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Eligible Grades: ALL
Independent Study allows students to pursue courses that do not fit into an academic schedule. For example, a student wants to take two courses that are only offered once, in the same period. This allows a student to seek a MHS mentor to facilitate an independent study of the course.
Potential Example: If you wanted to take AP Spanish (usually offered in 1 period only) and that conflicts with another course that only has 1 period, you could choose to do one via ELO.
To begin your ELO, you should:
1. Complete the ELO Request Form (You MUST be signed into your MHS Google Account to complete this form; sign into your Chrome browser using your MHS credentials, not your personal Gmail account)
2. If you haven't already, you will want to meet with a MHS teacher certified in a the field of your Advanced Study to ensure they are willing to be your mentor.
3. Arrange a meeting with the Director of Graduation Pathways and your Mentor Teacher. At this meeting, we will discuss the required elements of the ELO (Research, Reflection, Product, and Presentation) as well as specific learning competencies embedded within your desired ELO. We will also discuss the grading of your ELO. Your choices will be:
Pass/Fail (WILL NOT impact GPA)
Traditional Grade (A, B, C, D, F) at the Comprehensive level (WILL impact GPA)
Traditional Grade (A, B, C, D, F) at the Honors level (WILL impact GPA). Note: This will not be a common pathway unless it is an AP course
Important Note from the outset: Once a grading pathway above is chosen and approved, it CANNOT be changed.
4. Return the completed ELO Contract Form, ELO Agreement Form, and ELO Implementation Plan. All of these forms will be filled out and provided to a student at the meeting above. These forms will require a few signatures (student, parent, school counselor, etc) and must be returned to the Director before the ELO can begin. Once returned, students can begin their ELO.
How does Independent Study fit into my Day?
1. Independent Study is not assigned to a specific class period and will not appear on your daily PowerSchool Schedule; the student and teacher mentor will need to determine a time that works for them to meet on a regular basis. This could be before or after school, during a study hall, a mutual "off period", or during X Block. It is important that a student meet with their mentor regularly to ensure the student is working through any barriers they encounter. Students completing an ELO cannot interrupt a teacher's academic courses for any reason.
2. Since Independent Studies require students to work with their mentor teacher on specific competencies within a course, the mentor teacher will evaluate the student's academic progress through any assessments or activities they recommend that the student complete. The Director will review the Reflections and assign scores based on the rubric. The Director and Teacher Mentor will evaluate the Product and Presentation completed at the end of the ELO and will determine the score based on the learning competencies on the Implementation Form, and the Product Rubric/Presentation Rubric.
3. Credit for the course will be based on the Reflections, the connection of the student's Research and Product to the learning competencies laid out at the start of the ELO, and the Presentation at the end of the ELO. The Mentor Teacher and Director will be present for the Presentation, but may include other members of the Administration, community, or guests invited by the student.
4. Juniors or Seniors completing an Independent Study may be eligible for a schedule modification (late arrival or early dismissal) depending on their credit progress towards graduation.
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