Student Handbook and Policies

There are two types of enrollment in Accelerate Online Academy–part-time and full-time. Full-time students complete all of their coursework through the Academy and intend to graduate from the Academy. Part-time students take one or more courses at the Academy but intend to transfer those credits to a home district. The enrollment process varies depending upon the type of enrollment.

When a student registers with Accelerate Online Academy as a full-time student, he or she completes an application and provides the administration with the following documentation:
General Information

• Name, Address, Birthdate, etc.

Proof of age, documented using one of the following:

• Original birth certificate
• Notarized copy of birth certificate
• Valid passport
• Original baptismal certificate indicating the date of birth
• Copy of the record of baptism – notarized or duly certified and showing the date of birth
• Notarized statement from parents or another relative indicating the date of birth
• Prior school records indicating the date of birth

Copy of latest school records

• Those entering KINDERGARTEN do not require past school records.
• Those entering Accelerate Academy from home school must provide an adequate record of how the student functions academically. Documentation may include standardized test scores, a self-created record of achievement, and activity records or transcripts from other online or private schools.
• Copy of IEP or 504 plan, if applicable.
• English Language Proficiency test results for foreign students.

Part-time students enroll with the intent to transfer the credit earned to their home district. All part-time students should contact their home district to ensure that transferred credits will be accepted prior to enrolling.

Each full-time student will meet with the administration of Accelerate Academy to determine the best course of study for the student, before enrolling in classes. Part-time students will choose courses during the enrollment process and may begin classes once payment is received. For more information on the enrollment process, students and parents should contact our help desk. Visit our customer support page to get in contact with them.

Accelerate Academy’s online program offers a great deal of flexibility in start and end dates. These dates are specific to each student and are determined at registration. All coursework must be completed no later than the “end of enrollment date” established during registration. Once a final grade report for a course is issued, students may not submit additional work for that course. Furthermore, no course enrollment period can extend beyond the original end date without an extension request. (See the Extensions section for more information.)

All core curriculum enrollments are equivalent in seat time, with each core semester-long course intended to require 90 hours of class time—not including study and project time.

Starting in the fall of each year, we offer semester-long courses lasting 14-20 weeks using flexible start and end dates. Students can start at any time in the fall but are required to attend a minimum of 14 weeks and a maximum of 20 weeks. Students are given specific tasks each week and are expected to work a minimum of 5 hours per week. Synchronous sessions are included. (Note: AP courses are only offered as semester-long 18-week courses and must finish before the AP exam dates. Students must be enrolled by the second week in September.)

Additionally, we offer a condensed summer schedule lasting 6 weeks. Students are given specific tasks each week and are expected to work a minimum of 11.5 hours per week. Synchronous sessions are included. (Note: AP courses are not offered in our condensed format.)

Each Accelerate Education course includes a pacing guide with target due dates to help students manage their coursework. In addition, weekly reports and communication help ensure that students meet their target dates. If any coursework is not completed by the end of the semester, the student receives a zero for each incomplete item, and those zeroes are included in the student’s average when final grades are calculated.

To graduate and earn a high school diploma, the following criteria must be met:

Total Credits

*must include one year of lab science

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Students must have a 2.0 or above cumulative Grade Point Average and a 2.3 or above Core Grade Point Average (for all courses in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science).

Senior Project

In order to receive a high school diploma, all students graduating will complete a culminating project. Students will demonstrate essential skills through reading, writing, speaking, production and/or performance. This project will be introduced to students as they enter the high school and can be completed at any time.

A course extension—a change to the student’s end of enrollment date—may be granted after a request from the student’s parent or designated mentor. Extensions may continue up to eight weeks beyond the original end date. Such extensions are granted for extenuating circumstances only and at the discretion of Accelerate Academy’s administration.

Extenuating circumstances include personal issues or events that prevent a student from completing school work. The Academy’s definition of “extenuating circumstances” is strictly limited to the following:

• Bereavement (due to the death of a close relative or significant other)
• Serious short-term illness or accident
• Worsening of a long-term chronic health problem
• Other exceptional circumstances (such as a natural disaster, severe weather, military service of a family member or civil unrest).

The following situations are not considered extenuating circumstances that qualify for an extension:

• A student claims to have a medical problem, but has no evidence or documentation, such as a doctor’s note.
• The Academy has already adjusted a student’s deadlines once, in response to a short- or long-term medical problem.
• A student provides documentation for a medical issue, but the document does not include a time frame for resolving the issue.
• Events or circumstances which a reasonable person would have been able to foresee and plan to avoid or work around.
• Minor illnesses for which someone would not normally take sick leave.
• Holidays, festivals, or private celebrations (including weddings).
• Problems with computers, printers, or network facilities.
• A student’s failure to back up work or manage his or her time effectively.

When an extension is granted, the following rules apply:

• At least 75% of a student’s work must be completed before requesting an extension. Students are expected to work consistently and to make adequate progress with regular logins and progression during enrollment.
• No more than one extension will be considered per course per student.
• Extension requests must be submitted at least two weeks before the student’s enrollment end date.
• If the course requirements are not met by the end of the extension, a final grade will be issued based on work completed, with zeroes entered for work not completed.
• Fees will be charged for approved extensions.
• To request an extension, a student should contact the help desk to begin the extension request process. The request must be made in writing.

To ensure academic integrity, course assignments are set to allow one attempt by each student. Students can request an assignment reset if there are technical glitches or special circumstances. These kinds of requests must be submitted by email to the course teacher.

Students may change their course enrollment (drop classes) up to fourteen days after the scheduled student start date. If a course is dropped within this time frame, Accelerate will refund 100% of any course fees. A withdrawal notification must be received in writing by Accelerate before the 14-day grace period ends. After fourteen days, the student will be considered enrolled in the course for the semester; the student will be assigned a grade in the course, and the enrollment fee is non-refundable.

Accelerate Online Academy Instructors meet the United States’ Department of Education’s Highly Qualified Teacher requirements.

All Accelerate Online Academy teachers must have:

• a bachelor’s degree
• full state certification or licensure
• experience teaching in the subject area assigned

A student enrolled in Accelerate Academy has access to frequent instructor-initiated interaction. As a student completes course assignments, the teacher provides individualized feedback on the student’s performance as well as suggestions for future success. This feedback happens asynchronously within the learning management system (LMS).

Students are required to interact with their instructors in real time during the course as well. Real-time interaction between the student and the teacher may occur for a number of reasons. One-on-one sessions conducted by phone, video chat, text chat, or email occur on an as-needed basis for individual tutoring and remediation. Teachers also offer synchronous sessions to students to cover specific content. Between the asynchronous and synchronous feedback and interaction, students are connecting with their instructor daily.

Course assessments are graded by a highly-qualified teacher, by our computer system, or through a combination of computerized scoring and manual grading by a teacher. Thirty to fifty percent of the assessments in a course are graded manually by the teacher—the exact percentage varies by course. Computer-scored assessments are graded as soon as the student completes them; students may use tools in the learning management system to check their progress immediately, and at any time.

When teachers grade assessments, they provide feedback using a variety of options, including commenting features and/or PDF markup tools. The assessment with feedback included is then returned to the student through the learning management system (LMS). For synchronous assessments, such as benchmark tests or oral assessments, the student receives feedback in real time, and the teacher also records feedback with the LMS gradebook. The student may then refer back to the feedback as needed. Teachers may also use the LMS gradebook to provide more general feedback, using the “comments” section of each assignment. All feedback is captured and stored within Accelerate Academy’s LMS, and this information remains accessible to the student even after the enrollment period has ended.

Teachers at Accelerate Academy are expected to deliver a grade within 72 hours of receiving an assignment. If a student submits multiple assignments at once, the time allowed for grading increases by the additional number of assignments times 72. (Teachers need adequate time to provide the kind of rich, thoughtful, and thorough feedback that helps students grow academically.) An Instruction Manager ensures prompt assessment turn-around-times by monitoring the course gradebooks.

All grades are reported numerically. Students will receive a percentage score in their final grade report.

Final grades are available within 72 hours of the student completing 100% of the course, unless multiple assignments are submitted at once at the end of a semester. In that case, teachers may need additional time to grade and provide thorough feedback.

Cyber Bullying

Accelerate Academy prohibits harassment, intimidation, and bullying by any means.

This includes but is not limited to electronic, written, oral or physical acts, either direct or indirect, when such intentional electronic, oral, written or physical acts physically harm, substantially interfere with a student’s education, threaten the overall educational environment and/or substantially disrupt the operation of school.

This includes, but is not limited to, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based upon race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, economic status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, physical appearance, or mental, physical, or sensory disability.

Examples of such bullying include, but are not limited to:

• Sending mean or threatening messages to a classmate via email, IM (instant messaging), or text messages.
• Spreading rumors about classmates through email, IM, or text messages.
• Creating a Web site or social networking page that targets another student.
• Sharing fake or embarrassing photos or videos of classmates with others via a cell phone or the Web.
• Stealing a classmate’s login and password to send mean or embarrassing messages from his or her account.

Accelerate Academy reserves the right to discipline any student for actions taken if they are intended to have an effect on a student or they adversely affect the safety and well being of student while in school.

Students are expected to:

• Treat each other respectfully, in person and online.
• Refuse to cyber bully or let others be cyber bullied.
• Refuse to participate in or encourage any form of cyber bullying.
• Report cyber bullying to learning coach, teacher or administrator when you become aware of it.

Online Netiquette

Netiquette means network etiquette, the do’s and don’ts of online communication or general guidelines for good cyberspace behavior. Communication online can occur via discussions, blogs, texts, chats, emails or online synchronous sessions. Our top ten rules or expectations for online courtesies during any communication you have with staff and students while enrolled at Accelerate Academy are listed below. These rules are excerpts from the book Netiquette by Virginia Shea.

Communication Rules

In addition to online netiquette, there are expectations we have for students regarding written communication. Communication contributes to the relationship between a teacher and student and among students and therefore essential to the success of all students.

Students are expected to:

• Be concise and to the point.
• Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation.
• Avoid attaching unnecessary files.
• Do not write messages using all CAPS. All CAPS is like shouting!
• Read your message before sending and make any necessary corrections.
• Use a meaningful subject.
• Include all necessary details so the recipient of the message understands what you are trying to communicate.
• Avoid abbreviations and emoticons.
• Do not use profanities or obscenities in any communications.

Violations of these rules will result in a reprimand from the administrator or teacher. If informed and re-informed of email netiquette, then student will be required to correct email messages and resend.

Accelerate Academy’s information technology resources, including the learning management system, are provided for educational purposes. Adherence to the Technology Use Policy outlined below is necessary for continued access to the school’s technological resources.

Students are expected to:

1. Respect and protect the privacy of others.
   • Use only assigned accounts.
   • Not view, use, or copy passwords, data, or networks to which they are not authorized.
   • Not distribute private information about others or themselves.
2. Respect and protect the integrity, availability, and security of all electronic resources.
   • Observe all network security practices, as posted.
   • Report security risks or violations to a teacher or network administrator.
   • Not destroy or damage data, networks, or other resources that do not belong to them, without clear permission of the owner.
   • Conserve, protect, and share these resources with other students and Internet users.
3. Respect and protect the intellectual property of others.
   • Not infringe copyrights (no making illegal copies of music, games, or movies).
   • Not plagiarize.
4. Respect and practice the principles of community.
   • Communicate only in ways that are kind and respectful.
   • Report threatening or discomforting materials to a teacher or mentor.
   • Not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that violates the school’s code of conduct (such as messages that are pornographic, threatening, rude, discriminatory, or meant to harass).
   • Not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that is illegal (such as obscenity, stolen materials, or illegal copies of copyrighted works).
   • Not use the resources to further other acts that are criminal or violate the school’s code of conduct.
   • Not send spam, chain letters, or other mass unsolicited mailings.
   • Not buy, sell, advertise, or otherwise conduct business, unless approved as a school project.

Consequences for Violation

Violations of these rules may result in disciplinary action, including the loss of a student’s privileges to use the school’s information technology resources.

Supervision and Monitoring

School and network administrators and their authorized employees monitor the use of information technology resources to help ensure that uses are secure and in conformity with this policy. Administrators reserve the right to examine, use, and disclose any data found on the school’s information networks in order to further the health, safety, discipline, or security of any student or other person, or to protect property. They may also use this information in disciplinary actions, and will furnish evidence of crime to law enforcement.

Accelerate Academy’s provides for equal opportunities and does not unlawfully discriminate against any person on the basis of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religious creed, color, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or disability in the educational student programs or activities which it operates and does not tolerate any such discrimination.

Issuing a Complaint

Complaints alleging violation of this policy shall be made to Accelerate Academy or the Equal Opportunity Officer (EOO). Any person, student or employee who believes that he or she has suffered unlawful discrimination or harassment shall immediately report the incident(s) to his or her teacher, learning coach, or administrator.

A written filing shall start the formal complaint procedure or oral complaint as set forth below within sixty (60) days of the alleged discriminatory act. Accelerate Academy shall be responsible for making a thorough investigation of the matter and making recommendations for remedial or affirmative action.

All information gathered will remain confidential.

Step 1

The complainant shall present the matter in writing or orally stating:

• The nature of the problem;
• The date, time and location of the alleged discrimination;
• The persons involved;
• Efforts, if any and results to solve the problem prior to filing the written complaint.

The EOO shall provide the respondent with a copy of the complaint. Within ten days of the receipt of the complaint, the EOO shall notify the complainant, respondent, and the immediate supervisor, in writing of the recommendation for resolving the matter. If the complaint is resolved and no further action is requested in writing or orally within five days of receipt of the Step 1 recommendation, the matter shall be considered closed.

Step 2

The complainant may in writing or orally to the EOO request a conference within five days of receipt of the Step 1 recommendation. This conference shall be held within ten days after the receipt of the written/oral request. The following shall attend:

• The designee;
• The complainant;
• EEO;
• The immediate supervisor or designee;
• A person mutually agreed upon by the respondent and the EEO.

Within five days following the conference, the designee shall notify the complainant and respondent in writing by hand delivery or certified mail the recommendation for resolving the matter.

Step 3

The complainant may in writing or orally to the EOO request a hearing before the Academy’s administration within five days after receipt of the Step 2 recommendation. After receipt of such request, a hearing shall be scheduled at the earliest possible date. The complainant and respondent may at their expense have legal representation for this hearing. Within ten days following the hearing, the EOO shall notify the complainant and respondent in writing by hand delivery or certified mail the Academy’s recommendation for resolving the matter. Extension of any time limits prior to a request for hearing being filed may be granted by the EEO only for circumstances beyond the control of the complainant or the respondent. No person shall retaliate or in any way discriminate against any person for filing a complaint or participating in an investigation of a complaint. The complainant maintains the right to utilize other appropriate legal or administrative remedies available.

Terms

For purposes of this policy, the following terms are defined:

• Complaint – A problem, dispute, or disagreement regarding discrimination, which cannot be resolved informally. The complaint procedure may be used by any complainant who feels aggrieved or who feels that there has been a violation, misinterpretation, or inequitable application of any policy, procedure, or practice.
• Complainant – Any person filing a complaint.
• Respondent – The employee allegedly committing the discriminatory act or omission.
• EEO – The employee designated to coordinate the Academy’s effort to comply with and carry out its responsibility for nondiscrimination.
• Day – Any calendar day excluding Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.

Special education law, or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), defines the legal rights of private school students to publicly funded special education services. Specifically, it states that a private institution student does not have the same legal rights to special education services as a special education student in public school.

For any student at Accelerate Academy with an Instructional Education Plans (IEP), accommodations will be made to the best of the Academy’s ability. Copies of a student’s IEP will be collected upon enrollment and remain private within the data of the Academy. Public school districts are given a small amount of money each year by the federal government to fund IEPs for special education students who attend private settings. Public school districts are required to meet with the administrators of private institutions in their area and discuss what services they will provide. The amount varies from year to year. For more information, visit IDEA.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Accelerate Academy takes student privacy very seriously and have developed several policies to ensure privacy.

RIGHT TO INSPECT AND REVIEW AND TO CONSENT TO RELEASE

Parents, legal guardians, and individuals acting as a parent or guardian in the absence of the student’s parent/guardian of students under the age of eighteen have the right to access their child’s education records and to authorize the disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in education records to any third party. Students who have turned 18 years of age, or who are attending a post-secondary institution and are no longer students at Accelerate Academy, are “eligible students” and have the right to authorize disclosure of that information to any third party. If a student currently enrolled in the Academy has reached 18 years of age but is still claimed as a “dependent” under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 152, by the parents, the parents or guardian continue to have the right to inspect and review their student’s records, but they no longer have the authority to authorize release of such records.

WHEN CONSENT IS NOT NEEDED FOR THE ACADEMY TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION

A student’s education records may be disclosed by the Academy without consent of a parent/eligible student whenever permitted or required by law, such as, but not limited to:

1. School Officials

To “School Officials” when there is a legitimate educational interest. A School Official is:

• Any administrator, certified staff member, or support staff member (including health, medical, safety and security staff) employed by the Academy;
• A contractor, consultant, volunteer, or other party to whom the Academy has outsourced services or functions, such as, but not limited to, an attorney, auditor, cloud storage provider, consultant, expert witness, hearing officer, investigator, insurer/insurance company adjuster, investigator, or any other claims representative, medical providers or consultants, or counselors/therapists, provided that the person is performing a service or function for which the Academy would otherwise use employees, is under the direct control of the Academy with respect to the use and maintenance of education records, and is subject to FERPA requirements governing the use and re-disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records;
• A person serving on a committee appointed by the administration, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee or other review committee.

A School Official has a “legitimate educational interest” when the official needs such information in order to fulfill his or her professional, contractual or other responsibilities for the Academy.

Reasonable methods shall be in place to ensure that School Officials obtain access to only those education records in which they have legitimate educational interests. Employees who access, or allow others to access, education records that they do not have a legitimate interest in accessing, shall be subject to disciplinary action.

2. Other Schools

To officials of other public or private schools or post-secondary institutions in which a student seeks/intends to enroll, or is already enrolled, upon request of that school. Education records provided to any private or public elementary school or secondary school shall include disciplinary records involving any suspension or expulsion and may include discipline records for conduct that posed a significant risk to the safety or well-being of that student, other students, or other members of the school community.

The first official transcript and/or record will be sent free of charge. Each additional copy will cost $5. Written requests can be made by in writing from the Academy’s website.

3. Subpoenas and Court Orders

In compliance with judicial order, or pursuant to any lawfully issued subpoena, upon condition that parents and the students are notified of all such orders or subpoenas in advance of the compliance therewith by the Academy. However, when a parent is a party to a court proceeding involving child abuse and neglect or dependency matters, and the order is issued in the context of that proceeding, additional notice to the parent by the Academy is not required. In addition, notice will not be given to parents in situations where the Academy is directed by the issuing authority not to disclose the existence or contents of the subpoena.

4. Foster Care

To an agency caseworker or other representative of a state or local child welfare agency or tribal organization who has the right to access a student’s case plan when such agency or organization is legally responsible for the care and protection of the student.

5. Litigation Between Academy and Student/Parent

To the court in any legal action by a parent or student against the Academy, or by the Academy against a parent or student, when necessary to either defend itself or proceed with a legal action as plaintiff.

6. Health or Safety Emergency

To appropriate parties when knowledge of the information is necessary in the judgment of the Academy to protect the health or safety of the student or any other person.

7. Studies

To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the Academy for the purpose of developing, validating, or administering predictive tests, and improving instruction, if there is a written agreement and such studies are conducted in such a manner that each meet the requirements of applicable law.

8. Audit or Evaluation

To certain federal and state officials when needed in order to audit or enforce legal conditions related to a federally or state-supported education program or to enforce or to comply with the federal legal requirements that relate to those programs.

9. Accrediting Organizations

To accrediting organizations in order to carry out their accrediting function.

10. Parents and Students

To any “parent”, as defined by FERPA, of a student who has not reached age 18, or to the student. For students who have turned 18, disclosure may be made to a parent without the consent of the student if the student remains a “dependent” of the parent as defined under the Internal Revenue Code.

11. When Allowed or Required by State Law

To state and local officials or authorities to whom such information is specifically allowed or required to be reported pursuant to state law and concerns the juvenile justice system and its ability to effectively serve the student whose records are released and, where required, written certification is provided by the officials or authorities that the information will not be disclosed to any other party except as provided under state law.

12. Audit or Evaluation of Educational Program

To permitted state and federal officials to audit or evaluate educational programs or for enforcement of or compliance with federal legal requirements which relate to those educational programs.

13. When Disclosure is of “Directory Information”

“Directory information” is information from a student’s education record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. “Directory Information” MAY be, but is not required to be, disclosed by the Academy without consent of the parent or eligible student. The following items are designated by Accelerate Academy as “Directory Information”:

1. Student’s name
2. Photographs – including use of student photographs in Academy’s publications, on Academy’s social media and the Academy’s website, and release of yearbook photo upon request by news media
3. Video/film of student when filmed by Academy for educational purposes or for promotional use, and film by news media.
4. Date and place of birth
5. Major field of study
6. Date student enrolled/disenrolled in Academy, enrollment status, and grade level
7. Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
8. Degrees, honors, and awards received
9. The most recent school or school district attended prior to Accelerate Academy
10. Class lists

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Academy does not designate as “Directory Information” any of the above items when and if the Academy determines, in its sole discretion, that the circumstances are such that disclosure of the information could pose a risk to student safety or well-being or has the potential to be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy by the parent or student if disclosure was allowed.

“Directory Information” may, in the discretion of the Academy, be disclosed in circumstances such as but not limited to:

• Academy publications, such as newsletters, calendars, newspapers, event programs, communications, announcements, and news releases
• Academy websites, digital publications and social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
• Print, television and broadcast media
• Honor roll and other school achievements, awards and recognitions
• Programs/playbills showing a student’s role in a school activity or production
• Yearbooks and class photos
• Graduation programs/school programs
• Disclosure to outside organizations, such as but not limited to, those that provide school-related products and services, such as yearbooks, class rings etc.
• Military recruiters and institutions of higher education for 11th and 12th grade students to the extent required by law
• Organizations that operate solely to support the Academy, such as community clubs, booster clubs and support groups

Lists of student names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses will not be disclosed by the Academy to political candidates or elected office holders, political parties, or any person or organization involved with a political issue or issue related to the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question. Such information will not be disclosed to commercial entities (other than for school-related purposes), nor will it be provided to any non-profit or non-commercial organization, company or group, other than groups that operate solely to support the Academy, or as required or permitted by law, such as to military recruiters.

“Directory Information” will not be disclosed where to do so would have the effect of disclosing non-directory information.

RIGHT TO PREVENT DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTORY INFORMATION (OPT-OUT)

Parents and eligible students have the right to opt-out of disclosure of “Directory Information,” subject to the requirements and limitations of FERPA, state law, and the procedures contained in any regulation(s) to this policy.

Opt-Out forms are effective for the school year in which they are submitted. “Directory Information” will not be disclosed prior to the return date indicated on the Opt-Out form.

Opting-out of disclosure may not be used to impede routine classroom communications and interactions. For instance, opting-out does not prevent the Academy from disclosing or requiring a student to disclose the student’s name, school e-mail address, or electronic identifier on school grounds, in class, or at a school-sponsored activity, and does not prevent the Academy from requiring a student to maintain and present upon request a student ID card.

The Academy may disclose “Directory Information” about students no longer enrolled in the Accelerate Academy without providing notice as otherwise required and without providing an additional opt-out opportunity. However, if an opt-out request was in place as of the last day of the student’s enrollment, the opt-out request will continue in effect and the Directory Information will not be disclosed.

VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY AND RIGHT TO ACCESS RECORDS

Reasonable methods and safeguards shall be used to identify and authenticate the identity of parents, eligible students, school officials, and any other persons who request access to educational record information.

RECORD OF REQUESTS FOR ACCESS

The Academy shall maintain accurate records of requests for disclosure of information from or access to a student’s records as required by law.

ANNUAL NOTIFICATION OF FERPA RIGHTS

Parents and eligible students shall be notified annually as required by law of their rights under FERPA.

EDUCATION RECORD INFORMATION OF DECEASED STUDENTS

“Directory Information” may be disclosed by the Academy regarding a student who is deceased, unless an opt-out request was in place as of the last day of the student’s enrollment, in which case the opt-out request will continue to be in effect. The Academy will disclose education record information other than “Directory Information” of a deceased student only if consent is given in writing by the personal representative or other legally authorized representative of the deceased student’s estate, or if some other exception in FERPA permits or requires disclosure. If a personal representative or other legally authorized representative has not yet been appointed or is no longer functioning in that capacity, consent must be given by the student’s parent, or, if married at the time of death, by the deceased student’s widow/widower or by a child of the student provided the child is age 18 or older.

CONCERNS, QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS

If you have a complaint or a concern or question about any of the above rights, we encourage you to first contact and discuss it with Accelerate Academy’s administrators. Our hope is to provide answers to whatever questions or concerns that you have.

You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Accelerate Academy to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901