Academics

Welcome, Start Here Module

Every course contains a “Welcome, Start Here” module which contains pertinent information to ensure student academic success in the course. Certain items in the course are customized to meet the need of a particular curricular area (for example, explanation of using a graphing calculator in advanced mathematics courses). Other items within the module are standardized across all courses, including, but not limited to, the academic integrity attestation form. It is required that all students complete the “Welcome, Start Here” module in order to gain access to the rest of the course content. For more information, please reach out to your teachers.

Course Seat Time

The minimum seat time required in all 6-12 courses is fourteen (14) calendar days per half-credit enrollment from the date of initial course enrollment. The average time to complete courses varies depending on the pace with which students choose to work, however, each half-credit course is designed to be completed in fifteen (15) weeks when students work roughly three to four hours per week in each course. All half-credit enrollments must be completed within one calendar year of enrollment date.

Credit Requirements for Matriculation

All full-time students must attempt four (4) 0.5 credit courses per academic year (July 1-June 30) to be considered a full-time student. All full-time students are eligible for up to six (6) credits per academic year in the base tuition price, but can opt to enroll in additional courses for an additional fee. Since full-time tuition is an annual fee to attend Global Academy, if a student does not attempt or complete six credits in one year, the credits do not roll over into the next academic year.

Full-time Middle School

We recommend that full-time middle school students complete five (5) credits each academic year but can take up to six (6) credits each academic year. Students can opt to complete more than six credits each academic year for an additional cost per half-credit. Each year, this should include:

Full-time High School

We recommend that full-time high school students complete the six (6) credits each academic year which are included in annual tuition rates. In order to satisfy most U.S. college and university admission requirements, and in conjunction with full-time freshman admission requirements for Arizona State University, we stipulate that full-time students earn at least the following credits for graduation:

Age Requirements

In order to enroll as a student program to earn high school credit, a student must reach ten years of age before their date of initial high school course enrollment, and must have demonstrated competency (subject to Global Academy review) or official transcripts reflecting completion of elementary and middle grades content and standards.

All full-time, diploma-seeking students must complete all coursework before the student reaches 22 years of age. Extenuating circumstances that may require the student to continue their coursework beyond age 21 is subject to Global Academy review and approval.

Language Proficiency

The coursework at Global Academy @ ASU Prep is taught and assessed in standard U.S. English. Students who enroll in our coursework should possess academic English language proficiency for reading, writing, and speaking tasks. Our online coursework includes tools that may allow students to translate many, but not all, items into their primary language. However, all coursework must be completed and submitted in English.

Grading Scale

Letter grades for all 6-12 students are determined on the following 4.0 scale:

Global Academy @ ASU Prep students are allowed and encouraged to take multiple opportunities to achieve mastery if needed. Final, summative assessments in courses are only allowed one attempt. End-of-course exams are required to be completed in order to receive course credit with a passing grade. Students must complete and pass at least two Discussion Based Assessments per course. Additionally, in lab-based Science courses (Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Earth & Space Science, and Physics), all lab assignments/assessments are required to be completed to receive course credit with a passing grade. Global Academy @ ASU Prep reserves the right to require students to demonstrate mastery of coursework in order to receive an early grade out for credit.

Honors course material is 25% of the total grade.

Grades are issued for academic performance based on mastery and completion of the course content in a given semester. An appeal must be submitted via email to the instructor within 14 days of the issued grade to begin the appeal process.

Non-letter grades issued to students may include the following, which are issued at the discretion of school administration and have no GPA points.

In circumstances when students are able to demonstrate academic mastery of a grade-level subject area, advancement into the next level can be arranged. For Middle School students taking High School level coursework, the credits earned will reflect as letter grades on the High School GPA and transcript.

Due to the impact advanced and/or accelerated coursework has on a student’s transcript and GPA, it is strongly recommended that students:

• Have at least a B or better in the subject area in the middle or high school course they wish to take
• Be in good academic standing as demonstrated by a minimum of B or better in all courses
• Have a recommendation from their course instructor to pursue advanced coursework

Grace Period

Unless otherwise noted, below are grace period guidelines for Global Academy @ ASU Prep students. Students may modify class schedules without penalty during the grace period. This policy is not applicable to students who are withdrawing from the school.

Grace Period is within 1-14 calendar days of start date:

• Unenroll with no grade
• No grade goes on transcript
• Does not affect GPA
• Partial tuition refund for Arizona and U.S. students (For international students, all enrollments require prepayment for the program courses and all payments for credits are non-refundable.)

After 14-day Grace Period:

• Unenroll with no grade
• No grade goes on transcript
• Does not affect GPA
• No tuition refund

Students wishing to unenroll from courses outside the grace period should consult with a Learning Specialist and/or school administrator to discuss the impact to the student’s GPA. Full-time students transferring out of Global Academy @ ASU Prep to attend another school will not receive a final grade or earn credit for any in-progress coursework. In-progress grade reports may be produced to families to take to new schools upon request. Additional circumstances, such as medical or major life events that occur within a semester, may result in a student receiving a “W” in any class withdrawn beyond the grace period.

Credit Remediation Policy

If a student receives a B or lower in a course and retakes a course, the original lower grade GPA points will be vacated from the transcript. The original earned grade will remain. In the event that the retake results in the same or a lower grade than before, the highest grade will be figured into the GPA. The letter grade for any other attempts will not be included in the GPA, but will remain on the transcript. Students cannot receive duplicate credit for a course.

Prior Approval for External Course Credit

Students may take courses at another accredited school or university provided the coursework is through an accredited institution and official transcripts are remitted to our student records department.

All homeschool credits must be presented at the time of enrollment. Additional homeschool concurrent credits will be accepted at the discretion of the instructional leadership team towards high school graduation requirements. Homeschool transfer grades will be entered as a “P” for pass and will not be calculated into the student GPA.

Any credits transferred in will follow Global Academy @ ASU Prep grade weighting standard. Collegiate or university courses worth between 3 to 5 college credits transcripted by a community college or local university may transfer back as 1.0 high school credit. Allocation of credits towards graduation requirements will be determined by the student records department.

Students wishing to transfer high school credits earned at an international school will need to supply a certified translation from our approved credential agency. Certified translated transcripts must include a grading scale for the awarding school as well as the following items for each course: title or course name, start and end date, grade issued, and Carnegie unit or credit earned.

Official Transcripts for Outside Institutions

Official transcripts are required in order to transfer credits to the Global Academy @ ASU Prep transcript. An official transcript is required from each school previously attended where high school credit was earned. While Global Academy @ ASU Prep requests transcripts from prior reported high schools, it is the responsibility of the student and/or parent to request Official Transcripts from local colleges or universities.

External Credit Policy

For full-time students, in order to transfer credit taken at an outside institution to be considered as part of the students’ academic record, the following criteria must be met:

External Credit Policies:

• course must be taken at an accredited institution
• course completion must be reflected on an official transcript
• official transcript must be delivered by the outside institution directly to the Global Academy at ASU Prep either via U.S. mail or via secure electronic delivery.

Unsealed or electronically forwarded documents do not count as secure transmission. External courses taken while enrolled full-time in another institution will not be awarded unless it is reflected on the prior institution’s Official Transcript.

Alternate Credit Policy

Full-time students may receive credit for certain activities completed outside of the Global Academy’s instructional program. Included in this alternate credit policy are activities such as internships, dedicated service-learning projects, and athletic preparation. Students and families must complete the Alternate Credit Application, which includes a detailed report of a minimum of 75 hours dedicated to the alternate activity for the equivalent of one half credit (0.5). Alternate Credit Applications are subject to review and approval by the instructional leadership team. Completion and submission of the hours or application is not a guarantee of earned credit. Any credit earned using the Alternate Credit Application will be indicated as such on the student’s transcript and will earn a grade of P.

Transferring to The Global Academy @ ASU Prep as a Homeschooler

Global Academy @ASU Prep defines a Homeschooler as one that has learned outside of the public or private school environment and has a current affidavit of Homeschool Education on file with their local education agency. Courses will be evaluated as part of a Homeschool Education program when instruction, curriculum design, grading, issuing of credits and assessments are administered by the homeschool administrator. Transcripts are not required for incoming 9th graders unless wishing to transfer in high school credits. Parents/guardians must submit all documentation of homeschool credits earned in their Home Education program prior to the start of enrollment for consideration. Unless otherwise approved by administration, no additional credits will be considered for transfer after a full-time student is already enrolled.

A homeschool transcript must include:

• Student’s full legal name
• Complete Home Address
• Ninth grade start date (month/day/year), if applicable
• Organized by academic year: Grade level start date and end date (month/day/year), Course titles, Course start and end date, grade awarded, units of credit for each course
• Grading scale with letter grades (if numeric scale is used)
• Signature (handwritten) of the home school administrator (the parent or person who organized, taught and evaluated the home school coursework)

Tuition Policies

Students incur costs for services and fees throughout the course of their experience with the Global Academy @ ASU Prep.

Full-Time (Grades 6-12) is defined as a student enrolled in courses with the Global Academy @ ASU Prep as their primary school. Full-time tuition will be charged in 4 installments per year.

Part-Time (Grades 6-12) is defined as enrolled in courses and the Global Academy @ ASU Prep is not designated as the primary school for the student. Tuition is charged per course and full payment is due upon enrollment into courses.

Failure to satisfy an outstanding balance may result in:

• Transcript withheld
• May not enroll in any ASU concurrent courses
• ASU concurrent courses will not be applied to high school transcript

For Full-Time students, annual tuition contracts must be signed and an annual $400 deposit is required prior to enrollment in courses.

For details on tuition rates, please visit www.asuprepglobalacademy.org