Embedded Files
Grading Policy/ Learning Outcomes:
Grading Policy/ Learning Outcomes:
A key pillar of our school design is the use of outcomes that matter to guide our school’s support of students and their long-term success. The nex+Gen Student Learning Outcomes are a set of research-based outcomes aimed at preparing students for postsecondary college and career success.
Students at nex+Gen are assessed based on their performance on five learning outcomes, which are defined in detail in the Rubric and Assessment section of the Echo School Resource Library. The learning outcomes are:
Agency: This outcome measures how a student demonstrates strategies and habits that indicate an attitude that embraces struggle and setbacks as opportunities for growth. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning. 10 - 20% of overall grade.
Collaboration: This outcome measures how learners positively and respectfully interact with peers and staff as they contribute to the success of the group and its goals. 10 - 20% of the overall grade.
Communication: This outcome measures how well a learner articulates thoughts, ideas, and emotions through written, spoken, and visual representations. 10 - 20% of the overall grade.
Inquiry and Analysis: This outcome measures how well learners explore, analyze, and make conclusions about ideas and information. 10 - 20% of the overall grade.
Course Content: This outcome measures how well a student is mastering the course content embedded in a project or activity. 40 - 60% of the overall grade.
Credit is granted for the successful completion of each class at the end of the semester. Credits are granted with passing grades: A, B, C, or D. Credit is not granted for grades of “F”, “I” (Incomplete) or “W/F” (withdrawal with the grade of F). If a course is repeated, the higher grade will be recorded and computed in the student’s grade point average (GPA); however, the F remains on the transcript. Duplicate credit will not be granted for a course that is repeated.
The Facilitator Gives Grades:
The Facilitator Gives Grades:
All grades are given by and interpreted by the certified facilitator assigned to the course. An error in grades can be corrected with a grade change form submitted by the facilitator assigned to the course.
ParentVue, StudentVue & Echo:
ParentVue, StudentVue & Echo:
Synergy is the APS student information system that gives parents and students secure, private access to school and student information including grades and attendance. StudentVue is the website for students. ParentVue provides information for parents. Go to www.mystudent.aps.edu to access both websites. You will need a username and a password. A one-time access code will be provided to set up your account. Families who have more than one student in APS can view all student information with the same login.
Nex+Gen Academy has a proprietary learning management system utilized by all schools in the New Tech Network. It allows both students and parents to access current cumulative grades in a class as well as all assignments and resources. Parents have access to everything that their student has access to. Parents will be given login information after the start of school when all necessary data has been uploaded. Parents are encouraged to use Echo not only to check grades, but also to be informed about what your student is learning.
Why two systems? Synergy is the system of legal record for all students in APS. It is the only place to locate attendance, final semester grades and transcript records. Information in Synergy is viewable at the district level and transfers with the student. Echo is a school-based learning management system. Echo is the only record of individual assignment grades.
Balancing Classes:
Balancing Classes:
At the beginning of each semester, the school will sometimes make a series of schedule changes for the purpose of balancing classes. When balancing classes, students are selected at random to change classes for the purpose of balancing.
Report Cards:
Report Cards:
Report cards will be sent home with your student at the end of every six week period. Dates for the end of each six weeks will be posted on the weekly newsletter. Report cards will be mailed home at the end of the school year. nex+Gen maintains cumulative grades through the semester. Each six-week period report card should be considered a progress report rather than a final grade as it will not appear on the transcript and serves only as a notification of your students grade at that point in time and their progress toward the final semester grade. Semester grades are not visible in Echo as they are calculated incorporating final exam grades. Semester grades are what will appear on the transcript and what will be used to calculate the final GPA.
Schedule Change Requests (Same Courses at different periods):
Schedule Change Requests (Same Courses at different periods):
All requests for a schedule change must be made to the Guidance Counselor. A valid reason must be given for the request. Nex+Gen is not required to change schedules to accommodate work schedules, mentorships, friendship, or the desire to avoid other students.
Withdrawing from a Course:
Withdrawing from a Course:
Students who withdraw from a course after the first 10 days of each semester, and do not enroll in a comparable course (same content) will receive a WF (Withdraw Fail) on their transcript.
Students wishing to withdraw from a class, in the first 10 days of the semester, must inform the teacher, then make a request with the Guidance Counselor.
Program of Study and Electives:
Program of Study and Electives:
Like most small high schools, nex+Gen Academy has a program of study. This means that not all classes are available to all students each year. When students choose to attend nex+Gen they are also committing to following the program of study. The slide deck below indicates the program of study and the electives available at each grade level. Students are not guaranteed to get their first-choice electives. nex+Gen may also choose not to run electives that are unpopular in any given year.
Credit Recovery:
Credit Recovery:
Per APS policy, no credit can be given to any student who fails an academic course for the semester. Students at Nex+Gen who have a failing grade at semester in an integrated class made up of more than one core subject area, such as our “World Studies” course, which teaches standards for both World History and English 10, will ultimately fail both subjects. Students would then have to make up credit for two classes when enrolling for credit recovery. Please note, credit recovery can be very expensive. Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch can receive a waiver for a reduced fee. In the event that a learner has failed a course at semester, he/she is considered “Off Track” to graduate on time unless credits are made up in a timely fashion with a passing grade. To be classified as a 10th grade Sophomore, a student must have 6 credits when registering for the new school year; 13 credits to be classified as a Junior, and 19 credits to be classified as a Senior.
Per APS policy, no credit can be given to any student who fails an academic course for the semester. Students at Nex+Gen who have a failing grade at semester in an integrated class made up of more than one core subject area, such as our “World Studies” course, which teaches standards for both World History and English 10, will ultimately fail both subjects. Students would then have to make up credit for two classes when enrolling for credit recovery. Please note, credit recovery can be very expensive. Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch can receive a waiver for a reduced fee. In the event that a learner has failed a course at semester, he/she is considered “Off Track” to graduate on time unless credits are made up in a timely fashion with a passing grade. To be classified as a 10th grade Sophomore, a student must have 6 credits when registering for the new school year; 13 credits to be classified as a Junior, and 19 credits to be classified as a Senior.
Academic Integrity:
Academic Integrity:
At nex+Gen, the learning community, including learners, parents, facilitators, and administration, honor the intellectual property of others by engaging in a fair use policy and citing sources of works completed by others. Plagiarism, which is the act of using another person’s ideas or expressions in one’s own writing without acknowledging the source in accordance with classroom guidelines, is unacceptable and results in a zero for the assignment or project.
It is important for students and parents to recognize that due to the weight of some tasks, receiving a zero on an assignment could result in a grade of “F” for the term.
Plagiarism includes:
Taking someone else’s writing or work and submitting it as one's own
Rephrasing someone else’s ideas without crediting the author
Presenting the work of tutors, parents, siblings, or friends as one's own
Submitting work that was taken or purchased off the Internet as one’s own
Supporting plagiarism by providing work to others. If a student would like access to the work of other students, consent must be obtained from the course facilitator.
Allowing a team member to plagiarize part of a task or project
Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI):
Students must follow district and school policies regarding responsible use of AI/GAI systems.
Facilitators determine when students may use AI/GAI on assignments.
For the APS AI/GAI policy and definitions document, please click here.
Page updated
Report abuse