Program Requirements

Students must be enrolled in an Olathe high school to be eligible for eAcademy enrollment.

Students are required to complete an online Orientation to review and verify an understanding of the policies and procedures of eAcademy. Students are to adhere to a code of academic honesty, and plagiarism is considered grounds for assignment or course failure, and suspension or expulsion from the program. All Olathe Public School Policies also apply to the eAcademy program.

Special Services

Students with special service plans such as an IEP or 504 are required to disclose this information when completing the online enrollment form. Students will be provided special services through their high school of attendance. 

Pacing and Schedule

Courses are not self-paced. A semester calendar of due dates is published in the course and students must meet deadlines to avoid grade penalties. Students may, however, work ahead in courses. Courses are designed for asynchronous learning, meaning there are no live lectures or required online time other than the initial course startup meeting. Instructors will offer random online Zoom sessions which are provided for student question-answer time, test reviews, content discussions, and other supplemental learning opportunities. These supplemental sessions are not required.

Students should be aware that online courses are NOT easier than being in the classroom. Courses require time to read instructions, electronically complete documents and written discussions, etc. Students should expect to commit a minimum of one hour per day per course on the computer, with additional homework time offline. Summer courses are condensed into an eight-week session and require a minimum of two hours per day per course at the computer, with additional homework time offline.

Hardware and Software

Students are expected to provide their own Internet access and must have the ability to download files from the Internet and install software on their computer. Courses will not run on mobile devices such as an iPad or phone.

File management skills are crucial, so students must be proficient and skilled in handling and managing files in a structured file system to be successful.

Communication

Students are required to use student (school) Gmail accounts for all correspondence with eAcademy instructors and eAcademy office staff. Students are expected to reply to emails from instructors within 24 hours or sooner if possible.

Getting Help

Students should follow these guidelines when seeking assistance.

• Students should start on the Technical Support area of the eAcademy website to initiate self-help.
• Problems with district-issued computers will be handled through technology assistance at the student's high school of attendance.
• Technical issues with Moodle, Edgenuity, Student Gmail, etc. should be sent to Randy Warner, the program director.
• All course questions about lessons, assignments, Zoom meetings, due dates, absences, etc. should be sent to the course instructor.
• Students should not expect immediate email responses. Teachers are not expected to have unlimited around-the-clock availability for eAcademy, especially late at night. They teach in the regular classroom all day and have family and community events. They do not work seven days a week. Availability is outlined in the course syllabus or instructor information in the course.
• Procrastinating until the last minute on assignment deadlines, then needing assistance, may result in late submissions if the teacher is not on duty at that time. Students should attempt to keep ahead of deadlines and submit work early whenever possible. This helps assure that teachers have adequate time to see and respond to student questions before deadlines.