ZAP - Zeros Aren't Permitted

Eclectic Middle School will be implementing the ZAP program for the 2009-10 school year. This program is being implemented in an effort to allow parents and teachers a chance to work together in an effort to maximize their student's academic performance.

Rationale: The faculty and administration at EMS believe that students are capable of learning if pushed and encouraged to do so. The ZAP program is just one strategy to help a child experience more success in school. Preparing a student for high school and for life requires us to ensure that each child knows the curriculum, and if a student is not completing assignments a teacher cannot provide an accurate measure of that student's knowledge.

Main Objectives:

• Improved academic performance by students
• Increased sense of responsibility for academic success
• Development of better study habits and higher quality work
• Increased communication between school and home

How this will be done:

• Provide students a "second chance" to turn in their work
• Providing a supervised work opportunity at school
• Not allowing a student to "do nothing"
• Placing a higher expectation on student success

How the program will work:

Step One: Student fails to turn in an assignment or project on time. The student will receive instruction from the teacher that the assignment will be turned in late the following day with a maximum 80% of the grade possible. The assignment should also be signed by the parent/guardian.

Step Two: If student fails to turn the assignment the next day, the student will be ZAPPED - pulled from PE class for 30 minutes and go to the teacher's classroom in which they will be making up the assignment. They will complete the assignment during this time period. The assignment will receive a maximum score of 75% of the grade possible.

Step Three: If the student refuses to complete the assignment when ZAPPED, he/she is subject to an office referral and will be assigned to ATS. The assignment will be completed there. If finished in ATS, the maximum grade possible is 50% worth of the grade possible.

Students who are ZAPPED twice in one week by the same teacher may receive an office referral.