Horizon Charter School (HCS)

Horizon Charter School Revised Mission 2023:In collaboration with home educators, Horizon Charter Schools ensure intentional and relevant student learning by providing tailored and comprehensive educational options to empower EVERY student to develop into a contributing and thriving citizen.1.In the 2020-2021 school year, HCS saw growth and improved achievement based on our local iReady indicators in both Reading and Math for our Kindergarten to Grade 9 students. In Math, end-of-year standards achievement results grew from 59% performing on grade level in 2020 compared to 67% performing on grade level in 2021. In Reading, end-of-year standards achievement results grew from 65% performing on grade level in 2020 compared to 71% performing on grade level in 2021, 73% on grade level in 2022, and 82% on grade level 2023-24 Local Control and Accountability Plan for Western Placer Unified - Horizon Charter School Page 6 of 67 in 2023. Considering the restrictions due to COVID-19, increases in parent participation in virtual school activities rose from 829 attendees in 2019-2020 to over 1000 in 2020-2021. In the 2022-2023 school year, we made a significant effort to increase in person activities and experienced an increased amount of participation. We plan to build on this success in the up coming year. Graduation rates have consistently improved from 60.9% in 2017 to 79.5% in 2020 to 81.3% in 2022 and an estimated improvement in 2023. Horizon will continue its effort to maintain and build upon these successes by monitoring students through Professional Learning Community practices and student case management practices. High School counselors will also continue to create course plans for students that ensure success in preparing for College and Career upon graduation. 2.In the 2020-2021 school year, Horizon Charter School took a close look at the need to reorganize to maximize our resources to impact student achievement while maintaining our commitment to personalized learning options. In April of 2021, the Horizon Charter School Governing Board approved a strategic plan for improved student achievement with a focus on reorganizing our largest program, Independent Home Study. Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, all supervising teachers were reorganized into grade span Academies with rosters of students spanning 3-4 grade-levels instead of 14 grade-levels. Supervising teachers engage in Professional Learning Communities with a focus on a narrower span of grade-levels to develop grade-level standard and assessment expertise and support students through their personalized learning pathway choices using the recommended curriculum. K- 8 Students have the choice in Math and ELA/ELD to engage in their learning through On-Demand Leaning, Supported Home Study, Blended Learning or Alternative Home Study. In High School, all students will engage in On-Demand Learning, Virtual Learning Institute, or Dual Enrollment in a community college. All core courses will be A-G aligned and overseen by Highly Qualified Teachers. Credit recovery options, compacted classes and Incomplete recovery is available for students who need to recover from learning setbacks. This Strategic Plan for Improved student achievement aligned with our partnership with parent educators, is the foundation for our LCAP plan for 2021-2024. All goals and actions are developed with a focus to improve student achievement for our unduplicated students and all students who chose Horizon Charter School for their educational program. 3.Horizon Charter School has developed a comprehensive effort to engage all partners with a stake in our outcomes, to provide feedback to inform the upcoming LCAP. Over the past 3 years, HCS has developed strategic goals around family and community engagement with the idea that if we improve relations with our families then our families would more fully participate in the decision making process. To meet this objective we offer: Daily and weekly live interactions and engagement sessions for our students; Parent Mentor interactions and workshops for families; Formal structures for communication and increased informal opportunities via surveys and monthly meetings with teachers; Parent Advisory Committee meetings and an instructional Leadership team, ILT/PAC; Information family HUB; and Increased student and family social engagements. The shift to the virtual settings in response to Covid 19 had a positive impact on our engagement across all venues as our partners could provide feedback and attend sessions remotely. We have leveraged this and expanded our feedback model to include three dimensions: parent information meetings, recorded sessions and surveys to assure all members of the Horizon community may fully participate and inform the LCAP and the LCFF.