Floyd County Schools Honors Program

1. Floyd County SchoolsHonors Program “College and Career Ready”

2. Honors Program • Educational choice • Prepares students for rigor of college and career • Enhanced learning experiences • Critical thinking skills • Research Work • Hands-on and authentic learning • Performance and Project Assessment

3. Overview of HP • High standards for teaching and learning • Designed for above-average and motivated students • Students may enroll in full HP program or part HP Program (Students can take all classes or just one HP class)

4. History of Honors Program • The program was developed to provide students in the Floyd County School System with courses designed to prepare them for the rigors of the most demanding colleges or universities available. • The reason for having an Honors program is to allow students to challenge themselves academically, as well as give parents the satisfaction of knowing their students are prepared for college classes. • FCS feels that it is extremely important for students to take courses that are challenging because when a student takes the next step and begins to take college courses on their way to earning a degree, the classes gradually become more difficult for the student. Preparing for those difficult classes early can help the student to be more successful in the future. • The program began in the fall of 2002. • The first class to graduate with the HP seal was May of 2006.

5. Honors Program Standards • Students are held to high expectations. • Instruction features rigor and extended content. • Technology is a major tool of instruction. • Students must produce projects displaying an increased depth of learning. • Student learning is assessed by tests, written reports, oral presentations, projects, and portfolios.

6. Key Program Components • Opportunities to take courses: 1. Distance Learning 2. Directed Studies 3. Executive Internships 4. On-line learning experiences • Grading policies that reward students for taking advanced-level courses

7. Definition of Honors Program • HP stands for Honors Program, which is a schedule of classes designed to challenge students and prepare them for college-level classes. • The HP classes are different because they provide an enhanced learning experience focused on critical thinking skills, research work, hands-on learning, and service learning.

8. Training for Teachers Teachers receive training for HP through meetings that are scheduled throughout the year to help them learn to facilitate the student in rigors of college prep classes. • Vertical Team Meetings • HP and AP Teachers Meetings • AP Training • Gifted Endorsement

9. HP Curriculum • Well-rounded knowledge of each of the studied areas: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, CCA, and Foreign Language. • Higher level than the normal courses of a particular subject. • Workload for many classes may be increased, and with that increase the amount of reading may become larger. • Problem solving, critical thinking, high standards, and high expectations • Research work

10. Honors Curriculum • Curriculum is based on the GPS and Common Core Curriculum. • Projects and portfolio assessments • Foreign Languages- All of the third and fourth year foreign languages classes offered by the school are considered to be apart of the HP program. FL year one and two are considered to be part of the general education level. • There are a number of classes in the HP program taught through Distance Learning/Video-conferencing and GAVS • Executive Internship is offered to HP 12th students for a career exploration course. • Directed Studies is also an avenue for students if needed as well as Joint Enrollment, ACCEL, Move on When Ready, and College Credit Now

11. HP Courses Offered

12. HP Courses Offered

13. HP Project RequirementSenior Project (culminating in any content area to get HP seal) • PAPER • A copy of the final paper • Five sources minimum. A personal interview counts as a source. • MLA Documentation • Five to seven typed, double-spaced pages in 12 point type • One inch margins • Works Cited page • Mixture of writer's words, quotes, paraphrases • Free from plagiarism (Plagiarism is cheating and results in an automatic zero on the paper. It also prohibits your continuing with the other components of the project.) • Turned in on or before due date • PRODUCT • Mentor time log required, with mentor's signature for each contact (minimum of 5) • Product may be tangible, service oriented, or skill-based • Product must present a learning stretch, taking you beyond what you have ever done before • Product related to research • Product completed by student…NOT by mentor or parent • PORTFOLIO • Title page • Table of Contents • Letter to the Judges • Signed Parent Consent Form • Signed Consequences of Failure to Meet Deadlines Form • Approved Letter of Intent • Clean copy of Research Paper • Signed and completed Communication Logs • Mentor Information Form • Photograph of you with your mentor • Résumé • Thank-you note to mentor • Self Evaluation of Product • Supplemental items including pictures, letters, plans, receipts, mentor evaluation form • PRESENTATION • Up to 10 minutes in length • Judged on content and delivery • Appropriate business-style dress (unless a costume) • Visual to enhance understanding of product (poster, outline on flip chart, photo collage, PowerPoint, tangible product) • Portfolio available to panel

14. HCP Graduation Requirements The student must complete the following in order to acquire the HP seal for graduation: • 12 units must be completed in a combination of HP/AP courses in grades nine through twelve with a minimum of one unit each year. • Executive Internship may count as additional HP credit. • HP Senior Project- Students will complete a final senior project that will be based on Service Learning and Academics. It will be a year-long project with a culminating presentation. Students will have an orientation for this project and training their Junior year.

15. HP and Gifted • A student does not have to be identified gifted to participate in HP. • All students are not identified as gifted in a particular subject area; however, some students may be gifted in a content area. • In most cases where applicable, gifted students are matched with gifted certified teachers for HP and AP classes.

16. HP and AP The HP program prepares students to become “college and career ready.” HP classes are prerequisite courses for Advanced Placement courses (AP) The AP program gives the student a chance to take a rigorous level course and then take a placement test to determine whether or not he/she will receive college credit for that course without actually taking the class once the student is enrolled in college.

17. Advanced Placement

18. HP and Parents • The Floyd County Association for Academic Excellence is a parent support group for HP, AP, and gifted students. The group meets three times a year- fall, winter, and spring. • A parent can do many things to assist a student in the HP program: • Parents can help the student with completing projects, presentations, and homework. • The parent should also be actively involved with teachers so that any help needed by the student may be given.

19. HP and Grades County-wide grading policy has been developed to provide incentives for students. FCS has developed a new grading procedure that correlates more closely with the HOPE scholarship calculation. • All HP classes (MS/HS) will be graded on a 7 point curve on major grades that are 80 and above. • All AP courses will be graded on a 10 point curve on major grades that are 80 and above. • Final exam will count for 20% of the student’s final grade with no extra points added.

20. Criteria for Eligibility for Students Applying to HP : • Students will apply their 8th grade year for the HP program in high schools. • Students that do not apply in 8th grade or those that transfer to FCS after their 8th grade year must proceed with the application process. Students may enter only if the high school has room in their HP program. • Students must start the program in 9th grade in order to receive the guarantee and seal. • Special Education, ELL or CIS students may participate in HP if they meet the criteria necessary.

21. HP Checklist of Items for Applications Checklist of Items Needed: The Honors Program application form must be fully completed by the student and signed by the parent/guardian. At least three (3) teachers must sign a confidential Teacher Recommendation Form. Please do not wait until the last minute to give these to teachers. Teachers need time to fill these out. These must be 8th grade teachers in core areas- math and language arts are mandatory if planning to take these classes. The attendance clerk will confirm the attendance by filling in this information on the form. The grading information must be included on the form. This will be completed by the office. The administrators must also include a copy of any disciplinary record with the application. When possible, the office will include a copy of cumulative information from grades six through eight. The HP Program Parent Consent for Screening form must be signed by the student and parent/guardian. The interview will be conducted only if the student scores a minimum of 20 or higher on the application rubric. (The maximum score is 28 on the rubric.) Application Worksheet- Completed by administrators.

22. HP Timeline • The deadline for submission of completed application packets is Friday, December 6,2013. Applications should be completed and turned in to the middle school on time. • Applications will be scored and students will be chosen from the application process to interview if they have a score of 20 or higher on their application rubric. Students will be notified in writing if they will proceed or not to the interview process before interviews begin at the school. • Interviews will be held during January 2014 and February 2014. All applicants will receive a letter of response in March 2014 to notify them of their status in the Honors Program.

23. For more info…….. Contact: McCall C. Govignon 706-234-1031 ext. 7155 mgovignon@floydboe.net Apryl Hawkins aphawkins@floydboe.net