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APEX Learning

Using APEX for Acceleration & Replacement

Updated – March 19, 2013 Page 1

Table of Contents APEX COURSES FOR ADVANCEMENT IN ENGLISH / LANGUAGE ARTS ............................................................ 2

APEX ENGLISH / LANGUAGE ARTS COURSES FOR REPLACEMENT .................................................................. 2

APEX MATH COURSES FOR ADVANCEMENT TO AP ........................................................................................ 4

APEX MATH COURSES FOR REPLACEMENT .................................................................................................... 7

APEX SCIENCE COURSES FOR ADVANCEMENT TO AP ..................................................................................... 9

APEX SCIENCE COURSES FOR REPLACEMENT ................................................................................................ 12

APEX SOCIAL STUDIES COURSES FOR ADVANCEMENT TO AP ....................................................................... 15

APEX WORLD LANGUAGE COURSES FOR ACCELERATION/REPLACEMENT ..................................................... 18


APEX COURSES FOR ADVANCEMENT IN ENGLISH / LANGUAGE ARTS

Four consecutive years are required for graduation in English / Language Arts. Courses (English 9, 10, 11, and 12) are sequential and it is required for a student to successfully complete one level in order to advance into the next. Therefore, APEX courses cannot be used for advancement in language arts.

APEX ENGLISH / LANGUAGE ARTS COURSES FOR REPLACEMENT

Courses Available: • English 1 Honors -‐ equivalent to FHS English 9 Honors • English 1 Core -‐ equivalent to FHS English 9 • English 11 Honors -‐ equivalent to FHS English 10 Honors • English 11 Core -‐ equivalent to FHS English 10 • English 111 Honors -‐ equivalent to FHS English 11 Honors • English 111 Core -‐ equivalent to FHS English 11 • English 1V Honors -‐ equivalent to FHS English 12 Honors • English 1V Core -‐ equivalent to FHS English 12 • AP English Language and Composition -‐ equivalent to FHS course • AP English Literature and Composition -‐ equivalent to FHS course

Purpose: For eligible students who wish to take the course outside of their regular schedule. This option allows students more flexibility within the current high school schedule to pursue other course choices, while still meeting the English requirements for high school graduation. Courses taken for replacement will appear on a student’s transcript and earn 5 high school credits.

Eligibility: Students must meet the eligibility requirement for the comparable FHS English level as outlined in the Franklin High School Program of Studies. Prior to starting the course students must receive approval from the Language arts Supervisor and a consent form signed by a parent/guardian must be submitted to their guidance counselor. (See attached form).

Requirements: • Students must complete all other on line assessments under the supervision of a district approved APEX instructor.

• An approved APEX instructor will monitor students on line activity.

o Students must sign on to the APEX Learning site at least once a week for a minimum of two hours. o All semester one course work and assignments must be completed by the end of the FHS semester one date. o Students will take the FHS midterm exam during the regularly scheduled midterm exam sessions. o All semester two course work and assignments must be completed by the end of the FHS semester two date. o Students will take the FHS final exam during the regularly scheduled final exam sessions. o Failure to meet the sign in requirements may result in a loss of credit for the course.

• Students are not required to take the APEX semester 1 exam or final exam. In their place students must take the FHS exams at

each equivalent level.

• Grades on the transcripts will be based on the following formula: o 80% of the students grade is based on the grade given for the on line assignments. o 10% of the students grade is based on the FHS midterm exam o 10% of the students grade is based on the FHS final exam

• Students will be charged a fee of $225.00 for this course.


Franklin Township Public Schools FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL 500 Elizabeth Avenue

Somerset, New Jersey 08873-‐5200

Permission to Take an APEX Course for Replacement

My child __________________________________ would like to take a course of study in ___________________________________

_________________________________________ (name of course) offered through the APEX Learning program.

I understand that this is a five-‐credit course and is a replacement course that will appear on my child’s official high school transcript. In order to be eligible for credit, the following criteria must be met:

1. The enrollment must be approved by the Franklin High School English Supervisor. 2. Students must complete all other on line assessments within the agreed timeframe.

3. Students must sign on to the APEX Learning site at least once a week for a minimum of two hours. Failure to meet the sign

in requirements may result in a loss of credit for the course.

4. Students must take the FHS equivalent midterm & final exams during the regularly scheduled exam sessions.

5. The grade on the transcripts will be calculated using the formula below: a. 80% of the students grade is based on the grade given for the on line assignments. b. 10% of the students grade is based on the FHS midterm exam c. 10% of the students grade is based on the FHS final exam

This form must be signed and returned to the Guidance Department prior to registering for the course. Once the enrollment is approved, the form will be signed by the Franklin High School English Supervisor and a copy returned to you for your records. Parent Name______________________________ Date___________________ (Please print) Parent signature___________________________ Date___________________ ************************************************************************************************************

Course approved FHS English Supervisor: _____________________ Date: ___________________


APEX Math Courses for Advancement to AP Geometry (Core) or Geometry Honors Purpose: For eligible Algebra 1 students who wish to advance directly to Algebra 2 Honors without taking the pre-‐requisite Geometry course. Geometry courses taken for advancement to Algebra 2 Honors need to appear on a student’s transcript to earn high school credits, as Geometry is a graduation requirement. Eligibility: Any student who meets the current requirements for Geometry Honors as outlined in the Franklin High School Program of Studies. Prior to starting the course students must receive approval from the Math Supervisor and a consent form signed by a parent/guardian must be submitted to their guidance counselor (see attached form). Course Requirements: • Students are not required to take the APEX Geometry (core) or Geometry Honors semester 1 exam or final exam.

• Students must take the FHS Geometry midterm and final exams. In order to earn high school credit and eligibility for

advancement to Algebra 2 Honors a student must score an average of 85 or higher on these exams. Students who fail to achieve a grade of 85 or higher will not be eligible for Algebra 2 Honors. Students who achieve a grade of 80 to 84 have the option of receiving credit for Geometry and placement into Algebra 2 or completing the FHS Geometry course in their regular schedule.

• Students must take the FHS Geometry Honors midterm and final exams. In order to earn high school credit and eligibility for

advancement to Algebra 2 Honors a student must score an average of 80 or higher on these exams. Students who fail to achieve a grade of 80 or higher will not be eligible for Algebra 2 Honors. Students who receive a grade of 70 to 79 have the option of receiving credit for Geometry Honors and placement into Algebra 2 or completing the FHS Geometry Honors course in their regular schedule.

• The APEX course must be completed by the end of July prior to the start of school. • Students are responsible for scheduling the FHS Geometry Honors exam with the Math Supervisor before August 15th. • Students will be charged a fee of $225.00 for this course.

Pre-‐Calculus (Core) or Pre-‐Calculus Honors Purpose: For eligible Algebra 2 Honors students who wish to advance directly to Honors Calculus or AP Calculus without taking the pre-‐requisite course. Courses taken for advancement to Honors or AP will appear on a student’s transcript to earn high school credits. Eligibility: Any student who meets the current requirements for Pre-‐Calculus or Pre-‐Calculus Honors as outlined in the Franklin High School Program of Studies. Prior to starting the course students must receive approval from the Math Supervisor and a consent form signed by a parent/guardian must be submitted to their guidance counselor (see attached form).


Course Requirements: • Students are not required to take the APEX Pre-‐Calculus (Core) or Pre-‐Calculus Honors semester 1 exam or final exam.

• Students must take the FHS Pre-‐Calculus midterm and final exams. In order to earn high school credit and eligibility for

advancement to Calculus Honors a student must score an average of 80 or higher on these exams. Students who fail to achieve a grade of 80 or higher will not be eligible for Calculus Honors. Students who achieve a grade of 70 to 79 have the option of receiving credit for Pre-‐Calculus without placement into Calculus Honors or completing the FHS Pre-‐Calculus course in their regular schedule.

• Students must take the FHS Pre-‐Calculus midterm and final exams. In order to earn high school credit and eligibility for

advancement to AP Calculus a student must score an average of 85 or higher on these exams. Students who fail to achieve a grade of 85 or higher will not be eligible for AP Calculus. Students who achieve a grade of 80 to 84 have the option of receiving credit for Pre-‐Calculus with placement into Calculus Honors or completing the FHS Pre-‐Calculus course in their regular schedule.

• Students must take the FHS Pre-‐Calculus Honors midterm and final exams. In order to earn high school credit and eligibility for

advancement to AP Calculus a student must score an average of 80 or higher on these exams. Students who fail to achieve a grade of 80 or higher will not be eligible for AP Calculus. Students who receive a grade of 70 to 79 have the option of receiving credit for Pre-‐Calculus Honors and placement into Calculus Honors or completing the FHS Calculus Honors course in their regular schedule.

• The APEX course must be completed by the end of July prior to the start of school. • Students are responsible for scheduling the FHS Geometry Honors exam with the Math Supervisor before August 15th. • Students will be charged a fee of $225.00 for this course.




Permission to Take an APEX Course for Acceleration to Honors Algebra 2, Honors Calculus or AP Calculus

My child __________________________________ would like to take a course of study in


I understand that by taking this course my child will may receive notation of the course, a grade, and credit on his/her FHS transcript while being eligible for acceleration to the next Honors level or Advanced Placement course in the math sequence. The course my child would like to advance to is____________________________________. In order to be eligible for accelerated placement, the following criteria must be met: • The enrollment must be approved by the Franklin High School Math Supervisor.

• The student must take the FHS midterm and final exam in the subject area and receive a passing grade of 80 (Honors)/85 (Core)

or higher. If your child fails to pass the FHS exam with the required grade, he/she must take the required FHS course. This form must be signed and returned to the Guidance Department prior to registering for the course. Once the enrollment is approved, the form will be signed by the Franklin High School Math Supervisor and a copy returned to you for your records. The APEX course must be completed before July 31st and the FHS final exam must be scheduled and completed by August 15th. Parent Name______________________________ Date___________________ (Please print) Parent signature___________________________ Date___________________ ************************************************************************************************** Course approved by FHS Math Supervisor: _____________________ Date___________________ Midterm and Final FHS Exam grade: ________________________________________ Student approved for accelerated placement into: _____________________________


APEX Math Courses for Replacement Courses Available: • Geometry Core – equivalent to FHS Geometry • Algebra 2 Core– equivalent to FHS Algebra 2 Purpose: For eligible Geometry or Algebra 2 students who wish to take the course outside of their regular schedule. This option allows students more flexibility within the current high school schedule to pursue other course choices, while still meeting the math requirements for high school graduation. Courses taken for replacement will appear on a student’s transcript and earn 3 high school credits. Eligibility: Students must meet the eligibility requirement for the comparable FHS math courses as outlined in the Franklin High School Program of Studies. Prior to starting the course students must receive approval from the Math Supervisor and a consent form signed by a parent/guardian must be submitted to their guidance counselor (see attached form). Course Requirements: • Students must complete all on line assessments under the supervision of a district approved APEX instructor. • An approved APEX instructor will monitor students on line activity. • Students must sign on to the APEX Learning site at least once a week for a minimum of two hours. • All semester one course work and assignments must be completed by the end of the FHS semester one date. • Students will take the FHS midterm exam during the regularly scheduled midterm exam sessions. • All semester two course work and assignments must be completed by the end of the FHS semester two date. • Students will take the FHS final exam during the regularly scheduled final exam sessions. • Failure to meet the sign in requirements may result in a loss of credit for the course. • Students are not required to take the APEX semester 1 exam or final exam. In their place students must take the FHS Geometry

or Algebra 2 exams at each equivalent level. • Grades on the transcripts will be based on the following formula:

o 80% of the student’s grade is based on the grade given for the on line assignments. o 10% of the students grade is based on the FHS midterm exam o 10% of the students grade is based on the FHS final exam








I understand that this is a three-‐credit course and is a replacement course that will appear on my child’s official high school transcript. In order to be eligible for credit, the following criteria must be met: • The enrollment must be approved by the Franklin High School Math Supervisor. • Students must complete all other on line assessments within the agreed timeframe. • Students must sign on to the APEX Learning site at least once a week for a minimum of two hours. Failure to meet the sign in

requirements may result in a loss of credit for the course. • Students must take the FHS equivalent midterm & final exams during the regularly scheduled exam sessions. • The grade on the transcripts will be calculated using the formula below:

o 80% of the students grade is based on the grade given for the on line assignments. o 10% of the students grade is based on the FHS midterm exam o 10% of the students grade is based on the FHS final exam

This form must be signed and returned to the Guidance Department prior to registering for the course. Once the enrollment is approved, the form will be signed by the Franklin High School Math Supervisor and a copy returned to you for your records. Parent Name______________________________ Date___________________ (Please print) Parent signature___________________________ Date___________________ ************************************************************************************************** Course approved FHS Math Supervisor: _____________________ Date: ___________________


APEX Science Courses for Advancement to AP Biology Honors Purpose: For eligible Biology Honors students who wish to advance directly to an AP Biology without taking the pre-‐requisite first year course. Courses taken for advancement to AP will not appear on a student’s transcript and therefore do not earn high school credits. Eligibility: Any student who meets the current requirements for Biology Honors as outlined in the Franklin High School Program of Studies. Prior to starting the course students must receive approval from the Science Supervisor and a consent form signed by a parent/guardian must be submitted to their guidance counselor. (See attached form) Course Description: Biology is an in-‐depth course that furthers mastery of scientific skills, fosters a deep understanding of key concepts, and promotes the application of the scientific method to biological topics. The course begins with an introduction to the nature of science and biology, including the major themes of structure and function, matter and energy flow, systems, and interconnectedness of life. Students then apply those themes to the structure and function of the cell, cellular metabolism, and biogeochemical cycles. Building on this foundation, students explore the connections and interactions between living things by studying genetics, ecosystems and natural selection, and evolution. Lab activities are not included in this course. The content is based on the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and is aligned to state standards and the FTPS Honors Biology Curriculum. Course Requirements: • Students are not required to complete Unit 5, Semester 2 (Human Biology).

• No laboratory work is required. The NJDOE requirement for laboratory science will be met through completion of the AP Biology

course. • Students are not required to take the APEX semester 1 exam or final exam. • Students must take the FHS Biology Honors final exam. For eligibility for advancement to AP Biology a student must score a B or

higher on this exam. Students who fail to achieve a grade of B or higher will not be eligible for AP Biology and must complete the FHS Biology Honors course in their regular schedule.

• The APEX course must be completed by the end of July prior to the start of school. • Students are responsible for scheduling the FHS Biology Honors exam with the Science Supervisor before August 15th • Students will be charged a fee of $225.00 for this course.

Chemistry Honors

Purpose: For eligible Chemistry Honors students who wish to advance directly to an AP Chemistry without taking the pre-‐requisite first year course. Courses taken for advancement to AP will not appear on a student’s transcript and therefore do not earn high school credits. Eligibility: Any student who meets the current requirements for Chemistry Honors as outlined in the Franklin High School Program of Studies. Prior to starting the course students must receive approval from the Science Supervisor and a consent form signed by a parent/guardian must be submitted to their guidance counselor. (See attached form) Course Description:


Chemistry Honors offers a curriculum that emphasizes students’ understanding of fundamental chemistry concepts while helping them acquire tools to be conversant in a society highly influenced by science and technology. The course provides students with opportunities to learn and practice critical scientific skills within the context of relevant scientific questions. Topics include the nature of science, the importance of chemistry to society, atomic structure, bonding in matter, chemical reactions, redox reactions, electrochemistry, phases of matter, equilibrium and kinetics, acids and bases, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, nuclear reactions, organic chemistry, and alternative energy. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded within the course and students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts. Lab activities are not included in this course. Throughout this course, students are given an opportunity to understand how chemistry concepts are applied in technology and engineering. Journal and Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply concepts learned in the Studies and practice their writing skills. The content is based on the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Project 2061 benchmarks and the National Science Education Standards and is aligned with state standards and FTPS Chemistry Honors curriculum. Course Requirements: • No laboratory work is required. The NJDOE requirement for laboratory science will be met through completion of the AP

Chemistry course.

• Students are not required to take the APEX semester 1 exam or final exam. • Students must take the FHS Chemistry Honors final exam. For eligibility for advancement to AP Chemistry a student must score

a B or higher on this exam. Students who fail to achieve a grade of B or higher will not be eligible for AP Chemistry and must complete the FHS Chemistry Honors course in their regular schedule.

• The APEX course must be completed by the end of July prior to the start of school. • Students are responsible for scheduling the FHS Chemistry Honors exam with the Science Supervisor before August 15th





Permission to Take an APEX Course for Acceleration to an AP Science



I understand that by taking this course my child will receive no notation of the course, no grade, and no credit on his/her FHS transcript; however he/she may be eligible for acceleration to the Advanced Placement course in the same science content. The AP course my child would like to advance to is ____________________________________________________. In order to be eligible for accelerated placement, the following criteria must be met: 1. The enrollment must be approved by the Franklin High School Science Supervisor. 2. The student must take the FHS final exam in the subject area and receive a passing grade of 80 (B) or higher. If your child fails to pass the FHS exam with the required grade, he/she must take the required FHS course. This form must be signed and returned to the Guidance Department prior to registering for the course. Once the enrollment is approved, the form will be signed by the Franklin High School Science Supervisor and a copy returned to you for your records. The APEX course must be completed before July 31st and the FHS final exam must be scheduled and completed by August 15th. Parent Name______________________________ Date___________________ (Please print) Parent signature___________________________ Date___________________ ****************************************************************************** Course approved by FHS Science Supervisor: _____________________

Date___________________

Final FHS Exam grade: __________________________________________________

Student approved for accelerated placement into: _____________________________


APEX Science Courses for Replacement Courses Available • Biology Honors – equivalent to FHS Biology Honors • Biology Core – equivalent to FHS Lab Biology • Biology Literacy Advantage – equivalent to FHS Biology • Chemistry Honors – equivalent to FHS Chemistry Honors • Chemistry Core – equivalent to FHS Lab Chemistry • Chemistry Literacy Advantage – equivalent to FHS Chemistry Purpose: For eligible Biology or Chemistry students who wish to take the course outside of their regular schedule. This option allows students more flexibility within the current high school schedule to pursue other course choices, while still meeting the science requirements for high school graduation. Courses taken for replacement will appear on a student’s transcript and earn 6 high school credits. Eligibility: Students must meet the eligibility requirement for the comparable FHS science level as outlined in the Franklin High School Program of Studies. Prior to starting the course students must receive approval from the Science Supervisor and a consent form signed by a parent/guardian must be submitted to their guidance counselor. (See attached form) Course Description (Biology): Biology focuses on the mastery of basic biological concepts and models while building scientific inquiry skills and exploring the connections between living things and their environment. The course begins with an introduction to the nature of science and biology, including the major themes of structure and function, matter and energy flow, systems, and interconnectedness of life. Students then apply those themes to the structure and function of the cell, cellular metabolism, and biogeochemical cycles. Building on this foundation, students explore the connections and interactions between living things by studying genetics, ecosystems and natural selection, and evolution. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts. Lab activities are a required component of this course for credit. Students must complete a minimum of 12 lab assignments during the course, which reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science. The content is based on the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and is aligned to state standards and FTPS Biology curriculum. Course Description (Chemistry): Chemistry offers a curriculum that emphasizes students’ understanding of fundamental chemistry concepts while helping them acquire tools to be conversant in a society highly influenced by science and technology.


The course provides students with opportunities to learn and practice critical scientific skills within the context of relevant scientific questions. Topics include the nature of science, the importance of chemistry to society, atomic structure, bonding in matter, chemical reactions, redox reactions, electrochemistry, phases of matter, equilibrium and kinetics, acids and bases, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, nuclear reactions, organic chemistry, and alternative energy. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts. Lab activities are a required component of this course for credit. Students must complete a minimum of 12 lab assignments during the course, which reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science. Throughout this course, students are given an opportunity to understand how chemistry concepts are applied in technology and engineering. Journal and Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply concepts learned in the Studies and practice their writing skills. The content is based on the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Project 2061 benchmarks and the National Science Education Standards and is aligned with state standards and FTPS Chemistry curriculum. Course Requirements: • Students enrolled in any of the Biology courses are not required to complete Unit 5, Semester 2 (Human Biology).

• Students must complete a minimum of 12 lab assignments, selected from the district curriculum. Completion of these

assignments will take place under the supervision of a certified Biology/Chemistry teacher, who is also an approved APEX instructor.

• Students must complete all other on line assessments under the supervision of a district approved APEX instructor. • An approved APEX instructor will monitor students on line activity.


• Students are not required to take the APEX semester 1 exam or final exam. In their place students must take the FHS Biology or

Chemistry exams at each equivalent level.

• Grades on the transcripts will be based on the following formula: o 60% of the students grade is based on the grade given for the on line assignments. o 20% of the student’s grade is based on the completed laboratory assignments. o 10% of the students grade is based on the FHS midterm exam o 10% of the students grade is based on the FHS final exam








I understand that this is a six-‐credit course and is a replacement course that will appear on my child’s official high school transcript. In order to be eligible for credit, the following criteria must be met: 1. The enrollment must be approved by the Franklin High School Science Supervisor. 2. Students must complete the required 12 lab assignments. 3. Students must complete all other on line assessments within the agreed timeframe. 4. Students must sign on to the APEX Learning site at least once a week for a minimum of two hours. Failure to meet the sign in

requirements may result in a loss of credit for the course. 5. Students must take the FHS equivalent midterm & final exams during the regularly scheduled exam sessions. 6. The grade on the transcripts will be calculated using the formula below:

a. 60% of the student’s grade is based on the grade given for the on line assignments. b. 20% of the student’s grade is based on the completed laboratory assignments. c. 10% of the student’s grade is based on the FHS midterm exam d. 10% of the student’s grade is based on the FHS final exam

This form must be signed and returned to the Guidance Department prior to registering for the course. Once the enrollment is approved, the form will be signed by the Franklin High School Science Supervisor and a copy returned to you for your records. Parent Name______________________________ Date___________________ (Please print) Parent signature___________________________ Date___________________ ****************************************************************************** Course approved FHS Science Supervisor: _____________________

Date: ___________________


APEX Social Studies Courses for Advancement to AP

US History 2 Honors Purpose: For those students who are recommended for US History 2 Honors but who wish to advance directly to an AP US History 2 course. Courses taken for advancement to AP will not appear on a student’s transcript and therefore do not earn high school credits. Upon successful completion of the Apex Learning acceleration coursework, students will be enrolled in AP US History 2 as a part of their regular day’s schedule at Franklin High School. Eligibility: Any student who meets the current requirements for US History 2 Honors as outlined in the Franklin High School Program of Studies. Prior to starting the course students must receive approval from the Social Studies Director and a consent form signed by a parent/guardian must be submitted to their guidance counselor (see attached form) Course Description: U.S. History traces the nation’s history from the pre-‐colonial period to the present. Students learn about the Native American, European, and African people who lived in America before it became the United States. They examine the beliefs and philosophies that informed the American Revolution and the subsequent formation of the government and political system. Students investigate the economic, cultural, and social motives for the nation’s expansion, as well as the conflicting notions of liberty that eventually resulted in civil war. The course describes the emergence of the United States as an industrial nation and then focuses on its role in modern world affairs. Moving into the 20th and 21st centuries, students probe the economic and diplomatic interactions between the United States and other world players while investigating how the world wars, the Cold War, and the “information revolution” affected the lives of ordinary Americans. Woven through this chronological sequence is a strong focus on the changing conditions of women, African Americans, and other minority groups. The course emphasizes the development of historical analysis skills such as comparing and contrasting, differentiating between facts and interpretations, considering multiple perspectives, and analyzing cause-‐and-‐effect relationships. These skills are applied to text interpretation and in written assignments that guide learners step-‐by-‐step through problem-‐solving activities. Students perfect their ability to use logic and evidence to create persuasive written arguments in five-‐paragraph essays and in shorter exercises such as document-‐based questions and analytic discussions. The content is based on standards from the National Council for History Education (1997), the National Center for History in the Schools (1996), and the National Council for Social Studies (1994) and is aligned to state standards and the FTPS curriculum. Course Requirements: Students are not required to take the APEX semester 1 exam or final exam. Students are required to take the FHS US2 Honors midterm and final exam, in a proctored setting during the summer, as a part of their Apex timeframe. Students must schedule these FHS proctored exams with the Social Studies Director during July. For eligibility for advancement to AP US History 2, a student must score an 80 or higher on this exam. Students who fail to achieve a grade of 80 or higher will not be eligible for AP US History 2 and must complete the FHS US History 2 Honors course in their regular schedule. The APEX course must be completed by July 31st prior to enrollment into AP US History 2.


Students who successfully accelerate through Apex Learning for placement into AP US History 2 must also complete all assigned summer work for the AP US History 2 class. That work will be due on the second day of school in September. Students will be charged a fee of $225.00 for this course. World History Honors Purpose: For those students who are recommended for World History Honors but who wish to advance directly to an AP World History course. Courses taken for advancement to AP will not appear on a student’s transcript and therefore do not earn high school credits. Upon successful completion of the Apex Learning acceleration coursework, students will be enrolled in AP World History as a part of their regular day’s schedule at Franklin High School. Eligibility: Any student who meets the current requirements for World History Honors as outlined in the Franklin High School Program of Studies. Prior to starting the course students must receive approval from the Social Studies Director and a consent form signed by a parent/guardian must be submitted to their guidance counselor (see attached form). Course Description: World History is a robust, writing-‐intensive course that uses multiple perspectives to trace the development of civilizations around the world from prehistory to the present. Students are encouraged to use their knowledge of critical points in history to develop their points of view and apply what they have learned to the promotion of civic action in a rapidly globalizing world. The course explores how human-‐geographic relationships, political and social structures, economics, science and technology, and the arts have developed and influenced life in these civilizations. Students investigate the major religions and belief systems throughout history and learn about the importance of trade and cultural exchange. Other topics include the development of agriculture, the spread of democracy, the rise of nation-‐states, the industrial era, the spread of imperialism, and the issues and conflicts of the 20th century. World History is designed as the second course in the social studies sequence. Students continue to improve their analytic writing and develop confidence by writing multiple short analytic pieces and longer essays, including document-‐based questions. Primary documents are embedded in the instruction to encourage students to make frequent connections to evidence from the past. The content is based on standards from the National Council for History Education (1997), the National Center for History in the Schools (1996), and the National Council for Social Studies (1994) and is aligned to state standards and the FTPS curriculum. Course Requirements: Students are required to take the FHS World History Honors midterm and final exam, in a proctored setting during the summer, as a part of their Apex timeframe. Students must schedule these FHS proctored exams with the Social Studies Director during July. For eligibility for advancement to AP World History, a student must score an 80 or higher on this exam. Students who fail to achieve a grade of 80 or higher will not be eligible for AP World History and must complete the FHS World History Honors course in their regular schedule. The APEX course must be completed by July 31st prior to enrollment into AP World History. Students who successfully accelerate through Apex Learning for placement into AP World History must also complete all assigned summer work for the AP World History class. That work will be due on the second day of school in September. Students will be charged a fee of $225.00 for this course.




Permission to Take an APEX Course for Acceleration to an AP Social Studies Course



I understand that by taking this course my child will receive no notation of the course, no grade, and no credit on his/her FHS transcript; however he/she may be eligible for acceleration to the Advanced Placement course in the same social studies content. The AP course my child would like to advance to is _____________________________________. In order to be eligible for accelerated placement, the following criteria must be met: 1. The enrollment must be approved by the Franklin High School Social Studies Director. 2. The student must take the FHS midterm and final exams in the subject area and receive a passing grade of 80 or higher.

a. If your child fails to pass the FHS exam with the required grade, he/she must take the required FHS honors course. This form must be signed and returned to the Guidance Department prior to registering for the course. Once the enrollment is approved, the form will be signed by the Franklin High School Social Studies Director and a copy returned to you for your records. The APEX course and proctored exams must be completed before July 31st. Parent Name______________________________ Date___________________ (Please print) Parent signature___________________________ Date___________________ ************************************************************************************************** Course approved by FHS Social Studies Director: _____________________ Date___________________

FHS midterm grade _______ FHS final grade _______

Student approved for accelerated placement into: _____________________________


APEX World Language Courses for Acceleration/Replacement

SPANISH: • Spanish 1 Core – equivalent to FHS Spanish 1 • Spanish 2 Core – equivalent to FHS Spanish 2 • Spanish 1 Honors – equivalent to FHS Spanish 2Honors • Spanish 2 Honors – equivalent to FHS Spanish 3Honors • AP Spanish Language -‐ equivalent to FHS AP Spanish Language FRENCH: • French 1 Honors – equivalent to FHS French 1 • French 2 Honors – equivalent to FHS French 2 Purpose: For eligible Spanish and French students who wish to take the course outside of their regular schedule. This option allows students more flexibility within the current high school schedule to pursue higher Language course choices, or the opportunity to pursue other courses while still meeting the World Language requirements for high school graduation. Courses taken will appear on a student’s transcript and earn 5 high school credits. Eligibility: Students must meet the eligibility requirement for the comparable FHS World Language level as outlined in the Franklin High School Program of Studies. Prior to starting the course students must receive approval from the World Language Supervisor and a consent form signed by a parent/guardian must be submitted to their guidance counselor (see attached form). Course Description: SPANISH Spanish 1 Core – equivalent to FHS Spanish 1 In Spanish I students learn to greet people, describe family and friends, talk about hobbies, and communicate about other topics, such as home life, occupations, travel, and medicine. Each lesson presents vocabulary, grammar, and culture in context, followed by explanations and exercises. Vocabulary includes terms to describe school subjects, parts of the body, and people, as well as idiomatic phrases. Instruction in language structure and grammar includes the structures and uses of present-‐tense verb forms, imperatives, adjective agreement, impersonal constructions, formal and informal address, and reflexive verbs. Students explore words used in different Spanish-‐speaking regions and learn about the cultures of Spanish-‐speaking countries and regions within and outside Europe. The content is based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards. Spanish 2 Core – equivalent to FHS Spanish 2 Building on Spanish I concepts, Spanish II students learn to communicate more confidently about themselves, as well as about topics beyond their own lives -‐ both in formal and informal situations. Each lesson presents vocabulary, grammar, and culture in context, followed by explanations and exercises. Students expand their vocabulary in topics such as cooking, ecology, geography, and architecture. Instruction in language structure and grammar includes a review of present-‐tense verb forms, an introduction to the past tense, the conditional mood, imperatives, impersonal constructions, and reported speech. Students deepen their knowledge of Spanish-‐speaking regions and cultures by learning about history, literature, culture, and contemporary issues. The content is based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards. Spanish 1 Honors – equivalent to FHS Spanish 2Honors Spanish I covers the five Cs of the ACTFL standard: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. The instruction is balanced between the thematic and communicative approaches to learning language. Spanish I students learn to greet people, describe family and friends, talk about hobbies, and communicate about other topics, such as ecology, travel and medicine. Each lesson presents vocabulary, grammar, and culture in context, followed by explanations and exercises. Vocabulary includes terms to describe school subjects, parts of the body, and people, as well as idiomatic phrases. Instruction in language structure and grammar includes the verb system, adjective agreement, formal and informal address, reflexive verbs, and past tense. Students explore words used in different Spanish-‐speaking regions, and they learn about the cultures of Spanish-‐speaking countries and


regions within and outside Europe. Web explorations give students further insight into the culture and people of the Spanish-‐speaking world, including the United States. Spanish I is balanced between the thematic and communicative approaches to learning language. The content is based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards. Spanish 2 Honors – equivalent to FHS Spanish 3Honors Spanish II covers the five Cs of the ACTFL standard: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. The instruction is balanced between the thematic and communicative approaches to learning language. Leveraging Spanish I concepts, Spanish II students learn to communicate more confidently about themselves and their hopes and fears, as well as about topics beyond their own lives — both in formal and informal situations. Each lesson presents vocabulary, grammar, and culture in context, followed by explanations and exercises. Students expand their vocabulary in cooking, geography, and architecture. Instruction in language structure and grammar includes verb forms, tenses, moods and uses, impersonal constructions, and reported speech. Students deepen their knowledge of Spanish-‐speaking regions and cultures by learning about history, literature, culture, and contemporary issues. Students also are encouraged to consult materials outside the course, such as Web links, community resources, or other media, to better understand Spanish-‐speaking culture and people. Spanish II is balanced between the thematic and communicative approaches to learning language. The content is based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards. AP Spanish Language -‐ equivalent to FHS AP Spanish Language AP* Spanish Language students practice perfecting their Spanish speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. They study vocabulary, grammar, and cultural aspects of the language, and then apply what they’ve learned in extensive written and spoken exercises. By the end of the course, students will have an expansive vocabulary and a solid, working knowledge of all verb forms and tenses. The equivalent of a college-‐level language course, AP Spanish Language prepares students for the AP exam and for further study of Spanish language, culture, or literature. This course has been authorized by the College Board to use the AP designation. FRENCH: French 1 Honors – equivalent to FHS French 1 Balanced between the thematic and communicative approaches to learning language, French I teaches students to greet people, describe family and friends, talk about hobbies, and communicate about other topics, such as sports, travel, and medicine. Each lesson presents vocabulary, grammar, and culture in context, followed by explanations and exercises. Vocabulary includes terms to describe school subjects, parts of the body, and people, as well as idiomatic phrases. Instruction in language structure and grammar includes the verb system, adjective agreement, formal and informal address, reflexive verbs, and past tense. Students also gain an understanding of the cultures of French-‐speaking countries and regions within and outside Europe, as well as insight into Francophone culture and people. The content is based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards.

French 2 Honors – equivalent to FHS French 2 Building on French I concepts, French II students learn to communicate more confidently about themselves, as well as about topics beyond their own lives — both in formal and informal address. Balanced between the thematic and communicative approaches to learning language, each lesson presents vocabulary, grammar, and culture in context, followed by explanations and exercises. Vocabulary includes terms in cooking, geography, and architecture. Instruction in language structure and grammar includes verb conjugations and uses in the present tense, past tense, and imperative and conditional moods, as well as direct and indirect objects and personal, possessive, and relative pronouns. Students deepen their knowledge of French-‐speaking regions and cultures by learning about history, literature, culture, and contemporary issues. To further connect to French culture and people, students are encouraged to view supplementary materials on the Web or to consult community resources or other media. The content is based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards. Course Requirements: • In addition to the APEX curriculum, students must complete a minimum of 4 IPA (Integrated Performance Assessments),

selected from the district curriculum. Completion of these assessments will take place under the supervision of a certified Spanish teacher, who is also an approved APEX instructor.


• Students must complete all on line assessments under the supervision of a district approved APEX instructor. • An approved APEX instructor will monitor students on line activity.


• Grades on the transcripts will be based on the following formula:

o 50% of the students grade is based on the grade given for the on line assignments. o 30% of the students grade is based on the completed Intergraded Performance Tasks (IPA) o 10% of the students grade is based on the Apex midterm exam o 10% of the students grade is based on the Apex final exam




Permission to Take an APEX Course for Replacement/Advancement in World Languages



I understand that this is a five-‐credit course and is a replacement course that will appear on my child’s official high school transcript. In order to be eligible for credit, the following criteria must be met: • The enrollment must be approved by the Franklin Township World Language Supervisor.

• Students must complete the required 4 Integrated Performance Assessments. • Students must complete all other on line assessments within the agreed timeframe. • Students must sign on to the APEX Learning site at least once a week for a minimum of two hours. Failure to meet the sign in

requirements may result in a loss of credit for the course. • Students must take the APEX equivalent midterm & final exams during the regularly scheduled exam sessions. • The grade on the transcripts will be calculated using the formula below:

o 50% of the students grade is based on the grade given for the on line assignments. o 30% of the students grade is based on the completed Integrated Performance Assessments (IPA) o 10% of the students grade is based on the Apex midterm exam o 10% of the students grade is based on the Apex final exam

This form must be signed and returned to the Guidance Department prior to registering for the course. Once the enrollment is approved, the form will be signed by the Franklin High School Science Supervisor and a copy returned to you for your records. Parent Name______________________________ Date___________________ (Please print) Parent signature___________________________ Date___________________ ************************************************************************************************** Course approved FHS World Language Supervisor: _____________________ Date: ___________________

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