Homework Policy
The Chicago PublIc Schools mandate that homework be regularly assigned to students. Homework should be a sequence of well-planned, meaningful assignments for completion during out-of-class tIme. Students will also receive long-term assignments, projects, and research from time to time.

The specific amount and frequency of assigned homework should be generally based on student needs, interests, and the content of the Instructional program. However, CPS suggests that high school students spend between 120 and 150 minutes per day on homework assignments.

Students are responsible for maintaining a homework assignment notebook, listing subjects, assignment dates, due dates, and date turned in. Parents are to provide space and adequate time for their child to complete the homework each right They should monitor that the homework is being done and review the corrected homework returned by the teacher. leathers are responsible for planning and implementing the homework policy in their classroom, grade all work, noting areas for correction, and return all collected assignments promptly.

Promotion Policy

From Freshman to Sophomore	5 credits
From Sophomore to Junior	11 credits
From Junior to Senior	17 credits

Academic Center in grades 7 & 8 must meet the following guideline for promotion: Students may not earn more than one failing grade in the following subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies and remain in the Academic Center Program.

Granting of Credit

• .50 credit is granted for the successful completion of a subject per semester of work completed with a D or better. No credit is given for a subject in which an F is received.
  
  
• Credit can be granted only once in a subject, and the first passing grade received is the only official grade.
  
  
• Night School: Students are not allowed to attend day school and night school at the same time.
  
  
• Academic Center credit policy is a follows:
  
  
  • High school courses taken within the 7 and 8th grade are granted credit if: In an honor or regular level course, a grade of A, B, or C is earned in each semester of the course. Grades below 'C' DO NOT qualify for credit or proficiency in the subject.
    
    
  • High School equivalent courses are defined as 'English 7' and 'English 8' (Equivalent to Freshman English); 'Math 7' and 'Math 8' (Equivalent to Algebra 1); Foreign Language (any year); 'Science 8' (Equivalent to Biology); 'BASIC Computer'; 'AC Music'; and any other course designated by a high school course code.
    
    
  • Courses eligible for credit will have credit transferred to high school PRC's upon conclusion of the 8th grade at Michele Clark Magnet High School.
    
    

Failures
Students who fail a course make up the credit by attendance at summer school. If the subject is required for graduation, the course must be repeated. If it is not required, another subject may be taken in its place with the written permission of the guidance counselor. Failed 1st semester courses cannot be made up 2nd semester.

Summer School

• Courses taken In summer school for credit must meet North Central Association guidelines as to hours completed before credit can be granted. Approved list are issued each year and are available in the offices of all guidance counselors.
  
  
• Students who take a course in summer school for which they are preregistered for fall cannot be reprogrammed. Students should see their counselor for summer school classes.
  
  
• Students must pick up June grades in order to register for the appropriate summer school classes.
  
  

Evening School
Students are allowed to attend day school and evening school, provided they meet the evening school enrollment criteria, which include being 16 years old and having earned at least ten (10) high school credits. Please see your Counselor for additional information.

Course Selection - Programming
During the second semester of each year, students will meet individually with their Counselor to select courses lode taken during the following school year.

Graduation requirements are reviewed and the students' interests are taken into account. Counselors will meet individually with each counselee. Please keep your scheduled appointment, be prompt and bring your programming materials with you. A parent signature is required on your students class selection form. Students must be programmed for 6 classes each year. The Illinois State Board of Education requires all students to have a 300-minute school day exclusive of lunch.

Certain subjects require minimum proficiencies before a student may advance to higher-level courses. More information wIll be distributed regarding specific classes during programming.

Grading
A serious attempt is made at all times to evaluate in the best possible manner the progress of students. The teachers will distribute their individual grading criteria for each class in September. Parents are expected to sign the tear-off receipt portion and return It via the student to the classroom teacher. The following grading system has been established at Michele Clark:

A - The student is more that meeting the demands of the teacher. All work is on time. The work is of superior quality and shows mastery of the subject matter. The student has the ability to carry the job through, and exerts a positive influence on the class. B - The required work is well done. The student meets the demands of the teacher and exerts a positive influence on the class. C - The student does The required work satisfactorily. The work is on time and of average quality. The student is showing achievement. D - The student is not doing all of the assigned work, is dependent on others, inconsistent, uncertain and confused. Work Is below average, but shows some evidence of growth. F - Unsatisfactory, with little evidence of growth taking place. Lack of interest and irregular attendance and attention are commonplace.

Grade Reports Grade reports are issued four times each year November, January, April and June. Grade Report Pick-Up Days are scheduled in November and April. At this time, parents are to pick up grade reports at school. The exact dates will be announced. Teachers are available for conferences from ito 6pm.

Students will be issued their grade reports during division and will bring them home for their parents' inspection. Semester grades become part of' the student's permanent record.

Progress Report
A notice to students and parents of the possibility of failure in a course will be issued the 6th, l6th, 26th, and 35th weeks of the school year.

Parents who would like a conference with the teacher as a result of the progress report are requested to call the counselor to make an appointment so that a mutually agreeable time can be arranged. Counselor and class teacher's telephone numbers are listed on the progress reports and on page six of this handbook.

Class Rank
Your class rank is determined by averaging the final grades for all courses at the end of each semester. The following weights are given to each grade:

Regular Level:	A=4	B=3	C=2	D=1	F=0
Honors Level:	A=5	B=4	C=3	D=1	F=0
Advance Placement:	A=6	B=5	C=4	D=0	F=0

These numerical values are added together and divided by the of grades added. The resulting quotient is the grade point average (GPA). The grade point averages are then arranged in order from the highest GPA to the lowest. The rank is determined by the placement (location) of the grade point average in this listing.

Honor Roll
The Honor Roll is determined at the end of each semester and published two times a year. It lists all students *110 have attained a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) and who have not received any grades of F. Assemblies to recognize honor students are held annually.

Principal Scholars
A special honor roll is maintained for students who maintain a 3.75 grade point average or better. These students are recognized at the Awards Assembly.

Requirements for Graduation
The following are the graduation requirements beginning with the class of 2001 from any Chicago Public High School:

Subject	Annual Units
English	4
Social Science	3
Science (Lab)	3
Mathematics	3
Foreign Language	2
Art	1
Music	1
Physical Education	2
Career Education	2
Electives	3
Total	24

Each subject earns one-half (.500) credIt per semester passed, resulting In a total of 24 required Additional graduation requirements include the following: Drivers' Education, Consumer Education, the U.S. Constitution Test, and 40 Service Learning hours.

Requirements for Admission to College
College entrance requirements differ with each college. Students who plan on continuing their education in colleges or universities should become acquainted with specific entrance requirements of the school they hope to attend and should choose high school subjects which will enable them to meet those requirements. The counseling department and Media Center maintain a library of college catalogs for the use of college-bound students.

The Counseling Department urges students to make inquiries concerning specific college requirements even during their freshman and sophomore years. Minimum requirements to most colleges and universities are:

• Graduation from an accredited high school within fifteen units of acceptable high school works in academic subjects.
  
  
• School work including at least four units in English (literature and traditional writing courses), two units of mathematics*, two units of laboratory science*, two units of foreign language and three units of social science. (*Add ito 2 units each for selective colleges.)
  
  
• Scholarship rank in the upper fifty percent of high school graduating class.
  
  
• Above average test scores on national examinations such as Advanced Placement courses, honors levels courses, etc., as well as involvement in co-curricular activities which will demonstrate such qualities as leadership ability, intellectual curiosity, and special abilities.
  
  

A computerized College/Career Center Is available In Room 214. This facility provides students with access to an Information bank for several hundred colleges and universities. Information regarding specific academic programs, description of the student body, admissions requirements and cost are contained in the information bank. In addition, video disks are available. These disks provide data to various careers.

The Illinois Consumer Education Proficiency Test
The School Code of Illinois specifies that public school students in grades 9-12 shall be provided instruction in the area of consumer education. The purpose of that instruction is to help students understand concepts that affect fundamental decisions about their personal financial affairs, such as installment purchasing, budgeting, and comparison-shopping. Completion of instruction in consumer education is required prior to graduation.

Some students may have already attained satisfactory understanding of these topics. Each year the State Board of Education provides a standardized consumer education examination that allows students to demonstrate their proficiency in this area. Successful performance on the test excuses students from the necessity of completing the State consumer education requirement.


Student Records

Permanent Record (PRC)
Information on your Permanent Record Card includes your entire academic and attendance records, your rank in class, and test scores (ACT, SAT, PSAT, ISAT). This record follows you when you enter a post-secondary institution (college, university, technical school) and when you request recommendations for employment and scholarships. The Importance of your high school record cannot be overestimated.

Inspection of Student Records
Student records rater to ...any writing or other recorded information concerning a student and by which a student may be individually identified, maintained by the school or at its direction or by an employee of a school, regardless of how or where the information is stored. The student's record consists of a permanent record and a temporary record.

Seeing and Copying Student Records
Parents or guardians have the right to inspect and copy any and all school records of that parent's child, including all material that Is incorporated Into each student's temporary and permanent record, with the exception of certain mental health records as described in the Chicago Board of Education Policy. Students below the age of 18 shall also have the right to inspect a copy his or her own Student Permanent Record.

A written request for the inspection of records must be sent to the school fifteen days before the date of the inspection. Forms for requesting an inspection are available at the school. A friend, relative or lawyer may accompany a parent to inspect the records. A staff member will be present to interpret the information contained In these records.

Parents also have the right to copy any of their child's records, end the school may charge far the cost of copying unless a parent cannot afford to pay. In some cases, It may be necessary to obtain copies from the central offices of the Board of Education. In this event, the principal will arrange for copies to be sent to you.

Service Learning
Service Learning is a student performance, knowledge enhancing activity which involves volunteer services for a non-profit organization outside the school day. It fosters the development of personal values, enhances self-esteem, encourages social responsibility, and helps promote a sense of caring for others. It also allows students to make positive contributions in their communities. The Board of Education has established Service Learning as a new requirement for high school graduation. It applies to all Chicago Public School students who entered 9 grade in the fall of 1997. Beginning with the class of 2007, and every class thereafter high school students must complete 40 hours of Service Learning prior to graduation, 10 hours per year. Students who have not completed 10 hours of service learning will not be promoted to the next grade level.

Procedures for the program have bean established in order to ensure a quality learning experience and to have fair and equitable opportunities for all. It is imperative that students follow the set procedure such as getting the service project approved and obtaining the required forms before actually volunteering to work at a site. However, students should not assume that if they perform some type of service, but don't get paid for that service, that it automatically qualifies as Service Learning.

Students will receive pertinent information about Service Learning from their Division Teacher and Counselor throughout the school year. The Service Learning Coach/Counselor is always available to answer questions and assist students. Get involved and make your Service Learning projects a positive and rewarding experience.