Student Expectations and Achievement
Attendance
There is a direct correlation between attendance and student achievement. OHVA full-time students are required to meet a minimum of 920 hours of attendance. The half-day kindergarten program requires 460 attendance hours by the end of the year. Required hours of attendance will be prorated for late enrollees. There should be a strong correlation between attendance logged by the parent and lessons completed by the student.
See the additional grade level engagement requirements, and Attendance FAQ’s below. Appendix A (Supplemental hours) also information can be found here.
K2 Engagement Policy
At the kindergarten through second grade level teachers will meet with students online through one on one conferences and daily Class Connect to make sure that all students are making appropriate academic growth. This allows OHVA teachers to provide additional support and interventions if necessary. If a student does not attend one on one conferences or required daily Class Connect and participate using a microphone the student can be considered truant.
Teachers utilize this time to make sure the online school progress continues to match the student’s academic ability level throughout the school year. Teachers will use assessments, progress monitoring, observations, conferences, and class connect exit tickets to determine all students’ academic ability levels. It is important that the instruction at home is academically appropriate and matches the student’s instructional level. If a student’s progress marked on the online school does not match the student’s instructional level the student’s online school lessons may be reset to place the student appropriately in the online school curriculum.
Teachers may also request an additional face to face assessment and/or written work samples in order to place the student appropriately within the online school curriculum and Class Connect.
The online school daily plan should reflect daily activity focusing on completion of the core curriculum including math, phonics and language arts components with a balance of both online and offline time completed during regular school day hours between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Students should complete 5 lessons daily across the curriculum.
If the teacher notices any discrepancies they will request written work samples to be submitted on a daily basis by 4:00 PM in order to best support the academic growth of the student. Written work samples will be submitted through e-mail to the student’s OHVA teacher and should include the date completed, unit and lesson. For online lessons that do not have written work but instead include the use of manipulatives or online activities the LC may submit pictures of the student completing the assignment along with an activity log and amount of time spent on the lesson. If written work samples are not received by the requested day and time, and do not match up with what is marked complete on the online school, the progress and attendance for the requested work will be removed from the online school. If attendance is entered and no lessons are entered for a particular subject, the attendance for those lessons will be removed. Attendance can only be entered for completed lessons. Supplemental attendance may only be entered after attendance for core subject areas in math, phonics, and language arts has been completed for the day. School sanctioned face-to-face (F2F) or online events may be included in attendance.
After the core subjects are completed Learning Coaches can add supplemental time to their attendance hours. Learning Coaches should keep a log of time spent and activity completed for tracking of supplemental time. At the Kindergarten and 1st grade level it is also a time to learn routines, manners, health and safety. In the brick and mortar school a portion of each day is devoted to topics such as health, hygiene, rest, safety, fair play, manners and school routines. At OHVA we want to encourage families to establish daily routines.
We realize that putting healthy habits and positive routines in place takes time. Time spent on these foundational skills counts as attendance. Kindergarten and 1st grade students can log one hour per day under health to cover these important areas. For additional guidance, contact your child’s teacher.
See the section on Attendance and Truancy for additional attendance information.
3-8 Engagement Policy
At the third through eighth grade level teachers will meet with students online in daily Class Connect to deliver direct academic instruction. Teachers will use MAP assessments, formative assessments; writing
assignments and Class Connect exit tickets to determine all students’ academic progress. It is important that the students attend the daily class connect sessions that have been assigned to them as required.
Required assignments will be monitored and required in the form of:
Complete all MAP assessments in math and ELA (3 times per school year)
Complete all Formative Interim Assessments
Complete and submit all writing assignments
Schoology: Complete and submit all subject specific teacher assignments and exit tickets by the due date.
Complete all Supplemental Program Assignments
Third Grade Students with a Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plan as determined by Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee, will attend all required reading classes and complete ELA and supplemental reading programs as outlined in their RIMP.
If there is a discrepancy in the amount of attendance hours in relationship to the mastered/ attempted OLS progress, the teacher will request evidence of course work completed within one week of the request. If the requested work is not submitted, the teacher will remove attendance hours by subtracting the amount of time for unsupported progress based on default lesson times in the OLS using the number of lessons completed to calculate the supported expected attendance hours. Any single line of activity greater than 150 minutes will be capped at 75 minutes. Teachers will include time spent in class connect as supported attendance.
Example: There are 25 OLS math lessons completed with a default time of 1 hour each. There should be 25 hours of attendance logged.
*Supplemental attendance may be entered after attendance for core subject areas of math and language arts courses have been completed for the day. School sanctioned face-to-face (F2F) or online events may be included in attendance.
High School
It is the belief of The Ohio Virtual Academy that attendance at “live”, synchronous class sessions called “Class Connects” are critical in strengthening the understandings that students gain in independent study. 21st Century Skills such as collaboration, clear communication (both written and verbal), and critical thinking are all necessary for the workforce and higher education and therefore are a focus in these sessions. The following are our expectations for Class Connect sessions:
All students are expected to attend synchronous Class Connect sessions at the beginning of each semester until student success can be established.
Teachers may request participation from any student at any time if deemed critical to student success.
Class Connect sessions will be held Monday- Friday. Course frequency will vary among grade levels and courses.
Times not indicated as Class Connect times are for students to work independently.
Class Connect sessions will be tailored to students’ and the whole class’s specific needs. Please watch for indications of Required (REQ) and Optional (OPT) in session invites.
Class Connect Participation may be part of students’ grades. Please check individual teacher policies.
Recordings will be made available for students who missed class. If you are unable to view the recording within one day, please contact your teacher.
In the case of conflicting class times, it is the student’s responsibility to let both teachers know about the conflict, so that a resolution can be determined. OHVA suggests that students attend the class in which they need the most help.
Students are expected to do any teacher requested pre-work before attending class such as reading lessons or viewing related material.
Students not attending required Class Connect sessions and not earning a passing grade in a course may be considered truant for non-attendance. All attendance policies apply.
Advanced Learners
Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA) has many advanced learners. The K12 curriculum is rigorous, broad, and offers optional extension activities in lessons. Students may be eligible to participate in OHVA activities such as National Honor Society to be challenged and inspired to achieve high academic standards.
Early Entrance to Kindergarten Admission Policy And K-2nd Grade Level Acceleration
A child who does not qualify for entrance to Kindergarten using the September 30th birthdate cutoff date as provided in ORC 3321.01, may seek admission through the following process:
Parent requests admission.
The student is identified as turning five years old after September 30th but before January 1st of the current school year.
An OHVA Kindergarten teacher schedules an appointment with the legal guardian to complete an early entrance assessment via an online classroom with the student. The OHVA Early Entrance to Kindergarten Assessment includes the Kindergarten AIMSweb+ Benchmark Assessment, kindergarten sight words, and a writing sample to determine if the student scores in the accelerated range. At OHVA we look for students to meet the Winter AIMSweb+ target in the fall administration and to meet the Spring AIMSweb+ target in the winter administration. Additionally, observations are made by the teacher during the assessment to identify if the student is socially and emotionally ready for school as evidenced by staying on task and completing age-appropriate activities.
Following the assessment, the teacher has the option to review the scores with the parent prior to submission to administration. The teacher provides the scores to the principal. The teacher and principal review the scores as well as the observations made during the assessment to determine if the student is ready for kindergarten enrollment. The score cut off is pre-determined by the school. The legal guardian is then notified of the results and decision by the principal.
At OHVA we do not provide 1st grade Early Entrance Assessment. As a virtual environment, our OHVA Kindergarten - 2nd grade band can meet the needs of all students within their age-appropriate grade level through the acceleration of courses, differentiation of class instruction, and an Advanced Learner Program for all students who score in the accelerated range.
Also, at OHVA within the Kindergarten - 2nd grade band students are not permitted to skip a grade level since we can meet the academic needs of our students through the acceleration of courses in the area/s the student is excelling, differentiation of class instruction, and an Advanced Learner Program where students are challenged to work with their peers in a research and presentation learning model.
Academic Prevention and Intervention Policy
OHVA’s Academic Prevention and Intervention Policy establishes the classroom-based intervention services available to meet the instructional needs of a student as determined by the results of diagnostic assessments that demonstrate the student might or might not be at risk for academic success. Please refer to the Appendix G to view the policy in its entirety.
Anti-Bullying
For the full anti-bullying policy, refer to the Student Code of Conduct.
Class connect: synchronous and asynchronous Learners
In order to make an intentional impact on student achievement and differentiate to meet individual needs, students will be identified as either Synchronous or Asynchronous Learners.
To begin, all new students will be identified as Synchronous Learners. Synchronous Learners participate in live Class Connect instruction weekly, attending all required live sessions as scheduled. Asynchronous Learners do not typically participate in live Class Connect but can and should access the recordings from live sessions to ensure student instructional needs are met. This supports timely communication with the teacher, and thorough coverage of the course content.
Teachers will determine the learning path for each student. The criteria below will be required to achieve an asynchronous learning path.
- Maintain expected course progress in all core courses. Complete all required assessments
- Demonstrate mastery of grade level standards
In addition, all students who have scored below Proficient on state assessments at the close of the previous year will also be assigned to the Synchronous Learning Path. Failure to engage in the academic requirements may result in retention. Also, failure to engage in the academic requirements may result in the assignment to a Absence Intervention Team Liaison which could include home visits.
As we gather academic data specific to each student and communicate with the Learning Coach, students may be allowed an Asynchronous Learning Path.
In partnership with Learning Coaches, these identifications will be established and adjusted throughout the year based on the student’s academic data. Learning Coaches may inquire about their student’s academic achievement and ask for additional information about Asynchronous or Synchronous Learning Paths at any time.
Appropriate Class Connect Behavior
When an OHVA student logs into Class Connect using their webcam and/or microphone it is similar to them ‘walking into class’ in their school building. Please remember that through the webcam/and or microphone OHVA staff and other students can see and hear what is going on in your home environment. Students should be wearing clothing appropriate for school attendance when on their webcam. Students should be seated in an appropriate space such as a table or desk when on their webcam. The room where your student attends live Class Connect should be a classroom-like setting free from the distraction of a TV or loud noises including yelling. The language in your home should be classroom appropriate and free from swearing. It is important that your student has a quiet, classroom-like environment conducive to learning, to enable the student to focus on instruction and class participation. If there are concerns related to the above. your student may not have webcam and/or microphone privileges during Class Connect.
Class Connect Web Cam Usage for Students and Families
All laptops and desktop computers provided to students will include a webcam. OHVA strongly recommends students utilize the webcam during sessions. This increases the ability for all participants in a Class Connect session to collaborate with webcams enabled. While increased webcam exposure can enhance the collaborative and interactive nature of live instruction, it can also pose challenges with respect to proper webcam etiquette and disciplinary action based on webcam usage or misuse.
Use of a webcam can be limited or prohibited at any time if proper webcam etiquette or behavior is not followed. The webcam should be used for educational purposes and academic collaboration only. The OHVA student code of conduct policy applies to all webcam interactions. In addition to common sense etiquette, the following guidelines must also be followed.
Dress Code for Interaction on Webcam and Placement of Webcam
Family Resources
In our desire to support students and families during times of family crisis, and/or aid in prevention, OHVA has provided a page on our website (https://ohva.k12.com/tools- resources/crisis-support.html) to offer resources for difficult issues such as bullying, suicide prevention, mental health issues, substance abuse, grief and loss, missing children, and temporary food and shelter needs. The Ohio Virtual Academy provides a family resource team to assist families who may need additional resources. Licensed social workers are on staff to serve families in need. In addition to resources on the website, OHVA students and parents may access the SaferOH Tip Line to report a bullying concern, potential teen suicide, or any other school safety concern. Call: 1- 844-SaferOH. Students (and/or parents) may contact their school counselor, advisor, or teacher during a crisis need. Access more information here: https://saferschools.ohio.gov/
Student Behavior and Code of Conduct
Ohio Virtual Academy expects positive behavior from all students, teachers, staff, and parents/learning coaches. OHVA believes that the school environment should be one that ensures the care, safety, and welfare of all students and staff members. Promoting positive interactions and prevent potential conflict is our priority. OHVA follows a Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) policy and fosters a culture of accountability, respect, and engagement. Refer to the Student Code of Conduct section for more information.
Student Support Team
The Ohio Virtual Academy provides a Student Support Team or our OHVA families. Upon your enrollment you may be contacted by a member of the support staff who will facilitate a parent orientation and other welcome activities which will support you in your role as a learning coach (LC). You may be assigned to a Student Support member for the first few weeks of your enrollment with OHVA as you begin schooling. This Support Team member will ensure you know the requirements of our program, how to navigate the various platforms, how to access your child’s daily plan, how log attendance, and how to participate in our electronic classrooms. The Support staff member is not a replacement for your teachers or advisor; instead they are an additional support for you as you acclimate to our educational model.
If your student, or you, as the LC, struggles throughout the year with engagement or truancy, your child’s teacher or advisor may refer you to our Absence Intervention Team (AIT) so they can provide more intensive support for you. If your student is referred to the AIT, an Absence Intervention Plan (AIP) will be implemented. A referral to the AIT is not punitive; this team is in place to offer support to you to empower you and your student for academic success.
Your AIT staff member will work closely with you to monitor your progress and provide assistance and accountability.
Should your student not complete the requirements of the AIP, the student will face the potential of being withdrawn from OHVA upon reaching 72 consecutive hours of absence. In addition, a complaint may be filed in juvenile court for any student who is not making adequate progress with his AIP after 30 days of support.
**Please see the truancy section for more information regarding habitually truant/excessively absent students.
It is always the Student Support Team’s purpose and goal to support your child’s academic success.
School counselor services
All K-8 students will be assigned a dedicated School Counselor. School Counselors provide programs that will assist student growth in three domain areas: academic development, career development, and social/emotional development.
It is the School Counselor’s role to provide guidance to students as they make choices, especially regarding:
Academic Development – Assisting students in developing the skills and behaviors needed to be successful in school.
Career Development – Exploring various career fields, identifying careers of interest, and learning what it takes to achieve personal career goals.
Social/Emotional Development – Understanding emotions, their personal views, and relationships with their family, friend groups, and at school.
In addition, the following services are provided throughout the school year:
Individual Counseling – When a student feels the need to talk to someone about a personal crisis and doesn’t feel as if they can speak with a parent or other adult family member, the student may contact a School Counselor.
Parent Conferences – Counselors can help parents explore various educational and personal opportunities for their students.
Information – Counselors provide information on community and school resources to further support students.
Small Support Groups – During the school year, the School Counselor will provide small groups for students identified by staff, parents, or themselves who need extra support academically and/or socially/emotionally.
Physical Education
Students in grades K – 5 are required to complete 36 attendance hours of physical education activities per year, up to a maximum of 72 hours per year. Hours are prorated for students who enroll after the first day of school. Physical Education activities eligible for attendance credit are to be structured, organized, and supervised (SOS).
Visit this section to see requirements for Physical Education at the high school level.
Ohio's Third Grade Reading Guarantee
The Third Grade Reading Guarantee states that each third grade student will read on or above grade level before being promoted to the next grade. Third grade students are given a reading diagnostic assessment to determine their reading level. All students scoring “off-track” will be given a required, Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plan outlining their reading instruction. These students will be REQUIRED to work with an assigned reading teacher weekly in class connect sessions. Students who have a Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plan with unexcused absences from required classes will be considered truant. More information on Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee can be found here: Click Here for Third Grade Reading Guarantee
Progress Learning
Progress Learning is used by varied grade levels for instruction and assessment as part of a student’s school program. Grades 3 – 5 use this program for weekly assignments and interim assessments.
Withdrawal process
Parents who decide to withdraw their student from OHVA should notify their advisor. The advisor will contact the parent to ascertain the reason for withdrawal. Parents will be requested to complete the online Parent Withdrawal Form in order for the school to begin the withdrawal process.
The parent must confirm the public, private, or homeschool the student will be attending following withdrawal from OHVA, using the online form. All attendance hours and progress should be recorded in the Online School through the last day of enrollment.
The withdrawal and the reason for it will be immediately transmitted to the OHVA Records department. The OHVA Records department will proceed in accordance with Ohio law. The OHVA records department will process the withdrawal, alert the residential district and send records to the stated school of intent. K12 will send pre-paid shipping labels to return shipments, and the supplied computer hardware and materials must be returned in a timely manner.
Consistent attendance at one school is preferable and more likely to lead to student success. Research shows that multiple transitions between schools contribute to increased academic risk, failure, and a higher incidence of school dropouts. If you are considering withdrawing your student from OHVA, make every effort to reach out to your student’s teacher(s), academic advisor, school counselor or principal for academic assistance.
When a student withdraws from OHVA for a reason other than a change of residence and does not enroll in another approved school or program, the Head of School , or designee is obligated to report this fact within 2 weeks following the withdrawal to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and the Juvenile Court consistent with ORC 3321.13(B). Under the law, the Registrar may take action to suspend the student’s driver’s license or permit or deny issuance of a license or permit if it has not been issued yet. Such suspension will be in effect until the student turns 18 or until the Head of School or designee informs the Registrar that the student is now attending school.
Middle school students taking high school courses
Middle School students may be considered to take High School level courses for credit in: Math and ELA. Middle School students are not eligible for High School level courses in: Science, Social Studies, PE/Health, Foreign Languages, or other Electives.
OHVA Requirements are as follows:
· In order to take high school level courses for credit, students must have demonstrated an advanced ability or interest in these areas.
· Approval will be based on past engagement and mastery of material, including any Pre-Requisite High School level courses. Students may be asked to take an assessment or provide work samples in order to determine content mastery and/or placement suitability.
· Any students enrolling after the start of the school year must provide documentation to show the above requirements. After the cohort 2 start date, students should have been enrolled in the class at their previous school. Progress reports from previous school will be used to determine placement suitability.
· Any student enrolling at semester break will need to show documentation that the student was enrolled in the high school level courses and earned high school credit for the first semester. Final report cards and credits earned from the previous school are required to determine placement suitability.
· In all cases, final determination will be made by the Middle School & High School Principal. For more details, refer to this topic in the High School section.
mid-year course advancements
Course level advancements within the K – 4 K12 curriculum may be made during the school year. Grades 2-3 can be approved for advancement in the first semester of the school year. There will be no mid-year course advancements available in the 5-8 K12 Curriculum. Course advancements are based on the student’s overall academic progress within all courses in the online school and are subject to administrative approval. Portfolio samples and additional assessments will be the basis for administrative decisions to approve in-year promotions. Before mid- year course advancements occur, parents will be informed of the long-range impact on a student’s course of study. Teachers will look to see how students performed on the unit and semester assessments before approving the next course. Students can work ahead and advance a course grade level, but must begin that course work at the start of each respective school year.
Guidelines:
Lessons are entered at an appropriate pace (1 lesson per day, or more based on a schedule utilizing blocking)
Assessments are mastered on the first attempt (we know there may be some exceptions, but remediation is expected between assessments)
Students working to start grade-level courses will be advanced at any time during the second semester.
Pre-ordering courses for summer preview and preparation is not a basis for course advancements and will not be approved.
Diagnostic Assessments
AIMSweb+ (K-2 only) or MAP Growth Testing (3-11)
Students are required to complete AIMSweb+ (K-2 only) or MAP Growth testing (3rd – 11th) three times per school year; beginning of the year (BOY), middle of the year (MOY) and end of the year (EOY). The testing windows vary according to grade-bands. If your new student enrolls later, they will be tested within two weeks of their enrollment date. If your returning student misses their testing date, please immediately contact their teacher or an administrator for make-up testing.
For assessment results to be used as a resource to help students grow, we must do all we can to ensure that the data is an accurate representation of what the student can do at the time the test is taken.
This includes:
Students will do their best.
All tests will be taken on Live Class Connects, which may include the use of Webcams.
Students will not receive help or look up answers.
It typically takes 1 to 2 hours to complete the tests given.
OHVA Staff will fully communicate all testing environment expectations, timeframes, results, and plans prior to and after the test is given.
If calculators or formula sheets are needed for a specific question, it will appear within the program embedded in the question. Calculators should only be used if they are embedded in the question. Calculators on MAP Growth tests
When teachers, learning coaches, and test administrators consistently follow the same procedures before, during, and after testing, they help ensure test results are accurate representations of student achievement. No assistance should be given to students as they answer questions, nor should they be allowed to view any material while taking the test. NWEA cannot accurately assess what the student can and cannot do and track the student’s level of achievement if outside help is provided.
Grade Placement and Promotion/retention
Grade Placement K-8
The Ohio Department of Education mandates students have access to grade-level curriculum or above. For practical purposes, students must be prepared to meet the expectations for grade level testing as required by the State of Ohio. Our goal at OHVA is to place students as close to grade level as possible in order to achieve maximum academic progress.
Grade Level Promotion/Retention
Each student shall move forward in a continuous pattern of achievement and growth in harmony with their r own development. A child will be either promoted to the next grade level or retained in the current grade level based on content mastery demonstrated during the academic school year. For specific 3rd grade retention and/or promotion, refer to the 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee.
Per the Ohio Revised Code 3313.609, a student who has been truant for more than ten percent of the required attendance days of the current school year and has failed two or more of the required curriculum subject areas in the current grade shall not be promoted to the next grade level, unless the student’s principal and the teachers of any failed subject areas agree that the student is academically prepared to be promoted to the next grade level.
Diagnostic Assessments – AIMSweb+ (K-2 only) or MAP Growth Testing (3-11)
Students are required to complete AIMSweb+ (K-2 only) or MAP Growth testing (3rd – 11th) three times per school year; beginning of the year (BOY), middle of the year (MOY) and end of the year (EOY). The testing windows vary according to grade-bands. If your new student enrolls later, they will be tested within two weeks of their enrollment date. If your returning student misses their testing date, please immediately contact their teacher or an administrator for make-up testing.
For assessment results to be used as a resource to help students grow, we must do all we can to ensure that the data is an accurate representation of what the student can do at the time the test is taken.
This includes:
Students will do their best.
All tests will be taken on Live Class Connects, which may include the use of Webcams.
Students will not receive help or look up answers.
It typically takes 1 to 2 hours to complete the tests given.
OHVA Staff will fully communicate all testing environment expectations, timeframes, results, and plans prior to and after the test is given.
If calculators or formula sheets are needed for a specific question, it will appear within the program embedded in the question. Calculators should only be used if they are embedded in the question. Calculators on MAP Growth tests
When teachers, learning coaches, and test administrators consistently follow the same procedures before, during, and after testing, they help ensure test results are accurate representations of student achievement. No assistance should be given to students as they answer questions, nor should they be allowed to view any material while taking the test. NWEA cannot accurately assess what the student can and cannot do and track the student’s level of achievement if outside help is provided.
High School Grade Promotion/Class Placement
Students move from one grade level to another at the conclusion of each school year based on the year they enter high school. This does not guarantee that a student will graduate in four years. Students must earn the correct number of credits in the state-required areas in order to graduate. See “OHVA Graduation Requirements” on the following pages.
Students will be considered on track for graduation based on the following credit guidelines:
Sophomores/10th graders—begin the year with 5 credits and end the year with 10 Credits
Juniors/11th graders—begin the year with 10 credits and end the year with 15 credits
Seniors/12th graders—begin the year with 15 credits and end the year/graduate with at least 20 credits.