability by a multi-disciplinary team. A

multi-disciplinary team consists of teachers, the parent/guardian and oftentimes a school psychologist,

therapist and the student. AZVA follows the requirements of IDEA 2004 and the laws of Arizona.

Documentation of the disability must be provided; such as medical records, prior educational records and/or a

psychological evaluation. For new referrals AZVA uses Response to Intervention (RTI) school-wide as a first

level support; to assist in the identification of educational needs; and to document the student is unable to

learn with scientifically based interventions.

Students in need of adapted learning support services are those whose complex learning needs impact their

academic achievement and their ability to make sufficient progress in the general education setting. Services

offered may include: adaptations and modifications to the general education curriculum, specialized

instructional strategies, and adjustments in pacing. The student’s home is the regular classroom. Services are

provided by consultation with a highly qualified special education teacher via phone, e-mail and the

ClassConnect online classroom.

What to expect:

Every Special Education student will be assigned a special education teacher in addition to his or her

regular Course Teachers. The Learning Coach/parent or guardian and student are expected to meet

regularly with the Special Education Teacher in the ClassConnect online classroom and by conference

call.

The Special Education Teacher provides the Learning Coach/parent or guardian assistance to modify

and adapt the learning environment as well as curriculum paths for success.

The Special Education Teacher provides direct instruction to the student in the ClassConnect online

classroom on a regular basis.

Special Programs

The Special Education Teacher, the regular education teacher, and the Learning Coach/parent or

guardian will meet together for a 3-way conference by phone or ClassConnect online session a

minimum of once a semester.

The Special Education Teacher is available as a resource for instructional strategies, adaptations and

modifications to the curriculum.

The Special Education Teacher will provide a progress report at the end of each semester, noting the

progress on the student’s IEP goals.

Special Education students are required to meet the same attendance policies as their peers. The

home environment, one-on-one instruction, and flexible schedule create a learning environment which

meets the student’s specific needs.

Back to top

Special needs Students at AZVA Response to Intervention (RtI)

AZVA uses Response to Intervention (RtI) school-wide as a first level support, to assist in the identification of

educational needs, and to provide scientifically based interventions for struggling students.

Students in need of extra assistance are identified by placement tests, prior state test results, parent input and

progress in the curriculum. Students may be identified at any time during the school year. Highly-qualified

teams provide instructional and behavioral strategies. Interventions may include teaching and behavior

modification strategies, and attendance in ClassConnect office hours.

If you believe your student has a learning problem, the first step is to request an RtI consultation with your

student’s assigned Guidance Counselor. If you have further questions contact Carrie Marino, AZVA High

School RTI Coordinator via kmail, cmarino@k12.com, or 623-643-8977.

Child Find

AzEIP (Arizona Early Identification Program for Infants and Toddlers) is a program that identifies children who

have special needs, provides a Service Coordinator, offers screening/evaluation services and helps families to

find services. It is funded by and based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C. The

law grants primary responsibility for planning and implementation to a single state agency named by the

Governor. In Arizona, this is the Department of Economic Security (DES). The law requires the lead agency to

obtain interagency agreements covering the fiscal and programmatic responsibilities for Part C. The Governor

appoints an Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) to advise and assist the lead agency in carrying out its

responsibilities. Early Intervention is simply a name for services which are provided for children (birth to three-

years-old who have developmental delays or established conditions known to be associated with

developmental delays) and their families. Services include but are not limited to audiology, family counseling

and home visits, nursing services, nutrition, occupational and physical therapy, psychological services, special

instruction, transportation, speech and language pathology, vision services, and others. These services are

designed to help children become ready to learn.

AzEIP’s mission is to optimize the developmental potential of Arizona children, birth to three-years-old, who

have developmental delays or established conditions known to be associated with developmental delays, and

their families. This is accomplished through the development and implementation of a comprehensive,

coordinated, community-based service delivery system that is family-focused and culturally appropriate.

AzEIP has established a public awareness program focusing on early identification of eligible infants and

toddlers. AzEIP must inform the public and primary referral sources about the program and the child find

system, including how to make referrals and how to gain access to evaluation and services. AzEIP established a

comprehensive child find system with an effective method for hospitals, physicians, parents, day-care

programs and other providers to refer children to the early intervention system for evaluation and

assessment.

You may call the school office, 866-339-4946 if you require further information or assistance. Additionally, you

may refer children for evaluation to the State online at https://www.azdes.gov/azeip/ or if you live in the

Phoenix area call 480-295-4925.

Related Services

Related services may include occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and/or physical therapy

when it is necessary for the student to make adequate progress in the general curriculum.

Related services, placement and goals are determined by the IEP team. Options for related services should be

discussed with the special education staff before the family decides to enroll with AZVA. Related services are

provided by independent contractors across the state of Arizona. It is important to note that students are

expected to keep appointments since missed appointments may result in the contractor refusing to provide

services.

Back to top

Asynchronous: Instruction that does not require students and teachers to be in a common place at the same

time. Discussion boards are an example of an asynchronous type of instruction.

AZVA: Acronym for Arizona Virtual Academy.

Blackboard Collaborate™: The online synchronous meeting platform where live class instruction and reviews

take place for each course.

Glossary

Guidance Counselor: The students’ contact for school-wide issues. The Guidance Counselor oversees

attendance and provides support to students and families.

K12: AZVA’S primary curriculum provider.

LMS: Learning Management System. The platform used for AZVA courses and instruction.

Learning Coach: A responsible adult who assists students and monitors their progress.

Office hours: A regular time set by teachers each week during which they are available to answer questions or

assist students.

PowerSpeak: foreign language curriculum provider.

Synchronous: Instruction that requires students and teachers to be in a common location at the same time.

Blackboard Collaborate™ sessions are examples of synchronous interaction.

Back to top

ARIZONA VIRTUAL ACADEMY/ INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA:

LEGAL NOTICES

Please Read

Review Teacher Credentials

McKinney Vento Act

Student Records

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Review Teacher Credentials - Pursuant to A.R.S. 15-183 F., parents may review resumes of Arizona Virtual

Academy and Insight Academy of Arizona teachers by calling the school office at (602) 476-1320.

McKinney Vento Act – The McKinney Vento Act of 1987, or P.L. 100-77, ensures that each child of a homeless

individual, and each homeless youth shall have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as

provided to other children and youth. Under the Act, schools are prohibited from delaying a homeless child’s entry

into school due to delays in obtaining school records. Rules regarding guardianship must be waived for homeless

students living with foster Learning Coaches or relatives other than their legal guardians.

Arizona Virtual Academy/Insight Academy of Arizona can offer school supplies to qualifying homeless youth.

Determinations of qualifying students are made on a case-by-case basis.

Arizona Virtual Academy/Insight Academy of Arizona can offer school supplies to qualifying homeless youth.

Determinations of qualifying students are made on a case-by-case basis.

Learning Coaches may review the school Admission of Homeless Children and Youth policy by calling the school

office.

Student Records – Student records are maintained at the school office. Learning Coaches/parents and/or guardians

may contact the school office to obtain a copy of student records. A copying fee may be assessed. If Learning

Coaches/parents and/or guardians change their address, telephone number, e-mail address, or place of employment,

they are asked to notify their teacher immediately. Learning Coaches are responsible for keeping contact information

current within the My Account section of the OLS.

ARIZONA VIRTUAL ACADEMY/ INSIGHT ACADEMY OF ARIZONA: LEGAL NOTICES

Arizona Virtual Academy and Insight Academy of Arizona follow the Arizona State Library,

Archives and Public Records retention schedule. The schedule can be found at:

http://www.lib.az.us/records/school.cfm General Education records have a destruction schedule and Special

Education records (including placement records, referrals, evaluations, testing data and other related records) are

destroyed 4 years after the fiscal year of final enrollment in the program. AZVA destroys records based on the

Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records retention schedule.

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides Learning Coaches 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 Learning Coach or eligible student should submit a written request

to the Operations Manager that identifies the record (s) they wish to inspect. The Operations Manager makes

arrangements for access and notifies the

Learning Coach 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 Learning Coach or eligible

student believes are inaccurate. Learning Coaches or eligible students may ask the School to amend a record

that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the Operations Manager, 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 Learning Coach or eligible student, the School notifies the Learning Coach or eligible

student of the decision and advises him/her of his/her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment.

Additional information regarding the hearing procedures is provided to the Learning Coach 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 that 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

Learning Coach 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 Learning Coach’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, the Learning

Coach or eligible student, have advised the School in writing that he/she does 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, and 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 Learning Coach’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 Learning Coaches 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, and awards.

If there are certain items the School has chosen to designate as directory information that Learning Coaches/parents

or guardians do not want disclosed from their student’s education records, without their prior written consent,

Learning Coaches/parents or guardians are encouraged to send an e-mail identifying the information they do not

want disclosed, the student’s name, and the name of the virtual academy or affiliate school in which the student is

enrolled to: directoryinformation@k12.com. This e-mail must be sent within 30 days of the first day the student

attends school.

Notice of these rights is available, upon request, on audiotape, in Braille, and in languages other than English. The

Arizona Department of Education may be contacted at 602-542-5393.