Other Learning Opportunities

Students may pursue special studies beyond the regular curriculum. Students, in consultation with their counselor, may arrange a contract with a teacher who will supervise. The faculty or staff supervisor will assist the student in drafting a specific project or duty description. The project must be approved by the parents, the administration and the department chairperson for the department in which the project or duty description will be submitted for credit. Procedures, requirements and application forms may be obtained in the Student Services Office.

Course # Title

See Student Services for Application See Student Services for Application Teacher Assistant: High School

Independent Study

TEACHER ASSISTANT: HIGH SCHOOL

Elective Course Prerequisite: Junior Standing & 2.0 minimum GPA

Grades Prerequisites

11/12 See requirements in course outline. Junior or senior standing only. 12 See requirements in course outline. Senior standing is required.

Length of Course/Credits Earned

.5

The teaching assistantship allows students a distinct learning experience and is particularly beneficial for those students interested in a career in education. The assistantship may only be taken at the high school.

Guidelines and general rules for Teaching Assistant Participation: • Students being considered for approval and continuation as a teacher assistant must meet high school attendance and behavior expectations. • The student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 and be enrolled in their 3rd or 4th year of high school. • The assistantship must be taken in place of a study hall and must be scheduled during the supervising teacher’s designated period of course instruction. • A student may only TA twice during high school. • The supervising teacher may have no more than one teacher assistant per period. • The supervising teacher may have no more teacher assistants than the number of course periods in which the teacher is contracted to teach. • The teacher assistant may check/correct assignments under the supervision of the supervising teacher. The teacher assistant must not enter grades in the gradebook or computer, nor have access to students’ grades (i.e. computer generated grade sheets). • The teacher assistant must have a pass from the supervising teacher when traveling through the halls. The teacher assistant must not have access to areas of the building designated for faculty and staff only (i.e. faculty mailboxes, teacher lounge, etc.)

Request for teaching assistant participation will be processed, approved/denied and documented under the following guidelines: • Requests for a teacher assistantship must be made in writing by completing the Application for Teacher Assistant. Applications are available in the Student Services Office. Completed applications must be submitted to the student’s school counselor. • An application must include supporting materials (List of Student Responsibilities and Learning Objectives/Academic Standards) • Applications will be approved/denied through the Administrative Team at the high school.

Modifications may be made to these guidelines to accommodate students with disabilities through the IEP process or through a 504 plan.

Other Learning Opportunities

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Elective Course .5 credits Prerequisite: Senior Standing

The Independent Study Program provides students with a unique learning experience beyond what is usually provided in the regular classroom environment. Independent Study occurs in the high school setting with a high school teacher serving as faculty advisor.

Independent Study projects must be pre-approved by the students’ counselor and building administrator.

Independent Study credit is awarded only after satisfactory completion of the Independent Study project. Credit will not be awarded if the independent study has not been pre-approved by the staff and administration listed above, prior to the beginning of the independent study.

Each Independent Study project proposal shall follow the process outlined below:

• The complete written outline of the project, including criteria of judgment being used to assess the project, the name of the faculty advisor, and the name of the student using the Independent Study Template. • The student, in conjunction with the faculty advisors will formulate the Independent Study project proposal and submit it. The

“Approval of Independent Study” form must be completed and necessary signatures from counseling staff and administration obtained. • The faculty advisor will oversee the student’s progress, provide ongoing feedback regarding student performance, and evaluate the final project. • All information above must be present when the proposal is submitted to the counselor and administrator.

Guidelines for Independent Study projects are as follows:

• The Independent Study takes the place of a course and may be one of the seven courses the student takes in addition to a study hall (or the eighth course if the student does not take a study hall). • The program is for 1/2 credit per semester and may not count as a required course for graduation. • Because the student is eligible to earn 1/2 credit per semester for an Independent Study project, the project must require at least 90 hours of class work on the part of the student. • Independent Study is for seniors only. • The application and outline of the project will be housed in the student services office with other grade records upon completion of the semester. • A progress report will be sent to the parent as per policy guidelines by the teacher advisor. • The student, with the assistance of the faculty advisor, will submit a syllabus (or study progression) that includes steps for completion and mandatory deadlines in order to continue with the program.

If students have serious school problems such as truancy or discipline issues, continued participation in the Independent Study Program will be reviewed by the Administrative Team. An Independent Study can be terminated with a failing grade. In this case, no credit will be granted.

Modifications may be made to these guidelines to accommodate students with disabilities through the IEP process or through a 504 Plan.