Online Academy Handbook

The Upper Arlington Online Academy is firmly rooted in the district's core values of "Start With Heart," "Strength in Team," and "Contagious Drive." We are guided by the district's vision and mission as we create a unique online learning environment that maintains the high standards and community connections that define Upper Arlington Schools.

At the Upper Arlington Online Academy, we build upon these district foundations while embracing three distinctive values that characterize our approach to online education:

The Upper Arlington Online Academy is open to students who reside within the Upper Arlington Schools district and meet eligibility requirements. Enrollment occurs during three designated "open enrollment" periods each academic year: the first full week of May before the upcoming school year, the first full week of August before the upcoming school year, and the first full week of December before the start of the second semester. These windows allow families to plan their child's education with confidence and ensure a smooth transition into the program.

At the beginning of each semester, an orientation session will be held for any students transitioning to the Upper Arlington Online Academy. These orientation meetings will be available both in-person and virtually and serve as a required component of enrollment. Each student and their family will be asked to sign an online learning agreement, which is designed to support the student and family during the transition and participation in an online learning modality.

To comply with State of Ohio law, students must be enrolled in a majority (greater than 51%) of their courses within the Upper Arlington Online Academy to qualify for enrollment. However, students also have the flexibility to take courses in the traditional in-person school building while maintaining the required majority of online coursework. This hybrid approach allows students to tailor their educational experience to their academic and personal goals.

In unique circumstances, mid-semester transitions may be considered. All mid-semester transitions must begin with a discussion at the building where the student is currently enrolled, involving the school counselor and/or building administration. The in-person building counselor and administration will coordinate with the Upper Arlington Online Academy staff following this initial discussion. If it is determined that a mid-semester transition is appropriate, then a required intake meeting must take place with the student, parent, administrator, and the assigned Online Academy advisor for the student. This process ensures that the transition is well-planned and that the student receives the support needed to succeed in an online learning environment.

Students wishing to transition back to the in-person school setting from the Upper Arlington Online Academy must do so at the conclusion of a semester. This process begins with a meeting between the student, parent, school counselor, and Upper Arlington Hub Principal. Once approved, an internal coordination meeting between the in-person school staff and Upper Arlington Online Academy staff will take place to ensure a smooth transition.

Students enrolled in the Upper Arlington Online Academy are expected to meet the state-mandated requirement of 910 hours of instructional time per school year, equating to approximately 5.5 hours of learning activities each school day. Attendance in an the online learning environment is determined through various metrics, including: 

• Edgenuity session logs
• Completion of guided notes
• Participation in required weekly Zoom sessions (previews and check-ins)
• Subject-specific logs (i.e. PE, Reading)
• Time spent with teachers in office hours or study tables
• Completion of proctored assessments such as ACT, PSAT and Ohio State Assessments 

Engaged participation in these activities ensures that students remain on track academically and receive the necessary support from their instructors.

If a student is absent due to illness or an appointment, parent(s)/guardian(s) need to report the absence on the day of its occurrence by completing the Upper Arlington Online Academy Attendance Form or emailing onlineacademy@uaschools.org. Upon returning from an absence, students will be expected to complete all assignments for the days for which they are absent.

Pervasive and continued student absences at study tables, Zoom meetings or lack of significant academic progress in Upper Arlington Online Academy courses will result in a required meeting between the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) and the Upper Arlington Online Academy staff. The goal of the meeting will be to collaboratively develop a plan to support the student and regain academic progress and/or sufficient attendance. Consistent failure to meet attendance and/or academic progress expectations may result in a student being transitioned to the traditional in-person school building.

Ohio schools must track time missed from school by hours and minutes as opposed to days missed. All absences will fall into some category of partial or full day missed. The Upper Arlington Online Academy adheres to all student attendance tracking and reporting requirements established by Ohio Revised Code §3321.191 and §3313.668. All students enrolled in the Upper Arlington Online Academy Academy are subject to these state-mandated attendance guidelines, which include tracking of absences, notification procedures for excessive absences, and intervention strategies for habitually truant students.

The Upper Arlington Online Academy maintains high expectations for student conduct in the digital learning environment. We believe that successful online learning requires self-motivation, academic integrity, and a commitment to personal growth. Our academic community thrives when all members participate actively and honestly in their educational journey. In addition to the Upper Arlington Online Academy academic and behavioral expectations outlined below, all Upper Arlington School Board Policies and the Upper Arlington Students’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook apply.

We encourage all students to embrace a mindset of daily challenge, pushing beyond comfort zones to develop new skills and knowledge. Each day presents opportunities to discover something real and fascinating to explore, connecting learning to personal interests and igniting genuine curiosity. Approaching education with an open mind allows students to consider diverse perspectives and engage with new concepts willingly. The online learning environment particularly benefits from students following their inspiration and questions wherever they naturally lead, rather than forcing predetermined paths. True learning often emerges from authentic inquiry.

Despite the digital nature of our connections, building strong and collaborative relationships remains essential to the learning experience. We value meaningful connections that transcend the virtual environment. Above all, we encourage students to be authentic and fully present each day — your unique perspective and contributions significantly enrich our learning community.

Academic integrity forms the foundation of our learning environment, and certain behaviors undermine this essential value. Plagiarism, taking someone else's work or ideas (including online content) and passing them off as one's own, represents a serious violation of academic trust. This includes copying and pasting answers from websites or using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools without proper attribution. When plagiarism occurs, students may receive either academic or behavioral consequences. Academic consequences could result in the student having to rework the assignment/assessment or be awarded a zero on the assignment/assessment. Behavioral consequences could include assigned study table attendance, Saturday School or as determined by the Upper Arlington Hub Principal.

Similarly, using unauthorized translation tools such as Google Translate for Global Language assignments circumvents the authentic language acquisition process. These shortcuts prevent students from developing genuine language skills and understanding.

We believe that maintaining these expectations creates a positive and productive online learning environment where students develop valuable skills for lifelong learning and success in future academic and professional endeavors.

The Upper Arlington Online Academy is committed to providing students with a well-rounded educational experience that extends beyond academic coursework. Upper Arlington Online Academy students have access to the same wide range of extra-curricular opportunities available to students in the traditional in-person school buildings.

To maintain student extracurricular eligibility, students must:

• Complete a minimum of two hours of active work in the online platform daily
• Meet the same academic eligibility requirements as traditional students
• Adhere to all practice, rehearsal, and meeting expectations
• Comply with the district's code of conduct for extra-curricular participants

The hybrid nature of these opportunities allows Online Academy students to maintain important social connections while benefiting from the flexibility of online learning.