• Henry County Schools

    Online/Virtual Course Expectations

    Henry County Online Academy (HCOA) and Georgia Virtual School (GAVS)

    Link to Printable Form: CLICK HERE

     

    Student Name: ____________________________ Home School: ___________________

     

    Term/Year Enrolled (ex. Spring 2024): ________________ Cohort: ______________



    We want all online students to be successful when working through their online coursework.  With that being said, students and parents/guardians should read through the following expectations and initial by each expectation:



    Expectations

    Student

    Initial

    Parent Initial

    1. Students must meet with the local school counselor to discuss their readiness to take an online course before they register. Students must be self-disciplined, self-motivated, and have good time management skills to be successful in an online course.

    		    

    1. Students should work with their school counselor to ensure they are not requesting/enrolling in a course that they already have credit for on their transcript.  Once the 10-day drop window has closed, students will not be able to drop the course.

    		    

    1. The availability of HCOA/GAVS courses is not guaranteed. Students must understand that if an HCOA/GAVS course fills up, they might need to enroll in an alternative course.

    		    

    1. Students may not take a full schedule of HCOA/GAVS courses. HCOA and GAVS courses must supplement the student’s home school schedule.

    		    

    1. If a course is available through HCOA and GAVS, students must take the online course through HCOA.

    		    

    1. Students may take up to one full credit of online courses each semester. Any students requesting above one credit per semester will require further approval/screening.

    		    

    1. Students may not drop a course after the first 10 days of the semester if the course is being paid for by the school/district.  Students requesting to drop a course that is student-pay must seek approval from their online facilitator at the school. 

    		    

    1. Students must productively work (submit assignments, discussion boards, complete tests/quizzes, etc.) in an online course.  Students should plan to spend a minimum of 12-15 hours per week for each full credit course and a minimum of 6-8 hours per week in a half credit course.  Enrollment in an AP course may require a higher minimum number of hours than a non-AP course.

    		    

    1. Students must be familiar with accessing school emails through Office365 and must maintain two way communication throughout the time in the online course.

    		    

    1. Students taking a GAVS course must follow the GAVS calendar. This may require that a student complete online coursework over Henry County breaks.

    		    

    1. HCOA/GAVS final grades will appear on student transcripts (passed or failed) and be averaged into the student GPA.

    		    

    1. Students who fail an HCOA/GAVS course may not be permitted to enroll in an online course the following term immediately after the failure.

    		    

    1. Students enrolled in HCOA courses are taking courses through Henry County Schools and must abide by all policies and procedures of the district and program.

    		    

    1. Students enrolled in GAVS courses are taking courses through the Georgia Department of Education and must abide by all policies and procedures of GAVS.

    		    

    1. Students that take their HCOA/GAVS course as part of their daily schedule at their home school will have their course paid for by the school district. Any student wishing to take a course outside of their daily schedule (5th period or 8th period) must pay for the course.

    		    

    1. In order to ensure accurate information about eligibility and requirements for high school sports and NCAA with reward to GAVS or HCOA classes, it is highly recommended that the student and parent be in close contact with GAVS/HCOA, the NCAA, and the school’s athletic director.

    		    

    1. Students enrolled in an EOC course online will still be required to take the EOC at the end of the course at their home school. The EOC will then factor into the student’s overall final grade at 20%.

    		    

    1. Parents/Guardians should regularly check with their student on the progress of their online course. Parents should also ensure they have provided the online teacher and the home school (via Infinite Campus) an updated and valid email address in order to receive important communications from the home school and online teacher.

    		    

    1. Students should check in weekly with their home school online facilitator to discuss progress in their online course. The check-ins should be more frequent if/when grades begin to drop or trouble in the course arises.

    		    

    1. Upon enrollment into an online course, students will be assigned a physical location within the school building to sit while taking their online course during the period they have been scheduled online.  Students are expected to show up to this location daily and remain in this location.  Attendance will be taken daily.

    		    

     

    If you have any further questions about taking an online class, please make an appointment to meet with your school counselor or online facilitator.

     

    Signatures below indicate that both the student and parent/guardian have read and understand all of the above expectations for taking an online course.

     

    ___________________________ ____________________________

    Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature

     

    Date: __________________ Date: ___________________