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Home School High School Requirements
8th Grade
Prior to the end of 8th grade each student will need to meet with a coordinator or director to determine the course of study for high school. All students must have an approved high school plan.
High school IEP’s will be used to help meet the goals of high school completion requirements to gain a diploma for children with disabilities.
By the age of 16, get an updated diagnosis. This will help in acquiring services and accommodations for possible post high school career options.
Typical High School Course of Study
(for students working at or above age appropriate grade level)
Students working at or above grade level or those just below grade level that are able to use a curriculum, must use an approved curriculum. Some approved curricula are: Alpha Omega Life Pacs or Switched on School House, School of Tomorrow Paces, Landmark Freedom, A Beka, or Bob Jones. You may also use other curriculum or many different curriculum to meet the needs of the child.
One Academic Credit hour consists of 140 hours of time/class work/attendance. If a student is using work experience as a class, then 140 hours of work would be equal to 1 credit.
9th—12th grades must include the following classes if the child intends to go on to post-secondary education.
4 Math Classes (Basic Math, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Consumer Economics, Calculus, Trigonometry)
4 English Classes (2 Literature and 2 Composition/Writing Classes)
4 Social Studies Classes (American History, Geography, World History, Government)
4 Science Classes (General Science, Biology, Physical Sci., Chemistry, Anatomy, Micro-Biology, Micro-Chemistry, Health Science)
4 credits of PE
2 credits of Foreign Language (required if attending college)
2 credits of electives, to include humanities, fine arts, and computer
Students must have a minimum of 140 days of academic attendance per school year, and completion of all classes with a 70% or better at each grade level.
Any students considering College will need to take the SAT or ACT during 11th and 12 grades.
If a child does not intend to go on to a trade, vocational school or university they may complete the required 24 hours as follows:
4 Math Classes (Basic Math, Algebra 1, Geometry, Consumer Math, )
4 English Classes (2 Literature and 2 Composition/Writing Classes)
2 Social Studies Classes (American History, Government)
2 Science Classes (General Science, Biology, Physical Sci., Anatomy, Health Science)
4 credits of PE
6 credits of electives, (humanities, music, drama, computer, work experience, driver’s training, foreign language, or others)
Students must have a minimum of 140 days of academic attendance per school year, and completion of all classes with a 70% or better at each grade level.
IEP Based High School Course of Study
9th—12th grades
Approved course of study written in IEP to include accommodations, modifications, curriculum, methods and materials, and other resources to be used.
A course completion is 140 hours of work/exposure on the course topic.
4 Math Classes (140 hours for each class)
4 English Classes (140 hours for each class)
4 Social Studies (140 hours for each class)
4 Sciences (140 hours for each class)
4 PE (140 hours for each class)
4 Vocational (140 hours for each class)
Each class hour must be documented daily in a journal or notebook and include topics covered during that class time.
A daily grade will be given for attendance, cooperation, attention to subject, completion of assignments, and appropriate documentation of class time. Documentation of class time is done by the student unless unable to. Primary educator will review daily and grade appropriately for the day. Class grade will be determined by the average of daily grades for the year.
A minimum of 140 days of academic attendance per school year is required. Completion of all classes with a 70% or better. Pass/Fail grades are acceptable for IEP based diplomas.
Every Capable High School Student is Required to sign a Contract
High School Contract
A high school contract is signed by all students and a parent when entering High School. The contract consists of the student agreeing to the following requirements:
I understand that my graduation is dependent upon completion of these requirements.
I will complete the goals set forth in my Individualized Education Plan for this year.
I will maintain a record of attendance, a journal, notebook, or portfolio of daily work completed and/or hours of exposure according to my IEP.
I understand that my grades will be determined by my Primary Educator and will be awarded according to my compliance, attendance, cooperation, attention to subject, completion of assignments, and appropriate documentation of class time/work.
It is my responsibility to have my Primary Educator observe and review my work daily and provide a daily average grade. Overall class grade will be determined by the average daily grades for the year.
I understand that I must have a minimum of 140 days of academic attendance per year and an average grade of 70% or better to complete a class with a passing grade.
I understand that non-compliance with the statements herein will jeopardize my graduation.
The contract also has parents agree to the following:
I understand that it is my responsibility to provide educational opportunity to my child using an approved educational program or IEP.
I understand that it is my child’s responsibility to keep academic records to the best of his/her ability.
I understand that I am to oversee and review those records, daily progress and work, and provide daily grades for each academic/developmental area according to the IEP.
I understand that it is my responsibility to contact VAST Network, Inc. immediately if there is a developmental, behavioral, health, or academic concern that interferes with progress.
It is my responsibility to send monthly reports to the school to ensure updated enrollment.
I understand that neglecting to send monthly reports for 2 consecutive months may result in withdrawal and a letter sent to the Local Education Agency Truancy Official.
I have reviewed Part 1 of this contract with my child and am in agreement with my child’s signing of Part 1.
Diplomas and Transcripts
Diplomas and Transcripts will be created by the Director of the school upon receipt of end of year reports and meeting with parents 3 months prior to graduation. Transcripts will be kept at the school for the purpose of sending to requesting institutions. Costs: Transcripts - $40, (or more if records are not up-to-date); Diploma - $25
Graduation
A graduation ceremony is planned for graduating students who wish to attend. Parents are fully responsible for the costs of the graduation, diploma, cap and gown, and other expenses relating to the graduation. Usually, we are able to provide the location for free at a local church. Decorating, announcements, food, or other activity is provided by the parents of the graduates. Caps and gowns, diploma covers and other specific items are purchased by the school at a discount for the families. Our graduations are very special to our students and we encourage everyone to participate if possible.
Returning to Public School
If you plan for your student to return to public school at any time during the high school years it is recommended that the student take an SAT or ITBS at the end of each school year. If the child is unable to take a standardized test, it is recommended that the student have an educational evaluation done at the end of each year by the director to ensure appropriate placement back into the public system. An up-to-date IEP and accommodations checklist is also required.
Going on to College or Career
By the age of 16 you should have an idea of what type of post-secondary education your child will be able to accomplish. At this point you will need to get an updated diagnosis. This will help in acquiring services and accommodations both at college and job placement. In grade 11 you will want to start having your child take the ACT or SAT if they intend to go to a state or private college. The more often they take the tests, the higher their score will be. Make sure you get the accommodations needed for the test.
Where your child attends will depend on the child’s abilities and aptitudes. For lower functioning students, training and job coaching is usually available through the State Adult Rehab Organization. They typically start working with clients somewhere between ages 16-18 depending on your state’s law.
If your child is higher functioning, you may consider going to the adult rehab for them to help with training and education, many times they can provide free training for higher functioning students in trade or certification type careers. You may also contact the school or college to ask about accommodations for your child. Usually, schools have a student development or student services office that helps students with disabilities. They are almost always very happy to make accommodations. This is where an up-to-date diagnosis comes in, to get accommodations for any school (trade, vocational, Jr. college or university) or job you need to have a diagnosis and a doctor’s recommendation for accommodations. Most Dr’s do not know what accommodations your child needs, so you will need to create a list of how you accommodate your child’s learning. For help with this you can call us and we will sit with you to discuss the wording or even write up the accommodations recommendations for the Dr.
Once all of this is done, you will be able to get accommodations for your child to succeed at the school most appropriate for him/her.
Colleges and employers are always looking for self-motivated students and need records to indicate the student’s experiences, abilities, aptitudes, interests, and motivation. These attributes are difficult for a student to put into a ‘record’ or transcript. To satisfy this type of college admission requirement a ‘portfolio’ is a good way to show the attributes the college is looking for. Portfolios can also be used in attaining work by showing those same attributes to a prospective employer.
What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is basically a scrapbook or notebook that shows (in writing or pictorially) the accomplishments of the student during High School. For example, a student may be an avid reader. The student should include in the notebook the books read and information about each book (like a book report). This does not need to be a 3 page essay, half or one page will be enough for a portfolio.
What goes into a portfolio?
A summary of the student's high school study should be at the beginning of the portfolio (this is a good opportunity for the student to provide a writing sample and organizational skills in writing.)
Of course, the student should include all textbook titles, courses taken, subjects studied, grades if given, provide writing samples, and any extra-curricular activities such as sports, clubs or organizations they belong to. Documentation of awards and honors should also be available.
The student should include information on businesses they have started or worked for (like a resume), any volunteer work or missions trips, or a pictorial essay on something the student has created or built.
It is also important for the student to ask adults in their lives who have direct knowledge of the student’s abilities to write letters of recommendation that depict excellence in academic performance, motivation, character and maturity.
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