Attendance Policy

Attendance is important for the success of a student. If a student does not attend school, then a student cannot succeed in school. Attendance in iQ Academy California - Los Angeles is recorded in the Online School, OLMS, and OLHS by completing lessons in the Online School platform, attending class connects, and through parent-submitted offline logs. It is expected that lessons will be completed each school day.

When the student completes work offline, the parent/learning coach must maintain a school supplied learning log as specifically directed by his/her assigned teacher, for each day of pre-approved offline work without accompanying online work. All learning logs must be signed and submitted to the assigned teacher at the conclusion of each school day or as requested by the assigned teacher. In addition, the assigned teacher may request that the offline work notated on the learning log be submitted to him/her. If a learning log is not submitted, the teacher will not credit the student with attendance for that school day.

In order for a student to receive attendance credit for a given school day, the student must be actively engaged in completing assignments given by the teacher on that school day. Attendance is not counted on weekends, holidays, or other non-instruction days. However, lessons can be completed at any time.

At the end of each learning period, the teacher evaluates the work or work products completed by the student and determines how many attendance days can be credited for the learning period. If the student did not complete all the required lessons in a learning period, the teacher will reduce the number of attendance days the student is credited. Parent and students should contact their teacher(s) with specific questions regarding which assignments are to be completed for each learning period.

The following are examples of acceptable reasons for not logging attendance in the online school:

Student illness – no more than three (3) consecutive days. If the student is absent more than three (3) consecutive days, a doctor's note is required.
Illness or medical treatment of child for whom student is the custodial parent – no more than three (3) consecutive days. If the student is absent more than three (3) consecutive days, a doctor's note is required.
Religious reasons (see below)
Funeral – Attending funeral services for a member of student's immediate family, as long as the absence is not more than one (1) day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three (3) days if the service is conducted outside of California.

Should the student not attend school for one of the above-noted reasons, the parent must submit written verification to his/her General Education teacher or guidance counselor in order for the absence to be excused. Unexcused absences may result in the student's non-compliance with iQ Academy California - Los Angeles's enrollment requirements. Refer to the non-compliance policy herein for details concerning actions related to noncompliance.

While attendance credit may not be earned retroactively, should a student have an excused absence, academic credit may be made up by completing work as directed and approved by his/her assigned teacher during the applicable learning period.

Absences from school interfere with the academic achievement of your child. Students who are absent three (3) or more school days in an attendance period or have missed two assignments (as defined in the non-compliance policy); or five (5) or more cumulative days, are subject to an evaluation to determine whether it is in their best interest to remain in independent study. In these cases, the iQ Academy California - Los Angeles administration may deem that enrollment in iQ Academy California - Los Angeles is not in the best interest of the student, and the student may be subject to withdrawal.

Absences for Religious Reasons

Pupils, with the written consent of their parents or guardians, may be excused from school in order to participate in religious exercises or to receive moral and religious instruction at their respective places of worship or at other suitable place or places away from school property designated by the religious group, church, or denomination, which shall be in addition and supplementary to the instruction received from iQ Academy California - Los Angeles. No pupil shall be excused from school for such purpose on more than four days per school month. Requests for religious absences must be made in writing to the iQ Academy California - Los Angeles Administration prior to the absence.

Non-Compliance Policy

iQ Academy California - Los Angeles is in partnership with families to educate the students enrolled in our program. The partnership cannot be effective if students and/or parent/guardians are not actively participating in our program and meeting our enrollment requirements.

Indications that a student is not actively participating in our program include non-attendance (three (3) or more days), missing or refusing to schedule meetings, being unable to contact, missing daily assignments, not logging into the Online School daily, and/or not meeting additional enrollment requirements.

For purposes of this policy, a student missing the equivalent of three (3) or more school days' worth of work in an attendance period will be found to have "one missed assignment." Students who have two attendance periods with "one missed assignment" will be found to have "missed two assignments" and thus will be evaluated as to whether it is in the best interest of the student to remain in independent study. Parents/guardians will be informed of this policy as part of the Independent Study Master Agreement signed annually.

The evaluation shall take place during an evaluation conference, which shall be conducted by the Head of School or designee. The Head of School or designee shall provide written notification to the parent/guardian or adult student of the evaluation conference.

For the purpose of this policy, a student missing two school appointments will be considered to have "missed two assignments" and thus will be evaluated as to whether it is in the best interest of the student to remain in independent study. Parents/guardians will be informed of this policy as part of the Independent Study Master Agreement signed annually.

A school appointment may be defined as conferences, classes, tutoring, any required testing appointments, special education meetings, etc.

In these instances iQ Academy California - Los Angeles will:

Contact the family by phone and email, requesting a resolution within 48 hours.
If there is no resolution, additional attempts to contact the family again by phone will be made, and an email will be sent requesting a resolution within 48 hours.
If the issue is not resolved, administration is notified and a letter is sent to the student's address on file notifying the family that an evaluation conference, as outlined below, shall be held to determine whether or not independent study is in the best interest of the student.

Teachers are required to document each step of this process with detail and accuracy. This includes the date and time of attempted contact, the phone number and/or email used as well as the reason for contact.

Evaluation Conference

Students who have missed two assignments, school appointments/classes or have missed three (3) or more days of school in an attendance period or five (5) cumulative days of school shall be required to attend an evaluation conference to determine whether it is in the best interest of the student to remain in independent study. This conference shall be held as soon as possible, and the student/parent/legal guardian will receive written notice of the conference. The parent/legal guardian may request one postponement, not to exceed five (5) school days, of the conference for good cause.

At the conference, the parent/legal guardian or adult student shall be informed of the reason for the conference and the evidence pertaining to whether or not independent study is in the student's best interest. If the parent/legal guardian does not attend the conference, the Academic Administrator or designee will review the relevant information and make a determination regarding the student's absences/missed assignments.

The student and/or parent/legal guardian shall be given the opportunity to present information and/or witnesses to the Academic Administrator or designee either orally or in writing or both during the conference. The Academic Administrator or designee shall take any information presented by the parent/legal guardian/adult student into consideration when determining whether it is in the best interest of the student to remain in independent study. Additional factors to be considered include but are not limited to the following:

student's grades at the time of the evaluation
teacher observation/feedback
standardized testing data
student's progress in the independent study curriculum

The Academic Administrator or designee's decision shall be provided in writing to the parent/guardian within three (3) days of the evaluation. The Academic Administrator or designee may:

find independent study is in the student's best interest,
place the student on academic probation to be evaluated again at the next attendance period if the student continues to fail to engage in daily activities,
use other alternatives to improve attendance, or
find that it is not in the student's best interest to remain in independent study.

If the Academic Administrator or designee finds that it is not in the student's best interest to remain in independent study, then the student shall be withdrawn from enrollment with the IQ Academy California - Los Angeles and the parent/legal guardian or adult student shall immediately enroll in a site-based program through the local school district or other appropriate educational program. Notes detailing the discussion and outcomes of this conference shall be filed in the student's cumulative file.

Appeal

The Academic Administrator's or designee's decision shall be subject to an appeal to the Head of School. The parent/guardian or adult student shall submit a written request to the Head of School, outlining the reasons for the appeal.
Upon receipt of a request for an appeal hearing, the Head of School shall schedule the appeal to be heard within thirty (30) school days of receipt of the request. The Head of School shall send out written notice of the date, time and location of the meeting to the parent/guardian or adult student. This meeting may be held via teleconference.

The appeal hearing shall proceed as follows:

The Head of School shall review the request for appeal document and any other documents submitted by the parent/legal guardian/adult student. The Head of School shall also review all records considered by the Academic Administrator or designee at the evaluation conference.
The parent/legal guardian or adult student may address concerns to the Head of School regarding the appeal.
The Academic Administrator or designee may address concerns to the Head of School in response to the student's appeal.

The final decision by the Head of School shall be made within ten (10) school days following the conclusion of the appeal. The parent/legal guardian/adult student shall be informed in writing of the Head of School's decision. The decision of the Head of School is final.

Teachers and Administrators are required to document each step of this process with detail and accuracy. This includes the date and time of attempted contact, the phone number and/or email used as well as the reason for contact.