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Queen Creek VirtualAcademyStudent Handbook2019-2020Governing BoardKen Brague, PresidentBill Schultz, Vice PresidentCourtney NarancicJennifer RevoltSamantha DavisSuperintendentDr. Perry Berry
Table of ContentsEntrance Requirements . 2QCVA Credentials . 2Semester Dates . 3Types of Courses Offered . 3QCVA Course List. 3 & 4Graduation Requirements . 4Transfer of QCVA credits . 4Audit Classes . 5Student Progress Reports.5 & 6Assessments . 6Extenuating and Unusual Circumstances . 6Information for Parents . 6Grades .6First Week of Class. 6 & 7Student Privacy Policy . 7Messages/ E-Mail Policy (Internal email used for communication). . 7Discussion Policy . 7Assignment Policy .8Weekly Time Logs . 8Getting Technical Help Policy . 8Student Code of Conduct. 8 & 9AppendixQCVA Self- Assessment . 11QCVA Policies and Procedures Acknowledgment . 12QVCA Referral Form. 13Referral Rubric .14Queen Creek Virtual Academy Student GuideQUEEN CREEK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Entrance RequirementsEnrollment in QCVA is limited to Queen Creek and Eastmark High School students only, who livein the Queen Creek Unified School District boundaries.Current course offerings are specific to grades 9-12.Students must register in person at Queen Creek and Eastmark High School for the Virtual Academy.Online courses provide a learning experience different from the typical classroom. Students willcommunicate with teachers primarily through messages, discussion boards, chat, email, or phonecalls. Students must have access to a computer with Microsoft Office and a high-speed Internetconnection to view lessons and turn in assignments and projects.Students interested in attending QCVA will need to follow the steps outlined below.1.) Set up a meeting with a counselor at your home school.2.) The counselor reviews the student’s current grades, transcripts and life situation.3.) If the counselor feels that the student would be a candidate for QCVA, and feels a student couldbe successful in the virtual learning environment, the counselor fills out a QVCA referral form andgives the paperwork to the supervising administrator over QCVA.4.) The supervising administrator will review the counselor recommendation and contact the studentand parent for an initial meeting.5.) The supervising administrator will make a decision at the meeting to deny enrollment into QCVA,delay enrollment by placing the student on a waiting list for QCVA, or accept the student intoQCVA.6.) Upon acceptance into QCVA, parents will need to withdraw their student from their currentschool, and fill out registration paperwork with the QCHS registrar to get enrolled into QCVA.Queen Creek Virtual Academy CredentialsQCVA is an extension of Queen Creek and Eastmark High Schools and is part of the Queen CreekUnified School District. All QCVA high school courses are fully accredited by NCA-CASI. Courseinstructors meet Arizona requirements for highly qualified teachers, and are certified in the areas theyteach. All core courses through Queen Distance Learning meet NCAA eligibility requirementsthrough our partnership with Edgenuity Instructional Services.
Semester Dates:Students may register for QCVA anytime during the year. QCVA is a year round school option.Student need to complete 3 credits a semester to maintain minimal progress for graduation. Studentswho are off track will need to complete more than 3 credits a semester to have a chance to catch up toclass peers for graduation.Fall 2019July 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019Spring 2020January 1, 2020 – June 30, 2020Types of Courses OfferedQCVA is proud to offer a variety of courses. Full time students take one or two courses at a time,and courses are set to be completed in 3 weeks or 6 weeks depending on how many courses thestudent is taking at a time. This pace allows a student to take the minimum of 6 half credit courses asemester to maintain minimum progress toward graduation.QCVA Course ListCore CourseEnglish ClassesClassGradePrerequisiteEnglish 9 A&B9-12NoneEnglish 10 A&B10-12Completion of Eng. 9English 11 A&B11-12Completion of Eng. 9 & 10English 12 A&B12Completion of Eng. 9 & 10 & 11AP English Language Composition 1 A&B11Grade of A or B in Eng. 9&10AP English Language Composition 2 A&B12Grade of A or B in Eng. 9&10
Math ClassesAlgebra 1 A&B9-12NoneGeometry A&B10-12Completion of Algebra 1Algebra 2 A&B11-12Completion of Alg. 1 and Geo.Intermediate Algebra12Completion of Alg. 1 & 2 & Geo.Pre-Calculus12Grade of A or B in all math classesLab Science ClassesPhysical Science A & B9-12NoneBiology A & B10-12NoneEnvironmental Science A & B10-12NoneChemistry10-12NoneSocial Studies ClassesWorld History A & B9-12NoneUS/AZ History A & B9-12NoneGovernment11-12Completion of World and US Hist.Economics11-12Completion of World and US Hist.AP Human Geography A & B10A or B in World Hist.
QCVA Course List Cont.Elective ClassesGradePrerequisiteCareer Explorations9-12NoneCareer Planning and Development9-12NoneComputer Application9-12NoneStrategies for Academic Success9-12NoneFinancial Math9-12NoneHealth9-12NoneFoundations of Personal Wellness/ PE A9-12NoneLife Time Fitness/ PE B9-12NoneSpanish 1 A & B9-12NoneSpanish 2 A & B9-12Completion of Spanish 1Psychology A & B9-12NoneSociology9-12NoneGraduation RequirementsQueen Creek Virtual Academy utilizes the Queen Creek and Eastmark High School graduationrequirements. Listed below are the credit requirements in the specific curriculum areas.Total Credits Required (22)English 4.0Mathematics 4.0Science 3.0
Social Studies 3.0Fine Art/Practical Art 1.0Physical Education 1.0Electives 6.0Transfer of QCVA CreditQueen Creek and Eastmark High School accepts credit for QCVA courses. Students transferring toanother district should contact that local school to see if credits will be granted for courses takenfrom QCVA. Letter grades from QCVA will be reported to the student’s transcript. After receiving agrade report, students should also verify with their high school counselor and/or via StudentVue thatthe credit has been posted on his/her transcript. Students who transfer to a non-QCUSD high school,or who are seeking enrollment in a post-secondary school, should contact the registrar’s office of thenew school to verify how on-line course grades are recorded.Audit ClassesQCVA does not offer classes for audit (non-credit).Add/DropAdd a ClassA student may add a class at any time once their first course for the term is complete. Students maychoose to finish both of their first courses before adding additional courses, but must have additionalcoursework selected by the time the new term starts.Drop a ClassA student may drop a class within 10 days of enrollment: the class is cancelled and no grade will bereported on the student’s transcript. Emergencies: Students who drop after the 10th day due toserious illness may be considered for drop without a grade report. This will be determined on a caseby-case basis.Withdraw from a ClassAny student (regular or (H), (AP), who withdraws from a class after the first ten (10) days of thesemester, but before the end of the eighth (8) week will receive a grade of WP (withdraw pass) orWF (withdraw fail). Requests for class withdrawals will not be processed after the eighth (8) week ofthe term.MisconductA student who engages in inappropriate behavior will be dropped. A current grade percentage andbehavior referral will be reported on the students permanent recorded.Lack of ProgressA student who does not maintain class activity for a period of 10 days may be dropped. Each classmust be completed by the time limits set or the student will fail. A grade percentage and participationreport will be forwarded from Edgenuity to QCVA.
Student Progress ReportsParent will receive weekly progress report through the Edgenuity system. It is important to look atseveral areas on the progress report.1st: In the complete line there will be a color. Red is behind, yellow is in danger, and green is ontrack.2nd . Overall Grade: This is the grade just on the work completed for the course.3rd . On the right side under the overall grade is a section title, “Actual Grade”. The actual grade isthe student’s current grade for the course including any missing assignments. This is the grade usedfor school records. A student’s overall grade may show them passing when their actual grade couldbe failing due to not keeping pace in the course.AssessmentsStudents do a variety of assessments in their online coursework. There are quizzes, topic tests, andunit tests. In addition to these, each course has a final exam. The final exam has a time limit. Oncea student’s starts the final exam, they will need to complete it in one sitting as to not get timedout and have the unanswered questions count as incorrect responses.Extenuating and Unusual CircumstancesWe understand that there may be unexpected events in our student’s lives. While we are firm on ourdue dates, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis. Due to state rules though, all coursework started in the spring, must be completed by the June 30th end of second semester to count forcredit.GradesGrades will be issued at the completion of/ or at the due date of each course depending on whichcomes first. A final grade report will be sent by Edgenuity and sent to QCVA. The Registrar willthen add the grade to the transcript.Information for ParentsParents should understand the nature and process of on-line learning, including the following points:· Students are responsible for their learning, as well as their progress throughout the course. Astudent will be dropped if there has been no activity for 10 days or does not complete the coursewithin the time limits.· Students will have an online teacher to facilitate learning, answer questions, and guide the students.· QCVA credits are intended to count for high school graduation and meet the requirements of theQueen Creek Unified School District. Individual post-secondary schools may have varyingrequirements for admittance after high school. It is the students and the parents’ responsibility toverify acceptance of QCVA credits.
First Week of ClassLogin to your class, complete the student orientation, and familiarizeyourself with the course and all required dates· Make sure you understand what is required of you to succeed in the class· If you have technical problems, contact your teacher first, then QCVA AdministrationimmediatelyDuring the Course· Visit course site daily to view new announcements and read messages· Submit virus-free assignments· Keep accurate time logs and submit them at the end of each week· Manage your time· Check your grades when you login in and keep an eye on your target progress.End of Class Take final exam Check your grades E-mail your teacher to let them know you have finished.·Student Privacy PolicyQCVA follows the student privacy guidelines set by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act(FERPA). No member of the QCVA staff is authorized to release student information without thewritten request of the student’s legal guardian or without the approval of QCVA administration. Thenames of QCVA students, their images, and their coursework will not be published on our website orin video without student and guardian written consent. All QCVA students are provided a uniquepassword that will allow them to access their online courses. It is the responsibility of the student toprotect his/her password.Messages E-Mail Policy (Internal email used for communication) Your teacher will answer messages about: Difficulty in understanding course content Graded assignment feedback Private issues appropriate for discussion Your teacher will not answer messages which: Lacks a subject line clearly stating the purpose of the message Raises an inappropriate subject Your teacher will answer messages received no later than close of work on thenext work day.Please remember to check your messages every day to ensure you receive updated courseinformation.
Discussion PolicyThe term “discussion” is used to denote messages, discussion boards, and forums. Students may be graded on discussion postings. Points are earned based on the quality of responsesand required number of postings as specified in individual assignment. Students are expected to keep focused on the specific topic of the discussion assigned.Irrelevant subject matter is not permitted and violators may be asked to leave the discussion. All students have a right to express their own opinions in discussions, and allstudents must respect this right. Any student posting a disrespectful comment will beasked to leave the discussion and may be subject to disciplinary action. “Flaming” is posting insulting or abusive messages. Any student who engages inflaming in a discussion may be required to leave the class. Controlling behavior is not permitted. Controlling behavior includes, but is not limitedto: exhibiting an inappropriate or argumentative attitude, intentionally changing thediscussion topic, attempts to dominate a discussion by posting excessive threads.Violators will be asked to leave the discussion and may be subject to disciplinaryaction. A private email will be sent to students who are required to leave a discussion.Assignment Policy Students must submit all assignments electronically through the course site. The course software standards for submission of assignments are Microsoft Word,PowerPoint and Excel. When technical problems arise and you cannot submit your assignmentselectronically, you must send an email to your teacher to explain the situation. If youcannot use email; call your teacher to explain. If you reach voice-mail, leave a message explainingyour situation and how you can be reached. Make an appointment with your teacher if you need to discuss your grade orfeedback on an assignment. Please refer to the published office hours. Students must keep virus detection software up to date. Assignment files must befree of viruses before submitting them. Failure to adhere to this requirement will causean assignment to be unacceptable.Weekly Time LogsThere is a minimum of 12.5 hours per week required per class, or 25 hours per week. This includestime on the computer, doing research, reading, writing and completing assignments. Students that donot meet the minimum hours and/or do not submit time logs on time may be dropped.Getting Technical Help Policy For technical help with the course site and/or course site server, contact QCVAAdministration. Students are responsible for the operation of the computer used at home. A
malfunctioning computer is not a valid reason for submitting late assignments.Student Code of ConductStudents are expected to engage in appropriate behavior and communication just as they would be ina classroom or school building. Students enrolled in QCVA agree to abide by all rules listed in theQueen Creek/Eastmark High School and QCVA Student Handbook. District “Internet UserAgreement/Permission Form “must be completed at time of enrollment. Failure to abide by theserules may result in loss of credit and removal from QCVA. When applicable, law enforcementagencies will become involved if there is an offense that is required to be reported by the ArizonaSafe Schools guidelines issued by the Arizona Department of Education.All students should read and understand the significance of the following guidelines andexpectations: Be courteous and professional in e-mail communications and electronic discussions. Follow the e-mail and discussion policies of QCVA. Be accountable for personal information such as password and contact information. Do not share these with others or post personal information. Anonymous messages are notpermitted Commit to academic integrity for all submitted work. All work should be original and completed without direct help. You will not practice plagiarism in any form. Plagiarism is defined as follows:copying or using ideas or words (from another person, an online classmate, oran Internet or print source) and presenting them as your own. Failure to follow this guidelinemay result in loss of credit and removal from QCVA. Work previously completed for other classes with different objectives should not be resubmitted incurrent classes. Comply with copyright laws and fair use guidelines. All material in the courses iscopyrighted and provided for use exclusively by enrolled students. Enrolled students may print material for their own use for studying. It is prohibited to use or distribute these materials to others without permission. Practice self-motivation and self-direction within your courses. Anticipate spending a minimum of 8 hours a week on each of your classes. (Double if off track forgraduation) Use good time management. Complete assignments to the best of your ability and turn them in on time. Become familiar with and follow all course policies, including but not limited to: Course syllabus for class Electronic Discussions E-mail Student Timeline Assignments Student Privacy Student Code of Conduct Getting Technical HelpExtra-Curricular and Co-Curricular Activities
QVCA students are not eligible to participate in Queen Creek Unified School District extracurricular and co-curricular activities, including athletics, band, fine arts, and/or after schoolclubs.Queen Creek Virtual AcademyOn-line Learning Self-AssessmentIf you are considering enrolling in QCVA, you will want to take a few minutes to find out if the online learningenvironment is likely to be a good fit for you. Mark your answers for each question then score your answers asdirected. Be honest!When answering the questions, use the followingscale:3 something that describes me very much2 something that describes me a little bit1 something that does not describe me at allI have or am willing to learn keyboarding skillsI communicate well in writingI don't need people to remind me again and again to get my work done; I usually turn in things on timeI like to learn and I am responsibleIf l have questions or need help, I am not afraid to askI am willing to work at least six hours per day when I'm working online at home or on siteI have access to a good computer with strong Internet access at homeI have a specific place at home where I can work with no distractionsI believe my family will support me in my educational goalsI don't get discouraged easily when I run into difficultiesI can complete tasks on my own without much encouragementI am a good time manager; I don't waste time fooling around when I'm supposed to be working andthinkingI can understand and use a work schedule calendar to help me get things doneI see jobs through to the endI usually expect to get good gradesI usually understand what I readI feel pretty comfortable working on a computer and using other technologyI am excited about learning onlineTOTAL points
Feedback If you scored 54-43 points, you are likely to do well in an online learning environment. You arean independent learner, manage time well, ask for help when you need it, and are comfortable withtechnology.If you scored 42-28 points, you may need some extra help from your teachers, parents, and othersaround you to succeed. Be sure to ask for help when you need it to improve your study skills andhelp you adapt to the technology.If you scored 27-18 points, an online learning environment may not be a good fit. Talk with yourparents about what may be the best option for your learning preferences or what additional supportyou may need from them.
Queen Creek Virtual AcademyPolicies and Procedures AcknowledgementAs a student of Queen Creek Virtual Academy, Iunderstandthe requirements of my enrollment in QCVA.The following is a review of the guidelines from QCVA Student handbook: Student must have completed enrollment paperwork with Queen Creek High School tobe considered for QCVA.The course of study must be reviewed with the home school counselor and a referredto QCVA.All counseling, enrollment, and graduation services are to be handled by QCHS.Prior to enrollment in QCVA and your parent must attend an intake meeting andorientation about how on-line learning works for QCVA.The Learning Lab will be available for orientation, tutoring, and proctored exams.·Any grade earned through the QCVA will be placed on the student's transcript andheld with the home school.Dropping a class after the 8th week of enrollment will result in an "F" for the finalgrade.Student will have 6 weeks from the initial enrollment to complete the course work.(Student may appeal for extended time only if they are making adequate progress inthe course).Student must adhere to the pacing requirements and be earning a grade of "C" orbetter. Failure to do so will result in the student attending mandatory tutoring at the eAcademy Online Learning Lab.10 days or more of inactivity in a course will result in the student being dropped fromthe course and a grade of "F" will be awarded.·Academic integrity must be adhered to at all times.· All Student Code of Conduct rules apply from the Queen Creek High and EastmarkHigh School Student Hand Book.Student SignatureDateParent Guardian SignatureDate
2019-2020 Queen Creek Virtual AcademyReferral FormStudent: Date:Referred by:Reason for referral:Does this student have an IEP or 504?YesIf yes, list area of eligibility and accommodations:NoHas this student been referred to a student study team?Interventions and Results:Counselor Signature:Date received:Action taken:Administrative useAssistant Principal Signature:Approved for immediate placementApproved for placement at the next semesterRefer to a student study teamDenied, student will continue classes at QCHS/EHSDenied, student will begin classes at alternate location
Placement Rubric for QCVAGrade Level:9th grade1 ptsth10 grade2 ptsth11 grade3 ptsth12 grade4 ptsSuper Senior5 ptsNumber of Credit Deficiencies:1-21 pt3-42 pts5-63 pts7 4 ptsNumber of Absences:10 1 pt7-92 pts5-63 pts4 or less4 ptsPrior Unsuccessful InterventionsYes4 ptsNo0 ptsSpecial CircumstancesYes4 ptsNo0 PtsTotal pts
Queen Creek Virtual Academy Credentials QCVA is an extension of Queen Creek and Eastmark High Schools and is part of the Queen Creek Unified School District. All QCVA high school courses are fully accredited by NCA-CASI. Course instructors meet Arizona requirements for highly qualified teachers, and are certified in the areas they teach.
