Douglas County
2300 Shoals School Road
Douglasville, GA 30135
(770) 651-6475
Information Packet
2012-2013
Alexander High School Contact
Sherry Gamel
770-651-6119
DOUGLAS COUNTY
PERFORMANCE LEARNING CENTER
VISION
To become the model program nationwide for at-risk youth.
MISSION
To help young people stay in school, successfully learn, and graduate as active global citizens prepared for life in a safe, supportive environment.
BELIEFS
We believe in…
…respecting all forms of diversity that each student offers to the school environment
…recognizing students for their scholastic achievement in fun and motivating ways
…flexibility in facilitating standard education requirements so that every student reaches graduation
…all students striving for excellence in their learning so that they are empowered to experience future successes in society
…practicing actions that build relationships with students that make the difference every day
…collaboration between staff, families, and the community to ensure the connectedness and success of every student
STRATEGIES
· Instill cultural responsiveness in our offerings
· Empower & recognize each student’s achievement
· Deliver course requirements with flexibility and support
· Provide rigorous standards with high expectations
· Foster a school climate that is safe for risk-taking
· Improve communication of information between stakeholders
PLC OVERVIEW
The Performance Learning Center (PLC) is a small, non-traditional, high school program focused on students who have had difficulty experiencing success in a traditional school setting. The PLC creates a businesslike learning environment where students complete assignments using an online, computer based curriculum with the assistance of learning facilitators. The PLC also utilizes project based learning, service learning, job shadowing, youth apprentice internships, mentoring, and dual enrollment with technical colleges. The PLC is a small school model and serves no more than 90 students
STUDENTS SERVED
Potential students are identified by recommendation and referral from Teachers or Guidance
Counselors based on the following criteria:
· students who are behind in credits
· tardy or absent an inordinate number of days
· at risk of dropping out of school
· not meeting grade level competencies
· in need of flexible academic programming in order to overcome
personal obstacles
· reading and math comprehension levels of 8th grade or higher
STUDENT ENROLLMENT
School administrators, guidance counselors, and teachers submit referrals to the high school graduation coach. Students must take a basic skills assessment to see if they are a potential candidate. The school liaison will schedule the assessment at the base high school. The student must correctly answer at least 70% of the questions on the assessment to continue the application process. Once the assessment is completed, an application must be submitted to the Academic Coordinator. After review of the completed application, the Academic Coordinator will determine if an interview will be granted. In order to complete the application process and be considered for attendance, the student and parent must attend an interview with the PLC staff. Only after all steps in the application process have been complete will a student be notified of their acceptance to the PLC program. Qualifying students and parents must sign a contract detailing their obligations before being admitted. Students’ continuation of enrollment at the PLC will be determined after every term.
STUDENT CURRICULUM
The PLC students complete assignments using online, computer based curriculum with the assistance of learning facilitators. Approximately 65% of the curriculum will use E2020. The other 40% of the course curriculum will consist of projects, presentations, and assessments. The interactive curriculum is aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) and/or Commmon Core Standards.
A limited number of electives will be offered to PLC students, including opportunities for Youth Apprenticeship Program participation and dual enrollment at West Georgia Technical College. Students will also participate in job shadowing, dual enrollment, and Youth Apprentice Program internships to help them become productive and successful adults by gaining valuable work and college experiences.
All students will participate in activities that support the district meeting College and Career Ready Performance Index standards. Students will have the opportunity to earn an elective credit by completing the requirements of the Career Capstone Project which was formerly referred to as the senior project. The Career Capstone Project will focus on a chosen career and include a research paper, job shadow, portfolio, and final presentation.
The PLC will operate on a mini-mester plan (nine-week period). Students completing all required course work, tests, class projects, and service learning will move into the next course. It is possible for a student to earn more credits in a given year than would be available in a traditional high school setting. Student schedules will be developed on an individual basis, and students are allowed to accelerate course completion at their own rate but must stay on course with the pacing guide at a minimum.
Teachers have developed pacing guides and syllabi for each course. This guide serves as a minimum pace at which students are expected to work. The guides also indicate when projects are due. Students that fall two or more weeks behind are subject to withdrawal from the course. Students are expected to complete a minimum of the originally scheduled courses within the 9 week mini-mester marking period as dictated by the pacing guide. Individual Facilitator discretion is allowed for course continuance.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Students who are enrolled at the PLC are considered full-time students; regardless of the number of classes they take each mini-mester. 95% attendance is REQUIRED for all PLC students. All missed time must be made up. Students enrolled in 1 to 4 courses are expected to attend all day until all coursework for graduation is completed. Any student not meeting the 95% attendance requirement will be subject to not receiving credit and being dropped from the program.
Attendance in class is important in order for students to learn. Students are allowed no more than two days absent during each mini-mester. Three times tardy count as an absence.
DRUG TESTING
Attendance at the Douglas County Performance Learning Center is voluntary and is considered a privilege. Per Douglas County Board Policy JCDAB/JCDAB(1), students participating in voluntary programs must be willing to submit to random drug screenings. Therefore, students at the PLC must be willing to submit to random drug screenings.