Frequently Asked Questions
- Application and Enrollment
- Online Learning & Technology
- General
- Courses & Instruction
- Graduation/Diploma
Application and Enrollment
What are the location and age restrictions?
Students must be residents of Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Napa, Solano, Contra Costa or Marin Counties, and must be 19 years of age or younger when they enroll. Students under 14 must provide evidence of completion of eighth grade. Some exceptions apply for students over 19 but not over 22 years of age who have been continuously enrolled in high school and making progress toward a diploma.
Do students have to start in the 9th grade?
Students may start in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade, but must complete at least 50 credits to get their diploma from the school.
Can students enroll and begin classes at any time of the year?
Students can enroll any time during the year, but must begin their classes at the beginning of the fall or spring semester.
What can I do to improve my chances of acceptance?
The School is a public school, thus all students who wish to enroll are admitted subject only to capacity and the geographic and age restrictions listed above. Therefore, no additional information will improve chances of acceptance. However, if the application appears incomplete, or if any additional information is needed, you will be contacted.
How many students will get into the school?
The School is a public school, thus all students who wish to enroll are admitted subject only to capacity and the geographic and age restrictions listed above. If there are more applicants than capacity, admission shall be determined by a public random drawing.
I’ve been expelled. Will I get into Insight School of California - North Bay?
Each case will be reviewed based upon records from your current or former school district or school where the expulsion occurred.
Can I attend part-time?
Students must attend Insight full-time. Students may NOT be enrolled in another public or private school while attending our School.
Online Learning & Technology
Do I need to have a computer to attend Insight School of California - North Bay?
Every full-time Insight School student is provided with a laptop and printer while enrolled in our School.
Who is responsible for ink/toner replacement for the printers?
Insight Schools will provide full-time students with a starter set of ink/toner with the initial printer shipment. It is then the responsibility of the family for future ink/toner replacement.
What are the internet connection requirements for a student to be successful?
The minimum ‘connection requirement’ for students who attend our schools is dial-up speed. Faster transmission speeds and more powerful computing platforms may provide a richer experience, but are not required.
When will my computer arrive? How will I get it?
Your laptop computer will be shipped before orientation and the start of the school year.
How do you protect against cyber predators?
Cyber predators today are something that all schools, online or not, must deal with. At Insight Schools, the education we deliver and the tools for virtual socialization we provide (discussion boards) are located behind secure, password-protected servers. Insight-issued laptops are outfitted with software to block the more sensitive sex and violence oriented sites, which can be areas where cyber predators seek out children.
Although nothing but strong parenting coupled with educating our children of the risks of cyber predators can stop predators from being completely successful, our program encourages students to socialize online behind safe ‘doors’.
General
How do you offer socialization in an online high school?
The level of socialization a student wants is a decision of the family and the student. However, Insight offers both virtual and face-to-face opportunities to interact with other students and families.
The classes that students take provide many opportunities for interaction through discussion threads and ‘virtual classrooms’ where students are together at the same time communicating through two-way voice over IP, instant messaging, and application sharing.
Virtual socialization also includes participation in clubs (e.g., debate, newspaper, student government, chess) organized and run virtually. Face-to-face socialization includes periodic events organized by Insight and held in different locations throughout the region. Through our prior experiences, students have told us that they found they could build great relationships with other students through the community-building structure we provide.
What about athletics and other extracurricular activities like band and drama?
Insight School of California - North Bay doesn’t yet offer high school athletics as part of its program. We’ll facilitate a student’s participation at the student’s local school as state law and district policy allow. ISCA-NB students can participate in other activities like Band, Drama, etc. at their home district only if that district allows them to do so, and there cannot be course credit earned at Insight for these activities.
Will school dances be held? A graduation ceremony?
Yes, there will be dances and a graduation ceremony. Periodically, Insight School of California - North Bay will hold field trips and events in different geographic locations throughout the region.
Where does the name “Insight” come from?
To gain insight is to find the true nature of something, to find an answer to a difficult question. Insight School of California - North Bay works with students for whom traditional high school is not the best setting. It helps students find insight into how they can succeed in their own education given their own personal aspirations and abilities.
The emphasis on the ‘I’ in our logo represents four things. First, it represents our principle of the celebration of the individual and the uniqueness in each individual’s abilities, dreams, and history. Second, it symbolizes the fact that our program is delivered over the Internet. Third, it relates to our program being a self-directed, fully supported, independent study program. Finally, it represents interaction in our courses, between students, and between families.
Can I participate in sports at my local school?
It is possible to do, but it depends on the school and district where you want to participate.
Is the school accredited?
Insight School of California – North Bay is in the process of obtaining dual accreditation from both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS).
Courses & Instruction
Does online learning in an independent study format work well?
Yes. For many students, online independent study learning is an excellent means by which their personal strengths can be drawn out, while their weaknesses can be addressed. An online independent study program addresses students with different learning styles. It also allows students to engage in meaningful one-to-one interactions with instructors in a more anonymous environment that rewards curiosity and exploration without retribution. Finally, it offers engagement through interaction and access to information made possible through technology at a pace and time that suits teens.
What roles do instructors play?
Instructors, all of whom are California-certified, are able to focus their time on teaching, mentoring, and engaging with students rather than on classroom management because of the professionally prepared curriculum and the independent study nature of the program. Instructors are able to prioritize building relationships with each and every student and understand their particular needs because the means for interaction are primarily one-to-one.
Instructors work closely with students as subject matter experts to help with the exploration, comprehension, and application of course concepts. Instructors answer day-to-day questions and assess the student’s performance through assignments, exams, and quizzes.
Do your courses require textbooks?
Some courses require books. Insight provides required books to all students.
How do you teach lab courses like Biology or Chemistry?
The content component and structure of our biology courses are the same as our other courses. We make use of the latest technology to walk students through virtual labs and dissections. When necessary to meet University of California A-G requirements, we may arrange for on-site laboratory instruction throughout the geographic region.
How do you satisfy the physical fitness requirement?
We have a set of courses that emphasize individual physical fitness and nutrition. These courses require the student to form, measure, and report on their individual fitness as they complete individual physical fitness exercises.
Are there assignments and due dates?
It is important that students complete assignments and stay within close proximity to a schedule. Staying current with assignments will allow teachers to more effectively provide group as well as individual assistance. Completing assignments will provide the student with knowledge necessary to be successful in future coursework.
Our curriculum provides due dates for assignments. Students should complete assignments on the assigned dues dates.
Please note, in accordance with California law, missed assignments may require the school to evaluate whether independent study is an appropriate educational environment.
How do you prevent students from cheating?
Insight takes academic integrity very seriously and has a number of methods to prevent plagiarism and inappropriate collaboration. We use a number of online tools designed specifically for identifying plagiarism in type-written assignments. Our online quizzes and exams require proctor passwords and the feedback for online quizzes is designed to include “flags” that signal instructors when a student is copying from another student. Date and time stamps and clocks that measure the amount of time spent on the online quiz can also be used to identify inappropriate student collaboration.
A more subjective, but no less effective, tool for identifying cheating is the instructor’s knowledge of the student’s ability, past work, and verbal “print”. Keeping in mind that much of the relationship with the student is built via the written word, a student’s “word print” is as unique and identifiable in an online classroom as a student’s face is in a face-to-face classroom.
Although no school—online or otherwise—can guarantee 100% academic honesty, we’ve taken all reasonable measures available to us to monitor student activities and to identify cheating when it happens. Instances of academic dishonesty will be dealt with immediately and in accordance with School policy. Prior to enrolling in classes, students and their parents are required to sign an academic honesty policy.
How do parents stay involved?
We sincerely hope that parents will be deeply involved in their student’s experience at Insight School of California - North Bay, although we recognize that for some students this may not be possible. Although the level at which parents involve themselves is a family decision, we hope parents at least support their son or daughter in their studies, keep informed of their progress, and encourage them to stay on top of their work.
We also recognize that as students enter the high school years, they often seek to become more independent. Our program is designed to support exploration of that independence, but always providing necessary guidance and expertise through the Insight iSupport Team where needed.
What support do you offer students?
Support comes in many forms: academic support, student services, and technological support.
All students receive support from their instructors (subject-matter experts), mentors, admissions counselors, and special education coordinators as needed. This team will provide guidance and communication, to help with learning strategies, and to enable success. The Technological Support Team will help families with course access issues, lost passwords, and hardware issues.
Do I have to be home while my child is doing schoolwork?
No. Although your son or daughter will benefit from your encouragement and knowing that you care about his or her progress, the Insight iSupport Team is available for support. One benefit of our program is that your son or daughter can study at his or her own time, place, and pace—you will be able to observe your student “going to school” during your off hours.
Do Insight credits transfer back into other high schools if needed?
Insight School of California - North Bay is a public online high school. As such, assuming students satisfactorily complete their courses, credits will likely transfer back into other high schools in accordance with each school district’s local policy. Insight School of California - North Bay works collaboratively with other school districts to maximize credit transferability, but cannot control or guarantee transferability.
Does Insight offer summer school courses?
Summer courses are not yet available as part of our program. We’re looking into how we may provide those to our students in the future.
Graduation/Diploma
Do students take the CAHSEE (California High School Exit Examination)?
As with all other State Mandated tests, students who are enrolled as full-time students at Insight School of California - North Bay are required to take the CAHSEE. Insight staff will make arrangements to have students take the CAHSEE in locations that are geographically close to where they live.
Can I transfer credits in from a homeschool portfolio? From standardized exams?
Students can be in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade when they enroll. Generally speaking, students can transfer in high school credits or earn credit for home-school work to apply towards their graduation requirements at Insight. Students who enroll with high school credits or with work from a homeschool portfolio must meet with an Insight Admissions Counselor to evaluate satisfactory completion of the work as it relates to Insight standards.
