K-12 Policies www.k12.ttu.edu
Contact Information General Inquiries MAIN OFFICE Mailing Address TTUISD University College Texas Tech University Box 42191 Lubbock, TX 79409-2191 Physical Address 605 Indiana Avenue Lubbock, TX 79409-2191 TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE 800.MY.COURSE (800.692.6877) LOCAL TELEPHONE 806.742.7200 MAIN FAX DIPLOMA PROGRAM FAX 806.742.7222 806.742.7288 E-MAIL WORLD WIDE WEB distlearn@ttu.edu www.k12.ttu.edu 2 K-12 Policies
Materials COURSES Contact our office within 15 days if your order is incomplete. CREDIT BY ExamS (CBEs) CBE pre-exam procedures are available at www.k12.ttu.edu. Textbooks. You do not have to order textbooks to study for a CBE since CBEs are not tied to specific textbooks. If you wish to refer to a book, you can use any Texas state-adopted textbook. Completion Time & Deadlines Reasonable expectations. TTUISD will help you meet reasonable graduation deadlines but please allow yourself enough time to complete your course or take your CBE. Course Completion Completion time. You have six months from the date of enrollment to complete a course. Graduation deadlines. All lessons, final exam requests, and CBEs must be submitted five weeks prior to your school districts deadline or before your expiration date. Final exams must be taken three weeks prior to the same deadlines. TTUISD will do everything possible to help students meet reasonable graduation deadlines. Full-time TTUISD diploma program students only. If you complete graduation requirements before April 15, 2010, you may participate in the May graduation ceremony as a Texas Tech High School graduate. If you complete graduation requirements after April 15, 2010, and before September 1, 2010, you may participate in the May ceremony as a summer school graduate: You will be listed as a summer school graduate and will be part of the graduating class for the following year. In order to be a summer school graduate, you must be enrolled in your last 2.5 credits before April 15, 2010. In order to receive a diploma from Texas Tech High School, you must complete 2.5 full course credits from the TTUISD program while enrolled as a TTUISD student. Enrollments in CBEs do not satisfy this requirement. Taking multiple courses. If you enroll in two or more courses at the same time, the expiration date will be the same. Mailing time. Overnight mail can shorten delivery time, but it does not speed up the processing time. Grading time. An instructor has five working days to grade a lesson. Credit By Exam (CBE) Completion Take an exam. You have 60 days to take your CBE once the enrollment is processed. No extensions or refunds will be granted. Transfer credit. It is your responsibility to make sure CBEs taken through TTUISD will be accepted by your school. Take a CBE in the summer. Make arrangements to take your exam with an approved proctor BEFORE the expiration date. CBEs that expire during the summer months cannot be taken when school resumes unless you re-enroll. Lessons & Projects General Information Keep copies of lessons. Keep a copy of each assignment before submitting it. We will not give credit for assignments lost in transit. Instructor. You will be assigned an instructor who will grade your course lessons and exams, provide feedback, and answer questions about course content. Complete lessons. Only completed lessons will be graded. Your instructor reserves the right to return a lesson to you if you fail to complete. Lesson grades, Your grade will be available on the Course Portal (www.courseportal.uc.ttu.edu) the day after it is graded by your instructor. Student Feedback. Tell us what you think. After completion of your course, please take our anonymous survey at www.courseportal.uc.ttu.edu/survey/course. K-12 Policies 3
ONLINE COURSE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Unless otherwise noted in your course, all lessons and communication with your instructor and our office is online. Access online courses through the course portal at www.courseportal.uc.ttu.edu. Online support - www.courseportal.uc.ttu.edu. View courses in which you are enrolled Check course grades Request exams PRINT-BASED COURSE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Bar codes. You must use the correct bar code labels or information where required. Failure to use the correct bar code could result in delays. The last three digits of your bar code number should match the number of the lesson you are submitting. Submit only one lesson at a time. Submit lessons one at a time so you have the benefit of your instructor s feedback before moving on to another lesson. Some instructors require you to submit only one lesson at a time. First lesson essay. When submitting your first lesson, please include a brief essay about yourself and your interests on a separate sheet of paper. Also include in your essay your reason for taking the course, your deadline for completion, and any special concerns you have. Submit lessons by mail. Staple a completed Lesson Cover Sheet to each lesson. Lesson Cover Sheets are in the forms packet or online at www.courseportal.uc.ttu.edu (refer to the Policies and Forms).Use postage-paid envelopes and barcodes when submitting your lessons via mail. The address label must be placed in the proper area on the Lesson Cover Sheet in order to process your lesson. If the address information is not correct on your barcode label(s), fill in the accurate information on the Lesson Cover Sheet. You must pay postage for lessons mailed from outside the contiguous United States. Submit lessons by fax. Fax the lesson and completed Lesson Cover Sheet to 806.742.7222. Lessons submitted by fax are returned via mail. Submit lessons by e-mail. When submitting a lesson via e-mail, take the information requested below directly from your barcode. If you submit your lesson via e-mail, you will receive your lesson grade in the same manner. Some courses lessons cannot be submitted via e-mail. Check your course materials to find out how to submit your lessons. It is important to submit your e-mailed lessons to the proper address. The subject line contains all of the necessary information to route your lesson to your instructor for grading; if it is not completed properly, the lesson will be returned for correction. E-mail: submit.ttuisd@ttu.edu Subject Line: instructor, barcode number, course, lesson number in parenthesis, student (type the information EXACTLY as it appears on your barcode) 4 K-12 Policies
Resubmission of Lessons (Middle & High School Students) Lesson resubmission is allowed only if your instructor has indicated you may or must do so. Failure to resubmit lessons marked must resubmit on the Lesson Cover Sheet can result in a zero for the lesson and can delay your request for a final exam. If you are required to resubmit all or a portion of your lesson in an online course, your instructor will notify you. For a lesson to be eligible for resubmission, the following criteria apply: a) the grade must be between 55% and 69%; and, b) no more than 75% of the original lessons have been submitted without the benefit of instructor feedback. Resubmission of lessons for a single course will not be permitted for more than one half of the lessons for that course. The maximum grade for a resubmission is 80%. Approval to Retake a Final Exam (Middle & High School Students) A student who scores between 55% and 69% on a final exam will be allowed to retake the final exam PROVIDED THE STUDENT HAS THE APPROVAL OF HIS HOME SCHOOL. An instructor is not required to approve a retake if more than 75% of the lessons were submitted without benefit of instructor feedback. There will be a $40 for retaking the exam. The maximum grade for the retake is 80%. Projects (Elementary students only) There are no exams for kindergarten students; however, there are required projects denoted in the curriculum guides. To submit these kindergarten projects, place the Unit Test Cover Sheet, found in Tab 10 of the curriculum guides, and the projects in the large envelopes that are provided. Complete the information on the outside of the envelope, add the appropriate bar code, and send the envelopes to TTUISD. For elementary students in first through fifth grades, submit the required unit exams in language arts, math, science and social studies, and the required projects in science and social studies in the large envelope that is provided. If the project cannot fit in the envelope, please submit a video or pictures with a narrative of how the project was completed. Staple a completed Unit Test Cover Sheet on top of the written test. Complete the required information on the back of the envelope and mail to TTUISD. The Unit Test Cover Sheet can be found in Tab 10 of the curriculum guides. Exams At the end of most courses, you are required to take a final exam overseen by an approved proctor. To apply to take the final, complete the Exam Application online at www.courseportal.uc.ttu.edu or complete the form in the Forms Packet. EXAM PROCEDURES The following procedures are designed to ensure the integrity and validity of the TTUISD exam process. Failure to follow these procedures will invalidate the exam. All lessons must be logged into our student information system before the exam is mailed to your proctor. All completed lessons and your Exam Application should be received by TTUISD 30 calendar days prior to whatever deadline you must meet (i.e., graduation). The proctor must meet the approved proctor requirements (see below). The exam must be taken within 30 calendar days of the date noted on the exam certification letter (this letter accompanies the exam materials). No exam may be taken past the expiration date unless prior arrangements have been made with TTUISD. If the exam expiration date falls on a holiday or weekend, the exam must be administered on the next business day. Free extensions will not be given if your proctor is unavailable for the exam. It is your responsibility to coordinate with your approved proctor where and when you will take the exam. Contact your proctor in advance to confirm they have received the exam materials from our office. Notify TTUISD immediately if your proctor has not received these materials. If you notify TTUISD about a missing exam after the course expires, you will be required to pay an extension fee or re-enroll if you have already extended the course. Finals cannot be faxed to a proctoring center, so please plan ahead! K-12 Policies 5
Proctor Guidelines You must find an approved proctor to supervise your final exam if you are enrolled in a course or taking a Credit by Exam. Proctors usually charge a proctoring fee; check at the testing site when scheduling the exam. The chart below identifies approved proctors. Tutors or officials from non-accredited schools cannot proctor exams. No student, relative of the student, or unauthorized person may issue or return the final exam or Credit by Exam. If you live outside the United States, or for more testing site options, contact our office. Type of Student Middle school or high school student attending a public or private school Homeschooled student not enrolled in TTUISD s full-time diploma program Students in TTUISD s full-time diploma program Approved Proctor Your school principal, counselor, or superintendent A college testing center Refer to TTUISD s Student Handbook Final Grades Lesson grades, final exam grade, and final course grade are available on the course portal at www.courseportal.uc.ttu.edu. RECEIVE YOUR COURSE GRADE Assignments and a final exam comprise a final course grade. You must pass the final exam in order to pass the course, regardless of assignment grades. If you pass the final exam but have a low assignment average, the result of the course is a failing grade. Please allow enough time for the course grade to be recorded before making your request for a grade report. Only completed courses are reported and recorded; there is no academic penalty for failure to complete the course. Students in TTUISD s full-time diploma program will receive a grade report and the grade will be recorded on your TTUISD transcript. TTUISD students who have completed a minimum of four courses (not including CBEs) may request a copy of their transcripts by e-mailing registrar.ttuisd@ttu.edu or by faxing a request to 806.742.7288. For elementary students, grading procedures can be found in Tab 1 of the curriculum guides. Type of Student Kindergarten through 12th grade student wishing to apply credit to a local school Homeschooled student not enrolled in TTUISD s full-time diploma program Students in TTUISD s full-time diploma program Course Grade and Transcript A copy of the final grade will be mailed to you and to your school. It is your responsibility to verify that the grade was received and recorded on your official transcript. You will receive a copy of your final grade. You will receive a grade report and the grade will be recorded on your TTUISD transcript. TTUISD students who have completed a minimum of four courses (not including CBEs) may request a copy of their transcripts by e-mailing registrar.ttuisd@ttu.edu or by faxing a request to 806.742.7288. Receive your CBE percentage of mastery score The minimum passing score for these exams is determined by local district policy. Check with your school administrators to determine your school s policy. 6 K-12 Policies
Additional Policies Change in your contact information. You are responsible for notifying TTUISD of any changes in your contact information while you are enrolled in a course. Visit the Course Portal (refer to the Policies and Forms at www.courseportal.uc.ttu.edu) and complete the Change Notification Form online or complete the Change Notification form in the Forms Packet. Order processing. All orders are subject to 24-hour processing. Orders received on weekends, University holidays, or after 2 p.m. on Fridays will not be processed until the following business day. Regardless of the shipping method selected (overnight, UPS 2nd-day Air, etc.), TTUISD must have adequate lead time to fill orders. Extension. If you do not complete the course before the expiration date, you can request one six-month extension for $50 per course. You will find the form in the back of this packet, or you can complete it online through the Course Portal at www.courseportal.uc.ttu.edu (refer to Policies and Forms). Refunds. Partial refunds on courses and textbooks are available within the first 30 days from the date of enrollment. Refund requests are evaluated based on the request postmark and the date the enrollment is processed by TTUISD. Credit by Exams are non-refundable. All materials must be returned at your expense before a refund will be processed. All refund requests must be in writing. Use the Withdrawal Refund form provided in your forms packet or located online www.depts.ttu.edu/uc/policies/. The following items are non-refundable: Administrative processing fee Admission fee Extensions Transfer fees Shipping Credit by Exams Transfers and Exchanges. Within the first 30 days after enrollment, you may transfer to another course or Credit by Exam. You will be responsible for any difference in the price. Should the cost be lower, you will be refunded any refundable fees. After 30 days, you cannot transfer from a CBE, however, you can transfer from a course to another course for a $30 transfer fee. When transferring, all materials and text books for the original course must be returned at your expense. All transfers must be requested in writing. A Course Exchange Request for is located at www.depts.ttu.edu/uc/policies/. Replacement materials. Replacement materials can be obtained as follows: Course Guide -$15; Policies Guide - $5; Forms Packet - $5. (The Policies guide and Forms packets are available free of charge at www.k12.ttu.edu.) Selling back textbooks. We will purchase back textbooks only if they are still being used in our program and are in a condition to be resold. Visit www.kl2.ttu.edu to verify that the book is still in use and to obtain a buy-back price. Unless otherwise stated, we do not buy back workbooks, course guides, supplies, takes, videos, or CDs. To guarantee delivery, books must be returned by insured parcel post, United Parcel Service or FedEx. Once the books are in our center, it takes approximately two to four weeks for the money to get back to you. Returned check fee. A returned check fee of $30 will be assessed for each check returned by a bank. TTUISD reserves the right to assign a returned/insufficient funds check to the Criminal District Attorney for collection processing. K-12 Policies 7
Accreditation. Texas Tech University Elementary, Middle, and High Schools are accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and all courses are aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requirements established by the TEA. Equal opportunity policy. Texas Tech University is open to all persons eligible for admission as students regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or disability. All students admitted to the University are treated without discrimination in regard to their participation in University educational programs or activities. The University is an equal opportunity employer, and no applicant or employee will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, mental or physical disability, or Vietnam era or special disabled veteran status in regard to employment or during the course of employment in the institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex or disability in its educational programs. Any student with inquiries or complaints concerning Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 should visit Student Disability Services at www.studentaffairs.ttu.edu/sds or call 806.742.2405. Confidentiality. TTUISD respects the privacy of students. Parents and guardians of students under the age of 18 and appropriate school administrative officials have legitimate rights of access to student records. School officials who approve course enrollments can access students progress online through the Counselor s Portal (www.admissions.ttu.edu/counselors). Students over the age of 18 must provide written authorization for the release of information. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act is federal legislation designed to protect the confidentiality of student records. TTUISD abides by FERPA in regards to student record privacy. Honor System. It is the aim of the faculty of Texas Tech University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity. The attempt of students to present as their own any work that they have not honestly performed is regarded by TTUISD as a serious offense and renders the offenders liable to serious consequences, including possible expulsion. TTUISD does not tolerate plagiarism, cheating, collusion, falsifying academic records or misrepresenting facts. NCAA. Courses are NCAA-approved. Privacy Policy. For more information about Texas Tech University s Privacy Policy, visit www.ttu.edu/policy/privacy.php. Students with Disabilities. TTUISD s curriculum is developed to meet the standards of the State of Texas and the Texas Education Agency. Written for the average and above-average student, this material is very reading- and writing-intensive; thus, the course content cannot be modified. Please note that distance education presents different challenges from traditional classroom-based instruction. We can provide you with information about available disability accommodations before you are officially admitted to TTUISD or enroll in a course if you provide us with documentation about the nature of your disability and the kind of accommodation that your disability requires (as described in further detail below). Reasonable accommodations are those that do not cause undue burden and do not fundamentally alter course requirements. We require the submission of a current (within the last three years) signed accommodation/ modification statement from your Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee report, or a 504 Accommodation Form from the public school district in which you reside, describing any special considerations necessary for you to take a course and/or exams. 8 K-12 Policies