Beacon Academy Handbook 22-23

BEACON ACADEMY STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK

The contents of this handbook are intended to provide an overview of the guidelines, procedures, and expectations for both the prospective Beacon Academy student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s).  All parties are expected to carefully read the information contained in this document, and if the student is enrolled into Beacon Academy, strictly comply with program requirements.  The Coordinator has final authority on granting enrollment into Beacon Academy.

Enrollment Process

Beacon Academy is Warren County Public Schools’ online middle and high school program, serving students from grades seven (7) through twelve (12).  The enrollment process includes.

1. Counselor recommendation if the student is enrolled in a public high school;

2. A student and parent meeting with the Beacon Academy Coordinator to discuss the option of Beacon Academy.

3. If tentatively approved for enrollment by the Coordinator, the completion and submission of the Memorandum of Understanding back to the Coordinator.  All required documentation must be submitted for consideration of enrollment.

4. The Beacon Academy Coordinator has final authority over any enrollments into Beacon Academy.

Checklist for Enrollment Documents

District-required documents:  

• WCPS enrollment form

• Student contact and emergency information sheet

• Proof of residency (if not transitioning from current WCPS school enrollment) such as:  utility bill, lease agreement, or notarized “proof of residence” form (required if recently moved into WCPS attendance area)

• Birth certificate (if one is not already on file with WCPS)

• Physical examination form completed by a physician*

• Current immunization certificate (if one is not already on file with WCPS); must be on KY form

• Home language survey

• Vision examination*

• Dental screening*

• Copy of current custody documents (if applicable, and if not already on file with WCPS)

• Copy of Social Security Card (if one is not already on file with WCPS).

(* items may be requested)

Beacon Academy Specific Enrollment Documents To Complete and Submit to Coordinator

• Signed Memorandum of Understanding Document

• ILPA Document

• Mental Health Disclosure Form

• Statement Form (Parent/Guardian and student indicate why enrollment into Beacon Academy is being sought)

THE COORDINATOR WILL INDICATE SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS NEEDING TO 

BE COMPLETED AS PART OF THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS 

Statement on Commitments and Expectations

Beacon Academy students must meet program requirements and expectations to remain enrolled in Beacon Academy. Students failing to meet these requirements will be removed from the program. Parents/Guardians are expected to ensure students are meeting their commitments at all times; active involvement on the part of the parent/guardian is an essential component for promoting student success.

Student Commitments and Expectations

Students are expected to:

• Complete all assignments and tasks without copying the work of other students or copying from other sources; all submitted work must be of the student’s own creation; cheating may be grounds for dismissal from Beacon Academy

• Complete all assignments and tasks no later than the scheduled due date; a daily (M-F) school work / study routine is essential to promoting student success (completing assignments during traditional school hours is preferable)

• Maintain passing grades in all courses at all times

• Communicating with teachers as requested in a timely manner (within 12 hours) and with a respectful tone

• Full and immediate compliance with teacher/coordinator directives, including but not limited to directives to complete tasks by specific timelines

• Maintaining flexibility when it is necessary to come in to the Beacon Academy office for tutoring, testing, or any other purposes

• Any inappropriate conduct may be grounds for dismissal from Beacon Academy, and/or may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the WCPS discipline matrix

Parent/Guardian Commitments and Expectations

Parents/Guardians are expected to:

• Continuously (daily) monitor student progress to ensure students are A) completing assignments on schedule, and B) maintaining passing grades at all times

• Communicate with coordinator/teachers as requested in a timely manner (within 12 hours)

• Ensure students have a school schedule (routine) that is adhered to

• Ensure Beacon Academy school work is a top priority for their student

• Ensure students have continuous access to technology (computer with keyboard, internet access).  Phones are not sufficient work devices.

• Ensure students are properly supervised and in a safe environment at all times

• Communicate with teacher/coordinator IMMEDIATELY if any of the following changes occur:

  • Change of address

  • Change of contact information (phone number, e-mail address)

  • Custodial changes

• Check your email daily (M-F) in the event the teacher/coordinator is attempting to contact you

• Ensure safe and reliable transportation is available at times the student may be required to come in to the Beacon Academy offices for tutoring, testing, or other purposes

• Accommodate Coordinator/Teacher requests for meetings during traditional school hours 

• Review the student weekly progress report sent to parent/guardian via email

Please review these ↑ items again before signing the Memorandum of Understanding Document

Student Removal from Beacon Academy Due to Academic Reasons

Beacon Academy students must complete all assignments/tasks on schedule (no “red” designations in APEX), and must be passing ALL their courses at ALL times to remain a Beacon Academy student.  Within the first 30 days after the student’s first coursework due dates are activated, students will be monitored closely.  At any time, including up to the 30th day a student fails to meet the required criteria for assignment completion or maintaining passing grades at all times, the student will be removed from Beacon Academy and placed into their attendance-area brick and mortar school.  The student grades at the time of removal will be transferred to the receiving school.  If, at any time beyond the 30th day the student fails to meet the required criteria, the program coordinator will consider alternative placement options and notify the parent/guardian accordingly.  If a student is removed from Beacon Academy, he/she will not be eligible to return to Beacon Academy during the calendar school year.  If a student is returned to their brick and mortar school at the end of the school year, the student will not be eligible to return to Beacon Academy for the next school year.  Re-enrollment will only occur once and eligibility will be determined by good attendance, grades (70% or higher) and satisfactory discipline.  

Re-Enrollment to Beacon Academy From Brick and Mortar School

If a student who leaves Beacon Academy in good standing elects to return to their brick and mortar school may re-enroll  only once per Director discretion. Eligibility will be determined by good attendance, grades (70% or higher) and satisfactory discipline.  

Participation in Attendance Area School Extracurricular Activities; NAIA/NCAA Eligibility

Beacon Academy Middle and High School is a stand alone school, separate and apart from the WCPS attendance-area brick and mortar school(s) Beacon Academy students would otherwise attend.  Therefore, Beacon Academy students ARE NOT eligible to participate in brick and mortar school extra curricular activities of any sort (athletics, clubs, field trips, JROTC, etc.).  Likewise, events such as prom, dances, etc., are not open to Beacon Academy students except as they would be to any other person (such as an eligible, invited guest) that is not enrolled in the brick and mortar school hosting the activity or event.

Furthermore, Beacon Academy is NOT recognized as a participating NAIA/NCAA eligible school.  Students who may seek to participate in post secondary athletic activities at a college or university are encouraged to remain enrolled in an NAIA/NCAA recognized institution.

Course Progression Guidelines

There are two progression plans for high school students who are classified as Juniors or Seniors. All students in grades 7 - 10 follow Plan 1; Juniors or Seniors have the option of choosing Plan 2 (only if requested by parent/guardian and the student meets Plan 2 prerequisites). 

Plan 1:  Regular Progression - Mandatory plan for grades 7 - 10, default plan for Juniors/ Seniors.

Students must NOT complete courses at a rate that propels them ahead of their peers attending traditional brick and mortar schools.  Peers are defined as:  students who started first grade at the same time as the Beacon enrollee, who have since progressed continuously at the rate of one (1) grade per school year.  Beacon enrollees who are behind their peers in grade level may be allowed to complete work to catch up with their peers; for students in this circumstance and are under the age of 18, parent/guardian approval to accelerate to catch up to their peer’s classification level is required. 

• Plan 1 MS/HS Course Completion Progression Rate:

  • Full Credit (1.0 credit) core course - up to Sixteen (16) weeks

  • Half Credit (.5 credit) core course - up to Eight (8) weeks

  • Full Credit (1.0 credit) elective course - up to Sixteen (16) weeks

  • Unless the Beacon Academy Coordinator makes an exception due to late student enrollment into Beacon Academy, Plan 1 students will not be permitted to work ahead of the pace above; however students must remain on pace, unless there is a documented medical reason (or other bonafide educational plan) for a student to work at a reduced pace.

• Students shall complete courses at the pace necessary to be promoted to the next grade classification level for the following school year; this shall, in most cases be six (6) credits per school year.

• If a student completes a Fall term course ahead of schedule, he or she (with parent/guardian approval if under age 18) may be considered to be approved to begin a Spring term class without delay, IF the student currently has all “A’s” or “B’s” in all their other courses and made either an “A” or “B” in the course completed ahead of schedule..  Once the student has completed the required number of courses for the year, he/she will be finished for the school year (unless he/she is eligible to switch to Plan 2 and does so, whereupon additional courses may be completed).

• Students cleared by medical and/or mental health professionals and/or approved by WCPS district officials to return to a brick-and-mortar school may be re-enrolled into that school on the first day of the next school year (typically an August date).

• At the conclusion of the school year, parents/guardians may choose for their student to return to their attendance-area brick and mortar school as long as the student has not advanced ahead of their peers in terms of grade classification.  If a student transitions from Beacon Academy back to their brick and mortar attendance-area school, they will be expected to graduate from their brick and mortar high school.

Plan 2: Unrestricted Progression - Optional for:  

A) Beacon Academy High school students with at least 6 high school credits completed who have been enrolled for three (3) full years in Beacon Academy, and who have maintained all “A’s” or “B’s” in all their Beacon Academy High School courses;

B) Beacon Academy enrolled High school students who have completed eleven (11) or more high school credits who have maintained a “B” (3.0 GPA) average in their Beacon Academy courses; 

C) High school transferees into Beacon who have already been awarded eleven (11) or more credits; to remain in unrestricted progression, these students must maintain a “B” (3.0 GPA) in their Beacon Academy courses.  

Students on the Unrestricted Progression Plan will be permanently placed onto the Regular Progression Plan if they are unable to maintain at least a “B” (3.0 GPA) average in their courses.  

For all students under 18, a parent/guardian must complete and submit a “Unrestricted Course Progression Request” application for their student.  The Coordinator will review the request and ensure the student has met all requirements prior to approving this request.

Overview of Processes

• Enrollment into Beacon Academy - once a student is enrolled, the Beacon Academy Guidance Counselor will ensure the student is enrolled in the needed courses.  Beacon Academy students will only be enrolled in courses necessary for promotion/graduation requirements.  If a student enrolls into Beacon Academy from another school, it is very likely that there will be some courses the student was taking at the previous school that will not be necessary to complete in Beacon Academy.  

Teacher Support

• The Beacon Academy Guidance Counselor or Coordinator assigns a teacher to each student.  While independent student learning skills are essential, additional teacher support is available to the student.  

• The teacher will monitor student progress (assessment scores as well as ensuring the student completes assignments on schedule) and will be available to provide instructional guidance to support the student’s continued academic progress  

• The teacher will serve as the primary point of contact for the student and the parent/guardian regarding academic questions or concerns.  

• The teacher will serve as the primary point of contact for the student and the parent/guardian regarding questions or concerns involving the learning management system (the APEX program).

• The teacher will hand grade student-submitted work for those assignments not automatically graded by the APEX program; regarding these assignments, the teacher will provide feedback to the student as needed.

• The teacher will follow the Warren County Public Schools calendar and will only be available to assist students on scheduled work days, during traditional school hours; for any activity requiring teacher assistance (such as tutoring, testing, etc.), arrangements must be made to ensure the assistance can be provided during traditional school hours.

• Students are strongly encouraged to work during the traditional school day timeframe; this promotes improved teacher response times to help assist students.  Students can send teachers emails any time they need help or have questions, however if emails are sent in the late afternoon or evening, the teacher will likely respond the morning of the next work day.

• Tutoring sessions are available upon request;  

• Phone calls and email exchanges are the primary means of support communication and can occur as often as needed to help the student.

Credits/Grade Classification/Promotion

Beacon Academy Middle School students will be placed in the core courses necessary to meet grade-level academic requirements; middle school students will be working at a pace that will ensure that at the conclusion of the school year, they will be promoted to the next grade level.  The Beacon Academy Guidance Counselor will determine the student’s schedule to ensure the necessary courses are successfully completed.  Beacon Academy Middle School students will only be placed in the courses necessary for promotion at the end of the school year.

Beacon Academy High School students will be placed in courses to ensure that they meet the minimum graduation requirements as defined by the Kentucky Department of Education.  In addition to meeting the graduation requirements of the Kentucky Department of Education, all Beacon Academy graduates will have met the graduation requirements established by Warren County Public Schools.  The Beacon Academy Guidance Counselor will determine the student’s schedule to ensure the necessary courses are successfully completed.  Beacon Academy High School students will only be placed in the courses necessary for promotion at the end of the school year.  Upon high school graduation, each Beacon Academy student will receive a Warren County Public Schools diploma.  Beacon Academy graduates will be eligible to attend any postsecondary educational institution just the same as any other student who graduates from one of the traditional Warren County Public Schools high schools.  

Beacon Academy High School students are promoted during the school year at the time they have met the credit requirements to be promoted to the next grade level.

Beacon Academy High School Grade Classification 

Credits Earned Classification

  0 - 5         Freshman

            6 - 11         Sophomore

                                                                12 - 17 Junior

                                                                18 + Senior

Testing

Beacon Academy students will be required to participate in any mandatory district or state assessments.  Parents/guardians will need to accommodate these requirements by ensuring students are able to participate in person to take these assessments.  Beacon Academy staff will notify parents/guardians well in advance of any district or state testing so there will be adequate time for making the necessary arrangements to accommodate this requirement. 

Students will take APEX unit exams from home.  We traditionally require students to come in and take their final exams. 

Cheating/Plagiarism

Honesty and integrity are core values of an academic institution. Academic dishonesty infringes on these values and is unacceptable behavior of Beacon Academy that cannot be justified. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating and plagiarism. Any student found demonstrating academic dishonesty will be at risk of administrative consequences. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and will be treated as such by both the teacher and administration. Beacon Academy strives to help students grow, not only academically, but also as moral and ethical citizens of our community.  

Plagiarism occurs when students take ideas or words from another and present or claim them as their own. Plagiarism includes using work from a source (e.g. the Internet, an encyclopedia, a textbook, any other published or unpublished work, or an oral interview) without proper citation or reference.  Plagiarism includes the unauthorized use of images, music, and video that are not original creations; these must also be cited to avoid copyright infringement.  Plagiarism is not acceptable.  Teachers may use Plagiarism Software which checks students' documents for plagiarism.  If a student is caught plagiarizing, they will be at risk of being removed from Beacon Academy.

KEES Scholarship Eligibility (High School Students)

Beacon Academy High School students are participants in the KEES Scholarship program (financial calculations based on GPA/ACT scores).  If a student completes his/her junior and senior year in one year, only the senior year will be awarded.  The student will lose one year of KEES money.  This is a state rule.

In order to be eligible for a KEES award in any academic year, a student must meet the KEES curriculum requirements in that academic year. Kentucky statute defines “KEES curriculum” as five courses of study in an academic year [KRS 164.7874(7)(b); KRS 164.7874(16)]. The only exception is for students who are enrolled for the fall term of their senior year and graduate at the end of the fall term—these students are eligible for a KEES award if they take less than five classes.

Commencement Exercise for Beacon Academy Graduates

Beacon Academy graduates are eligible to participate in our commencement ceremony.  Traditionally, Beacon Academy’s ceremony is held in conjunction with the commencement of other alternative programs (Lighthouse Academy High School and GEO International High School).  At commencement, Beacon Academy graduates are seated together as a group, and each graduate is individually recognized.  Historically, our commencement ceremony is held in Diddle Arena on the campus of Western Kentucky University in the month of May.  Beacon Academy staff will announce cap and gown order placement information in advance to ensure that any student participating in commencement has ample time to order and receive his/her cap and gown.