Parents and Students,
We hope this letter finds you and your families well as we all continue to Hunker-Down in Indiana and do our part to fight off the pandemic of COVID-19. On April 2nd, Dr. McCormick, the Indiana State Superintendent of Education, announced that schools will not be allowed to return back to the physical buildings for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Prior to spring break, we shared our plan for instructional days following spring break and that plan has not changed with this announcement. An explanation of the plan is also included in this letter as well as some additional details for graduating seniors.
We returned to eLearning, Monday, April 13, 2020 with all courses now set up in such a way that students may complete at their own pace with the goal of completing all currently assigned courses by May 1. Students enrolled in the Options-Distance Education, Options @ HYCA and Options @ BACA programs will continue to complete courses according to their individual pacing plans. We are hopeful this will excite students and encourage focused work with the reward of an early summer break! Teachers will continue to provide direct instruction through videos, virtual office hours, Google Hangout and Zoom meetings, and by appointment for individual virtual help.
Dr. McCormick also announced on April 2nd that all graduating seniors will receive acknowledgment in all spring courses in which they are already enrolled to ensure they are able to meet graduation requirements. Please note, “acknowledgment” is not the same as credit. In order for seniors to earn the transcripted credit in the courses, they must still complete the content and earn a passing grade. We are encouraging all seniors, along with all students, to push forward with their courses and work to complete all coursework on May 1, 2020.
Beginning May 4, 2020, through May 27, 2020, Options will run a 4-week credit recovery session for all students that need extended time past the May 1st deadline or that are credit deficient and would like to enroll in an additional course or two. Advisors and counselors will help students choose appropriate courses and will direct students to fill out this sign-up form. Sign up forms are not necessary for Options-Distance Education and Options @ BACA students. In addition, we will still offer summer school, online-only, June 1, 2020, through June 26, 2020. Students will need to fill out the form for each 4-week term with the courses they wish to take.
Dr. McCormick’s announcement does require us to also change how we celebrate together through our spring events such as the spring picnic, prom, and graduation. Our leadership teams will continue to work together to develop alternative plans and will share more information as we have it ready to share. We are very proud of our students and their continued resiliency!
Thank you, again, to each of you for being part of the Options’ family and trusting us to provide your children a sense of belonging in our schools, a belief in themselves, and encouragement to achieve their highest potential. We do not take that gift lightly. Also, our sincere thanks to all the dedicated people at all of the County and State Health Departments, the local and state officials, and to our staff at Options Schools who have been working tirelessly to prepare and plan for our students and families.
Point of Contact by Program:
- Options Carmel – Michael Dunagan, Principal
- mdunagan@optionsined.org
- 317-815-2098
- Options Noblesville – Adam Barr, Principal
- abarr@optionsined.org
- 317-773-8659
- Options Distance Education – Linda Cunningham, Principal
- lcunningham@optionsined.org
- 765-620-7968
- Options @ BACA – Lisa Chandler, Program Director
- lchandler@optionsined.org
- 317-361-6850
- Options @ Growing Minds – Beth Hodges, Lead Teacher
- bhodges@optionsined.org
- 260-458-1464
- Options @ HYCA – Michelle Walden, COO
- mwalden@optionsined.org
- 765-491-7816
Quick Guide Calendar
March 30 – April 10 — Spring Break – No School
April 13 – May 1 — eLearning (Courses now At-Your-Own Pace)
May 1 — End of Semester 2
May 4 – May 27 — Credit Recovery Session 1 (Maymester)
Sign-up Form
June 1 – June 26 — Credit Recovery Session 2 (Summer School)
Sign-up Form
August 5 — First Day for Students, Fall 2020
About Options Schools
Serving students in grades 6-12, Options Schools are free, public charter schools with brick and mortar campuses in Carmel and Noblesville & a new campus opening in Westfield in August 2021. Options also offers additional programs that serve students throughout the state of Indiana (serving over 90 school corporations). With a high-quality, individualized approach, Options was founded in 2002 and specializes in providing students with an inclusive environment and a student-to-teacher ratio of 15-to-1.
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