Student Handbook
Admissions + Enrollment.
Educational Advantage (EA) is both a tutoring center and an accredited online high school. EA’s accreditation is earned and awarded by Cognia. The services provided by each arm of EA are separate; however, students may choose to integrate them.
EA welcomes all high-school-aged students seeking a flexible, accredited education, and serves a diverse student body including full and part-time learners, homeschoolers, athletes, credit recovery learners, those pursuing academic acceleration, and more. EA values inclusion and encourages all students who need and can benefit from our services to apply.
To take a course from EA, students must first complete the Enrollment Application (available on our website). During the application process, students may select their desired course(s) and indicate whether they are interested in additional in-person support (or plan to work independently). Once the application is approved, students will receive confirmation of enrollment via email, along with next steps for course access and orientation.
Digital Literacy.
To succeed in an online learning environment, students are expected to have a foundational level of digital literacy, including the ability to navigate websites and online platforms, download and upload files, use word processing programs (ie: Google Docs or Microsoft Word), and communicate via email or online course messaging tools.
Technology Access.
Students must own or have regular access to a reliable computer and a stable internet connection. If students do not have word processing programs, they will need to create a free Gmail account to use tools within the Google Suite (ie: Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides).
EA is committed to bridging the digital divide. If a student lacks consistent access to the necessary technology or internet or if they need support building basic tech skills, we encourage them to contact us. EA will work with students individually to explore available resources.
Attendance.
The advantage of online learning is that students can access their courses 24/7 and work at their own pace when and where it is most convenient. In that regard, attendance is not taken on a daily basis. This does not mean that students shouldn’t work consistently or that teachers and staff do not monitor student progress. Teachers view student activity often and will make contact (via email or phone) if students fail to progress reasonably or become inactive for a prolonged period.
Course Expiration.
EA courses are designed to be completed within four months from the date of enrollment, similar to a traditional semester. This structure supports self-paced learning while also encouraging steady progress.
Pacing & Due Dates.
Every course auto-assigns due dates based on the date of enrollment for quizzes, assignments, and exams. These are meant to help students stay on track and manage their time effectively. While there is no penalty for missing these internal deadlines, students are encouraged to follow them closely to avoid last-minute stress or course expiration.
Extensions.
If more time is needed to complete a course, students may request a two-month extension by submitting a Course Extension Form on EA’s website. A $150 non-refundable fee applies. To qualify for a course extension, the extension must be received before the course expiration date, and the student must not have submitted the “Ready Assignment” for the final exam. There are no exceptions to this policy, so students are encouraged to plan ahead.
Support for Individual Circumstances.
We recognize that life circumstances, such as illness, family emergencies, or mental health needs, can impact a student’s ability to complete coursework on time. While we must maintain academic integrity and consistency, we invite students facing challenges to reach out. Our team will explore what support options may be available prior to course expiration.
Withdrawal.
We understand that sometimes a course might not work out. EA offers a flexible withdrawal policy while balancing the need for academic structure and integrity.
Students may withdraw from a course within ten (10) days of enrollment, provided that an exam has not been requested. To withdraw, students must email an EA administrator through the website or directly (info@educationaladvantage.com). If a withdrawal is requested within this ten day window, students will receive a 50% course credit that may be applied to a future EA course (no refund). After ten days, no credit will be issued.
Students are responsible for managing their timeline and requesting an extension in advance, if needed.
External Credit.
If a student plans to transfer the credit taken from EA to another school, the student must verify that their school will accept their EA class(es). EA strongly encourages students to seek verification before course enrollment/purchase. Students who need help with this process can use the Counselor Approval Letter on our website or can contact EA for support.
Resubmission.
Students may request one re-take on every assignment, quiz, and exam by completing a Resubmission form on EA’s website. There is a fee for resubmissions ($10 for quizzes/assignments; $20 for exams). The last grade is the one that remains, even if it’s a lower grade than the previous score.
Please note: Students are required to pass the final exam to earn credit. Students who fail the final exam are required to submit a resubmission form and re-take the exam. If a student fails on their second attempt, they will fail the class. Students may submit a petition form on EA’s website. This petition must be sent within two business days of the failed exam. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Exams.
All courses have exams. Before students can request an exam, all assignments must be completed. Students are not eligible to resubmit an assignment or quiz after they have taken their exam. Unsubmitted work will receive zeros if a student chooses to take their exam before turning in their work. Resubmission attempts will not be allowed for ungraded work submitted before taking an exam.
Students are required to complete a Ready Assignment to review exam policies before taking an exam. Students must take their exam at EA or with an EA-certified proctor. If students need to set up a proctor, they need to call EA for support.
Exams may combine computer and teacher-graded portions and will generally be graded within three business days of completion.
Plagiarism + Academic Integrity.
In its simplest terms, plagiarism is copying another’s work and passing it off as your own, including failing to cite or credit an external source properly.
Academic integrity means that students respect the ideas of others through proper citation. It also means that students are completing their own work and aren’t sharing or purchasing answers or assignments with other students.
Either form of dishonesty will be penalized with a failing grade on the assignment, academic probation, and possible withdrawal from the course. All coursework goes through multiple software scans for AI and plagiarism. Students who feel they have been wrongfully accused of plagiarizing may submit a petition form through our website. EA will process petitions within 7-10 business days of submission.
Diploma Eligibility
Graduation eligibility from EA requires students to complete six full credits (25% of graduation requirements), at least two of which must be taken before 12th grade. Students who wish to earn a diploma from EA must graduate within a traditional four-year timeline. Students are given until Labor Day of their graduating year to earn a high school diploma; after that cut-off, students will earn an “Adult Education” diploma.
Course Completion.
EA courses are semester-based and are equal to a half credit (.5). Courses are organized by lesson or unit and may include assignments, quizzes, projects, and exams. Each course is designed and paced to be completed in a maximum time frame of 4 months. Students may work faster and may also purchase a course extension, which adds two months to the course. Failure to progress in a course will alert the teacher and start a conversation to discuss student activity, needed support, or any barriers to success.
Transcripts.
If students are transferring credit from EA to another institution, they must request a transcript by filling out a Transcript Request Form found after the final exam in their course or on EA’s website. Transcript requests can take 3-5 business days to process and are sent electronically.
Student Expectations.
Students must adhere to all policies in the Student Handbook, information covered in the Student Orientation, and individual course syllabi. In addition, students are expected to abide by the following:
- Treat others with respect.
- Self-advocate! We are here to help and support you as a student of our school.
- Manage time efficiently.
- Work hard.
- Be honest.
Individualization.
We understand and embrace the fact that each student has different strengths and weaknesses. We encourage all students to share any formal accommodations (IEP or 504), information about their learning style, or other circumstances that might require additional or specific support.
Educational Advantage supports a model of blended learning whereby a student has the flexibility of an online course while working in person with a highly qualified teacher to provide instruction and personalized support. This setup allows our teachers to get to know our students, foster teacher-student relationships, and help them reach their goals.
IEP or 504.
An IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) or 504 is established to ensure that students who meet specific requirements receive specialized instruction and services.
Please provide an up-to-date copy of this report so that EA can honor the accommodations established through a student’s IEP or 504.
Internet Safety.
Internet safety includes refraining from accessing unauthorized content or disclosure of information, transmitting inappropriate content, hacking, manipulating data/grades, etc. Disciplinary action will be taken upon the first offense and may include course withdrawal, suspension, or expulsion.
Student Success Plan.
At the start of every class, students are required to submit a Student Success Plan where they will define goals for course completion and discuss any obstacles that may prevent the achievement of those goals. This plan will be submitted to your teacher(s) and reviewed often to ensure that you are on track. You can edit this Student Success Plan at any time simply by resubmitting it.
Petition.
A formal petition form must be submitted if students wish to contest any area of their learning experience. Petition forms are submitted electronically through EA’s website. Petitions are generally processed within 7-10 business days.
Materials.
Course lesson content is available online, and all assignments and quizzes are submitted online. Some courses may require added resources like a novel, calculator, or Gmail account. All required materials are listed in our course catalog and the course introduction. Most materials can be borrowed or used onsite at EA.
Academic Acceleration.
Courses are active for four months from the enrollment date; however, completing the courses in a shorter amount of time is allowed.
Standardized Tests.
As a private institution with a majority population that does not attend EA full-time and therefore participate in standardized testing at their school, EA does not require its students to take formal standardized tests. However, EA strongly encourages students to take the ACT (or SAT) in 11th and 12th grade. These tests can be a requirement for college admission or submitted to bolster a student’s application.
High School Graduation Requirements
EA has two diploma options for graduating students:
Standard Diploma
(4) English
(3) Math
(3) Science
(3) Social Studies
(1.5) Fine Arts
(1) CTE (career + technical education)
(.5) Digital Studies
(.5) Financial Literacy
(.5) Health
(1.5) PE
(5.5) Electives
TOTAL: 24 credits
Advanced Diploma
(4) English
(4) Math
(3) Science
(4) Social Studies
(1.5) Fine Arts
(1) CTE (career + technical education)
(.5) Digital Studies
(.5) Financial Literacy
(.5) Health
(1.5) PE
(6.5) Electives
TOTAL: 26 credits
*Please note: these may not be the same graduation requirements as your school
Students who wish to earn a diploma from Educational Advantage must graduate within a traditional four-year timeline. Students are given until Labor Day of their graduating year to earn a high school diploma; after that cut-off, students will earn an “Adult Education” diploma.
Feedback.
We love hearing from our students and families! Whether voicing a complaint, applauding a teacher, or suggesting a new course, we want to hear what our students and parents are saying. Comments can be shared and sent through a contact form on EA’s website or emailed directly to info@educationaladvantage.com.
Students will take end-of-course surveys as part of their course.
Technical Support.
If a student needs technical support, there are a few different ways to get help: submit a contact form on EA’s website, email the teacher (through the communication tool in the course), and/or call EA directly. Technical glitches can be very frustrating and may temporarily prevent students from working on their course; we take all technical matters seriously and strive to remedy them as quickly as possible.
Digital Safety, Cyberbullying, & Harassment.
EA is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all students. Harassment, bullying, cyberbullying, hazing, and retaliation–whether based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other factor–will not be tolerated. These behaviors should be reported immediately to a teacher or administrator. Support services and transparent disciplinary processes are in place to protect all members of our community.
Students engaged in cyberbullying may be subject to disciplinary action, suspension, and possible expulsion. Formal legal charges may also be filed.
Complaints & Grievances.
EA is committed to creating a positive, respectful environment where students, families, and staff feel heard and valued. We understand that there may be times when concerns or grievances arise, and we want to ensure that every voice is heard in a fair and timely manner.
If a student or parent/guardian has a complaint, we encourage them to communicate with an EA teacher or administrator. Many issues can be resolved quickly through open and respectful communication. If the issue is not resolved or if the concern involves broader issues, you can submit a communication or petition form through our website, providing as much detail and context as possible, as well as any prior communications and the desired resolution. EA will review the grievance and respond within 7-10 business days with a solution that is fair and respectful to all parties involved.
Your feedback is important to us, and we appreciate your effort in helping us maintain a supportive and positive learning environment.
FERPA.
EA is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our students’ personal and academic information. We adhere to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that gives parents and eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records.
EA will not disclose personally identifiable information from a student’s education record without prior written consent. This includes academic records, personal information, and other sensitive data. You can find a FERPA form on our website.
Student Collaboration.
Students can work collaboratively via message boards, in-person group classes, projects, and/or if attending our Tutoring Center, where they can engage with other students.
Parent/Guardian Involvement.
EA welcomes the involvement from all caring adults in a student’s life–whether parents, guardians, mentors, or other designated supporters. EA encourages these student supporters to make a habit of asking about and monitoring their students’ progress. This can be done by logging into their child’s account, communicating with the teacher and/or administrators, and/or participating in the goal-setting exercise at the beginning of each course (Student Success Plan). At EA, we appreciate all parent/guardian support!
Students who attend EA in person to receive support with their course(s) will have each session summarized in an email sent to the parent/guardian on file. This email will detail what the student learned, worked on, and how they are pacing in their course overall, as well as any homework to complete before the next session.
Students who work independently will receive school-wide communication updates through our learning management system, can communicate with their teacher directly through the messaging tools in their course, and can contact EA directly with any questions.
Technology Requirements.
Suggested Browser: Chrome (Firefox or Safari are also supported). Access to word processing tools (Google Docs, Microsoft Word). Some classes may also require access to a webcam or scanning device (to scan and upload student work).
Non-Discrimination.
EA is committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all students. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, age, disability, socioeconomic status, or any other protected characteristic.
We believe that every student deserves access to a high-quality education and support system that honors their unique background, identity, and learning needs. Our courses and practices are designed with equity and fairness in mind.
If a student feels they have experienced discrimination or bias of any kind, they are encouraged to report the issue promptly. Concerts can be shared with a teacher, administrator, or through a formal Petition Form (found on our website).
EA is continually working to ensure that every learner at EA feels seen, valued, and supported.
Mental Health & Wellness.
At EA, we understand that mental health and overall well-being are vital to student success, and we believe that maintaining a balance between academics and personal well-being is key to a positive learning experience.
If students feel overwhelmed or need support, they are encouraged to reach out to their teacher or administrator. We are here to listen and support students, offer guidance, and help to provide additional resources, whether internal or external.
Your mental health matters, and we are here to ensure you have the support you need to thrive academically and personally.
Payment + Fees.
- Course fees: Each semester course is $250.
- Course extensions, transcript requests, and lesson/exam resubmissions incur additional fees. Students can find forms on EA’s website.
