Academics
What is Canvas?Canvas is a learning management system that serves as the landing space for students to access course content, view course announcements, submit assignments, collaborate with peers, and message their teacher .
What is the home page / landing page in Canvas?The home page in Canvas is also considered the landing page--a place where students can find teacher contact information, a link to schedule 1:1 support, find live lesson times, and the zoom link for live lessons. In addition, students will find recordings for all the live lessons to replay content for extra support or view for the first time when it is most convenient for the student. The home page/landing page will also include the list of Playlist links for students to easily access as needed. For K-5 students, there will be a daily schedule listed on the homepage so that students and guardians can conveniently find the schedule for each day. Additional information to support these young learners will also be found on this page.
What is the weekly playlist?The weekly playlist includes weekly class expectations including activities/projects to support students’ mastery of the content in a more meaningful way. Often students will have a choice of the type of activity they will complete to demonstrate their knowledge. In addition, the playlist will include opportunities for students to collaborate with each other and will encourage students’ creative thinking.
Are there live lessons that students have to attend?We have an expectation for live lessons to be conducted weekly for our students. All live lessons are recorded and located at the bottom of the home page. To meet the needs of students with varied schedules, we do not require attendance at the live lesson. However, students are encouraged to view the recording if they are not able to attend live.
How does a student start a course?Every course in our Academy starts with the New Student Orientation. We employ a scaffolded approach to prepare our students to begin their course and equip them with the best skills and knowledge that they’ll need to be successful. Students will begin with the welcome module by exploring the platform and topics such as Netiquette and Digital Citizenship. These modules are critical for learners to be reminded of as they start their online journey. The New Student Orientation also has how-to videos and guides for navigating the Canvas platform. Once students complete their orientation, the course shell will be available for students to reference throughout the year as needed.
What is ALEKS?ALEKS is a research-based, online learning program that offers adapted math content tailored to individual student needs. This online learning platform helps educators and guardians understand each student's knowledge and learning progress in depth, and provides the individual support required for every student to achieve mastery. ASUPD supplements the ALEKS curriculum with a wrap-around curriculum that takes a deeper dive into the content.
What does a unit look like?Each unit has the same structure: lesson, discussion board activity, assessment, and a section to self report/reflect. We also embed “check for understanding” assignments that are low stakes quizzes to ensure student mastery and to provide formative data to the teacher. When a student needs more support, they are given feedback and additional opportunities to demonstrate mastery.
Are assignments interactive? Is everything auto-graded?Many assignments are interactive in nature--opportunities for students to engage with their classmates as well as receive immediate feedback on their progress. There are some items in each course that are auto-graded in Canvas. Other assignments, particularly free response and open-ended assignments that are graded by the ASUPD teacher.
What is a DBA?A DBA is a Discussion Based Assessment. The most simplistic way to think of this is as an oral quiz between the teacher and the student. These required assessments occur two times per semester and are another example of a synchronous opportunity. This time is one-on-one, scheduled, graded, and includes a rubric. The purpose of the DBA is to help enhance the teacher-student relationship, check for academic integrity, and to determine what the student has mastered in the course so far.
How is this different from a traditional high school?In a traditional school, your class schedule and day is planned for you. Most often, what you learn each day is decided by someone else. At ASU Prep Digital, you decide what your day looks like. Need extra tutoring in math...go for it! Feel like working all day just on your biology project...that works too!
We are a college prep school with an expectation that 100% of our students graduate and earn college credit while in high school.
We encourage a personalized pace, and we will support you if you advance more quickly or need extra time to be successful. To get a detailed look at a day-in-the life of our students, check out the student story videos.
Student Stories
What is a Learning Success Coach?ASU Prep Digital’s unique teaching model places the student at the center of an intricate web of multilayered support. Learning Success Coaches (LSCs) play several roles, including school counselor, academic advisor, college and career advisor, emotional support counselor, and academic coach. All ASUPD students are assigned an LSC upon enrollment.- The LSC monitors student progress daily, acting as a liaison between instructional staff and families. They call, text, or meet in Zoom with students to set goals and develop work plans to ensure success in courses.
- The LSC provides a holistic perspective of the student’s overall course load. They support learners with course planning, college applications, and more.
- While Learning Success Coaches are not tutors, they work closely with the instructional staff, collaborating to set attainable learning goals and identify challenges.
- The LSC team collaboratively hosts a weekly homeroom to build community. They keep students up to date on school events and teach a curriculum based on social/emotional wellness, study skills, and college/career counseling.
- LSCs coordinate events to keep students connected to one another. This includes Digital Recess, Career Spotlights, and local face-to-face events.
Are the courses 100% online?Yes! Your coursework is entirely online and you can study anywhere in the world with internet access. Most courses include some activities away from the computer such as reading and writing, interviewing someone or conducting research for a project. But even those projects will be submitted online.
That’s not to say we don’t like to socialize! We will host face-to-face events at Arizona State University and other ASU Preparatory campuses through the year. These experiences include leadership workshops, special interest groups based on academic interests, Night of the Open Door, Future Sun Devil Family events and various summer programs.
Will I have a real teacher for every course?Yes! While we love technology and innovation, we know teachers are the driving force behind your learning experience at ASU Prep Digital. You will interact regularly with a highly qualified, instructor for each course, as well as have ongoing conversations with your Learning Success Coach. We might be a little biased, but we think our teachers are AMAZING!
Is it okay to work ahead?In grades K–5 you’ll need to ask your teacher. In grades 6–12, absolutely. The full curriculum is available to you on day one. We encourage all students to work at the pace that meets your learning needs. At ASU Prep Digital, we will continually challenge you to be the co-designer of your educational experience and finishing a course early is just one perk of attending school with us. On the flip side, you might need extra time to complete certain projects or assignments. You will work together with your teacher and Learning Success Coach to customize your learning experience that works for YOU!
What is the time commitment for a college level course?The Arizona Board of Regents, the governing board for ASU, NAU, and the U of A, has a policy for how much time students should invest in their courses: “A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit.” Therefore, in a 3-credit course, students should expect to invest 45 hours in class meetings (or the online equivalent), as well as 90 hours doing homework and assignments—a total of 135 hours.
What are the graduation requirements?Just like all Arizona high school graduates, we ensure that each student meets the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) university admissions requirements. You are required to complete 4 years of English, 4 years of mathematics, 3 years of lab sciences, 3 years of social sciences, 2 years of the same foreign language, and 1 year of fine arts and other electives to meet the graduation requirements. A total of 24 credits are needed for graduation. What sets ASU Prep Digital apart from traditional school is HOW you earn your graduation requirements. You will work at your pace - on your schedule - and with the opportunity to earn college credits along the way.
Concurrent
How do I drop my class?Be sure to notify your LSC or Advisor ASAP via email, phone, or text. Please do not contact the university to process the withdrawal.
When is the add/drop period?This depends on the session in which you are enrolled. For A and B session courses, it is 24 hours after the start of class. For a C- session, it is a few weeks after the start of class. Locate the ASU calendar
here.
How does the ASU Prep Digital tuition waiver work?For full-time students enrolled in at least 4 ASU Prep Digital courses, a tuition waiver will cover the $600 tuition cost per course, up to two courses a semester. You will still be responsible for books and materials. If you do not pass your course, or drop outside the add/drop period, you will be charged the cost of tuition.
How do I know what books I need?Books and materials list are listed in the syllabus. Access your syllabus and course via my.asu.edu. Recommended textbook sources: chegg, amazon, ebay. Make sure that you search for books using the ISBN number provided in your course syllabus. Note: while older textbook editions may be more inexpensive, verify with your instructor if you will need the latest version.
How much weekly time investment is involved?ASU recommends you spend 6 study hours for every 1 credit hour of enrollment in a 14-week academic semester. If you are in an accelerated (A or B session) course, this amount will be higher. For example, if you are taking a 3-credit course, you will need to spend at least 18 hours/week (+ 3 hours for “class time”) outside of class working in your course. If you are taking an accelerated (7-week) course, the weekly time investment will be more.
Read more here.
State Testing
What action do I need to take to sign my student(s) up for testing?ASU Prep Digital automatically registers all eligible students for state assessments and there is no action required on your part to register them. In November/December, LSCs will be confirming testing intent and locations. In January, you will receive an e-mail notification of your testing location with some additional information. During the months of January and February, families will have the opportunity to request a location change (if desired). In February and March, our staff will be reaching out with testing reminders and more detailed test day information.
Are there any exemptions to the state testing requirement?As your school of choice, ASU Prep Digital has a responsibility to both state and federal education agencies to administer state testing to at least 95% of our students. The Arizona Board of Education does not provide any publicly funded student the opportunity to opt out of state testing.
My child cannot attend all testing sessions for his/her grade level. Will there be makeup days?ASU Prep Digital is working diligently this year to ensure that families have ample time to adjust testing weeks and locations if needed. We recognize that some families may still require last minute changes to their assigned testing date and time. Some of our testing sites (primarily in the Phoenix area) will have the flexibility for makeup days. For sites that do not have this flexibility, we will recommend the next closest testing site as a potential makeup session.
What precautions are being taken for Covid-19?Mask requirements will vary by location based on the most current, local guidance. At most sites, the decision to mask will be up to each individual. Additionally, we will ensure any shared equipment is properly sanitized before and between uses. **At our Window Rock and Tuba City locations, masks are currently required.
What accommodations will be given to my child with an 504 or IEP?Since IEP and 504 plans are unique to each student, accommodations will vary based on a student’s individual needs. Any accommodations listed in the State Assessment section of the IEP or 504 will be given to the student. Common accommodations include: extra time, stretch or restroom breaks, testing in a small group, access to text-to-speech technology, the ability to use scratch paper, use of a diabetic monitor, and use of noise canceling headphones. Please refer to your student’s plan or as your student’s service provider for more information.
What are the dates of testing?The primary testing window will take place during the weeks of April 3-7 and April 10-14. Most of our testing sites will test during just one of the two weeks mentioned above. Additionally, we will be offering early ACT during the week of March 27-31 at a few locations.
What are the locations for testing?We plan to have over 40 different testing locations throughout the valley and the rest of the state. In order to make testing accessible, these locations may include ASU campuses, hotel conference rooms, community college campuses, local libraries, and community centers. Sites that we currently plan to offer include: Phoenix, Glendale, Goodyear, Scottsdale, Anthem, Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, San Tan Valley, Maricopa, Casa Grande, Tucson, Green Valley, Sierra Vista, Benson, Douglas, Gila Bend, Yuma, Nogales, Wickenburg, Bagdad, Prescott, Show Low, Payson, Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Tuba City, Kayenta, Chinle, Window Rock, Holbrook, Thatcher, Globe, Kingman, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu, Colorado City, Clifton, and Page.
What are the hours of testing?Testing hours will vary depending on the exam being administered and on the student taking the exam. The times below will be the norm at most of our testing locations.
AASA sessions will start at either 9:00 am or 1:00 pm (not all sites will have an afternoon session available). These exams are untimed, but are estimated to take between 1.5 - 2.5 hours to complete each day.
AzSCI sessions will start at 9:00 am. This exam is untimed, but is estimated to take between 2 - 2.5 hours to complete.
ACT Aspire sessions will start at 9:00 am. This exam is timed. We anticipate ACT Aspire sessions concluding between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm.
ACT sessions will start at 9:00 am. This exam is timed. We anticipate ACT sessions concluding between 1:30 pm and 2:00 pm.
**Timed exam sessions may look different for students with documented accommodations.
Is my child able to bring snacks/water to testing?Yes, we strongly recommend that students bring snacks/water to testing. For students taking the ACT and ACT Aspire, we recommend sending students with a full lunch since the exam sessions extend into the afternoon. Students taking ACT and ACT Aspire will have a designated lunch time during the test but will not be permitted to leave the testing facility during that time.
Are families required to attend the testing location closest to their home address?No; we are happy to switch families to the location of their choice. If you see another location on the list that works better for you, please let your LSC know as they reach out in November and December so we can reassign your testing location early. Space is limited at each location, so please reach out with requests as soon as possible.
Elementary School
Are there any differences between K-5 and 6-12 online learning?K-5 students spend more time in the group setting and with their teacher in Zoom. These students begin the day on Zoom with their class for homeroom and their lesson, then they have a break, and in the afternoon teachers will pull small groups of students into Zoom for targeted, personalized support. 6-12 students have less synchronous time than K-5. The amount of synchronous and asynchronous time can be customized to meet the needs of our partners.
What curriculum is used in elementary school?The curriculum in each class is personalized by the teacher, aligning with the Arizona state standards. The teacher will integrate live video chat lessons, publisher-created online lessons, workbook style activities, hands-on projects and teacher created content.
Are there standardized state tests in elementary school?Yes, AzM2 is the statewide achievement test for Arizona students. Arizona public school students in Grades 3 – 8 and grade 10 (cohort 2023 in 2020-2021 school year) will take the grade level AzM2 assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Testing dates are in the spring each year. All students are responsible for taking the in-person state standardized tests.
Is Kindergarten a full-day program?Yes our program has scheduled activities throughout the day. Although we do not offer AM/PM options, online learning allows for a flexible schedule.
What are the age requirements for Kindergarten and First Grade?Kindergarten: Any student enrolling in kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before Sept 1 in the school year for which you are enrolling. First Grade: Any student enrolling in 1st grade must be six (6) years old on or before Sept 1 in the school year for which you are enrolling.
What are the technology requirements?Students need to have a computer with a modern browser and internet access. The following items are suggested for all courses:
- earbuds
- webcam
- printout of course pace chart and syllabus
- calendar/planner
- pencils and college ruled paper for students who would like to take written notes
There are a few materials and downloads needed for particular courses (mainly electives) and a tech and materials spec document can be requested for any course.
Devices (We recommend devices less than 5 years old)
- Desktop
- Laptop
- Chromebook
- Microphone and webcam
Operating Systems- Windows 10 and newer
- Mac OSX 10.6 and newer
- Linux
- ChromeOS
Internet Speed- High speed internet (recommended)
Supported Browsers- Chrome(latest version)(recommended)
- Edge (latest version)
- Safari (latest version)
- Firefox (latest version)
Supported Browser Plugins and Settings- Javascript enabled
- Flash - latest version is recommended
- 1024x768 is recommended
- Pop-up blockers should be disabled
- Cookies should be enabled.
Please contact
support.asuprep.org for further assistance.
Middle School
When is middle school enrollment? How do I enroll?Enrollment deadlines for middle school are the same as high school. You can view the latest info
here. To get started, just fill out the
online enrollment form. Once submitted, we'll review and send you an email with instructions on how to upload your required documents. After we collect all the state required docs, you'll be assigned a Learning Success Coach who will help you get started.
What is a typical weekly schedule for a middle school student?Students should expect to spend 5-7 hours per course, per week. Most students take 5 courses per semester. The schedule is flexible and students can work when they want. There are scheduled live lessons in each class, one per week. Some students like to do all subjects each day, some prefer to work on a single subject each day.
How do students interact socially?Students will have collaborative live lessons as a whole class and in small groups using Zoom. They will also have one-on-one lessons and feedback sessions with their teacher. We also offer middle school clubs where students can socialize both online and at optional in-person events.
What are the technology requirements?Students need to have a computer with a modern browser and internet access. The following items are suggested for all courses:
- earbuds
- webcam
- printout of course pace chart and syllabus
- calendar/planner
- pencils and college ruled paper for students who would like to take written notes
There are a few materials and downloads needed for particular courses (mainly electives) and a tech and materials spec document can be requested for any course.
Devices (We recommend devices less than 5 years old)
- Desktop
- Laptop
- Chromebook
- Microphone and webcam
Operating Systems- Windows 10 and newer
- Mac OSX 10.6 and newer
- Linux
- ChromeOS
Internet Speed- High speed internet (recommended)
Supported Browsers- Chrome(latest version)(recommended)
- Edge (latest version)
- Safari (latest version)
- Firefox (latest version)
Supported Browser Plugins and Settings- Javascript enabled
- Flash - latest version is recommended
- 1024x768 is recommended
- Pop-up blockers should be disabled
- Cookies should be enabled.
Please contact
support.asuprep.org for further assistance.
Is there a new student orientation?Yes, all middle school students will complete one week of New School Orientation similar to our high school students. This will help students become familiar with the systems and software as well as learn some of the strategies needed to become successful online learners.
Does our middle school offer honors courses or a gifted program?Students are able to move through courses at their own pace and can begin taking high school courses as soon as they are ready. We personalize the learning for each student instead of grouping them under any specific label. ASU Preparatory Academy meets the needs of all children, including those who are gifted students by utilizing Personalized Mastery-Based Learning where students are not limited to grade level curriculum, but continue to learn by demonstrating mastery on State Standards at their pace. This allows students to accelerate in one or more content areas as they are ready. In addition, students may expand their learning with Project Based Learning, which provides an opportunity to solve real world problems. The commitment to this personalized approach to meeting the standards prepares students for college, career, and life. Personalizing the grade-level curriculum through adaptive software programs combined with opportunities to leverage deep learning and the ability to take courses outside the current grade level (ie - a 4th grader taking Algebra 1).
School Partnerships
How difficult is it for students to navigate Canvas?Like any new technology platform, it is expected that students may need support as they begin their course. Teachers will help guide students during the live lesson through the content and expectations of the course. In addition, the Learning Success Coach will play a major role in helping students learn how to submit assignments and access resources within their course. Canvas continues to become more user friendly and incorporates icons to represent different types of content. In addition, we streamline our ASUPD content within Canvas so that students have consistency in the platform and are able to build familiarity with the system quickly.
How do you recruit an LSC?We recruit LSCs through word of mouth and in our existing network and faculty connections. We are very much embedded in the ASU community, as well as the broader K12 community. We frequently have individuals that recommend this program to a student and then wind up wanting to work in that space. ASUPD seeks candidates who often have a background in counseling or teaching.
What does the teacher role look like in an online environment?The teacher role in an online environment vs a brick and mortar school is very different. Our teachers are not juggling the synchronous needs of 30 students, 5 times a day. This leaves more time for teachers to ensure that each and every student has a personalized pathway to success in their class. At ASUPD we have a variety of different learners and thus, have a different strategy for each student. Some students join every lesson and are pretty independent. The communication with these students looks a bit different than a student that may be struggling and needs daily contact from their teacher. Since these students are not getting the big group experience as much, the teacher is able to focus their time on personalizing support for each student.
What does a teacher’s schedule look like when they are not in a live lesson?Teachers spend their days conducting one-on-one calls, completing DBAs with their students, providing asynchronous feedback on assignments, and meeting with small groups. Teachers also spend time progress-monitoring, customizing pace plans with struggling students, and building relationships with their students and families. They are also coordinating with learning facilitators and LSCs to get extra touchpoints with their students on Zoom when possible.
Do you survey students to get a sense of engagement? What’s working for them in a digital environment?Yes, we send out teacher and LSC surveys one time per semester to obtain student and family feedback. We use this feedback to learn more about what our students need and to continue to grow our practice and increase student and family satisfaction and learning. Other informal surveys and conversations are conducted by ASUPD teachers and LSCs throughout the semester to gauge student interest and seek feedback.
Does the LSC have a tie-back to the brick and mortar school? Is there some alignment there?Yes, the LSC has a close relationship with the local school administrator or facilitator and has the ability to send grade updates and course progress as needed. In addition, the LSC will reach out to the brick and mortar school to seek additional support or insight when needed. We also encourage local schools to keep an open line of communication to alert the LSC of critical student information when needed.
What are the technical requirements and materials needed?The following items are suggested for all courses: - earbuds
- webcam
- printout of course pace chart and syllabus
- calendar/planner
- pencils and college ruled paper for students who would like to take written notes
There are a few materials and downloads needed for particular courses (mainly electives) and a tech and materials spec document can be requested for any course. Devices (We recommend devices less than 5 years old)- Desktop
- Laptop
- Chromebook
- Microphone and webcam
Operating Systems- Windows 10 and newer
- Mac OSX 10.6 and newer
- Linux
- ChromeOS
Internet Speed- High speed internet (recommended)
Supported Browsers- Chrome(latest version)(recommended)
- Edge (latest version)
- Safari (latest version)
- Firefox (latest version)
Supported Browser Plugins and Settings- Javascript enabled
- Flash - latest version is recommended
- 1024x768 is recommended
- Pop-up blockers should be disabled
- Cookies should be enabled.
Virtual Reality (VR) /Augmented Reality (AR) Some courses have Virtual and Augmented Reality experiences which are best viewed with devices that are AR/VR enabled. These experiences can have large file sizes and it is recommended that they are downloaded over wi-fi. Minimum Devices:- iPhones 5S
- Samsung Galaxy S5
- Newer VR/AR enabled devices (Recommended)
Please contact support.asuprep.org for further assistance. What is a Learning Success Coach?A learning success coach is a learner’s individualized support while enrolled at ASU Prep Digital. Even our part time students are assigned an LSC. Learning success coaches monitor progress, connect with students’ goals and support learning needs.
Do you offer credit recovery?Our courses are built to be College Preparatory, so while not a credit recovery curriculum, some of our courses offer targeted remediation pathways for learners who need it.
What does adaptive mean?ASU Prep Digital defines adaptive curriculum as any course that provides a unique path and experience for each student. In some courses technology adapts the path based on student behavior and performance. In other courses, data is provided that allows teachers to personalize and curate the learning experience.
What is your course build pedagogy?For our new course releases, we develop our courses using Understanding by Design's framework and utilizing a discovery learning approach. We also leverage immediate feedback to redirect a student towards understanding and transfer of learning. To learn more, please watch this
Two-Minute Course Tour video.
Can the courses work in any LMS?Our courses can be hosted in most modern learning management systems, including Canvas, Buzz, D2L, Moodle, Schoology, Blackboard, Edmodo, Google Classroom, etc.
How are the courses hosted?ASU Prep Digital hosts courses in the Canvas learning management system, but our curriculum can be loaded into any school’s LMS.
How does ASU Prep Digital partner with schools?- Teaching - We can help fill staffing gaps with online instruction from experienced, certified high school teachers and ASU professors.
- Online Course Licensing - We offer 40+ high school and 200+ university online courses for use with your teachers or ours. Explore our course catalog or take a two-minute course tour.
- Training and professional development - We offer face-to-face and web-based professional development on blended learning and virtual instruction.