Sancta Familia. Home Academy Handbook

Transcription

1 Sancta Familia Home Academy Handbook

2 Contents List of Sancta Familia Home Academy Services... 4 Parent responsibilities Sancta Familia Home Academy Requirements Florida Law Regarding Immunizations & School Attendance. 6 Communicating with Sancta Familia Academy Report Cards and Attendance Records Re-enrollment / Re-instatement.. 8 Annual Testing Options Required for Grades Proctoring for Annual Tests Commonly Asked Questions (General) Middle School Sports & Extra-Curricular Activities... 12, 23 FLVS (Florida Virtual School) Support Groups General High School Information Letter Grades and Grade Points / GPA Limited Enrollment Diploma Options..16 Standard Enrollment & SFA Graduation Requirements.. 17 Bright Futures and Florida State University Requirements...18 Sancta Familia Academy Recommended High School Course of Study.19 Earning High School Credits, Transcripts, College

3 Financial Aid, Testing, College Dual Enrollment Commonly Asked Questions Regarding High School Sports and Extra Curricular Activities... 23, 12 High School Planning Sheets Summary of Florida Public School Standard Diploma Requirements Socialization Parent-Teacher Agreement Home Education Policy for NON-enrolled students Sancta Familia Academy, Inc 1204 N. Harbor City Blvd. Melbourne, FL (321) Parents log in to member area at 3

4 Sancta Familia Academy Services Records we keep for you: Student's permanent record (K-8) Transcripts (9-12) Achievement test scores (It is the parent's responsibility to send these to Sancta Familia Academy) Health records Personal Assistance Assistance available via , mail, and phone (by appointment) Yearly student and teacher ID cards are available. (These can be used for discounts at local bookstores, school supplies stores and movie theaters. Check with your local merchants to find out if they offer discounts.) Curriculum advice, as needed / requested Visits to our home office are available by appointment High School Services Diploma (3 options) Transcripts mailed upon request (requires 3 business days notice) SAT & ACT info & advice College scholarship information High School credits/basic college prep advice For more information please see the High School portion of this handbook. 4

5 Parent Responsibility By enrolling your child in Sancta Familia Academy, you have accepted the responsibility and duty of teacher in your home-school. This is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. There is, however, the reward of seeing your children educated in the safe and secure environment of your home-school. It is now your duty to make sure your child is educated to the best of your ability in order for your child/student to reach his or her full potential. Sancta Familia Home Academy Requirements You must keep attendance for 180 school days per year, between July 1 st and June 30 th. The attendance you keep must be reported at least two times per year to Sancta Familia Academy on or before the semester end dates of January 15 th and July 15 th. You may teach more than the 180 days per school year and number of days may vary depending on the curriculum used. Students may be promoted prior to reaching 180 school days; however attendance must be submitted even if for the next grade. If subjects and/or grade level changes, a new course of study must be submitted to SFA. Keep grades and attendance records up to date, showing subjects and days taught, and grades earned. Submit a copy of the grade report to the school office, or enter grades online, twice a year. Submit standardized test or evaluation results at the end of your school year. Keep a portfolio in your home, consisting of a list of materials used and samples of the student's work. This portfolio is to be kept for two years. In high school, keep for all 4 years. At the end of each semester, submit a copy of two written samples of work from each subject for which you are seeking credit (excepting FLVS courses taken while registered with FLVS as a student of Sancta Familia Academy). For elementary students (grades k-8) submit copies of two samples of student s writing and two samples of student s work in math. Note: Keep the student portfolio, including the list of books and materials and a few work samples from each subject, for your own records. Do not send to school office, unless requested by School Director. Annual testing is required for grades 3 through 12, with optional testing available for grades K through 2. You will need to mail a copy of the test or evaluation results to the school office at the end of your school year. Testing is optional for students with documented learning disabilities. Please notify us of the disability and send us a copy of the documentation. A copy of each student's immunization records* (DH680 in Florida) or exemption form* (DH681 in Florida) must be submitted to the school office. 5

6 For Kindergarten students or any student entering school for the first time in Florida, you must submit a School Entry Health Exam. * For Kindergarten students, you must supply a COPY of their Birth Certificate.* *These items may be included in records we request from previous school. Outside of Florida, parents assume responsibility for compliance with state requirements. When withdrawing from SFA, fees must be paid in full before we can transfer your student s records to the next school. Florida Dept. of Health Rule No. 64D (Immunization Requirements) A student may attend a public or non-public school, grades preschool through 12 or an adult education class if younger than 21, if prior to admittance, attendance or transfer, they present one of the following for inspection for validity by an authorized school official: 1. DH Form 680, Florida Certification of Immunization (July 2010), incorporated by reference, available from Department of Health (DOH) county health departments (CHDs) or physicians offices; or 2. DH Form 681, Religious Exemptions for Immunizations (English/Spanish/Haitian-Creole) (July 2008) (February 2002), incorporated by reference, available at DOH CHDs, must be signed by the local county health department medical director or designee. Religious Exemption from Immunization (DH 681 Form) Request for Religious Exemption: A request for a religious exemption from immunization requirements must be presented to the facility/school on the Department of Health s Religious Exemption From Immunization form (DH 681 Form). The DH 681 Form is issued ONLY by county health departments and ONLY for a child who is not immunized because of his/her family s religious tenets or practices. If a parent requests such an exemption, the county health department staff must use the current DH 681 Form, which has been signed by the parent affirming the written statement on the form that a religious conflict exists. This form must be issued upon request. No other information should be solicited from the parent or guardian. These guidelines describe the requirements for compulsory immunizations for admittance and attendance under the following authority: 6

7 I. Public/non-public preschools and schools, K-12: section , Florida Statutes, and Rule 64D-3.046, Florida Administrative Code. A copy or facsimile of a completed and appropriately signed DH 680 Form is acceptable. However, every effort should be made to have the original document(s) on file at the preschool, school, licensed childcare facility or family daycare home. Prior to entry, attendance or transfer to preschools, schools (K-12), licensed childcare facilities, and family daycare homes, each child shall have on file a Florida Certification of Immunization, DH 680 Form (see Section IV), documenting the following: Public/Non-Public Schools K-12 (children entering, attending, or transferring to Florida schools): Four or five doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine Three, four or five doses of polio vaccine Two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine 1 Two or three doses of hepatitis B vaccine One dose of varicella vaccine (kindergarten effective school year 2001/2002, then each year an additional grade) Two doses of varicella vaccine (kindergarten effective school year 2008/2009, then each year an additional grade) Public/Non-Public Schools Seventh Grade: Effective with the 2009/2010 school year 2, In addition to all other compulsory school immunizations, children entering, attending, or transferring to the seventh grade in Florida schools are required to complete the following: One dose of tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine (Tdap) Virtual School and Home Education: Students that participate in any public or private school campus-based activities are required to have age-appropriate vaccines with the proper documentation. Students enrolled in the Florida Virtual School must have a completed DH 680 Form on file at the school. Note: The original paper DH 680 Form is a permanent school record and should be filed in the student's cumulative health record. This form should transfer along with all other school documents. 1 Effective for K to /2009: second dose of mumps and rubella. 2 With each subsequent year, the next highest grade will be included. 7

8 Communicating with SFA Always include your full name and your child's full name on all correspondence including report cards and letters. By telephone: (321) The office staff is available for telephone calls from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. If no one is available to take your call, please leave your full name and your child's full name, phone number and the best time to return your call. Sometimes, your call will be returned on the next business day. By Please include your full name and your child's full name. If you are ing grades for more than one student, please list them separately. Many times one system will not transfer charts and columns to another system. By fax: (321) You must call first in order to send a fax. Please, only fax white and light yellow papers. Include your full name and your student's full name on all correspondence. By USPS mail: 1204 N. Harbor City Blvd, Melbourne, FL Include your full name and your child's full name on all correspondence. Report Cards and Attendance Records Sancta Familia Academy uses Home School Reporting Online for your convenience. Attendance and Grade Reports are to be submitted twice a year. Attendance reports must be submitted when 90 days of attendance have been recorded (if your semester ends and grades are awarded for a semester of school work) or by the semester end dates established by SFA, whichever comes first. SFA will supply semester report card and attendance record forms to be submitted by mail to families not registered for online reporting. The report card and attendance record are to be completed and turned in to our office twice a year. (Mid-year, based on your school schedule, and at the end of your school year.) Please note: there is an additional charge for paper reporting. Re-enrollment Forms for re-enrollment are available online and from the school office. You may complete more than one grade level per year; however a new re-enrollment form and enrollment fee must be submitted for each grade level. 8

9 Reinstatement If you withdraw your student(s) from Sancta Familia Academy and later return, or re-enroll past the annual deadline, your student(s) may be reinstated. Upon reinstatement you will be charged a nominal reinstatement fee. Annual Testing Options Annual Evaluations are required for students in grades Testing for students in grades K 2 and for students with a documented Specific Learning Disability is optional. Testing is offered at Sancta Familia Academy each spring and local families are welcome to have their students tested at the school. SFA will send you copies of the results. Enrolled students and member families receive a discount. For all other options, you will need to mail a copy of the results of the test or evaluation to our office. Any national or state test will be acceptable. 1. Your local homeschool support group may offer testing. -Advantage: Having your students take the test with a group of children they already know. 2. You may hire a certified teacher to test or evaluate your student. -Advantage: Certified teachers may offer tests not available to parents. Also, teacher evaluations without the use of standardized testing services are more flexible and are preferred by some parents, especially with younger children. 3. You may order standardized tests such as the IOWA, CAT, SAT, or ITBS from a homeschool provider such as Seton, Kolbe, OLVS, Christian Liberty Press, etc. Order information is available online from each provider. You would be responsible to order it yourself, administer it yourself, and mail it back to the provider for grading. They will mail you the results. A copy of the results must be submitted to SFA. 4. You may register your student for spring testing at your local public school. Some districts allow this, while others do not. Check with your county or local school. Some charge a minimal fee for this. -Advantage: The opportunity for your student to become familiar with group test taking before going to college. 5. Your high school student may use the PSAT, SAT or ACT as their yearly test. These tests are given at local high schools and test sites. For further information please, contact our office. 9

10 Proctoring for Annual Tests Follow specific directions for administering the test. Be precise. Read directions for completing the student-identifying data, marking answers and administering the tests. Make sure your students understand what they are to do before you begin testing. Monitor the students to be sure they are marking answers properly. Only give assistance in the mechanics of taking the test. Observe time limits for tests that are timed. Do not allow students to work longer than specified working time. If your student has a documented Specific Learning Disability, contact SFA before testing. How can I lessen my child's anxiety when they are taking the annual achievement test? It is important that your child anticipate the tests with interest rather than anxiety. Help them realize that the purpose of taking an achievement test is to find out which skills they have mastered and which skills need further development. You can help them approach the testing in a relaxed, positive way by conveying the following ideas. Point out that some items may be more difficult than others, and some material may be new to your child; they are not expected to know all the answers. Reassure your child that he will be given ample time to do his best. Emphasize that the test requires no special preparation and that it will not affect their grades or their promotion to the next grade level. COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS How do SFA s requirements differ from the Home Education Law requirements? Because Sancta Familia Academy is a private school, in the state of Florida, you do not have to register with or report to the Public School Superintendent. You are not required to have a certified teacher test or evaluate your student, you do not have to show your student's work to the Public School Superintendent. In other states, the laws may vary. Please check with your state Department of Education or on-line at Are immunization records and health records required? Yes. By law all schools must keep a copy of health and immunization records in the individual student's permanent record file. A Religious Exemption Form may be filed with our office instead of an immunization record. A birth certificate is also required to prove the age of Kindergartners. Often these records will be obtained from the previous school when we send for their records, however, if this is the first time your child has been enrolled in a school, you will be responsible for submitting these documents to our office. 10

11 How much time each day does it usually take to Home School? Florida s attendance law requires students to have 540 net instructional hours per year in kindergarten, 720 in grades 1-3, and 900 hours in grades Divided by the typical 180 days (minimum of 170 days regardless of number of hours) this is 3 hours per day for kindergarten, 4 hours per day for grades 1-3, and 5 hours per day for grades SFA does not keep track of hours and you are only required to submit DAYS of school for our attendance requirements. Therefore, there are no hour-per-day requirements in our homeschool. The hours you spend per day will depend on grade level, curriculum used and the individual needs of the child. It can take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours per day. Why is this time so short in comparison to public school? Much of the day in a public school is spend changing classes, getting organized, eating, and playing. The net instructional hours are usually about 40 minutes per class with 5 or 6 classes per day. So, in reality, the time is not all that different. Also, in a public school a teacher may have 20 or 30 students. This means they must make use of "seat work" to keep the class occupied. If your child grasps an idea or concept you can move on, whereas a public school teacher must spend more time on the topic or subject to be sure most of the class is learning. Can my student complete two grades in one year? Yes. We encourage students to work at their own pace. Many students complete one grade level in less than a regular school year. However Sancta Familia Academy s enrollment forms and fees are per grade level, not necessarily per year. When your student completes a grade level, you will need to re-enroll them for the next grade level. Can my student take more than one year to complete a grade level? Yes. Again, we encourage students to work at their own pace. Some students, especially those with special needs, require more than a calendar year to complete the full curriculum for the year. Since the calendar year is 12 months, and a typical school year is only 9, most students are able to finish within the year. However, SFA will allow a student additional time to complete a grade, provided the 180 days of attendance are met in the calendar year. A new school year, as far as attendance is concerned, will begin, and the student will need to re-enroll and pay the enrollment fee for the current school year, even if he or she needs time to finish the curriculum from a previous year. Does Sancta Familia Academy require its students and families to be Catholic? No. Although the Board and founding members of Sancta Familia are Catholic and our homeschool concept is based on Church teaching and Christian principles, adherence to a particular religious sect is not a requirement of enrollment. A Christian moral code is expected of all participants in local activities, however. Does SFA require a certain curriculum be used, or subjects be taught in a specific pattern or grade? There is no required order of learning. Most curriculum providers offer assistance in placing students in grade-level materials. We provide links to a general (national) scope and sequence, the Sunshine State Standards, and some recommendations for you to use as you see fit. The guidelines and suggestions we offer are meant only to assist you, they are not requirements which must be met. It is the advantage of homeschooling to work with your child s individual needs, not those of a school board. High School does have specific courses 11

12 that need to be taken when working for a diploma, but we do not dictate the order or sequence that they are taught. Do I need to follow the grading system as listed in the SFA grade report? No. You may design your own, as long as you let us know what it is. (See High School portion of handbook for required grading system for high school work in order to receive a Diploma from SFA.) Middle School Students in 6th, 7th and 8th grade can earn high school credit for high school courses taken in these grades. High school courses must be designated as high school level by the publisher or program used, and be graded with a letter grade (A, B, C etc.). These courses are listed in the Graduation Requirements portion of this handbook. Credit courses taken in middle school will be added to a high school transcript upon registration in the 9th grade. If your student transfers before 9th grade, and a transcript is requested, a transcript fee will be charged. Middle school students taking more than half their core academic courses at high school level should enroll in high school. In some states, high school credits earned at a private school may not automatically transfer to a public school. In some cases, students are required to pass an exam in certain subjects before a credit will be transferred. In other cases, where there are no such exams, the student may be required to retake the course. Even though this rarely happens, it is a possibility in some states or school districts. These situations could occur if transferring after the 9th, 10th or 11th grade. Each state and district is different. Most schools will accept private school credit. Some will not, and some will accept only those that can be verified with a test. If you are concerned about this, you should contact your local public high school and ask what their policy is regarding the transfer of private school credits. The new Florida ruling requiring an end of course exam for Algebra I is an example. If your student will be transferring to a public high school after taking Algebra I, the EOC is required in order to transfer the credit to the Florida public school, whether taken in 8 th grade or in high school. Sports & Extra-Curricular Activities Students wishing to participate in any form of competition at their local public school may do so while enrolled with SFA as long as our enrollment remains below 125 students in grades In order to participate with another private school, or with a homeschool organization such as the Brevard HEAT, the student must register with the county as a homeschool student. While with the county, they must withdraw from Sancta Familia Academy. Students are welcome to return to SFA after competing. We can still offer Bright Futures assistance, transcripts and diplomas when they return to SFA; however, while they are with the county, the county will be their contact for dual enrollment and FLVS. Please let us know if your student plans to compete at another school, and we can advise you in more detail. Failure to comply will disqualify their team for the entire season, and the team will have to forfeit any wins. 12

13 Guide to FLVS (Florida Virtual School) What is the FLVS? Florida Virtual School is a public school program online, paid for by the Florida Department Education. What do the courses cost? There is no charge for the courses and books for Florida residents. Non-Florida residents should visit the Florida Virtual School website, for non-resident fees and tuition. All course materials sent to you must be returned at the end of the course. What courses are available? 6-8 grade courses categories are: Business, English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Study Skills grade courses are available in basic academic, honors, and AP. Courses categories are: Art, Business, Computer, English, Foreign Language, Health/P.E., Social Studies, Math, Science and Study Skills. Are these courses accredited? Yes. However, 6-8 grade level courses do not earn high school credit. Who can participate? Florida residents may participate tuition-free. Non-Florida residents pay tuition based on course selection. How do I register? The first step is to sign on to Review course information, policies, etc. Follow the online prompts to fill out initial application.. Under School Information click on Brevard District, regardless of where you live, then click on Sancta Familia Academy. After selecting courses, have your guardian/parent approve them. How does it work? Once the registration and course selection is completed by you and approved by your guardian/parent, Sancta Familia Academy will be notified by FLVS to approve your selections. Your name will then be put on a waiting list. If the course is available, you will receive an from FLVS. Next, you will be contacted by the teacher who will then help you set up your assignment schedule. Course materials, when appropriate, will be mailed to you. (These must be returned at the end of the course.) Students are allowed to work at their own pace within certain guidelines. These guidelines will be determined during initial contact between the teacher and the student. Tests are graded by the teacher. Course grades are sent to the parents and to SFA. Grades are added to your school record. When selecting courses only register for courses you want and are able to take. You must be available to take all the courses you register for. Due to limited space, DO NOT register for any class you are not willing to commit to in any given semester. 13

14 Parent s responsibility is to read through the FLVS information and review all policies. Approve the selected courses. After course(s) are selected, make sure the student is kept on track for their completion. Become and remain involved in your student s school work. This resource is provided by the Department of Education, paid for by our tax dollars, please use it wisely. Sancta Familia Academy Grade Reports and Attendance Forms are required from all students even if they only take FLVS classes. FLVS transcripts are required to be submitted to fulfill the High School work sample requirement. Student s responsibility is to read through the course descriptions and demos before registering. Careful consideration must be given to course selection since withdrawing from a course carries penalties. Withdrawing according to FLVS procedure will not incur a penalty. Sancta Familia s responsibility is to review course selections, approve them, and assign credit as appropriate. We are available for counseling if you have questions. Withdrawal penalties: Students who do not follow their assignment guidelines and fail to submit course assignments on time will receive a No Contact letter from FLVS. If assignments are not received within 14 days of date of the letter and the required pace of submitting work is not followed, the student will be dropped from the course for non-participation. Students who are dropped from the course after the initial 28- day grace period will receive a grade of Withdrawn- Failing. Students who are dropped from the course after completing 50% or more of the course work will receive a grade of F. The F will remain on your transcript unless you retake the course, either through FLVS or other means. If a Sancta Familia Academy student is dropped or withdraws from more than 3 courses, a conference with SFA and the parent must be held before any further registration requests will be approved by the academy. Support Groups We would like to encourage our families, especially first time homeschoolers, to consider joining a local homeschool support group. Most support groups offer activities for both the students and the parents. For more information on Florida groups visit In other states, visit Local families are encouraged to join Sancta Familia s homeschool network. We are also trying to establish a statewide network for Catholic homeschoolers in Florida, so we ask that you allow your contact information to be made available to others in your area through our member data base. Your information will only be shared with other members of our organization and will NOT be sold or shared with anyone outside of Sancta Familia Academy. 14

15 General High School Information Portfolio For your student's high school career, please keep the portfolio for the entire four years of high school. Samples of high school work must be mailed to the school office before a diploma can be issued. Samples must be from the following courses: English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Samples are not required from college dual enrolled courses, FLVS courses, or courses taken with a provider recognized by SFA. Honors Courses Honors courses consist of the following: 1. Any college level course 2. Any course designated Honors by curricula 3. Any Foreign Language above level 2 4. Any course designated honors by the FL DOE on their website 5. AP courses, CLEP credits Sancta Familia Academy does not use weighted GPA; however, we will note honors designation on transcripts. Prerequisites It is recommended that students take Algebra I before taking Chemistry. It is also recommended that students take Algebra II before taking Physics. Letter Grades In order to calculate your student's GPA (Grade Point Average), the SFA grade key must be used in High School. Grade Point Average is determined by averaging the following point values for each letter grade: Letter Grade A B C D Unweighted Grade Points Graduation Requirements SFA will keep your attendance and other records even if you are working toward a General Education Diploma (GED) or a diploma from an out of state school such as Seton, Our Lady of Victory, Mother of Divine Grace, etc. with our Limited Enrollment Option. However, please note that if you choose this option, SFA will NOT provide transcripts to colleges and will NOT award a diploma. 15

16 High School Students Limited Enrollment Option High school students who are enrolled in Sancta Familia Academy for compulsory attendance requirements only (our Limited Enrollment Option) will not receive a diploma from SFA, and therefore do not need to meet our graduation requirements. Below is information regarding graduation options for students who will not graduate from Sancta Familia Academy. Please be aware that students enrolled in an out of state high school, using SFA for attendance only, may face challenges when dealing with Florida state colleges and universities. SFA will not verify courses for dual enrollment or college admissions for Limited Enrollment students. Bright Futures and Florida colleges will expect homeschooled students to have been registered with their county in a home education program. However, they should accept that the student was registered with Sancta Familia Academy for attendance purposes, but will be treated the same as home educated students in regards to credit verification in lieu of an accepted high school diploma. Aside from parent-created transcripts, Limited Enrollment students have the following diploma options: STATE G.E.D Minimum age and other requirements vary from state to state. Students wishing to pass the GED can contact their local GED center. SFA cannot make these testing arrangements. For Florida requirements, please visit the Official site of the Florida Department of Education for the GED test at OUT OF STATE SCHOOLS Private schools generally follow state guidelines regarding graduation requirements. So Seton s requirements are based on Virginia s, and Mother of Divine Grace s requirements are based on California s. Keep this in mind when planning for college admissions and scholarship applications, such as Florida s Bright Futures. Bright Futures has different test score minimums for home educated students as well. An out of state diploma for a student claiming Florida residency classifies that student as home educated. Diploma Decisions for Students with Disabilities

17 High School Students Standard Enrollment Option Sancta Familia Academy s Standard High School Enrollment includes official transcripts and a diploma from a private school registered with the state of Florida. In order to receive a Sancta Familia Academy diploma, students must meet our graduation requirements. Note: By law, state graduation requirements pertain to state schools i.e. public schools. The state of Florida does not regulate private school curriculum, and this includes high school course of study and graduation requirements. Sancta Familia s requirements are set by Sancta Familia. However, our requirements are based on the current state requirements. Sancta Familia Academy Standard Diploma Graduation Requirements If you are seeking a diploma and transcripts from Sancta Familia Academy, you must choose Standard Enrollment. Our graduation requirements are based on the diploma you are seeking. We offer three diploma options based on the graduation requirements of the State of Florida. A minimum total of 24 credits are required, including: 4 English 3 Math 3 Science 3 Social Studies 3 Religious Studies 2 P.E. (one of which can include health & fitness see Florida s HOPE course) 1 Fine or Practical Art The remaining 5 credits can be electives. It is highly recommended that the elective credits be concentrated in an area of interest for the non-college-bound student. Note: This is a minimum requirement, and is not necessarily appropriate for all students. This diploma track is for the student who will go to work, vocational school, or a community college. It is not for the university-bound student. See our Academic Diploma requirements below. Sancta Familia Academy Academic Diploma Graduation Requirements A minimum total of 24 credits are required, including: 4 English 4 Math 3 Science 3 Social Studies 4 Religious Studies 2 Foreign Language 1 P.E. (one of which can include health & fitness see Florida s HOPE course) 1 Fine or Practical Art 2 Electives 17

18 Bright Futures Academic Requirements: 4 English (3 with substantial writing) 4 Mathematics--Algebra I level and above. (High School pre-algebra, Consumer Math, Business Math and Liberal Arts Math do not meet the Bright Futures requirement.) 3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab) 3 Social Science: 1 ea. American History &World History.5 ea. Economics & US Government 2 Foreign Language (sequential, in the same language) Total: 16 credits (plus 8 electives) Minimum GPA requirements based on 16 core credits. For Bright Futures Requirements & Other Florida College Scholarship information, go to: Florida s Public University Requirements: High school graduation with a standard diploma Admission test scores 16 Credits of approved college preparatory academic courses 4 English (3 with substantial writing) 4 Mathematics (Algebra I level and above) 3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab) 3 Social Science 2 World Language (sequential, in the same language) 2 Approved electives Florida's public high school graduation requirements are specified in the following sections of Florida Statute (F.S.): Section , F.S., Requirements for a standard high school diploma (effective July 1, 2013) Section , F.S., Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning (ACCEL) options Students may earn one or more designations on their standard high school diploma the scholar designation and the merit designation per s , F.S. Requirements are listed in the graduation requirements charts by grade nine entering cohort year Seniors Juniors Sophomores Freshman - To learn more, visit: 18

19 SANCTA FAMILIA ACADEMY S RECOMMENDED HIGH SCHOOL COURSE OF STUDY SEVEN CREDITS PER YEAR / TOTAL OF 28 CREDITS FRESHMAN YEAR SOPHOMORE YEAR English: Composition I and choice of literature Traditional Logic Math: Algebra I English: English Composition II and choice of literature Material Logic & Informal Fallacies Math: Geometry Religion: Bible History Religion: Church History Science: Physical Science Science: Biology Social Studies: History of the Ancient World Social Studies: History of the Middle Ages Geography Latin I Semester of fine arts or practical arts Physical Education / Health Latin II JUNIOR YEAR SENIOR YEAR English: Composition III and choice of literature Rhetoric Math: Algebra II English: Composition IV and choice of literature Writing for College Math: Advanced Math / Pre-Calculus / Business Math Religion: Doctrine & Morality Religion: Apologetics & Philosophy Science: Chemistry / Physics / Anatomy & Physiology Science: Optional Physics / Chemistry / etc. Social Studies: Early U.S. History Social Studies: Modern History American Government Semester of fine arts or practical arts Economics Elective Latin III or Modern Language Latin IV or Modern Language Blank forms for planning your high school course of study can be found at the back of this handbook. 19

20 Earning High School Credits In order to earn a credit, students must successfully complete the chosen curriculum in that subject, earning a passing grade. In an unstructured curriculum, a minimum of 135 hours = 1 credit and a minimum of 70 = 1/2 credit. Students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher and pass a 12th grade achievement test, college placement test, or college board exam in order to graduate. Students entering most public universities must have 19 core credits: 4 English, 3 Math, 3 Science, 3 Social Studies, 2 Foreign Language, and 4 from the following - any of the above subjects - Level 2 or higher, any Level 3 course, or no more than 2 ROTC or Level 2 Arts. Transcripts Transcripts are generated through the online reporting system and you can print an unofficial transcript at any time. Official transcripts must be printed, signed, and sealed by SFA. Official transcripts may be requested from your online account through the Request Manager. If you do not use the HSRO program, you may request a copy of your student s transcripts to be mailed to you; however, we require a minimum of two weeks notice for unofficial copies and a minimum of three weeks notice for official transcripts. Additional fees will apply. Please note: We are only able to provide a transcript based on information that you provide us. If you need assistance inputting information online, submit a request for high school counseling through the Request Manager. If you are not using HSRO, please submit your grade reports on time and review report cards issued by SFA. Official transcripts will be mailed to the colleges or universities of your choice as requested. Use the Request Manager in your online account or contact the school office to inform SFA of where you need your transcript sent. If your information is complete and accurate in the online system, allow three (3) business days for the preparation of your official transcript, plus mailing time. College Students planning to go to college will need to successfully complete a course of study in accordance with their state's guidelines. The transcript we provide will show the course of study and grades earned as reported to us during your high school years. Please take these requirements as seriously as the Admissions Board of the college you want to enter will take them. You may want to consider taking an extra year of Math and Science courses, as many Admissions Boards consider this a plus. Some colleges or programs within certain universities have different admissions requirements than the university itself. It is a good idea to check, before graduating high school, with the university you plan to attend to see if this is the case. Dual enrolled credits automatically transfer to a Florida public 4 year college. Students with scholarships are not "automatically" admitted to college, and some colleges have a higher SAT or ACT score requirement than the scholarships may require. Check with the college of your choice to see what they require. 20

21 FAFSA If planning to attend college, in January of your senior year, you will need to fill out and mail the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" form, available at your local high school or college. This must be done in January of your senior year. Apply online at PSAT/SAT/ACT TESTING Students pursuing a higher education will need to take one or more of these tests. We recommend that students take the PSAT in 10th grade as a practice for taking it in the 11th grade when it can qualify them for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Only the scores from the PSAT taken in the 11th grade are used as a qualifier for the Scholarship, and studies show that students typically score higher on the 2nd try. To register for the PSAT, you will need to call your local public or private school to see if they are administering the test. It is only given in October, and the tests must be ordered by that school ahead of time, so it is best to call for information the preceding May. The SAT and ACT can be taken as often as the student wants. They are given from October to June each year. We recommend they take one of these tests at least once in both the 11th and 12th grades, but some students like to take them more often. The highest scores from each test will be used. For registration info for the SAT you can go to and for the ACT, The websites for these tests include a practice test, test taking tips, registration information and forms, and a list of the dates, times and locations the tests will be administered in your area. College Dual Enrollment Dual enrollment students in grades 10 th, 11 th, and 12 th take college courses while earning dual credit toward both a college degree or certificate and a high school diploma. Students must qualify for the program by meeting the requirements as set by the college, including minimum test scores and GPA. There are three options for high school students who want to dual enroll at a Florida state college. 1. Enroll in a Florida public high school and dual enroll in courses at the local state or community college for free. 2. Enroll in a home education program (send letter of intent to public school board) and dual enroll in courses at the local state or community college for free. Students are responsible for the purchase/rental of textbooks and required materials. 3. Enroll in a Florida private high school and dual enroll in courses at the local state or community college. Student s private school tuition will be used to pay for the courses. Students are responsible for the purchase/rental of textbooks and required materials. Florida public and private schools are charged a discounted rate for college classes. State law prohibits the colleges from charging students, so they provide the same thing to homeschoolers that they receive payment for from tax-funded public schools or parent-funded private schools. Due to the current laws and policies, Sancta Familia Academy will be updating high school tuition and policies. 21

22 If you choose a non-diploma granting, attendance only, limited enrollment for your high school student, he or she will NOT be eligible for dual enrollment. In order to dual enroll as a homeschool student, the student must be registered with the DOE in a home education program. In order to dual enroll as a Sancta Familia Academy private school student, he or she must be working toward a diploma from Sancta Familia Academy. (1/2014) Inquire with your local community or state college to find out more about dual enrollment. Commonly Asked Questions Regarding High School What about a diploma? Sancta Familia Academy will issue a diploma to all high school students who successfully complete the high school graduation requirements as listed in the High School portion of this handbook. Due to new state regulations, Florida colleges will no longer accept a diploma on face value unless it is from a high school accredited by a state recognized accrediting agency. The admissions department at the college or university will review your transcript and contact SFA to determine eligibility. SFA is a member of NAPCIS and is working toward accreditation with NAPCIS; however the list of recognized accrediting agencies varies by institution. Currently, our best advice is to dual enroll for a minimum of six credit hours (typically two one-semester courses) prior to high school graduation. Students will be generally be admitted to the college as freshman, regardless of their diploma, if they have already successfully completed courses with them. Please call our office with any questions about our diploma and college admissions. Are there problems with getting into college? No. SFA offers high school transcripts and guidelines for the appropriate testing for college admission. Also, home schooled students often adapt to college education better than those students who have been passed through the program of social promotion offered by the public school system. Please see above for information regarding new regulations. Do I need to follow the grading system as listed on the report card? In high school it is best to use our report card and grading system since this will enable you to have a High School transcript acceptable to College Admissions Boards. Also, if your student wants a High School Diploma from SFA, you will need to use our grading system, so we can calculate their GPA for graduation. Can my student complete two grades in one year? Yes. We encourage students to work at their own pace. Many complete a grade level in less than a regular school year. However our enrollment forms and fees are per grade level, not necessarily per year. When your student completes a grade level, you must re-enroll them and pay the next grade level's enrollment fee. When does a course in Literature count as a credit? English I, II, III and IV typically consist of grammar, composition and literature, all counting together as 1 credit in English each year. However, a specific literature course, such as American Literature, British Literature or World Literature, can count as a credit separate from English if taken as a full grade level course. The credit may be determined by curriculum or by hours. 22

23 How can I include a lab with Science? Dual enrollment is one way to meet the lab requirement. Also, some support groups offer science labs. Lab equipment can be ordered from many curriculum providers. If this is not an option for you, viewing a lab can also qualify, either by using a library video or watching one on PBS. Or your student can read about labs from a lab manual. What is dual enrollment? Dual enrollment allows a student to be enrolled in high school and college simultaneously in order to earn college credits while earning high school credits. We recommend this for advanced students with a GPA or 3.5 or higher. How can my high school student dual enroll in my local community college? For dual enrollment information, please contact the community college. The student will need to take the College Placement Test before registering for classes. Please let us know if they need our signature on a dual enrollment form or an official copy of your high school transcript. You will need to mail us a copy of the college transcript at the end of each semester. How are the dual enrolled credits counted toward graduation credit requirements? College courses (3-4 credits each) count as 1 high school credit. However, lab courses (1 credit each) do not count as a separate high school credit. College courses that count as 1 credit, such as certain art courses, count as 1/2 high school credit. Can my student play sports or cheerlead or play in a band at a local public or private school while with Sancta Familia Academy? Yes. As of now, SFA has less than 125 students in grades 6-12, allowing our students to be eligible to participate in extra-curricular activities at their local public school. In the event that SFA s student body exceeds the 125 maximum required by Florida law, we will notify our students of any change in their eligibility. However, private school students cannot play for another private school or a homeschool organization such as Brevard HEAT. Extracurricular Activities Prior to 2008, students enrolled in a private school were not able to participate in any of the Florida High School Athletic Association programs, except through the private school s membership and its own team. During the years of 2008 through 2010, a pilot program was introduced and students in a few counties were able to participate in sports at their public high school while enrolled in a private school. As of the school-year, Florida law now allows for students enrolled in a private school that is not a member of the FHSAA and has less than 125 students, to participate in their local high school s athletic programs. What does this mean? It means that students enrolled with Sancta Familia Academy may now play sports with their local public school; however, they are still ineligible to play for another private school or homeschool cooperative (such as Brevard HEAT). Students are no longer required to be enrolled in a home education program to participate in extra-curricular activities at the public school in their district. 23

24 The 2011 Florida Statutes Student standards for participation in interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular student activities; regulation. (To see full statute, (8)(a) The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), in cooperation with each district school board, shall facilitate a program in which a middle school or high school student who attends a private school shall be eligible to participate in an interscholastic or intrascholastic sport at a public high school, a public middle school, or a 6-12 public school that is zoned for the physical address at which the student resides if: 1. The private school in which the student is enrolled is not a member of the FHSAA and does not offer an interscholastic or intrascholastic athletic program. 2. The private school student meets the guidelines for the conduct of the program established by the FHSAA s board of directors and the district school board. At a minimum, such guidelines shall provide: a. A deadline for each sport by which the private school student s parents must register with the public school in writing their intent for their child to participate at that school in the sport. b. Requirements for a private school student to participate, including, but not limited to, meeting the same standards of eligibility, acceptance, behavior, educational progress, and performance which apply to other students participating in interscholastic or intrascholastic sports at a public school or FHSAA member private school. (b) The parents of a private school student participating in a public school sport under this subsection are responsible for transporting their child to and from the public school at which the student participates. The private school the student attends, the public school at which the student participates in a sport, the district school board, and the FHSAA are exempt from civil liability arising from any injury that occurs to the student during such transportation. (c) For each academic year, a private school student may only participate at the public school in which the student is first registered under sub-subparagraph (a)2.a. or makes himself or herself a candidate for an athletic team by engaging in a practice. (d) The athletic director of each participating FHSAA member public school shall maintain the student records necessary for eligibility, compliance, and participation in the program. (e) Any non-fhsaa member private school that has a student who wishes to participate in this program must make all student records, including, but not limited to, academic, financial, disciplinary, and attendance records, available upon request of the FHSAA. (f) A student must apply to participate in this program through the FHSAA program application process. (g) Only students who are enrolled in non-fhsaa member private schools consisting of 125 students or fewer are eligible to participate in the program in any given academic year. History. s. 288, ch ; s. 1, ch ; s. 17, ch ; s. 75, ch ; s. 2, ch ; s. 1, ch. Visit hslda.org to see an analysis of your state s education law. Here is the link to the Summary Analysis of Florida s Homeschooling Law from HSLDA - Using an Out-of-State School In Florida, students enrolled in an out-of-state school are not considered in attendance and must still comply with one of the choices given in the statute, such as enrolling in a home education program (1) or in a private school registered with the Florida Department of Education (2). Students living in Florida may work toward a diploma from an out-of-state school and enroll with SFA for private school attendance without a diploma, or if the student desires a Sancta Familia Academy diploma, he or she should choose a satellite enrollment with the out-of-state school. A counselor can help you understand these choices. 24