Beacon High School

OVERVIEW

During the 2003-04 school-year we operated this program on a part-time basis from Barron Collier High School and called it the Internet Based High School.  As a result of the work of a number of teachers this program has grown considerably and evolved into a full-time program during the 2004-05 school-year.

Beacon High School is designed to provide students the opportunity to attain a high school diploma through a non-traditional approach or through the GED Exit Option.  Students placed into this program full-time must attend school at The Alternative Education Center (AEC) from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each school day.  However, the school remains open until 2:30 p.m. for students who need extra assistance.  Transportation is provided by the Collier County Public Schools to and from this site for full-time students.  

Students have access to their lessons 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

AGENCY COORDINATION

The Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) are working in conjunction with Educational Options in order to provide on-line services to our students.

OBJECTIVES BEACON HIGH SCHOOL

1. Eighty percent (80%) of the students will remain in school during the year in which they enroll  in the program.

2. Eighty percent (80%) of the students who are in the program for one full school year and eligible to graduate (senior year) will graduate or earn a GED.

EVALUATION BEACON HIGH SCHOOL

At the end of the school year:

1. School records will be examined to determine the percentage of the students that remained in school versus the number that dropped out.

2. School records will be examined to determine the percentage of students who are eligible to  graduate, the percentage that graduated from that group or earned a GED.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR BEACON HIGH SCHOOL

Students must be in grades11-12, attempted at least one semester (18 weeks) in the home high school, and meet at least one or more of the following criteria to be considered for admission to the Beacon High School.

• The student is over-age for grade or has been retained.
• The student is considered at-risk for dropping out of school; student has low achievement test scores.
• The student has failing grades or grades not commensurate with documented ability levels.
• The student has high absenteeism.
• The student has performed successfully in an alternative educational program and wishes to remain enrolled in such a program.
• The student needs to make-up credits in order to graduate from high school.

All students enrolled into BEACON HIGH SCHOOL must be approved by the home school counselor/principal.  Seniors  may be enrolled part-time in the home school and part-time in BEACON HIGH SCHOOL. 
 
PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION INTO BEACON HIGH SCHOOL

1. Parent and student meet with counselor from home high school to determine if they want to participate in BEACON HIGH SCHOOL
2. E.S.E. students and parents need to confer with the home school’s E.S.E. specialist to determine change of placement procedures.
3. Application and academic worksheet are forwarded to BEACON HIGH SCHOOL guidance counselor.
4. BEACON HIGH SCHOOL Guidance Counselor meets with parent/student to enroll and schedule classes.

COURSES AND CURRICULUM FOR BEACON HIGH SCHOOL

Students can take one or two courses at one time.  At the time of registration, the student and parent are required to meet with the counselor/teacher(s).  Together, the student and teacher will decide on a schedule for completion of the assignments. The class will not be opened until the conference takes place.  The course is complete when the student submits the handwritten notes, passes the final exam, and turns in any additional projects or assignments.  At that time, the student will be enrolled in a new course, and confer with that teacher.

The following courses are currently offered through the Beacon High School.

*Can only be used as an elective

The Novelstars program from Educational Options is the foundation of the Beacon High School courses.  The courses consist of between 14 and 18 readings of computer generated text and submissions that require students to demonstrate mastery of the material. A midterm and final must be taken to receive credit.  In addition, many of the computer courses have been supplemented and modified by the Beacon High School teachers to meet the needs of our students. 

SPECIAL STRATEGIES

Courses are competency based.

The GED Exit Option is only available through BEACON HIGH SCHOOL.

There is individual and group instruction, students experiencing common academic problems can be combined temporarily. 

Students will have access to WYNN software which will read what is on their computer screen to them. 

Students can also access their lessons anywhere there is a computer with internet access.  

EQUAL ACCESS ELIGIBLE EXCEPTIONAL AND LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT

All students who meet the program criteria are eligible for participation in the program. 

STUDENT SERVICES
 
ESE Specialist, Speech and Language Teacher, Psychologist, Youth Relations Deputy, and Guidance Counselor.

TRANSPORTATION

ISS aide at BEACON HIGH SCHOOL will work with transportation and the BEACON HIGH SCHOOL Counselor to arrange the bus pick-ups/drop-offs and times for students.

GRADE LEVEL SERVED

BEACON HIGH SCHOOL will serve students in grades 11 -12. 

IMPLEMENTATION SITES

Naples – The Alternative Learning Center at 3710 Estey Avenue, Naples, Florida
Immokalee – The Bethune Education Center at 750 North 15th Street, Immokalee, Florida

NUMBER AND LENGTH OF CLASS PERIODS

BEACON HIGH SCHOOL school day totals six hours of class time per day.  Both programs are competency based programs which means students earn credits once they successfully master the course objectives.

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE

The number of students a teacher serves will vary depending on the number of students that sign up for particular courses. 

LENGTH OF STAY

Students can be in the program for a minimum of one semester, or up to the time they earn enough credits to graduate from high school.

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

All teachers are highly qualified as defined by No Child Left Behind mandates.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Staff have access to all district in-service and training.

STAFF

The BEACON HIGH SCHOOL have experienced and certified teachers for each of the core areas.  Teachers who are all Highly Qualified as determined by  No Child Left Behind Act are scheduled in the computer lab from 7:00 a.m.until 2:30 p.m. In addition, a guidance counselor serves BEACON HIGH SCHOOL students. A psychologist, behavior specialist, ESE specialist, and speech/language teacher are also available.

Click on a teacher's name to send them an email or visit their website: