ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Challenger Program (CCM) and
Early College Advantage Program (SCCC)
The Challenger Program at County College of Morris or the Early College Advantage Program at Sussex County Community College affords high-achieving juniors or seniors the opportunity to take college courses while still in high school. Students interested in either program must meet the specific entry requirements as determined by the institution they wish to attend (see information below). In addition, Sparta High School’s Director of Guidance must approve all applications and specific courses to be taken. Only credit-bearing courses that are considered educationally significant and which will contribute to the student’s academic and/or career goals will be approved.
Approved juniors may only take evening session courses outside of the regular school day. Seniors have the option of taking day or evening courses. Seniors desiring to take day courses can use a half day option (2.5 GPA or better) if eligible. Please check with your school counselor or the Director of Guidance for specific details and applications. The student will assume all costs associated with the program including application fee, tuition, books, transportation, and any other associated costs.
Challenger Program (CCM) Requirements
All students must take the Accuplacer Placement Test at CCM. This will enable the college to monitor the enrollment of students in appropriate courses. Students who do not meet the minimum scores in mathematics will be precluded from taking courses with mathematics as a prerequisite or with a strong math component (ex. accounting and/or certain sciences). Students who do not meet the requirements for English Composition will be precluded from taking courses in which English is a prerequisite and/or there is a strong writing component. Pre-college age students are not permitted to take any remedial classes at the college.
Exemptions for the college placement testing:
SAT scores of 540 Critical Reading and 530 Math
ACT scores of 21 for English and 21 for Math
Early College Advantage Program (SCCC) Requirements
All students must meet the following requirements:
SAT score of at least 540 Critical Reading and 530 Math
Be recommended by his/her school counselor
Be a high school junior or senior
* Students may not take more than 12 credits in the summer session or 6 credits in any one semester.
Concurrent Enrollment Courses
Sparta has partnered with New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), Kean University (KU), Seton Hall University (SHU), Rider University (RU) and Sussex County Community College (SCCC). Students who enroll in courses that are affiliated with the aforementioned universities/colleges are responsible for tuition as required by each university. Sparta’s teachers have been approved by the respective university/college to teach concurrent enrollment courses. Additional information regarding concurrent enrollment classes will be distributed to parents once their child is enrolled in the class.
*Pending
Please note: College credit is only guaranteed for the universities listed. Please consult with your guidance counselor who will instruct you on how to determine, through the college admissions office, if the credits will transfer to particular colleges.
TECHNICAL EDUCATION
SUSSEX COUNTY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Course Title: Technical Education (Shared Time)
Course Length: Full Year / Credits: 10 or 15
A shared-time program is offered to the Sparta High School student who would like to remain a Sparta student but also would like to take advantage of one of the many vocational programs listed below at the Sussex County Technical School. Three or four periods would be spent at SCTS in the vocational program of the student’s choice. The student would be at SHS for the remainder of his/her educational program. Transportation is provided.
Due to the specific graduation requirements set by the State of New Jersey, it has become increasingly difficult to complete the mandatory 130 credits requirements and be enrolled in SCTS as a shared-time student. Careful consideration should be given to decide if the shared-time program is appropriate for your child. A share-time program decision should be discussed between student, parent, school counselors, and Sussex County Technical High School before making the final commitment. A meeting will be required for any student who plans on attending the SCTS share-time program between student, parents, and high school and middle school counselors to make a final determination if this is an appropriate program of study.
Shared Time Offerings
All courses are available to regular education students.
* Indicates areas of concentration available special education student.
Course Title: Supportive Employment Experiences for Special Education Students (SEE)
Course Length: Full Year / Credits: 10
The implementation of this program will provide the student with the opportunity to earn credits while learning vocational skills in local businesses or agencies. This work experience will be a structured non-paid activity of limited duration and with specific learning objectives. Enrollment will be through an IEP developed by the IEP team and guidance counselor. The student will be eligible to receive 10 credits for a full year program. Students must be seniors or have departmental permission.
Course Title: 21st Century Skills Internship Program
Course Length: Half Year - Full Year / Credits: 2.5 - 5.0
Prerequisite: Entrance Criteria
As part of the district’s Gifted and Talented Program, students will work collaboratively with both the informational and instructional technology specialists in the school district. Participants will assist teachers and peers as well as become a model for establishing the newest technologies into the classroom. Through the use of developing technology skills and by working with teachers to infuse them into the classroom, students will help develop beneficial workplace skills. This internship program will focus on hardware as well as software with the primary focus on the essential skills needed for implementing technology tools into the 21st Century classroom. In the process, it will sharpen students’ skills in problem solving, collaboration, civic awareness, ethics, leadership, and media literacy.
VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL COURSE WORK FOR HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT
(Original Credit and/or Acceleration)
The purpose of this program is to create the opportunity for a student to prove competency and receive credit for a course of study not offered at Sparta High School or for scheduling conflicts. Students have the option to enroll in an online course at their own expense, pending approval from the Guidance Office.
Guidelines:
The online coursework must be approved by the Director of Guidance in conjunction with the Virtual School Review Committee.
Requests must be received by June 15th for full year coursework and for semester 1; and by October semester 2 course work.
Approval will only be granted for courses not offered at Sparta High School, for remediation of scheduling conflicts, or with special permission of the guidance director.
Online courses may not be taken to satisfy graduation requirements.
If a request is submitted to address a scheduling conflict, the request must be submitted immediately after receiving your high school schedule.
Online virtual courses will adhere to all Sparta High School Guidance Department’s change of schedule procedures.
Online virtual coursework will be completed during a scheduled open period and/or outside of the school day.
Students may not be granted permission to move ahead to the next level course unless they earn a B- or better in the course.
If a student does not complete or withdraws from a course, a WF (withdrawal failing) will be posted on the transcript.
Virtual School coursework will not count toward GPA and will appear on the bottom of the Sparta High School transcript as courses taken online.
Alternative Credit Option
For the 2019-2020 school year, courses may be taken for credit under one of the following scenarios:
Student fails a course and must remediate
The course/experience is not offered at Sparta High School
For transfer students only - a prerequisite to gain entrance into another course (Students must obtain a minimum of B- to advance to the next course.)
Please note: Courses cannot be used to satisfy a graduation requirement.
All of the above must be approved by the director of guidance before enrolling. Courses will appear on a student’s transcript with credits achieved and the institution where the credits were earned. Approved Courses will not be factored in a student’s GPA calculation. Courses must be completed in a timely manner (time specified on the approval form). Courses taken prior to the start of a student’s freshman year will not appear on the Sparta High School transcript under any circumstances.
Students who plan on pursuing alternative course work must submit a letter to their guidance counselor prior to:
June 15 - for Fall (semester 1) and full year coursework
July 1 - Course being remediated.
November 15 – for Spring (semester 2) coursework
COOPERATIVE BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAM
The cooperative business education program is available to Senior students who are seeking a hands on learning experience while receiving 15 credits. The students have a choice of finding one of the few job placements within Sparta High School or a job outside of school during afternoon school hours. The students will attend Cooperative Business Education class everyday during the same period after lunch then go to the job after class for the remaining three periods of the school day. If a student is interested in applying to a job within Sparta High School, the student can apply within the school counseling department.
Jobs within Sparta High School for the Cooperative Business Education Program:
(1 available spot per position)
Library/MRC assistant, School Counseling assistant,
Course Title: Cooperative Business Education
Course Length: Full Year / Credits: 15
Prerequisite: Seniors only
A work-based learning program that provides students with an opportunity to develop basic occupational and employment skills. This program is offered to seniors only and students must provide their own transportation. The students must work a minimum of 15 hours per school week. A completion of 540 hours of on-the-job training is required. The students receive one grade for their work experience and related class. The related classroom instruction includes self-assessment activities with a concentration on career education. The course includes a study of general business, personal finance, and life skills topics, such as banking, insurance, and taxes. A major emphasis is put on workplace ethics and behavior.