Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pivot Charter School, North Bay accredited? Pivot Charter School North Bay is a candidate for accreditation and will be completing accreditation in the fall of 2012.Advanced Academics Inc., Pivot Charter School - North Bay's online curriculum provider and partner, is NCACS (North Central Association of Colleges and Schools) accredited and CITA (Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation) accredited, through their distance education division. Advanced Academics courses have also been approved by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association.) Advanced Academics has recently been approved by the University of California as an Online Provider.
Who will issue my diploma? Upon completion of the required credits for graduation and successfully passing the ELA and Math CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exams), Pivot Charter School, North Bay will issue the diploma.
Will I attend a graduation ceremony? Pivot Charter School students will graduate in a special ceremony with their fellow students enrolled in the school.
How does this online education work? Because all of our courses are online, your class schedule is flexible; class begins when you login online and ends when you log out. Our online curriculum is rigorous, engaging, and self-paced. All of our courses are backed by our highly qualified staff of California-credentialed teachers who are available via instant message, phone, or email or on-site at our local resource center. We also offer a 24/7 student support environment so that you can get help when you need it.
When do I attend class? Just as in a traditional school, students must engage in their coursework regularly and show weekly progress. Students may log in to their courses any time of the day or evening. Failure to attend courses regularly may result in withdrawal from the program.
How quickly can I move through the course? Some students choose to work on only one or two courses at a time with a 22 or 45 day completion timeline. Others choose to open all high school courses for an entire semester. Families will work with their local teachers to make the appropriate decision that will lead to every student being successful in their academic endeavors.
Can I take classes part-time and still be a part of Pivot Charter School, North Bay? No, the Pivot Charter School, North Bay is a full-time program only.
How many courses must a full-time student take? Just as in traditional school, students are expected to take a minimum of 5-6 courses (25-30 credit hours) per semester.
Who chooses my courses? Courses that a student is required to take are dependent on the student's prior transcript and progress towards graduation. Transcripts are reviewed by our school staff and course selection is handled as a partnership between the family and the school staff.
Is online learning for me? The flexibility of online learning adds a unique level of responsibility. To succeed, you must be a self-directed learner, sufficiently self-motivated to manage your own learning schedule, and must have a basic grasp of Internet navigation. Download a copy of the Pivot Charter School Expectations.
Are there any age restrictions? Yes, if a student is over the age of 18, they have to have been enrolled in a public school without a break and making satisfactory progress towards a high school diploma AND are not over the age of 22. Some other restrictions may apply.
What grade levels does Pivot Charter School, North Bay serve? Pivot Charter School, North Bay serves students in middle and high school: grades 6 to 12.
Does it matter where I live? Yes, the Pivot Charter School, North Bay provides educational services to students who live in North Bay, Orange, North Bay, or Imperial counties.
Can students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) participate in the program? As a California public school Pivot North Bay accepts all students who are residents of California and will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic. According to state law, the IEP of students who qualify for special education services must state that independent study is an appropriate placement for the student. For more information, contact Pivot North Bay.
Who is my teacher? Your teacher for each course is a California highly qualified, credentialed teacher who has experience teaching online courses. You also have access to local California-credentialed teachers who are available to provide daily oversight, motivation, academic guidance, and on-site support at our resource center.
How can I contact my teacher? You may contact your assigned teacher instantly through our popular instant messaging service. Also, you may use e-mail, fax, or toll-free telephone to contact your teacher. You can reach the online teachers 24/5 (Sunday 8pm – Friday 6pm). And, our customer support team monitors the phones 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week to help you. Our local teachers are also available at our resource center for help during regular school hours.
What do I need to do to succeed in a Pivot Charter School, North Bay course? When you take an online course you need to prepare yourself as you would for any course in a classroom setting. Key differences are that your teacher is online and not face-to-face, unless you attend the resource center classes, and your lessons are on a computer. In an online course, time management is critical to success because most activities can be accomplished asynchronously, which means you don't necessarily have to be online at the same time as your instructor or other students.
What materials are needed in order to take Pivot Charter School, North Bay courses? All of the courses offered by Pivot North Bay can be taken 100% online so there is very little need for any additional materials, except for some advanced courses. All you truly need to begin your coursework is Internet access and a computer.
As an online student, will I still be required to take District or State Mandated Tests – STAR and CAHSEE? Yes. All students in the Pivot program will be required to physically attend and take state mandated testing at one of our testing locations throughout the region in the spring. Additionally, each 10th, 11th, or 12th grade student who has not yet passed BOTH of their CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) tests will be required to attend and take these tests at one of our testing locations. Once enrolled, you will be notified of testing dates and locations.
What type of software or hardware will I need on my computer to take these courses? There are some basic requirements for the computer on which you will be working. Click here to download our guide for getting started.
Do I need a high-speed connection? You can successfully access of our courses with a dial-up Internet connection, but we recommend high-speed access for the best experience.
