**2018-2019 School Year Courses, Protocols and other information (REQUIRED OF EACH STUDENT)

2018-2019 School Year will have some protocol changes.  Please see the list.  More may follow, if the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Legislature, School Board or Administrators issue them.  It is the intention of this assignment to give you as much notice as possible.  This information can and will change, but I want to create a place to start documenting these.  The assignment will be required to be answered, but the open and due date will be set at the end of the semester so we can make adjustments to this and you can plan.

• Eliminating self-pay (we will reserve the option of self-pay in extremely limited situations).  
• Eliminating bundling (bundling has become problematic on so many levels) If we can discover a way to make this happen and still work with Direct Pay, we will.
• Eliminating taking two virtual classes to cover the cost of one lab class.  Even if you course is advanced, the lab component may only be used for one virtual class.
• Supplies will be covered if the instructor includes it in their costs and states they are required.  These have to be included in the amount they charge us. (The only exception to this is Dual Enrollment Books because some colleges do not bill us)
• Memberships Fees will no longer be covered.
• Sports teams will not longer be covered, only instruction.
• Skiing will only be available as a Fall Class.  You must complete the virtual assignments associated with the virtual class.  Lessons will be required.  I will work with the ski resorts to put together a package deal that will include the lesson, lift ticket and equipment.
• You will be given the opportunity to choose your own mentor.  
• All Community Experts will need to be re-approved due to the transition from Self-Pay to Direct Pay.
• All Community Experts must sign the Religious Content Form
• All Community Experts must undergo a national background check - we are still determining which one either BIB or fingerprint.
• At this moment the only AP classes allowed will be those through Michigan Virtual. This is due to the need to have a Highly Qualified Teacher, Michigan Certified teacher attached to the class.  We may be able to add other vendors for English, but we are in the process of determining that.
• Community Experts will submit invoices at least twice a year; once to be paid after 1st Count and the second time to be paid after 2nd Count.  They may submit invoice when ever they like and as often as the like.  We will pay them after Count.  If you do not make count, on Count Day, you will be required to pay the Community Expert DIRECTLY for the weeks until you make Count.  At that point, we will pay the Community Expert and they can refund you for the weeks you paid them.  It is unfair to keep the Community Expert waiting for payment any longer then necessary.

Protocol for Course registration and other Partnership logistics:

• A Memo of Understand for Parents must be signed and submitted before registration can take place.
• For each class you take with the Partnership, you will select two classes in Go Sign Me Up; one Canvas and one Community.  This will apply to Dual Enrollment, Seated and Math/Science classes.  Rather then make exceptions we will create a way so that this process is all the same. 
• Each student will need to have a two-way each week in some form or other.  This might be an email question regarding a class, response to a discussion posted in your Homeroom, a phone call with a teacher, seeing them at a class etc.  If you take classes at WMHFA and see Jarod weekly, you might choose him for a mentor and then this 2-way will happen naturally when you see him at WMHFA.
• Forms will need to be filled out and submitted by the end of the first week of school.  There should only be one or two.
• As of the date of this publication, Count Day will require the completion of the Count Day Assignment in each class, including your Homeroom.  In dire circumstances a backup for this a two-way communication once a week for each of the weeks of Count.
• If you fail to count in any class, you are responsible for paying for any costs associated with that course.
• If you fail a Dual Enrollment or Michigan Virtual Class, you will need to reimburse the school district for that course (this is a Board Policy).
• If you owe any overage on Dual Enrollment classes, that will need to be paid in-full before you can register for any future courses.
• Reading your emails is essential, please make sure you do.
• Make yourself aware of deadlines.  nileshsp.com has a page dedicated to deadlines under "information".  We will do our best to post them all in one place next year.  This will most likely be the place.
• Go Sign Me Up (GSMU) is what you will use to register for classes.  The log in for this is a Parent Log in.
• Canvas is what you will use for class content, announcements and communication with teachers.  This is necessary so we have documentation for State audits.  Each student has their own account and will have their own student login.
• In an effort to facilitate better communication, we will be instituting a REQUIRED class for Parents that must be completed before next year classes can be registered.  This will contain videos on procedures, hints and tips, ect.
• If you had any problems, at all with registration this past year, you must make an appointment with a designated staff member to create your schedule for next year.  These staff members will have appointment calendars for this purpose.

Course Content for next year.

Unless the Michigan Department of Education gives us a different way to offer classes, we will have to use the virtual method.  As such, Community Experts have to be an optional ADD ON to a virtual class.   This is a good thing, because now we will not have to be so focused on the amount of time you spend with them. We will have to provide required virtual content.  We will do our best to create content and weight it so that if you are taking the class with a community expert your virtual assignments will be relevant to that learning environment.  We are in the process of determining the best way to create the curriculum.  We will have the virtual syllabi posted before course enrollment opens so you can determine if the burden is too much. Each student will need to complete virtual assignments for each of their classes.  We will keep these assignments at a minimum.  We are not sure exactly how this will play out but know that we will work to make the virtual portion as relevant and appropriate as possible.  We may give you guiding questions as they pertains to objectives listed in each of the virtual classes.  You may need to upload pictures of finished products, or audio of music played, or descriptions of progress, etc. (Remember, students in grades 6-12 must complete their assignments, themselves.  Those in grades K-5 may have parent assistance in anything that requires typing skills they may not posses.)

The virtual courses will not be so generic next year.  We will create more interesting and relevant titles.  For instance Music classes might be:

• Music Theory
• Music Application
• Instruments of the Orchestra
• Voice
• Instruments of the Band

Course will be offered, minimally, at two different age groups K-8 and 9-12.   There will be caps on the number of students in each class so you will need to register early to select the exact virtual course you desire.