September 2023
New Counselor
MDLP is pleased to introduce the new MDLP counselor for full-time students, Mr. Buck Bannon.
Mr. Bannon comes to us from Mesa Virtual Campus (MVC). He will continue to support MVC students, in addition to supporting MDLP full-time students. Mr. Bannon earned his Bachelor of Art in Physical Education from California State University (CSU), Long Beach, and his Master of Science in Counseling from CSU, San Bernardino. He has over 30 years of experience as a PE teacher, PE specialist, administrator, and school counselor and has extensive knowledge supporting students with their academic and social and emotional needs.
Mr. Bannon will be supporting MDLP full-time students and families in the areas of:
- progress monitoring, goal setting, and interventions,
- graduation plans, transcript evaluation, and course approvals,
- 504 meetings and accommodations,
- ECAP lessons and college and career planning, and
- social and emotional needs and support.
Please introduce yourself to him the next time you are in the MDLP office. Mr. Bannon's office hours are Monday - Friday, 7:30am to 3:30pm. Students and parents may contact Mr. Bannon at bkbannon@mpsaz.org or 480-308-6006.
Reminder: New Location
In June, the MDLP office moved to Alma Learning Center. Alma Learning Center is located at 1313 West Medina Avenue, Mesa, 85202 (1/2 mile south of Baseline Road and just west of Alma School Road). The new location, which was the former Alma Elementary School, will be home of four unique and individualized programs - Eagleridge Enrichment Program, Mesa Digital Learning Program (MDLP), Mesa Virtual Campus (MVC), and Virtual MA10.
The MDLP office hours are Monday - Friday, 7:30am to 3:30pm. Please stop during these hours should you need assistance with registration and enrollment, counseling services, final exams (until 2pm only), or state testing (in the Spring only).
Child Find Notice
Mesa Unified School District is required by federal and state law (34 CFR 300.220.34 CFR 300.121) to conduct a “Child Find” effort as a means to locate, identify, and evaluate all resident children with disabilities, including children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. The purpose of Child Find is to locate these children so that a free appropriate public education can be made available. Upon request, Mesa Public Schools will screen any resident child as young as 2 years 9 months of age to determine whether a special education referral is appropriate.
After students are evaluated, eligible students are entitled to a free and appropriate education, including specially designed individualized instruction for disabled students between the ages of 3 and 21. This law applies to EVERY eligible child, regardless of the severity of the disability and assures confidentiality procedures are followed.
If you suspect that your child has a disability (emotional, mental, or physical) and does not receive Special Education services, contact Bonnie Bartol, MDLP school psychologist, at 480-308-6013 or bjbartol@mpsaz.org or the Child Find Office at 480-472-0706.
Newly Revised Courses
The MDLP instructional design team is busy all times of the year developing new learning experiences, reviewing and redesigning current courses, and updating older content. The design process that they utilize is a backward design model that requires the team to determine course competencies, design a final summative assessment, and develop engaging content and learning experiences that allow for student voice and choice, agency, and engagement.
Most recently the instructional design team has revised multiple courses to included more graphs, images, and videos in place of text. When text is a required component of learning, it can be read aloud using a screen reader available on all district devices.
MDLP courses that have been recently revised to include more engagement are 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts, Freshman English, Sophomore English, 7th and 8th grade Integrated Science, Biology, 7th and 8th grade Social Studies, Government, JH Study Skills, Personal Development, and Drugs in Society.
A Variety of Options
Honors
Honors courses are traditional online courses that include an honors project component.
Honors component consists of a contract, proposal, check ins, reflections, and project.
Honors projects are an opportunity for students to demonstrate evidence of their learning by activating their voice and choice in the project completion.
Honors projects are aligned to course competencies, state standards, and MPS Portrait of a Graduate essential attitudes and skills.
Honors course offerings: ELA07, ELA08, SC07, SC08, SS07, SS08, EN09, EN47, MA30, MA40, SC22, SC49, SC71, and SS22
Traditional
Traditional online courses offer the most variety in course selection.
Traditional courses provided students with a deeper and personalized, asynchronous approach to learning.
Traditional courses offer students the opportunity to work at their own pace, have a voice in how they engage in learning, and have a choice in how they demonstrate their learning.
Traditional courses are aligned to course competencies and state standards.
Review the MDLP course catalog for traditional courses offerings available to students in grades 4-12.
Credit Recovery
Credit recovery courses are traditional online courses that include a credit recovery component.
Credit recovery component consists of a pre-test at the start of module that determines student's proficiency.
When a student demonstrates proficiency (70%) on a module pre-test, all assignments/ assessments within that module are excused.
If a student does not demonstrate proficiency on a module pre-test, the student must complete the assignments/assessments within in that module.
Credit recovery course offerings: EN09, EN47, EN48, MA27, MA30, MA40, SC22, SC33, SC49, SC71, SS22, SS35, SS51, SS57
Upcoming Events
MPS Student Code of Conduct and Discipline Matrix
In Mesa Public Schools, we are dedicated to delivering on our Promise to know our students by name, serve them by strength and need so they graduate ready for college, career and community. The Promise requires a safe environment, where students act with honesty, integrity, civility, and respect for themselves and others. The Code of Conduct reflects the district's vision, and the attitudes and skills in our Portrait of a Graduate. Please review this document to ensure your understanding of its contents.
Important Dates
October 9-16
MPS Fall Break
The MDLP office will be open for registration, enrollment, and final exams. MDLP support will be available via email at support@mdlp.org. Students enrolled in an MDLP course should continue to engage in learning. MDLP teachers will continue to grade assignments, answer messages, and provide feedback at least once a day.
November 2
Summer Course Deadline
Students still enrolled in an MDLP summer course must complete their course on or before this date. Students were encouraged to complete their summer course before the first day of school in August.
November 10
Veteran's Day
Students enrolled in an MDLP course should continue to engage in learning. MDLP teachers will continue to grade assignments, answer messages, and provide feedback at least once a day.
November 22-24
MDLP Office Closed
The MDLP office will be closed for registration, enrollment, and final exams. Students may contact their teacher via the course message box, email the counselor, or email MDLP support at support@mdlp.org.
November 22-24
MPS Thanksgiving Break
Students enrolled in an MDLP course should continue to engage in learning. MDLP teachers will continue to grade assignments, answer messages, and provide feedback at least once a day, except on November 23.
December 22 - January 5
MDLP Office Closed
The MDLP office will be closed for registration, enrollment, and final exams. Students may contact their teacher via the course message box, email the counselor, or email MDLP support at support@mdlp.org.
December 22 - January 8
MPS Winter Break
Students enrolled in an MDLP course should continue to engage in learning. MDLP teachers will continue to grade assignments, answer messages, and provide feedback at least once a day, except on December 24, 25, 26, and January 1.
March 18 - April 28
ADE State Testing Window
Testing window for AzSCI, AASA, ACT, and ACT Aspire. Specific dates for MDLP full-time students will be determined in January. Communication regarding specific testing dates and grade levels will be posted on the MDLP state testing page and sent to families via phone call, email, announcement, and letter. Please remember that participation in state testing is required for all full-time students per ARS 15-808.
