SECONDARY EDUCATION SECONDARY EDUCATION 7th-12th Startup Guide 7th-12th Startup Guide Central Valley Charter Schools Yosemite Valley Charter School & Monarch River Academy STRONG START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR Schoolwide Learner Outcomes Letter from Superintendent, Steph Johnson Middle School Curriculum Options High School Requirements & course selection High School Curriculum Options 2024-2025

Schoolwide Learner Outcomes Schoolwide Learner Outcomes Navigators of the Digital World - Navigators of the digital world who are proficient in the use of technology, media, and online resources. Self-Directed - Self-directed and motivated students who are able to set attainable goals to achieve academic success. Personalized Learners - Personalized learners who are able to thrive in the style of education that best fits their individual needs. Independent Critical Thinkers - Independent critical thinkers who have the ability to problem solve, take ownership, and apply their knowledge to a variety of problems. Responsible Citizens - Responsible citizens who demonstrate integrity and respect while actively seeking knowledge of local and global issues. Effective Communicators - Effective communicators who can thoughtfully articulate their thinking with confidence while collaborating with peers. THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING TOGETHER THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING TOGETHER

Dear Students, Parents, Learning Coaches, & Families, Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! We are so excited to be on this Journey of Learning with you! Each student has been assigned an Independent Study Teacher who will serve as your guide and support throughout the year. Our credentialed teachers will be supporting you with curriculum selection, lesson planning, work assignments, assessments, and more. You will meet with your teacher every Learning Period to review the body of work for the previous Learning Period, have work assigned for the next Learning Period, facilitate assessments, and provide information on learning opportunities and school updates. If you need any support in between meetings, your teacher will also be reaching out on a weekly basis to make sure you are well supported. Communication is critical at our school so please keep a lookout for emails (check your spam on a regular basis) and always return calls from your teacher so we can ensure your student is progressing. Thank you again for choosing us to be on this journey with you as your school. Our mission is to ensure our students are academically successful, and we know that means we need to be strong partners with you. As always, we are here for you, so please reach out anytime. Sincerely, Steph Johnson Superintendent

Learning Period Expectations Learning Period Expectations 7th-12th Grade The Learning Coach and all enrolled students must be present at each Learning Period Meeting. Please set aside 1 hour for a single student and 15 minutes for each additional student to meet with your Teacher for your Learning Period Meeting. The Learning Period Meeting will be used to review coursework and progress, along with the Learning Period agenda that contains pertinent information for secondary students (i.e. graduation date, prom date, FASFA due dates, etc.) Bring all physical learning materials to your Learning Period Meeting to review progress in all courses. If you are in an online curriculum, be prepared to log in and share the gradebook for each of your courses. Bring all of the work completed since the last Learning Period Meeting and be prepared to review expectations and progress for the coming Learning Period. Be sure that you are checking off all standards covered if you are using a course outline. Set the next Learning Period meeting prior to leaving the current Learning Period meeting or respond to your Independent Study Teacher’s request to set a Learning Period Meeting within 48 hours of the initial request. After 2 attempts to schedule the Learning Period Meeting, the teacher will schedule a Learning Period Meeting for you to attend. The Journey of The Journey of Learning Together! Learning Together!

Work Samples Work Samples 7th-12th Grade A review of work samples will be done every learning period to gather valuable information and monitor progress as it relates to the standards for the assigned courses. Work samples are evidence of learning that reflects the student’s best effort and the quality of work produced in a course. Determining the student's progress will also factor in the curriculum pacing, course standards, and required due dates for given curricula. The school will be able to utilize this information to report the effectiveness of our academic program to stakeholders, like WASC, authorizers, and our School Board. Independent Study Teachers, Parent/Learning Coaches, and the student collectively review the student's course progress, reflect on areas of needed growth, and evaluate supports that might be needed to ensure student success. Each learning period the teacher will review the work assigned in the course curriculum to determine if a minimum of 85% was completed and mastered. Depending on curriculum choice, credentialed teachers will assign course grades or the Independent Study Teacher and Parent/Learning Coach will collaborate to determine the course grade using the below metrics. When determining final grades, student progress in a course must be considered along with the quality of work produced by the student. Various curriculum platforms have their own grading rubrics, which Yosemite Valley and Monarch River abide by. Weighted grades are earned with Community College courses, AP courses and Honors courses. Mastery can be verified through a combination of the following: 90%-100% | 4.0 GPA A Course standards mastery Percentage of course completion 80%-89% | 3.0 GPA B Quality of work submitted Star 360 70%-79% | 2.0 GPA C Learning Period meetings: Review of the body of work, work samples (1 per 60%-69% | 1.0 GPA subject should be collected), photos, D conversations/discussions, etc. Unit reviews; Unit quizzes; Unit Less than 59% | 0.0 GPA F assessments Written evaluations; Oral evaluations or presentations Course projects Online program course evaluations If you have any Grade assigned by a credential teacher questions or need support, please or collegiate professor contact your Teacher

Curriculum FAQ Curriculum FAQ Developing an individualized learning plan for 7th-12th grade students is integral to their secondary success. One of the most important elements of the learning plan is the choice of curriculum. Choosing a rigorous and engaging curriculum is a critical aspect of the process. 1.How do I pick a curriculum? Before selecting a curriculum please take some time to reflect on the following questions and work with your teacher to select the curriculum that is the right fit for your student. What will your learning day/week look like? Who will be providing the instruction to the student? Do you need a daily lesson plan and a weekly pacing guide? Does the student want online or paper? Does your student do better in a live class or does your student do better in a self-paced class? What type of learner is your student? Kinesthetic, Auditory, or Visual? Which subject does your student need more help and might benefit from teacher led instruction? 2. What aspects make a strong curriculum? a. Aligned to State Standards: The curriculum should be aligned with CA educational standards, whether national, state, or institutional. This ensures that students are learning the essential content and skills required for their grade level or course. A-G verified: A-G verification applies to 9th-12th grade History/Social Sciences A college preparatory courses. 2 Years Required Not all curriculums have A-G verification, which is needed English B to meet college and career 4 Years Required readiness indicators therefore they will need to follow a Mathematics C 3 Years Required course outline. 4 Years Recommended Laboratory Sciences D 2 Years Required 3 Years Recommended Language Other Than English E 2 Years Required 3 Years Recommended Visual & Performing Arts F 1 Year Required College Preparatory Electives* G 1 Year Required

Curriculum FAQ... Continued Curriculum FAQ... Continued b. Clearly defined and measurable learning objectives: These objectives help both educators and students understand the intended outcomes of the curriculum. Objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. c. Sequencing and Progression: Content should be organized in a logical sequence, building on previous knowledge and skills. A strong curriculum ensures a progression of difficulty and complexity, allowing students to gradually advance their understanding and abilities. d. Engaging Instructional Strategies: The curriculum should suggest or incorporate a variety of research-based instructional strategies that cater to different learning styles. This includes hands-on activities, group work, technology integration, and other methods that keep students engaged and active in their learning. e. Robust Learning Activities: A curriculum that connects learning to real-world scenarios and applications makes the content more meaningful and engaging for students. It helps them see the practical implications of what they are learning while also giving opportunities to practice important skills and demonstrate the mastery of standards and concepts learned. f. Assessment and Feedback: Assessment tools should be aligned with learning objectives, providing educators with a way to measure student progress. The curriculum should also include mechanisms for giving constructive feedback to help students understand their strengths and areas for improvement. “The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” - Brian Herbert

Curriculum FAQ... Continued Curriculum FAQ... Continued 3. My Educational Philosophy is different than a traditional public school? Can I still school with your charter? Yes. We work alongside parents to embrace different educational philosophies while assuring all necessary requirements for standards mastery are met along with the needed requirements for high school graduation. 4. What curriculum choices do you recommend and why? Curriculum recommendations for 7th and 8th grade students are geared towards high school readiness. Our goal in the middle school program is to prepare students for the rigor and expectations of high school, while also meeting them in their current learning needs. High school student curriculum recommendations are geared toward college readiness requirements. Our desire is for all students to be A-G and four-year college-ready or gain experience through CTE programs to be career- ready. As a result, our top curriculum picks all-encompassing A-G-approved courses that will prepare students for their post-secondary journeys. 5. What do I do if I select a curriculum and I do not like it? If a curriculum isn’t working for your student it is important that we determine why the curriculum isn’t working and look for a new curriculum that is a better fit for your student. However, this change must be done in consultation with your teacher. Students changing curriculum will continue with their curriculum until the new curriculum arrives or a new curriculum plan is put in place by the teacher. Any changes made will be implemented as soon as possible to assure students time to complete the required course work for credit. 6. How can I learn more about the various curriculum options? During the months of April-August the Secondary Team will be hosting weekly office hours that are available to parents and teachers. We encourage parents and teachers to come together during these office hours to learn about our recommendations and ask questions in real-time. Secondary Team office hours can be found HERE. 7. Is a pacing guide required since my student likes to go at her/his own pace? While a learning plan is always dynamic in order to meet the needs, high school course credit is earned when coursework is completed within the designated semester date windows; therefore, pacing is imperative at the high school level. Students in middle school should be making steady progress through the curriculum and standards in order to complete the grade level standards by the end of the school year. Middle school students should be completing 85% of the coursework. Your teacher will be able to help create adjustments to the schedule, however, daily consistent work must still be completed to ensure student growth occurs.

The only person you are destined to become, is the person you decide to be. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Middle School Curriculum Options Middle School Curriculum Options 7th & 8th Grade Teacher Led (In-House) Teacher Led (In-House) THESE COURSES ARE FULLY TEACHER-LED/SUPPORTED BY OUR IN-HOUSE TEACHERS & ARE STANDARDS ALIGNED. SCIENCE ELA MATH MSVA Live! MSVA Live! MSVA Live! MSVA Edgenuity MSVA Edgenuity MSVA Edgenuity Bright Thinker Online Bright Thinker Online Bright Thinker Online SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES MSVA Live! MSVA Live! Art, Leadership, Social Emotional MSVA Edgenuity Learning (SEL), Academic Pentathlon, Bright Thinker Online & Study Skills Bright Thinker Packets are also available, however, they will require more parent support. “Independent learning encourages children to take responsibility for their own learning and become self-directed learners.” - Sir Ken Robinson CENTRAL VALLEY CHARTER SCHOOLS: YOSEMITE VALLEY CHARTER SCHOOL & MONARCH RIVER ACADEMY

Middle School Curriculum Options Middle School Curriculum Options 7th & 8th Grade Teacher Supported (Outside Vendor) Teacher Supported (Outside Vendor) THESE COURSES ARE TEACHER-LED & STANDARDS ALIGNED. SCIENCE ELA MATH Lincoln Learning Lincoln Learning Lincoln Learning BYU BYU BYU Edmentum Edmentum Edmentum Mr. D Math (Advanced) Thinkwell SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES Lincoln Learning Physical Education, Career BYU Exploration (CTE), Typing & MORE Edmentum

Middle School Curriculum Options Middle School Curriculum Options 7th & 8th Grade Parent Led & Teacher Supported Parent Led & Teacher Supported THESE COURSES NEED DAILY, ACTIVE SUPPORT FROM THE LEARNING COACH & REGULAR INTERACTION WITH THE INDEPENDENT STUDY TEACHER (IST) TO ENSURE STANDARDS ARE MET. SINCE THEY ARE NOT STANDARDS-ALIGNED AND/OR DO NOT HAVE A GRADEBOOK, COURSE OUTLINES ARE RQUIRED FOR THESE COURSES. SCIENCE ELA MATH Dimensions/Singapore Math BookShark BookShark Horizon Math Essentials in Generations Genius Khan Academy Writing/Literature Khan Academy Mammoth Math (7th) IEW McGraw Hill Moving Beyond the Page Lightening Literature Moving Beyond the Page Saxon Math Moving Beyond the Page SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVES Beautiful Feet Elective Options BookShark Khan Academy THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING TOGETHER THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING TOGETHER McGraw Hill Moving Beyond the Page Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of curriculum options. Any curriculum used by a family that is not listed in Section 1 or 2 will automatically fall into Section 3 and require a course outline to verify all state standards are met.

Middle School Curriculum Options Middle School Curriculum Options 7th & 8th Grade Middle School Virtual Academy (MSVA) Info Session (Slides & Video) M M Taught by Yosemite Valley & Monarch River Academy Single-Subject Credential Teachers Approximate price: $250 per course per semester S S MSVA offers two different options for learning: MSVA Live! Synchronous virtual classes (twice a V week) through Zoom and Schoology V MSVA Edgenuity Asynchronous online learning through Edgenuity that is supported by MSVA A A Teachers Bundled Pricing - If students take 4 classes (ELA, math, science, social studies, and elective) the bundle price will be $750 total for the semester. Live! and Egenuity classes can be mixed to qualify. Other Curriculum Options Other Curriculum Options MSVA Live! IEW MSVA Edgenuity Lightening Literature Bright Thinker Online Moving Beyond the Page Lincoln Learning Dimensions/Singapore Math (7-8) BYU Horizon Math Edmentum Khan Academy Mr. D Math Math Mammoth (7th) Thinkwell Saxon Math BookShark Generation Genius Essentials in McGraw Hill Writing/Literature Beautiful Feet

High School Requirements High School Requirements & Course Selection & Course Selection All students who plan to graduate from Yosemite Valley Charter or Monarch River Academy are required to complete a total of 200 credits. Graduation Requirements and A-G Requirements outline which classes are required to receive a high school diploma. The Individualized Graduation Plan (IGP) is the planning tool used to help Independent Study Teachers, Parent/Learning Coaches, and students determine which classes to take to meet the necessary requirements. The Course Catalog can be used to view courses offered and what category the course will satisfy for graduation requirements. The Individualized Graduation Plan Example can be used to help guide the course selection process. t t a t a e a e r e r g r g g a a a s i s i s i y y a y a d a d o d o n T o n r T n r T a r a e a l e l e l o o t o t t y y a y a ! d a ! d ! d w w e w e n e n n g g n g i n i n h i h t h t e t e e m m o m o s o s s

High School Curriculum Options High School Curriculum Options 9th-12th Grade Teacher Led (In-House) Teacher Led (In-House) THESE COURSES ARE FULLY TEACHER-LED/SUPPORTED BY OUR IN-HOUSE TEACHERS & ARE STANDARDS ALIGNED. SCIENCE ELA MATH HSVA Live! HSVA Live! HSVA Live! HSVA Edgenuity HSVA Edgenuity HSVA Edgenuity Bright Thinker Online Bright Thinker Online Bright Thinker Online SOCIAL STUDIES WORLD LANGUAGE VAPA HSVA Live! HSVA Live! HSVA Live! HSVA Edgenuity HSVA Edgenuity HSVA Edgenuity Bright Thinker Online Bright Thinker Online Bright Thinker Online ELECTIVES HSVA Live! Art, Leadership, Home Economics, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Academic Decathlon, & Study Skills Bright Thinker Packets are also available, however, they will require more parent support. CENTRAL VALLEY CHARTER SCHOOLS: YOSEMITE VALLEY CHARTER SCHOOL & MONARCH RIVER ACADEMY

High School Curriculum Options High School Curriculum Options 9th-12th Grade Teacher Supported (Outside Vendor) Teacher Supported (Outside Vendor) THESE COURSES ARE TEACHER-LED & STANDARDS ALIGNED. SCIENCE ELA MATH BYU BYU BYU Edmentum Edmentum Edmentum Silicon Valley High School Mr. D Math Silicon Valley High School Silicon Valley High School SOCIAL STUDIES WORLD LANGUAGE VAPA BYU BYU BYU Edmentum Edmentum Silicon Valley High School Silicon Valley High School Rosetta Stone Silicon Valley High School ELECTIVES Physical Education, Career Exploration (CTE), Photography, Cosmetology, Psychology, Health & much MORE. iLead, Lincoln Learning, & Williamsburg are additional vendors that could be considered in this category.

High School Curriculum Options High School Curriculum Options 9th-12th Grade Parent Led & Teacher Supported Parent Led & Teacher Supported THESE COURSES NEED DAILY, ACTIVE SUPPORT FROM THE LEARNING COACH & REGULAR INTERACTION WITH THE INDEPENDENT STUDY TEACHER (IST) TO ENSURE STANDARDS ARE MET. SINCE THEY ARE NOT STANDARDS-ALIGNED AND/OR NOT A-G, COURSE OUTLINES ARE RQUIRED FOR THESE COURSES. SCIENCE ELA MATH IEW Dimensions/Singapore Math BookShark Time 4 Learning Khan Academy Khan Academy McGraw Hill Saxon Math McGraw Hill Teaching Textbooks SOCIAL STUDIES WORLD LANGUAGE VAPA BookShark McGraw Hill Oak Meadow Khan Academy Mango Language McGraw Hill Duolingo ELECTIVES THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING TOGETHER THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING TOGETHER Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of curriculum options. Any curriculum used by a family that is not listed in Section 1 or 2 will automatically fall into Section 3 and require a course outline to verify all state standards are met.

High School Curriculum Options High School Curriculum Options 9th & 12th Grade High School Virtual Academy (HSVA) Info Session (Slides & Video) H H Taught by Yosemite Valley & Monarch River Academy Single-Subject Credential Teachers S S Approximate price: $250 per course per semester HSVA offers two different options for learning: HSVA Live! Synchronous virtual classes (twice a V V week) through Zoom and Schoology MSVA Edgenuity: Asynchronous online learning through Edgenuity that is supported by MSVA A A Teachers Bundled Pricing - If students take 4 classes (English, math, science, social studies, and electives) the bundle price will be $750 total for the semester. Live! and Egenuity classes can be mixed to qualify. Other Curriculum Options Other Curriculum Options HSVA Live! McGraw Hill HSVA Edgenuity Dimensions/Singapore Math Bright Thinker Online Khan Academy BYU Saxon Math Edmentum Teaching Textbooks Silicon Valley High School BookShark Mr. D Math Mango Language Rosetta Stone Duolingo IEW Oak Meadow Time4Learning Lightening Literature Moving Beyond the Page

The best way to predict your future is to create it. - Abraham Lincoln

Online Subscription Packages Online Subscription Packages 7th-12th Grade Free Online Subscription Packages (OSP) for 7th and 8th graders are Dreambox and Achieve 3000. Free Online Subscription Packages for High School students include Adobe Creative Cloud, Gizmos, and Grammerly. Middle School OSP Middle School OSP DreamBox Learning Achieve3000: Literacy Teaches conceptually Empowers all students to easily read Uses online games, manipulatives, and articles and stories at their ability level learning tools Using embedded assessments, it May work well for students with automatically adapts to each student's dyscalculia reading level as they grow in fluency Visual and Kinesthetic (Students receive the just-right content Smart technology figures out exactly why at the just-right time) a student misses a problem, and Addresses language arts standards at reteaches the concept grade level while offering texts at a higher Continually adapts to each student's or lower reading level learning level as they play Social Studies and Science standards are Starts students right where they are at embedded in the highly engaging articles Students play to learn with a rewards- Fun and engaging articles were selected based system for student interest Your IST can log in and see student Has internal tools for students who progress without you needing to write struggle with reading or have dyslexia anything down The same text can be read at multiple reading levels Gizmo’s Virtual Science Labs Each lesson teaches reading strategies and has writing connections Printable packets available (view samples here) Gizmos are interactive science virtual labs and simulations for grades 9-12. Over 400 Gizmos aligned to the latest standards help parents and educators bring powerful new STEM learning experiences to the classroom.

Online Subscription Packages Online Subscription Packages 7th-12th Grade High School School OSP High School School OSP Provided at no cost to all enrolled HS students. Gizmo’s Virtual Science Labs Gizmos are interactive science virtual labs and simulations for grades 9-12. Over 400 Gizmos aligned to the latest standards help parents and educators bring powerful new STEM learning experiences to the classroom. Grammarly Grammarly is a cross-platform cloud-based writing assistant that reviews spelling, grammar, punctuation, clarity, engagement and delivery mistakes. It uses AI to identify and search for an appropriate replacement for the mistake it locates. Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop: Edit and combine images for posters, flyers, social collages, and websites. Adobe Pro: Create, comment, highlight, share and do more with your PDF’s. Illustrator: Create graphics and illustrations like logos, infographics and t-shirt designs. Premiere Pro: Create pro-quality videos like documentaries, short films and more. InDesign: Design layouts for print and digital campus fliers, magazines and eBooks.

THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING TOGETHER THE JOURNEY OF LEARNING TOGETHER 3610 E. Ashlan Avenue, Fresno, CA 93726 Ph. (559) 258-0800