SUMMIT ACADEMY-GA,  LLC

All Campus Policies and Procedures

(specific campus info & policies are in handbooks which will be sent to registered families before orientation)

 Summit Academy (SA) is…

 

  1. REGISTRATION & CLASS AVAILABILITY: Classes fill via online registration, on a first-paid basis. There is no class guarantee. If a class fails to develop due to insufficient enrollment, parents are refunded fees paid toward such a class, whether online to SA, to instructor, or both.
  2. FEES: All are non-refundable. Your registration includes a financial commitment agreement to pay all fees by certain dates or deadlines, and is a Contractual Obligation on your part.
  1. Application: ($10/family) is paid online each academic year. Once application is received, SA administration will process it and notify applicant of decision within 3-10 working days.
  2. Registration & insurance:  paid online each academic year. Amounts vary per campus (see website campus pages for amounts) and fees increase throughout spring and summer.
  3. Supply: payable by June 1 (for fall term) and by November 15 (for spring term), or immediately upon registration, if enrolled after those dates. Not paying a supply fee is not considered a method of dropping a class – see Paragraph #4, below, for correct method to drop a class. If not paid by due date, your student will not be allowed to attend class and  may be dropped from roster if there is a wait list for the class.
  4. Tuition: paid directly to instructors (3 fall payments, 4 spring payments, see website calendar for dates), or in full at beginning of term (in some cases at a reduced rate: see website class descriptions). See Paragraph #3 below for late payment policy.  Although this fee system may mean multiple checks/payments, it is the most cost-effective way classes can be offered.
  1. LATE/DELINQUENT PAYMENTS; RETURNED CHECKS: Failure to pay tuition before 2nd class of pay period will prohibit student from returning to subsequent classes until tuition is paid, along with $5 late fee/student/class/week. Parents are liable to instructor for any bank fees charged for returned checks.

Delinquent fees from prior terms or years prohibit registration in future until amount owed is paid in full. 

  1. ADDING & DROPPING CLASSES: Classes still available may be added at any time at no charge. Dropping and/or changing classes is only allowed at certain times of year (see website calendar for these dates). Fees for dropping classes are listed at the top of the Drop Class Form.
    Exceptions: loss of household’s main income or relocation of primary residence beyond 40 miles of registered campus location. If primary main income alters and/or relocation of student occurs, notify instructors and site directors immediately. If relocating, a minimum of 2 weeks notice prior to tuition due date is required, or you will be responsible for tuition for that pay period.
  2. REQUIRED PARENT PARTICIPATION: Parents are required to serve as Parent Assistants (PA) in a student-supervisory capacity to aid instructors in their students’ classrooms or in hallways. Read Parent Assistant Expectations for details. PA requirements vary per campus, but will not exceed:
  1. One (1) student registered, parent serves 3 dates/fall term, 4 dates/spring term
  2. Two to three (2-3) students registered, parent serves 4 dates/fall term, 5 dates/spring term
  3. Four or more (4+) students registered, parent serves 5 dates/fall term, 6 dates/spring term
  1. MEDICAL/EMERGENCY CONTACT & LIABILITY FORMS:  Parents must complete an online medical release (with emergency contact info), AND print a copy of the emailed PDF to be submitted to site director at orientation (or first day of class) for each student registered for each campus they attend. A liability waiver is signed by each family with online registration.
  2. SPECIAL NEEDS: Although we are not specifically equipped to serve children with special needs, we welcome students of all abilities to participate in classes. Please speak with site director and instructor(s) about specific needs before registering to ensure all are in agreement those needs can be accommodated.
  3. DROP OFF/PICK UP: Each campus has strict rules for parking, drop off, and pick up. Parents are responsible for obeying rules as stated per campus handbook for security and safety reasons.
  4. LUNCHES & STUDY HALL: Supervised lunches and study hall periods are provided at most campuses for students who have classes whereby it is overly inconvenient to leave campus and return in a timely manner. Both options are privileges provided by SA and can be taken from any student any time for not complying with any policy set forth by Summit Academy and/or its church/facility host.
  5. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: Please read High School Academic Standards with your student(s) before registering for High School level classes. Standards are set to avoid probation and/or expulsion from class.
  6. DRESS CODE: All attire must:

a. Not seek to draw attention to oneself, but be worn to reflect respect in participation, aiming to be God-honoring. (e.g., no excessively tight clothing, plunging necklines, bare shoulders, stomach, upper thighs, or visible undergarments).

b. Be clean with no holes/rips or excessive jewelry/accessories, and free of offensive language, political statements, or words/graphics that conflict with SA and host facility values.

c. Display required SA shirts or tops visibly, if applicable.

  1. ATTENDANCE: Participants are expected to take seriously the commitment to attend classes and only miss when ill or for rare or unavoidable circumstances. If a student is absent more often than once a month, instructors will inform administration and parents will set up appointment with administration re: plan for make up work, reason(s) for absence(s), and attendance plan for future.
  2. ABSENCES: If a child will be absent (planned), parents must email instructors and site directors in advance of such absences. If a child will be absent (unplanned), parents should first contact site directors as soon as possible prior to class(es), then email and/or text instructors.
  3. ILLNESS: Please keep your child home if, within 24 hours of class, they have a fever*, contagious infection, disease, rash, diarrhea, vomiting or other unknown condition. If any of these symptoms occur during classes, you will be notified by instructor or site director and will be expected to pick up your child as soon as possible. Once student is confirmed to be free of communicable illness by a healthcare provider OR is fever-free and symptom-free for 24 hours without anti-fever medication, student may return to class.
    *The AAP suggests keeping a child home with a fever of 100.4 or higher with symptoms, or 101.0 or higher without symptoms OR behavioral changes.
  4. CLEANING AND HEALTH MEASURES: SA administration, instructors, and designated PAs will clean surfaces, handles, and shared objects regularly. Students will be reminded to wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  5. BATHROOM/CHANGING ROOMS: Student restrooms and changing areas designated for physical education, theater, karate, etc., will have private areas for use by students, and will be monitored by SA administration, instructors, and/or PAs in such areas.
  6. SAFETY/SECURITY: To maintain safety for all students and adults, the following rules apply:
  1. No students on church campus unless actively enrolled or approved for a study hall segment. Church facilities provide classroom spaces, and in consideration of their property and for liability purposes, there will be no use of spaces other than for classes. Students should never be left unattended, nor should they be found wandering anywhere on the property.
  2. No visitors allowed on campus for any reason without permission. Driver’s licenses will be checked at will by administrative supervisors and/or instructors for protection of students.
  3. All parents should be aware of security measures listed in campus handbooks.
  1. DISCIPLINE, SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION: Summit Academy Behavior and Discipline Policy (see “Schedule 1”) should be read carefully, as suspension and/or expulsion from the program could occur if parents and/or students fail to comply with policies.

If a student has been suspended and/or expelled from any program and/or school other than SA, whether public, private, or home education group, Director Jill Butcher must be notified and given documentation (if any occurred) and contact information of official/appointed person to such school/program, to avoid any possible future conflict or unacceptable behavior. Those who withhold such information will be reported to appropriate authorities.

  1. SCHOOL CALENDAR//COMMUNICATION/CLASS CANCELLATION:
  1. SA calendar is updated on the website Calendar page. It is parents’ responsibility to check the calendar regularly for schedules, special events, family nights, registration price increase dates, etc.
  2. Email is the most frequent mode of communication. It is parents’ responsibility to read these emails, as well as to stay informed, if possible, through Facebook Groups and mass text notifications.
  3. In the case of canceled classes for any reason, there will be a threefold method of communication: 1) Facebook Groups post, 2) mass text, and 3) an email. Communication will happen no later than 7:00 AM on the day in question. (We do not always adhere to the county public schools' decisions.)
  4. Instructors will provide for one (1) canceled class date per term through virtual or another time/place as instructors direct.
  5. Any other campus cancellation dates per term will not be made up or prorated unless MS/HS core class, which will be made up via Zoom or other virtual option.
  1. HOST CHURCHES: DO NOT CALL THEIR OFFICES!
  1. Host churches only allow SA use of their facilities. They do not answer questions about SA classes. As guests, SA will adhere to policies/requests of/by host church that pertain to use of their facility.
  2. If a host church is unable to provide use of their facility, or if SA deems it of best interest to change facilities, another host church may be chosen (in close proximity to original church facility when classes began). Such a move will not negate parent responsibilities or obligations covered in these Policies & Procedures.
  1. MODIFICATIONS: At sole discretion of SA administration and for continued protection and benefit of SA students, instructors, and program, we may modify any of these Policies & Procedures at any time. In such event, you will be notified by email. Your continued participation in SA following the posting of the change notice will indicate your agreement to the changes.

SCHEDULE 1

Summit Academy Behavior and Discipline Policies

1. Consideration/Use of Church & Others’ Property: All participants will respect and preserve campus and its furnishings. Parents of students responsible for any damaged property (accidental, intentional or misuse) are to pay for repairs and/or replacements. Examples of abuse of property may include but are not limited to (1) consuming food and/or beverage in areas other than instructed/allowed; (2) chewing gum or bringing drinks with red food dye onto host facility campus; (3) misuse, destruction or theft of a student’s or the program’s property. Absolutely NO use of church playground or playground equipment for any reason or by anyone due to insurance & liability issues.

2. Respect & Obedience as a Summit Academy Student: All students should conduct themselves among administrators, instructors and peers respectfully, and respond with obedience to all directions to avoid causing distraction during instruction or harm to self or others.

3. Conversation/Language & Harassment/Bullying

  1. Students are not to initiate sensitive and/or controversial topics among peers (e.g. cultural fads, sexual, political, substance use, etc.) unless in class with adult supervised discussion and in light of Scripture.
  2. Avoid derogatory slang or swearing. Choose words wisely, and if in doubt or question of offense, err on side of caution. NO foul/vulgar language toward self, others, or repeat of others’ poor word choices. No slurs, jokes or other language that demeans and interferes with educational progress and/or creates an intimidating environment.
  3. Harassment about race, age, sex, national origin, religion, ancestry or disability is not allowed.
  4. Sexual harassment (unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature by a person of the same or opposite sex) is not allowed.
  5. Bullying (a willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another person, accompanied by ability to do so) or any intimidating, threatening, abusive behavior (including purposeful exclusion) and/or language (written, spoken, gestured), used intentionally to control an individual, is not allowed.

4. Physical or Sexual Misconduct:

  1. Romantic, public displays of affection (e.g. holding hands, walking arm-in-arm, extended embraces, kissing, sitting closely/snuggling with arms around another, etc.) are prohibited.
  2. Physical abuse, force, intimidation, or fighting will not be tolerated.

Anyone involved in the above will receive formal disciplinary response which may include one or more of the following: spiritual counseling, disciplinary probation, and/or restriction from campus for a period of time.

5. Student Location During Class Day

  1. All students are required to be in either an assigned class, study hall, and/or lunch period from the time of their first class to end of their last class. Students are NOT permitted to leave campus with anyone without approval of parent(s) and administration being notified by parents.
  2. Students must have written parental permission to leave campus, walking or in a vehicle, with others (e.g. siblings, peers or another adult) for any extended period (e.g. 1 hr or more) of no classes.
  3. Students are not allowed in/on certain areas of the building and/or grounds per host facility requests. These places are listed in campus handbooks.  
  4. No student or sibling (registered or not) may be left unsupervised by parent at any time on any part of  host facility campus. Parents will be contacted immediately if such action occurs.
  5. Parents are required to pick up students at end of student’s last class. If parents are 10 minutes or more late more than 3 dates, a supervisory charge will be applied. In case of emergency, use instructions in campus handbook.

6. Correction/Discipline

  1. When advised or warned about an infraction of any of the above policies, student will either change behavior, or be asked to leave class and/or campus, with amount of time “out” (i.e. class period, day, weeks, term, or up to rest of academic year) appropriate to the infraction.
  2. In cases of misbehavior, an instructor and/or SA administrator will address and choose age-appropriate discipline for student. For incidents of repeated or excessive misbehavior, student will be assigned consequences by SA administration. The following guidelines reflect the spectrum of possible disciplinary action, from least to more severe. Based on information available and judgment of SA administration and/or instructors, appropriate action will ensue.
  1. Advised/corrected and redirected
  2. Parents notified by email and/or text about infraction and possible probation
  3. Parent conference with more specific behavioral documentation and probable probation
  4. Suspension and/or expulsion

7. Cell Phones/Electronic Devices (“Devices”)

(IMPORTANT TO NOTE: This policy includes, but is not limited to, smartphones, flip phones, tablets, e-readers, smartwatches, and other personal web-capable devices, as well as headphones and/or earbuds connected to those devices, but does not include medical devices such as blood sugar monitors.)

Use of technology to provide educational material is not a necessity but a privilege. A student does not have the right to use a laptop, cellphone or other electronic device while on SA campuses without approval of administration and/or instructors. If not compliant, privilege of carrying Devices on campus may be revoked.

Students may not use Devices while on SA campuses unless approved/directed by admin or instructor. Devices may be confiscated if they are visible/in use during SA campus hours. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all Devices are silenced and put away/out of sight & easy reach, in backpacks or purses during campus hours.

  1. NO Devices may be:
  1. used on campus or in classes at any time, unless instructed or allowed by teachers or admin.
  2. used on campus out of classroom (i.e. bathroom breaks, study hall, lunch & focus).
  3. visible or heard ringing, vibrating, etc., during class hours (in or out of a classroom).

“Used” is defined as activity via phone calls, texting, emailing, browsing internet, checking time, calling parent(s), listening to music, etc.

  1. Cell phones may be used after student(s)’ class dismissal for the day, to contact parents.
  2. Instructors may ask students at any time to view Devices in order to monitor appropriate use.
  3. Students may contact parents/guardians through or under supervision of administration and/or instructors. If parents are concerned about communicating with their student(s), messages should be texted or emailed to site director(s) during campus hours on class dates.
  4. Sharing information on Devices with other students may only be done per instructor approval.
  5. SA is not responsible for and will not investigate lost or stolen cell phones and other Devices.

Non-compliance with these policies will result in:

  1. Warning (to turn off and put in proper place instructed by SA administration or instructor).
  2. Device taken by instructor or admin and returned at end of class.
  3. Device given to admin for rest of student’s day and picked up by parent when student leaves campus for the day; or admin may call parent to pick up Device immediately.
  4. Device use denied on campus for amount of time commensurate to degree of offense.

8. Teen Drivers

Teen drivers must meet with campus site director prior to driving on campus to confirm where parking is permissible. Registered teen drivers must submit to site director (on ONE 8.5x11 paper):

Teens may not loiter in teen parking area, walk back/forth to vehicle unnecessarily, or sit in vehicle alone or with peers.

Non-compliance re: where to park will result in the following disciplinary action:

1st Offense: Student corrected by administrator; parent most likely emailed or texted.

2nd Offense: $20 fine and administrator contacts parent(s) to inform/remind of previous correction.

3rd Offense: $50 fine with suspension and/or expulsion from driving and possibly the program.

9. Possession of Prohibited Items

Individuals on campus (e.g. students, instructors, parent assistants) are not permitted to use, possess, or imply the use of:

  1. Weapons: including firearms and pocket knives, or other objects that could be construed as or intended to be used as a weapon. Exceptions to this policy allowed for:
  1. Substances (any illegal or harmful substance or paraphernalia) brought on campus or under the influence upon arrival.  Such illegal or harmful substances include, but are not limited to:
  1. In cases of certain violations above, police may be consulted and/or summoned to campus. Illegal use or possession of above will always be referred to law enforcement. Searches for such possessions in student’s belongings are allowed at any time by SA administration and/or instructors to maintain a safe and legal campus environment.
  2. Non-compliance with this policy is grounds for suspension, expulsion, or immediate dismissal for length of time at discretion of administration per consultation with law enforcement
  3. This policy does not prohibit proper use of prescription medication under the direction of a physician, although use of medical marijuana at SA or SA-related activities is prohibited in all circumstances. Students taking prescription medications must notify all SA administration and instructors and list such on their Medical Release form.

10. Academics & Ethics

SA Students are expected to practice honesty, punctuality and participation in class, with assignments completed, which positively affects students taking classes, their classmates and instructors. No plagiarism!

Core and core-related classes will have assignments, including tests. Registering for these classes means parents and students commit to academic standards and financial commitments for each class — for the benefit of all. Students who do not comply with academic and ethical standards can expect this:

  1. By the end of the 4th class per term, instructors will inform parents if a student is not completing assigned work, taking or passing tests, etc.
  2. By the end of the 7th class per term a warning will be issued that a student is in jeopardy of probation, and that the student has until “x” date (decided by instructor) to correct the problem.
  3. Dependent on how student performs beyond deadline, instructor will advise parents as to whether student may continue in that class or if student should drop the class for the term.
  4. If instructor or parent chooses for student to drop class, parents must pay remainder of tuition.

11. Consistent Noncompliance

Students repeating noncompliance with above policies and procedures with consistent unacceptable behavior will meet with parents, administration and instructors to create a specific behavioral contract. A signed contract and probationary period are designed to assess improvements. If a student fails to meet expectations set forth in their behavioral contract via assessment, suspension and/or expulsion may occur.

12. Probation.

  1. If you want to return to the SA program and there have been issues in the past with frequent tardiness, disruptive/disrespectful behavior, failure to complete assignments, untimely or lack of payments, you may be placed on probationary status (which may include additional fees and/or conditions).
  2. If you are new to the SA program and violate your agreement with policies, probationary status may be applied to student(s) who may be dismissed from the program at any time.

13. Suspension and/or Expulsion

  1. Suspension may be assigned for part of a day, whole day, several weeks, one month, or the rest of a term or year. Parents will be notified of  suspension by email and phone. Parents of suspended student(s) will continue to pay full tuition to SA instructors for duration of suspension and term regardless of suspension duration.
  2. Expulsion may occur if probation and/or suspension do not render changed behavior. Before a student will be considered for re-enrollment, a satisfactory resolution to the problems which resulted in expulsion must be stated by SA Administration and adhered to by all parties involved. Parents of expelled student(s) will continue to be required to pay full tuition to SA instructors the duration of the term in which the expulsion occurred. 

SCHEDULE 2

Summit Academy High School Academic Standards

High school instructors teach students and partner with parents by providing high school course requirements with excellence. In that process, the following standards are set:

  1. Assignments are not optional. All assignments including homework, tests, projects, lab reports, etc., must be completed and submitted to instructors when due. Penalties apply to grades if late.
  2. Because our classes meet once a week, missing one day is like missing a full week. Students are expected to attend classes each week and only miss if ill or for rare/unavoidable circumstances.
  3. Instructors will inform parent(s) of grading/learning management system and provide instructions for its use and resources.  Parents are asked to access student gradebooks each week throughout terms to monitor progress.
  4. Parents are expected to be actively involved, checking instructors’ emails and grading systems regularly, to ensure high academic standards are met in accordance with above standards.
  5. Assignments are made at a level deemed appropriate by instructors as high school quality work. If student fails to complete and/or work toward set goals/class, student (and parent) will be alerted to form a plan of improvement by the 4th week of the term, with a 3-week deadline to improve class grade. An agreement will be signed by both parent and student to make necessary improvements accordingly. Student may be placed on academic probation and possibly face expulsion from class(es) if they do not complete assigned work to pass class(es). If a student has any learning challenge (especially if professionally/medically diagnosed), it is the parent's responsibility to communicate that to instructor(s) prior to enrollment.
  6. Instructors will make every reasonable effort to support student success through clear communication and documented plans, yet they retain the right to recommend academic probation or dismissal from class(es) if sufficient effort and improvement are not demonstrated within the established timeframe.

In the case of academic probation, expulsion, or noncompletion: Parents remain responsible for full tuition for the entire term.