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Graduation Plan
Tapestry Charter High School will require 24.5 credits for graduation (the New York state requirement is 22 credits), with concentrations in the arts (Studio) and languages (LOTE).
The core academic program will be a standard college preparatory program without a variety of electives offered in-house. However, the partnership of Tapestry Charter High School with Canisius College and relationships with other community partners (including Distance Learning) will permit enrichment and acceleration opportunities for students who meet expectations ahead of schedule. If a student can go beyond the standard program, additional credits can be earned through the partnerships. Information and access will be provided for Advanced Placement credit.
Credits Required for Graduation
| text in here |
Advanced Regents Diploma
|
Regents Diploma
|
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| Subject |
Units of Credit
|
Regents Exams
|
Units of Credit
|
Regents Exams
|
| English |
4.0
|
1
|
4.0
|
1
|
| Social Studies |
4.0
|
2
|
4.0
|
2
|
| Math |
4.0
|
2
|
4.0
|
1
|
| Science |
3.0
|
2
|
3.0
|
1
|
| Spanish/LOTE* |
3.0
|
1
|
3.0
|
0
|
| Physical Education |
2.0
|
0
|
2.0
|
0
|
| Arts |
3.0
|
0
|
3.0
|
0
|
| Health |
0.5
|
0
|
0.5
|
0
|
| Total |
23.5
|
8
|
23.5
|
5
|
Required Courses
| GRADE 9 Courses |
Credit
|
| English Language Arts |
1
|
| Global history I |
1
|
| Algebra I |
1-R
|
| Biology |
1-R
|
| Studio |
1
|
| Spanish/LOTE |
1
|
| PE/Fitness |
1
|
| Total Credits |
7
|
| GRADE 10 Courses |
Credit
|
| English Language Arts |
1
|
| Global history II |
1-R
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| Geometry |
1-R
|
| Earth Science |
1-R
|
| Studio |
1
|
| Spanish/LOTE |
1-R
|
| PE/Fitness |
1
|
| Total Credits |
7
|
| GRADE 11 Courses |
Credit
|
| English Language Arts |
1-R
|
| US History |
1-R
|
| Algebra II |
1
|
| Chemistry |
1
|
| Studio |
1
|
| Spanish/LOTE |
1
|
| Health |
0.5
|
| Total Credits |
6.5
|
| GRADE 12 Courses |
Credit
|
| English Language Arts |
1
|
| Economics/Ethics |
1
|
| Data Analysis/Statistics |
1
|
| Electives/Graduation Portfolio Preperation |
1
|
| Total Credits |
4
|
| text |
text
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| Graduation Total |
24.5
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GRADUATION PORTFOLIO - at the end of Grade 12, each student will defend a portfolio that includes an independent project and collected work to a panel of adults and a peer.
R - Regents Exam required for graduation
R* - Regents Exam required for Advanced Regents Diploma
Studio - Art, music, dance, theater
LOTE - Language Other Than English
If a student requires additional time to meet the learning standards in any course, the schedule allows flexibility, with increased open time in Grades 11 and 12. There is also the option of reducing the number of graduation credits required from 24.5 to the minimum of 22 required by New York State by reducing the extra Math and LOTE or Studio, depending upon student strengths and weaknesses. Additional opportunities will be offered for students who want to expand the standard program. Acceleration (in Math, for example) will be available if the student is able to master Regents content. Participation in Canisius College courses will be available for seniors. An independent study course can be designed to be supervised by staff members. In addition, there will be Distance Learning (computer-based) opportunities.
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES: Each student who is classified with an educational disability by the Committee on Special Education or Section 504 will be provided services as indicated on their Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Accommodation Plan. The laws and regulations governing the provision of educational services will be followed with precision. As required by law, school representatives and parents will assist in the development of the IEPs and Accommodation Plans, and all will work actively to design programs emphasizing student participation in the least restrictive environment. With appropriate program modifications and services, students will be expected to achieve their goals.
In the Expeditionary Learning model, there is a strong value placed upon diversity and inclusion, with the expectation of heterogeneous (mixed) grouping of special and general education students in academic classes together. A goal of the program is building positive attitude and confidence in all students. Literacy instruction is emphasized in all courses. Differentiation of instruction is possible due to the many structures that are built in to allow extra time and individualization. Students are provided various opportunities for small group learning and remedial support within classes and throughout the program. Certified special education providers will oversee IEP implementation, while general education teachers and teacher assistants are expected to work as active team members in the service of each student's needs.
Student Schedule Sample
The school day will be from 8:45 am to 4:00 pm. Core academic classes will be scheduled for 250 minutes per week (the minimum requirement is 180 minutes; 200 minutes is typical).
Each weekly schedule will include ample time for academic support activities. Teachers will have time in their schedules to provide this academic support.
The school calendar of 183 days will parallel that of the elementary school, although high school students may be required to report to school a week earlier in the fall in order to provide time for the planned intensive orientation.
9th Grade, Group A (24 Students) - Sample
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Time Block
|
Min
|
A Day
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B Day
|
C Day
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D Day
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E Day
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| 8:45 am to 10:25 am |
100
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English Language Arts
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Math
|
English language Arts
|
Math
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ELA/MathA
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| 10:30 am to 12:10 am |
100
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Social Studies
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Science
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Social Studies
|
Science
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SS/ScienceA
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| 12:10 pm to 12:40 pm |
30
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Lunch
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| 12:40 pm to 1:10 pm |
30
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Crew
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| 1:15 pm to 2:05 pm |
50
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Academic SupportB
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Academic Support
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StudioC
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Academic Support
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Academic Support
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| 2:10 pm to 3:50 pm |
100
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Studio
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Physical Education
|
Spanish
|
Physical Education
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Spanish
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B Academic Support can be used for remedial instruction or enrichment
C Art, music, dance, or theater
Support for Student Success
• Core academic teachers at Tapestry Charter High School will be responsible for preparation of one course for 72 students and will have only 750 minutes of class time per week. This contrasts with the typical public high school teacher load of 2 to 3 class preps, 125-150 students, and 1000 minutes of teaching class time. Therefore, teachers will be expected to know their students well and to provide remedial support and enrichment suggestions for their own students, with close knowledge of the student's progress through the learning standards.
• Crew is a daily 30-minute meeting between a teacher/crew leader and his/her small group of 12-14 students (with the Crew assignment to span at least 2 years). Crew meetings will include discussions of academic progress and development of relationships to support learning. The goal of Crew is to have each student known personally, cared for, and accountable, as they progress through high school.
• Academic Support will be a regularly scheduled part of each student's weekly program. The student's academic teachers are scheduled for availability during these blocks of time, so that needed academic support with Regents level content can be provided by the content experts, who also know the students well. Special education providers will also serve students during those periods, and can provide skills based instruction in reading, writing and math, as needed.
• Tutoring will be available after-school and on Saturday through a regularly scheduled program using Canisius College's pre-service teachers and volunteers. Individual mentorship relationships will be arranged for interested students of any ability and for those in greatest academic or social need.
• Student-led family/teacher conferences will be scheduled near the end of each trimester, in prioritized order, with challenged students' meetings earliest. Individualized Home Study Packets will be distributed, and a family/student/staff contract will be signed including a corrective plan, as needed.
• Intensive Week will be held at the end of each trimester (December/March/June). The regular schedule of classes will be suspended, and core academic and special education staff will apply remediation to students in specified areas of academic need, while special area subject teachers will coordinate enrichment activities with community partners (including SAT prep) for students who are passing successfully.
• Communication as a Grade Level Team and for interdisciplinary teaming with other staff members (art, language, etc.) will be a priority for teachers. They will be given fixed time in their weekly schedule collaboration with peers. This time will include discussion of student progress and needed support efforts.
• Teaching Assistants will give academic support according to decisions made by grade level teacher teams. Eight Teaching Assistants are budgeted (three each for grades 9 and 10; one each for Grades 11 and 12).
• Agency counseling and other out-of-school community supports will be strongly encouraged for students whose needs go beyond academic skill deficits,. Linkages will be facilitated for families by school staff, with “release of information” forms requested to enable communication between agency and school as appropriate to serve the student.
• Summer academic preparation programs will be available for students through community linkages, and through the tutoring supports provided by Canisius College.