JCHS Program Information

I. Overview

The school is designed to serve the entire District and enroll all present and former students who are interested in obtaining a high school diploma. The school is open entry/open exit with flexible schedules and extended school days and school year. It is located in public school facilities at multiple locations so that problems of student transportation are minimal. The principal, assistant principal, coordinators, counselors and teachers were selected and trained to serve the "at risk" students. The instructional design promotes academic success with guaranteed high basic skills competence, while the methods and approach are completely different from the "regular" high school. The school:

provides an academic assessment for all students,
provides career counseling and assistance in post secondary training after graduation,
provides computer-assisted instruction for all students.

II. Program Components

A. Goals
The goals of the program are to:

provide a positive educational experience for the students,
provide a program that will lead to a high school diploma,
provide a strong basic skills program in reading, math and language.

B. Curriculum
The curriculum includes the standard course of study required for graduation:

22 Carnegie units which include:

REQUIRED
4 - English
3 - Math
3 - Science
3 - Social Studies
1 - Health and PE
1 - Humanities
ELECTIVES
7 courses

The electives for this school include co-op and/or additional academic courses. The course offerings do not include regular shop, home economics, art or music; instead, additional math, science, social studies or language courses are used as electives.

C. Instructional approach:
All students who enter this program complete a standardized achievement test to determine their strengths and weaknesses in reading and math. This diagnostic test provides data for the instructors on which an individual basic skills program is developed. In addition, it determines when a student can begin work on his/her second individual program comprised of Carnegie unit work. If below 8.5 grade level, they must review, in a concentrated basic skills component, until this level is reached. After reaching the 8.5 grade level a student may begin a dual track program of unit work and basic skills and remain in this dual track until the basic skills level reaches 11.0. Graduation requirements for this school include completing the standard 22 units, reaching an average of 11.0 in reading and math, completing a writing portfolio, and meeting five of nine district standards.

The self-contained classroom containing one (1) teacher and one (1) instructor III per 30 students is operated on a teacher-directed individualized instructional approach. The basic skills program of study is implemented with commercially prepared materials or using computer assisted instruction.
The classroom teacher implements a specific program integrating up to twenty-two commercially prepared books plus 51 programs on the computer.
Ninety (90) percent of each course is standard in every classroom including lesson assignments, chapter unit and final exam. Ten percent of each grade is teacher designed. Letter grades are awarded based on Jefferson County Public School grading policy.
Student grades are based on work done and not on a designated grading period, semester or any specific calendar date.
Students must pass each assignment before moving to a new assignment. This helps to motivate students and does not allow continued failure.
JCPSeSchool (JCPSeschool.org) offers 51 on-line courses and 150 tutorials available to JCHS students.

D. Progress

Basic skills progress is measured by completion of individual competencies and standardized tests.
Carnegie unit program is measured by completion of assignments and tests. Students should complete 1/2 unit of work each 60 hours of instruction.

III. Operation

A. Identification/Eligibility

Young adults 16-20 who have dropped out of school
Adults 21 years of age and older
Young adults 16-20 who wish to transfer from their present high school and who meet the following criteria:

The student is 16 years of age or older (parent's or guardian's written permission is required of 16-17 year olds).
The student is at 9th grade level or above and has failed one or more grades or has a documented family/personal situation that indicates regular school enrollment is not feasible. (Example: Student needs job, childcare.) School counselor referral is required.
The student has not established a recent pattern of suspensions for serious offenses. The student must be willing to attend classes a minimum of 15 hours per week.

B. Operating Schedule

The school is located in six locations throughout Jefferson County. These sites include high schools and community education centers.
The school offers two semesters per year including a winter and spring break. In addition, JCHS offers a six-week summer school program.

The daily schedule is:
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Monday thru Friday
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday

IV. Staffing

A. The administration staff includes:

(1) Principal -- responsible for the overall management/supervision of the program.
(1) Assistant Principal -- responsible for teacher evaluation, parent/student concerns and liaison with local principals.
(1) Associate Principal – responsible for building management and instruction at Ahrens.
(1) JCHS Program Coordinator -- responsible for staff training, curriculum development and instructional supervision.
(1) JCPSeSchool Coordinator -- responsible for staff training, curriculum development and instructional supervision of the virtual high school.
(1) JCHS Part time Coordinator–responsible for dropout prevention grant and consultations concerning programs and curriculum.
(3) Full-time Counselors and (4) Part time Counselors – responsible for intake procedures, orientation, preparation of students' course requirements (graduation plans) site visits, and eSchool students.

B. Instructional staff includes:

(1) full-time resource teacher per site.
Twenty-eight (28) part-time teachers who teach one block of time (8:00-11:00 or 11:00-2:00). Most day teachers are employed on a part-time contractual basis.
(13) night-time teachers
(11) math teachers
(14) instructor III's who work both sessions and assist two teachers.
(8) instructor III’s who work the evening sessions
(8) computer instructors

Teachers selected for the school must hold a secondary teaching certificate in math, science, social studies or English.

V. Program Uniqueness

The strongest element for attracting students is the open entry/open exit policy integrated with the flexible, extended day program. This allows students to attend school while holding a job, or attending to family responsibilities. If a change in school schedule is needed, it is done within a 24-hour period.
The most unique element is the competency-based Carnegie unit program. This approach allows grades to be awarded on completion of competencies rather than using a grading period or semester. Although we have a minimum hour requirement for completion, this is time on task, not calendar days.

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