Syllabus (All Grades)

Welcome!

This syllabus is very inclusive. I feel that it is very important that both the teacher and student be very clear and straight-forward with expectations. Please read this very carefully and get clarification from me where needed.

Academic Goals:

Epic is a data driven school. We will assess three times a year in preparation for the Oklahoma required state testing. From this assessment, I will provide specific, targeted instruction to you or your student. This instruction may come for a wide variety of online resources, one-on-one teaching, or group work. These assignments will include work that is on the student's current level as well as work that is on the student's grade level in which he or she is enrolled.

Please remember, ALL assignments are required. They share a collective goal of academic performance improvement. All are equally important. Gradable assignments are a VERY important piece of the Epic puzzle. An example of a gradable assignment would be: Student completes ALL required work in Math Seeds, Compass Math, Prodigy, Study Island, and IXL. If all are complete, this is one gradable assignment in Math. If any of the required assignments are not complete, there will not be a gradable assignment recorded for Math.

All students are on a pacing timeline that will ensure they are ready for testing on time. Any incomplete assignments put you behind. Because all Epic students are offered portable internet and technology, you are able to work from anywhere, anytime.

If a student receives zero gradable assignments, he or she is required to make up those assignments the following week. This work is in addition to the current assignments. Two weeks with zero gradable assignments results in a truant status. This may result in automatic withdrawal.

Summer School

Epic is a twelve month school. We are committed to standards mastery. We believe that all students can achieve grade level. During the summer months, there are two avenues of instruction for students.

Response to Instruction (RTI) works by identifying students that are well below grade level in Mathematics or Reading. Using specific, data-driving methods of instructions, it enables students to increase their learning to shrink the gap between student and peers.

Summer Bridging affords the student who has not mastered the Oklahoma standards for his or her grade level a second chance. This instruction is NOT an option. It is best to work diligently throughout the year to learn all material so that students will show mastery on the state test in the Spring. Students not scoring Proficient or Advanced will be prescribed a Learning Path. This pathway is based on the final Spring MAP test.

Attendance:

Because of our unique structure, there is no daily roll call. Gradable assignments are the Epic attendance record. Epic measures 100% attendance as 40 gradable assignments each nine weeks. It is important for families to understand that at the end of each of the four quarters, students must have an attendance of at least 76% to remain enrolled. All students with less than 76% attendance will be withdrawn at the end of each quarter.

Communication and Meetings:

Please do not hesitate to text, phone, or email me. I am not always able to talk, as I may be with students or in meetings. It is a requirement that ALL students or parents have a gmail account. We will utilize Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Calendar heavily. All of those link with Google Mail.

I will return all communication within 24 hours and I expect the same from my families. I check my email, voice mail and texts daily and I expect the same from students and parents.

All appointments will be confirmed 24 hours in advance. Any meeting, whether it be virtual (online) meeting, a teaching session with another teacher, or an in person meeting is required. Meetings are the root of our instruction. They are NEVER an option. Any student not attending a required meeting will be considered truant. Any period of ten days with no communication from the student will result in truancy. This may result in automatic withdrawal.

Testing:

All testing is required. Testing will be done in the Fall, Winter and Spring with the teacher. State testing at an Epic testing center will be performed in the late Spring. Epic is an Oklahoma public school and we must follow the guidelines of the Oklahoma State Department of Education. All testing must be monitored by an Epic employee.

Please remember, these regular assessments provide us the data that we use to drive student instruction. It is the only measurable means to validate our efforts. If students are not improving, we must make a new plan. Our goal is NOT to finish curriculum. Our goal is to improve academic performance and ensure standards mastery. Students must attend all required testing. Any missed or refused testing will result in truancy. This may result in automatic withdrawal.

Homework Help:

Homework Help is crucial to student success. Homework Help is required. Students may receive specific assignments in Homework Help. Other students have the ability to choose how he or she uses the service, but have minimum attendance requirements. This decision is made from data to drive student growth. Homework Help is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year. These are certified teachers within the subject area chosen. It is NOT an option.

Within the first 48 hours of enrollment, all Epic students are required to complete a "Whiteboard Orientation" in Homework Help. Do not skip the survey at the end, as the session will NOT log as completed. Homework Help is a required component of the Epic classroom. Students refusing to use Homework Help will lack a component of gradable assignments and may result in withdrawal.

Technology:

Our Epic model centers around technology. Occasionally, technology does not work correctly. Families need to be aware that inoperative technology will not excuse required assignments. It is a good idea now to set up a back up plan in case this should be an issue. Public libraries are places to find available internet and computers. At any rate, required assignments will never be excused based on difficulties with technology. Part of being an Epic family is being resourceful. ALL TECHNOLOGY ISSUES are handled through Epic Support: (405)652-0935. Families will be responsible for finding a way to complete assignments in the event of technology issues. Incomplete assignments will result in truancy. This may result in automatic withdrawal.

Computer Use:

Mi-fi internet devices only supply 25K of data monthly. This is plenty of data for the required meetings and assignments. It is advised that no one in the household have access to this password. Parental supervision is required in an effort to limit unnecessary videos or music downloads to conserve this data. If a student runs out of data, this will never be an excuse for not completing assignments. It will be the student or family's responsibility to find reliable internet to attend meetings and complete assignments until the data resets. Internet is not unlimited. If a student's internet data runs out, it is the family's responsibility to find reliable internet.

Truancy:

If a student is withdrawn for truancy, they may re-enter Epic. The family will need to log into the parent portal and follow the links for re-entry. Once this has been initiated, the family will be contacted to set up a meeting. The family must agree to the re-entry plan as set forth in writing. The final stage of re-entry will involve the principal. The principal must approve all re-entries. If a student re-enters from truancy, any deviation from the re-entry plan or incomplete assignments can result in immediate withdrawal from Epic.