Round Valley High School

Course Description / Student Handbook

2007-2008

"Home of the Elks"

[High School] [Home]

Please be sure to fill out and send in your "Free & Reduced Lunch" forms.  Even if you choose not to take part in the program your qualifying forms help the district out with grants and many financial areas.

Round Valley Unified School District

 www.elks.net

 Superintendent.............Travis Udall....................................................... (928)333-6580

 Round Valley High School.................................................................. (928)333-6800
Principal........................Renita Kirkham................................................. (928)333-6800
Asst. Principal...............Dave Giddings................................................... (928)333-6800
Principal's Secretary.....Wendy Crowther................................................(928)333-6800
Counselor......................Jeff Udall............................................................ (928)333-6810
Counselor......................Scott Patton........................................................ (928)333-6811
Athletic Director...........Willis Haws.........................................................(928)333-6812
Career Tech..................Kim Peña.............................................................(928)333-6817
CTE Director................Butch Johnson....................................................(928)333-6822
Financial Secretary.....Tonya Gleave........................................................(928)333-6801
Registrar......................Julie Browning.........(Transcripts)............................(928)333-6809
FAX #..........................................................................................................(928)333-6820

SCHOOL ORGANIZATION

 The school year is made up of two semesters, each approximately 18 weeks long.  Each semester is independent of the other.  First semester (Fall 2007) courses will begin in August, and will end in December.  Second semester courses will begin in January of  2008 and will end in May of 2008.  Each day's schedule is made up of four, ninety-minute periods.  Courses that meet 90 minutes daily during a given semester are worth 1.0 credit each.  Courses that meet 90 minutes every other day during a semester are worth 0.50 credit each.

 Mailing Address:                                  Physical Address:
Round Valley High School                                    Round Valley High School
P.O. Box 610                                                       550 North Butler Street
940-B East Maricopa                                            Eagar, Arizona
Springerville, Arizona   85938

Round Valley High School

Eagar/Springerville, Arizona

Dear Students and Parents,

Welcome to Round Valley High School.  This Course Handbook provides helpful information to assist you when selecting courses.  Round Valley High School offers a wide variety of courses and programs to students.  As you select courses, consider the requirements for graduation, work closely with counselors, and develop a plan that will direct you toward a successful high school experience.  Good academic planning during high school should lead to a natural transition to the work force, vocational education, or college. 

 Please study the contents of this handbook carefully.  Discuss any questions you may have with counselors or administration.  Remember, proper planning prevents difficulty and problems.  Let us help you have a successful high school experience.

 Renita Kirkham

Principal

It is every student's and parent's responsibility to read this booklet.  No verbal comment by a staff member can override any policy within this booklet.

 Occasionally situations arise that may require review and possible change of a school policy during the course of the school year.  The administration reserves the right if it is required to preserve the safety and welfare of our students or to rectify a situation that is prejudicial to the orderly operation of the school.  Students and parents will be apprised of any changes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Phone #'s & Contact Names                                                                            1
Principal's Message                                                                                        2
Table of Contents                                                                                           3
Accreditation                                                                                                 4
Equity and Mission Statement                                                                          4
Permanent Records                                                                                        4
Required Medical Records                                                                              4
Requirements for Graduation                                                                           5
Arizona University Admissions Requirements                                                    6
Dual Enrollment, N.P.C. & R.V.H.S.                                                               7
Correspondence and Community College Credits                                               7
Valedictorian/Salutatorian Selection Process                                                      8
Cumulative Grading Scale                                                                               9
"Core/Sequential" Course Minimum Grade Requirement                                     9
Required Final Exam/Project Policy                                                                 9
Special Grading Option (A/Pass/Fail)                                                               9
Modified Grades                                                                                            10
Credit Evaluation for Non-Accredited Schooling/Home Schooled Applicants              10-11              
Testing/Assessment Information (SAT/ACT, AIMS, etc...)                                11-12
White Mountain Academy--(Alternative Learning at R.V.H.S.)                            13
Title I                                                                                                           13
Gifted Program                                                                                              13
Rights of Homeless Students                                                                           14
Special Education                                                                                           15
Clubs                                                                                                            16
Fees                                                                                                              17
Eligibility Policy                                                                                              18
Student Schedules and Course Loads                                                                19
Late Enrollment                                                                                              19
Tech Prep                                                                                                      19
Course Offerings                                                                                            20-22
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS BY DEPARTMENT
            English Department                                                                             23-26
            Math Department                                                                                27-29
            Science Department                                                                            30-33
            Social Studies Department                                                                   34-35
            Foreign Language Department                                                              36
            Fine Arts Department                                                                          37-40
            Physical Education Department                                                            41
            Career & Technical Education (CTE)                                                                      
                        Agricultural & Health Science                                                  42-43
                        Transportation Industries (Auto)                                              44
                        Construction & Manufacturing (Woods & Cab. Mkng)              45-46
                        Business Technology & Hospitality                                          46-49
          **NEW   Education & Public Service                                                    50
Miscellaneous Courses                                                                                   51-53
"Freshmen Required" CTE Courses                                                                 54
NAVIT Information                                                                                       55-56
Student Behavior/Code of Conduct                                                                  57-66
Attendance and Grade Reward System (Friday 5th Period)                                67
Bell Schedule                                                                                                68
School Map                                                                                                  69
College and Career Planning                                                                         70
Four-Year Plan (Worksheet)                                                                      71

 **R.V.H.S. reserves the right to change any course listed depending on budget constraints and/or student need.

ACCREDITATION

 R.V.H.S. is accredited through North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

 MISSION STATEMENT

 In partnership with our community and students, it is our mission at R.V.H.S. to provide high-quality academic and social learning experiences that will foster continued success for all learners.

 EQUITY STATEMENT

 R.V.H.S. does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, color, national origin, or handicap in the education programs or activities it operates.

 PERMANENT RECORDS

 Permanent records are kept for every student entering R.V.H.S.  The record contains information about the person and his or her academic achievements, standardized test scores and attendance.

 REQUIRED MEDICAL RECORDS

 Arizona Law (A.R.S. 15-871) requires that documentary proof of immunization be on file for each child enrolled in school.
Documented proof includes a record that contains:
            a)         Child's name.
            b)         Birth date.
            c)         Type of vaccine received.
            d)         Month & Year of each immunization (except
                        for Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) for
                        which month, day and year is required.
            e)         Name of physician or agency administering
                        the vaccine.
Exemptions from immunizations are permitted for personal reasons (inclusive of religious and philosophical reasons) and for medical reasons with the signature of a parent or guardian and the signature of a physician or other designated health professional.

 Exempt students will not be allowed to attend school during periods of disease outbreak as determined by the local health department.

ROUND VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

TOTAL CREDITS FOR GRADUATION                                 25        CREDITS
From the total credits the following must be included:

 REQUIRED CREDITS                                                              16        CREDITS
            English                                                                                  4          CREDITS
            World History/Geography  (Sophomore required)                 1          CREDIT
            American History / Geography   (Junior required)                  1          CREDIT
            Civics /Government / Economics (Senior required)                 1          CREDIT
            Mathematics                                                                          3          CREDITS 
                         Algebra 1 is one of the 3 required to graduate.
                Science                                                                                  3          CREDITS
                         (2 credits of Agriculture Science satisfy 1 science credit towards RVHS's graduation                                                           
                                  requirements and  also meets 1 lab science for entrance to ASU, U of A, and NAU.)
                                   See page 53 for science credit possible from NAVIT Programs (Northland Pioneer College)

                Physical Education                                                                    1          CREDIT
            Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education Course (CTE)        1          CREDIT
            "Freshman Required" CTE Course(s)                                        1          CREDIT

 ADDITIONAL CREDITS FOR GRADUATION                           9          CREDITS      

 "CTE" Career Preparation will be considered courses which include Transportation Systems, Automotive Technology, Applied Biological Systems, Ag. Bus. Mgt, Construction Management 2, Cabinet Making 1, Cabinet Making 2, Cabinet Making 3, Business & Technology 2, Business Management 1, 2, 3, or 4, Education & Public Service Careers 2, and Networking.  Off campus NAVIT courses offered at participating NAVIT schools also meet this requirement.

 Fine Arts will include sculpture, drawing and painting, printmaking and design, vocal music, band, orchestra, guitar, theater tech., and humanities academic decathlon.

 Starting with the class of 2006 the state of Arizona is requiring students to pass the AIMS (Arizona's Instrument of Measuring Standards) test.  This test at present consists of the following sub-tests:  Reading, Writing, and Math.  A Science sub-test is being developed for future implementation.

 Upon failure of an AIMS sub-test, R.V.H.S. will adjust student schedules to maximize student chances of success when retaking these sub-tests on a later date.  This adjustment might include dropping an elective to place a student in a core course to help the student pass one or more of these sub-tests.  It is to the advantage of the student to be involved with courses that allow him/her to pass this state mandated exam and all its required sub-tests.

 **ATTENTION:  R.V.H.S. requires students to achieve a letter grade of "C-" or higher in core/sequential courses, before moving on to the next course in that subject area.  Our desire is to encourage students to attain and demonstrate knowledge and skills of at least an "average" ("C") level.  To meet this standard of performance, continued instruction beyond one semester may be needed for students to develop the skills necessary to meet the challenges of more advanced courses, and also to help students develop the skills necessary to demonstrate competency in meeting State Standards as required by the AIMS tests.

Requirements to enter an Arizona University

The requirements listed above are generalized to give you an overview of the requirements needed to enter a state university.  If you want further details concerning unconditional versus conditional acceptance please refer to the following we addresses or see your school counselor.
                                                                        www.nau.edu                 www.arizona.edu              www.asu.edu

WHAT IS DUAL CREDIT ENROLLMENT AND WHO BENEFITS FROM IT?

 Dual credit enrollment is a partnership program between Northland Pioneer College (NPC) and high schools in its service area.  Through dual credit enrollment, high school students can take approved college courses as part of their high school curriculum.  Students earn credit toward high school graduation as well as college credit.

 How does dual credit enrollment work at Round Valley High School?

 High school teachers who are certified to teach community college courses may offer college credit to qualified high school students in addition to the normal high school credit offered in the course. 

 The Arizona Legislature permits high school Juniors and Seniors to enroll in dual credit courses and also allows up to 25% of the students taking a dual credit course to be Sophomores or Freshmen.  When a student enrolls for dual credit he/she receives a grade and credit at the end of the semester from N.P.C. as well as R.V.H.S.  Since the dual credit course is offered at the same time as the high school course, there is no college tuition charged to the high school student.  There may be some fees attached to a particular course.  Students may earn credits toward community college certification and/or degrees as a result of the participation in dual credit enrollment.  As high school teachers become community college certified and offered courses meet the requirements of the community college content and scope, dual credit may be possible in a course not identified in this course catalog.  Check with the guidance office and with your high school teachers to verify eligibility for dual course credit.  (Note:  Passing N.P.C.'s placement test is a requirement for some courses, grades 9-12.)

 CORRESPONDENCE CREDITS

 Correspondence credits will be reviewed.  The criteria listed below must be met if the course is to be accepted by Round Valley High School.  Prior approval is required.

1.  According to Arizona Revised Statutes:  Credits earned through correspondence courses to meet graduation requirements shall be taken from an accredited institution as defined in R7-2-601.  Credits earned shall be limited to 4, and only 1 credit may be earned in each of the following subject areas:  English, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science.
2.  The student is enrolled in 4 credits per semester at R.V.H.S.  Correspondence courses will take place outside the board approved attendance schedule, see page 19.
3.  Completing academic requirements will take precedence over any release time opportunities.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE CREDITS (ARS 15-701.01 F)

 Community College credits may be transferred into RVHS.  According to state law credits transfer in as .5 credit per 3.0 credit hour course.  (Note:  Passing N.P.C.'s placement test is a requirement for some courses, grades 9-12.)

RVHS Internal Valedictorian/Salutatorian Selection Process

 By definition, the “Valedictorian” is the student who has achieved the highest Grade Point Average (GPA) over his or her four year high school program based upon an established set of criteria.  While there may be several students with a 4.0 G.P.A., the weighting system as described below will be used as an internal tool for determining Valedictorian and Salutatorian.  Please be assured that all students achieving a 4.0 G.P.A. will be recognized as such and eligible for appropriate awards from the State Universities, etc.  The grade weighting system is strictly an internal tool for determining Valedictorian and Salutatorian.

 If your desire is to pursue the valedictorian honor, we recommend that you carefully choose your courses according to the valedictorian selection criteria.  It is especially critical that you pay special attention to credit requirements to ensure that you meet ALL criteria.  Note that Valedictorian and Salutatorian criteria are based on Arizona University entrance requirements and NOT RVHS graduation requirements.  Criteria are stated below:

              1)  You must have an unweighted 4.0 G.P.A.  If during a particular year there are no 4.0 students, we will use the next highest G.P.A.'s.

             2)  You must not have used a "P" (pass/fail) choice for a core class.

             3)  You must have spent your last four semesters (junior and senior years) as a full-time student at R.V.H.S.

             4)  You must complete the current requirements for being accepted into an Arizona University.  For purposes of selecting a Valedictorian or Salutatorian, "deficiencies" will
                   not  be allowed.

                            English                                               4 credits
                            Fine Arts                                            1 credit
                            Foreign Language                            2 credits of the same language.
                            Laboratory Science                          3 credits
                            Mathematics                                      4 credits  (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and one more advanced math such as Trig/ Pre-Calculus or Calculus or A.P. Calculus)
                            Social Science                                   2 credits

             *These standards are established by the Board of Regents and are subject to change.

             5)  Community College transfer credits and applicable Accredited Correspondence Course credits asked to be brought into R.V.H.S. and also used to meet university entrance         requirements will be figured into the G.P.A. for Valedictorian and Salutatorian selection purposes.

              6)  Accelerated English 1-4, A.P. English 4,  Calculus, A.P. Calculus, Chemistry 2, and Physics are the present courses that are on our "weighted"  list at R.V.H.S. and will use the following weighted G.P.A. scale:
                         A+        =          5.33
                         A          =          5.00
                         A-         =          4.67
              All other classes would be weighted as follows:
                         A+        =          4.33
                         A          =          4.00
                         A-         =          3.67

                7)  At the end of the 3rd 9-week grading period, this formula will be applied to courses used in meeting the university entrance requirements and the student with the highest   weighted score will serve as Valedictorian and the student with the 2nd highest weighted score will serve as the Salutatorian.

                 8)  In the event of a tie, a committee will make the final determination whether there will be one Valedictorian or an award of Co-Valedictorian.

CUMULATIVE GRADING SCALE FOR R.V.H.S. COURSES

            A+       97.5 - 100                                            D+       67.5 - 69.4      
            A         92.5 - 97.4                                           D         62.5 - 67.4
            A-        89.5 - 92.4                                           D-        59.5 - 62.4
            B+       87.5 - 89.4                                           F+        57.5 - 59.4
            B         82.5 - 87.4                                           F          54.5 - 57.4
            B-        79.5 - 82.4                                           F-             0 - 52.4
            C+       77.5 - 79.4                                                                  
            C         72.5 - 77.4                                                                  
            C-        69.5 - 72.4

 [Grading Scales for NAVIT and  Northland Pioneer College Dual Enrollment courses may differ from the regular R.V.H.S. grading scale listed above.]

 "CORE/SEQUENTIAL" COURSE MINIMUM GRADE REQUIREMENT

 ***ATTENTION:  R.V.H.S. requires students to achieve a letter grade of "C-" or higher in core/sequential courses, before moving on to the next course in that subject area.  A "Core" course would be a Math, English, Science, or Social Studies class.  An example of a sequential course would be Spanish 1, 2, & 3.  You would need to get a C- or better to move on to the next level.  Our desire is to encourage students to attain and demonstrate knowledge and skills of at least an "average" ("C") level.  To meet this standard of performance, continued instruction beyond one semester may be needed for students to develop the skills necessary to meet the challenges of more advanced courses, and also to help students develop the skills necessary to demonstrate competency in meeting State Standards as required by the AIMS tests.

 REQUIRED FINAL EXAM/PROJECT POLICY

 1.  A final exam or final exam project will be given to all students in all classes.  Exceptions will be school service, teacher aides, work study, and any internships.  All regular attendance policies and procedures will apply during the final exam dates.
2.  The exact dates and times for final exams will be set by the building principal.  Special Ed. students' final exams will be governed by their I.E.P.'s.
3.  Students with a "B" average or better in a class, and with 2 or fewer absences in that class, may be exempt from the final exam or final project.
4.  Finals will not be given prior to the scheduled date.  Certain circumstances may permit taking the final exam at a LATER date.  Approval must be granted by administration.

 SPECIAL GRADING OPTION (A / PASS / FAIL)

 Students wishing to use this special grading option may apply this procedure to only one core class each year.   This option is designed to encourage students to take core courses they would not otherwise take because of grade point average considerations.  It allows the student to utilize a grading system that will not affect his/her overall grade point average. It will affect them positively if an "A" is earned or negatively if an "F" is earned.  Approval of teacher, parent, and counselor is required.  Full credit is given to the class.  Students enrolled in "A/Pass/Fail" will receive the grade "A" when that grade is earned.  Other grades, "B, C, or D," will appear on transcripts as a "P".  Students who earn the equivalent of an "F" will receive an "F" on the transcript.  Students must choose their one pass fail class during the first 5 weeks of the semester they take that class.  Forms can be picked up in the counseling office area.

 Headstart/Primary/Intermediate/Middle/White Mountain Academy school internships, work study, teacher aides, library/office school service aides, and other interns are automatically given a "P" or "F" grade which doesn't count against the one core class choice.

 *See page 8 if you are considering becoming the Valedictorian or Salutatorian.  Using the pass/fail option will eliminate you from consideration.

MODIFIED GRADES

 Those students who receive instruction in a modified or alternative manner including 504, Special Ed., White Mountain Academy, will not be included in the class rank.

 In addition, those students having courses and grades transfered into R.V.H.S. from the following types of institutions or learning situations will receive a "P" or an "F" instead of a letter grade:  Any non-North Central (or equivalent) school, any non-North Central home school program, any foreign school, or any alternative learning school.

 CREDIT EVALUATION PROCESS FOR NON-ACCREDITED SCHOOLING/HOME SCHOOLED APPLICANTS

 Request for granting of credit will be evaluated according to the provisions stipulated in Round Valley Unified District Policy J-0950, JFABC.  Courses must meet at least one of the following criteria to be acceptable for fulfilling District graduation requirements:

• The credit was from a course taught by a teacher certificated by the Arizona Department of Education and documentation of completed work is presented.
• Awarding of the credit was based upon an assessment that included the standards adopted by the State Board of Education and evidence of the student having achieved the standards is provided.
• The credit was awarded by a school accredited by one of the following accrediting agencies of colleges and schools:  North Central Association; Southern Association; Middle States Association; New England Association; Northwestern Association; Western Association.        
  In the case of transfer from a non-accredited school or home schooling, a syllabus of the course for which credit is requested, documentation of coursework including chapter and unit exam results, and a log of seat time have been provided.  If these conditions are met, the student may then request to take an examination on the course subject matter designed and evaluated by a teacher at RVHS who is certified to teach the subject.  Upon receiving a satisfactory score as determined by the teacher (a minimum of 70% is required for core and sequential courses), course credit will be granted to fulfill requirements for graduation.  All courses credited for graduation must meet the standards adopted by the State Board of Education where such standards exist.  Where standards have not been adopted by the State Board of Education, courses credited for graduation must meet the standards established by RVHS.

   

Upon meeting one or more of the above requirements, the student may then complete a Credit Evaluation Request form provided by the counseling department.  A Credit Evaluation Committee will then review the request for credit and a determination will be made.

TESTING/ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

 PSAT/NMSQT

The PSAT/NMSQT is the practice SAT test and also is the "National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test".  It is offered every October by the College Board to high school Sophomores and Juniors.  This test provides students with information about acquired verbal and mathematical skills necessary to do well in college courses.

 PLAN

The PLAN is a comprehensive assessment service designed to provide tenth grade students, parents, and counselors with information that can be used to plan and prepare for future academic success. 

 ACT/SAT

The ACT or SAT are an admission requirement to enter most four-year colleges and universities; either can be taken for this purpose.  Some schools require the sub-tests on the SAT for entrance.  Check with your school counselors for registration materials.  The mail-in or on-line registration is the student's responsibility.  Test dates and registration deadlines are available in the counseling area.

 ASVAB

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), sponsored by the         Department of Defense, is a vocational aptitude battery consisting of ten short tests which cover the areas of General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Numerical Operations, Coding Speed, Auto and Shop Information, Mathematics Knowledge, Mechanical Comprehension, and Electronics Information.  The results of the ten individual tests are combined to provide you with three "academic" and four "occupational" composite scores.  The academic composites are Verbal, Math, and Academic Ability; the occupation composites are Mechanical and Crafts, Business and Clerical, Electronics and Electrical, and Health, Social, and Technology.

 AIMS (Arizona's Instrument for Measuring Standards)                                      

 All students in the Class of 2006 and beyond must successfully pass all three content areas (Reading, Writing, Mathematics) of the AIMS to graduate.  In some cases, students with an I.E.P.(Individual Educational Program) may be given certain accommodations when they take the AIMS test.  Sophomores will take the AIMS exams for the first time during the spring semester.  The student then has 4 additional opportunities throughout their high school career to pass the exams.  Retakes will be given twice during the student's junior year as well as twice during the student's senior year.  A student not successfully passing a competency test does have the opportunity to graduate providing the student meets the alternative graduation requirements established by A.R.S. 15-701.02.  This opportunity however, is subject to change depending on legislative decisions made at the stae department level.  Once a student has passed a content area, they do not have to retake it; however, they may if they wish to improve their score.  The highest performance level achieved in each content area will be included on the student's final high school transcript. 

 According to the Arizona Department of Education's publication "A Guide to Aims":  "Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) is a test designed to measure each student's progress in mastering the Arizona Academic Standards.  The Arizona Academic

 Standards define what students should know and be able to do at various stages of K-12 education.  AIMS meets the requirement of state statute A.R.S. 15-701.01 (A)(3), which directs the State Board of Education to develop a competency test for the graduation of students from high school.

 The Purpose of AIMS is to improve the academic achievement of all students throughout the state.  All students will take AIMS at grades 3, 5, 8, and high school.  The results from these tests will provide parents with a clear picture of how well their children are progressing.  AIMS scores are reported in terms of four performance levels:  Falls Far Below the Standard, Approaches the Standard, Meets the Standard, and Exceeds the Standard.  Students who meet or exceed the standard have completed the AIMS requirement for that content area.  At the high school level, a rating of Approaches the Standard means that a student needs additional study and must retake the test.  A rating of Falls Far Below the Standard means that a student needs significant study and must retake the test."

 After students take the AIMS Test, their raw scores are scaled to standardized scores regardless of the test they took.  The performance levels and their definitions are as follows:

 Exceeds the Standard:  This level denotes demonstration of superior academic performance evidenced by achievement substantially beyond the goal for all students.

 Meets the Standard:  This level denotes demonstration of solid academic performance on challenging subject matter reflected by the content standards.  This includes subject matter knowledge, application of such knowledge to real world situations and content-relevant analytical skills.  Students who perform at this level are well prepared to begin work on more challenging material that is required for the next grade level.  Attainment of at least this level is the goal of all students.

 Approaches the Standard:  This level denotes partial understanding of the knowledge and application of the skills that are fundamental for proficient work.  Students who approach the standard demonstrate competency in the prerequisites necessary to begin work on the challenging content required of the student who meets the standards, but do not demonstrate full understanding of that challenging content.

 Falls Far Below the Standard:  This level denotes insufficient evidence of the prerequisite skills to approach meeting the standards.  Students who perform at this level have serious gaps in knowledge and skills.  They, in all likelihood, require a considerable amount of additional work and remediation in the basic skills that are prerequisite to the challenging work expected at the current grade level.

            www.ade.state.az.us/standards/aims/

WHITE MOUNTAIN ACADEMY (Alternative Learning at R.V.H.S.)

White Mountain Academy, (a Round Valley Unified School District program), is an alternative, performance-based K-12 school program that focuses on helping youth and young adults who have faced barriers in regular school settings.  Highly flexible, adaptive, and innovative, this program capitalizes on technology and low student-to-         teacher ratios in order to help students succeed. 

 The program offers a variety of courses, with a strong focus on helping youth develop core knowledge and skills (reading, writing, and mathematics).  Students are graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

 Program entry is provided on a case-by-case basis, through the administrative offices of the Primary, Intermediate, Middle School or High School.

 TITLE I

 Student enrollment cannot be completed until parents complete a "Free & Reduced Lunch" application.  Qualifying students have the opportunity to receive free or reduced meals at their school.  Round Valley Unified School District #10 receives additional funding for many programs when the Free & Reduced Lunch information is accurately reported. 

 This new requirement may benefit your student directly and will benefit all students in the district many ways.  Your cooperation will be appreciated. 

 GIFTED PROGRAM

 Many students have areas in which they are outstanding and in which they should be nurtured.  The R.V.H.S. gifted program goal is to meet the needs of those students who have exceptionally high academic abilities in mathematics, verbal or nonverbal skills.  AIMS, Terra Nova, teacher, parent or student referrals are used in screening students to be tested.  R.V.H.S. uses the Cognitive Abilities Test (COGAT) for placement in the gifted program.  To qualify, a student will need to score at the 97th percentile or above on any or all of the three areas of these tests (Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal).   All students listed as "Gifted" who will attend R.V.H.S. and wish to remain in the program will be given the Cognitive Abilities Test (COGAT).  Those who qualify as they enter Round Valley High School will be placed in the Gifted program and will remain so through their high school years without needing to be retested.  Testing will take place for incoming 9th graders and transfer students early in the Fall semester.

 For each qualified student, a gifted I.E.P. will be written.  The student along with parents, teachers, counselors and administration will meet and plan this I.E.P. according to the interests and abilities (qualifying area(s)) of the student.  The high school curriculum has math, science, and accelerated English classes available and also offers the opportunity for independent study

in several areas.  Participation in the Academic Decathlon and our High Tech Center's Computer Lab classes is encouraged.  Reimbursement funding for N.P.C. courses taken locally is no longer allowed as per state law.  Gifted students are encouraged however, to enroll in N.P.C. courses.  Funding these courses will be the responsibility of the student.

RIGHTS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS

The school district shall provide an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect.  Every homeless student shall have access to the same free and appropriate educational opportunities as students who are not homeless.  This commitment to the educational rights of homeless children, youth, and unaccompanied youth, applied to all services, programs, and activities provided or made available.

 A student may be considered eligible for services as a “Homeless Child or Youth” under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act if he or she is presently living:

• In a shelter, temporary shared housing, or transitional living program
• In a hotel/motel, campground, or similar situation due to lack of alternatives
• At a bus station, park, car, or abandoned building
• In temporary or transitional foster care placement

 According to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act, eligible students have rights to
                      Immediate enrollment:  Documentation and immunization records cannot serve as a barrier to the enrollment in school.
                      Remain enrolled in his/her selected school for the duration of homelessness, or until the academic year upon which they are permanently  housed.
                      Participate in programs for which they are eligible, including Title I, National School Lunch Program, Head Start, Even Start, etc.               
                      Transportation Services:  A McKinney-Vento eligible student attending his/her School of Origin has a right to transportation to and from the School of Origin.
                      Dispute Resolution:  If you disagree with school officials about enrollment, transportation, or fair treatment of a homeless child or youth, you may file a complaint with the school district.  The school district must respond and attempt to resolve it quickly.  During the dispute, the student must be immediately enrolled in the school and provided transportation until the matter is resolved.  The Homeless Liaison will assist you in making decision, providing notice of any appeal process, and filling out dispute forms.

        For more information, refer to http://www.ade.az.gov/asd/homeless/ or contact:

SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 The Special Education Department deals with the identified exceptional student who has qualified through a Special Education evaluation process.  Through the development of the Individual Education Plan (IEP), specific educational opportunities may include these following examples:

                 Academic Classes-
                            Successfully take/pass courses required for graduation within the mainstream, resource room, or with resource supports
                 Transition/Youth Transition Program (YTP)-
                            On-site work experience
                       &nbs