The Arches program is an education center for adults. It provides opportunities for students of all ages who are having difficulty succeeding in their traditional school program or who have dropped out of school. In order to build success and self esteem, this school offers a highly individualized instructional program delivered to students through a variety of options designed to meet each student's needs.

ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION

Students under age 16 are not eligible for the adult program. These students may still be served at the Arches building, but will remain registered as students at the home school. Students must be referred by their home school principal (even if they had previously dropped out of high school). Criteria for selection and referral will be at the discretion of the home school. The Arches building will serve all students referred by the home school.

Students age 16-18 are eligible for the adult program if they are functioning at the 9th-grade level or higher. These students must be referred by their home school principal (even if they had previously dropped out of high school). Criteria for selection and referral will be at the discretion of the home school. The Arches building will serve all students referred by the home school.

Students over age 18 functioning below the 9th-grade level will register for the Adult Basic or the English as a Second Language programs. Students at or above 9th-grade level will register for the high school completion program (which includes study for the GED competency test). All students over age 18 are automatically accepted into the program.

REGISTRATION

Students under age 16 and their parent/guardian will have an orientation meeting with the program director. During that meeting, the student, parent/guardian, and program director will discuss the program and write a performance contract.

Students age 16-18 and their parent/guardian will have an orientation meeting with the program director. At that meeting, students must provide a copy of any previously-earned high school credits, their immunization record, evidence they have checked out of the home high school (and paid all fines/fees), and evidence they are functioning at the 9th-grade level or above. During that orientation meeting, the student, parent/guardian, and program director will discuss the program and write a performance contract. The registration fee for adults is $10 and the textbook rental fee is $30. Adult fees are not eligible for fee waiver.

Students over age 18 will have an orientation meeting with the program director. Students must provide a copy of any previously-earned high school credits and their immunization record. During that meeting, the student and program director will discuss the program and write a performance contract. The registration fee for adults in the high school completion program is $10 and the textbook rental fee is $30. Adult fees are not eligible for fee waiver. There are no fees for ABE or ESL students (functioning below the 9th-grade level).

ATTENDANCE

Students under age 16 must attend five hours each school day. Each absence (unless excused for illness or family emergency) will be treated as a truancy.

Students age 16-18 will have attendance defined by an individual SEOP but must attend at least five hours per week.

Students over age 18 have no attendance requirements. However, these students must contact the adult education director once a week (in person or by phone). The purpose of this required contact is to discuss progress toward completing the assigned work. Students who fail to contact the school three weeks in a row will be dropped from the program.

ENTRANCE TESTING

The Arches program requires extensive reading and writing because all work is completed independently. We do not have the benefit of teacher lectures and class discussions. To ensure all students are able to do the reading and writing at a successful level, an entrance test will be given to determine competence. Where necessary, remedial reading and writing will be required before coursework can begin.

RETURNING TO THE REGULAR HIGH SCHOOL

Students under age 19 who wish to transfer from the Arches program to Grand County High School (GCHS) must apply to the GCHS Selection Committee for admittance. Requirements for transfer will include:

• Proven success in the Arches program -- success being defined as regular attendance and steady progress on coursework.
• Achievement of grade-level standing with credits.
• Student must transfer at a district quarter break.

DROP PROCESS

A student will be dropped from the Arches program if he/she receives three infractions in any one of the following areas in any calendar year (note this is not limited to a school year):

Attendance

• 1st infraction: Warning.
• 2nd infraction: Probation -- attendance requirements may be increased.
• 3rd infraction: Dropped from the program.

• 1st infraction: Warning -- automatic one-week extension of due date
• 2nd infraction: Probation -- automatic one-week extension of due date and attendance requirements may be increased.
• 3rd infraction: Dropped from the program.

• 1st infraction: Consequence as defined in the GCSD Discipline Manual
• 2nd infraction: Consequence as defined in the GCSD Discipline Manual
• 3rd infraction: Dropped from the program

RE-ADMITTANCE AFTER BEING DROPPED

Students under age 16 will not be allowed in the Arches program or in the home school for one calendar year. This time period may be altered by the principal of the home school for extenuating circumstances such as a court referral.

Students age 16-18 will not be allowed in the Arches program or in the home school for one calendar year. This time period may be altered by the principal of the home school for extenuating circumstances such as a court referral.

Students over age 18 will not be allowed in the Arches program for one calendar year. This time period may be altered by the district Superintendent for extenuating circumstances.

DISCIPLINE

All students will adhere to the discipline policies as established by Grand County School District (GCSD). During the initial orientation interview with the student (and parent/guardian), these policies will be discussed. Students should pay particular attention to the policies on dress standards, academic honesty, attendance, and the use/possession of tobacco or paraphernalia.

TRESPASSING

Students under age 18 are not permitted on any school campus other than the Arches campus. Students on other school campuses for any reason will be considered as trespassing and the police will be notified.

CREDIT

Credit will be issued based on completion of work assignments. Checksheets will be issued to students outlining the work to be done to earn specific quarter units of credit. Assignments for a quarter are based on fifty (50) hours of coursework. This amount is used because a traditional class in a comprehensive high school meets 45 times for 50 minutes. An additional one and one-half hours of homework per week brings this total to 50 hours. Some students may be able to complete the work in less than 50 hours; others may take longer. Credit for the quarter will be awarded when all work is completed (regardless of the amount of time the individual student requires to finish it).

Credit may also be awarded for: transfer credit from a comprehensive high school, concurrent enrollment in approved post-secondary courses, demonstrated mastery in approved correspondence or extension courses, and/or demonstrated mastery in approved courses completed outside of the school day or year.

ADVANCED ART AND ADVANCED MUSIC

Students who were referred to the Arches program from the GCHS Selection Committee may enroll in advanced art and advanced music at GCHS at the discretion of the high school selection committee and the art/music teacher.

SCHOOL HOURS

Monday: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. (closed at night)

A student education occupation plan shall be developed, and reviewed at least annually, by each student, the student's parent/guardian, and designated school personnel. The plan shall be guided by the general program of studies, graduation requirements, and individual student interests and goals. The plan shall identify an area of concentration in a cluster related to the student's post-secondary goal.

GRADUATION

Students who have completed the 24 units required for graduation will receive their diploma in a monthly meeting of the Grand County School District school board. Upon student request, the diploma may be awarded directly by the Arches program director rather than in a school board meeting.

Students in the Arches program will not "walk" or participate in any way at the graduation ceremonies at Grand County High School. Students who want to "walk" in the regular graduation ceremony at Grand County High School should transfer back to GCHS by the beginning of fourth quarter of their senior year. Because the selection committee meets only monthly, students should begin this process a month before fourth quarter begins.