Student Participation & Engagement Policy

digiTIES / The Islamic Education School District

Student Participation & Engagement Standards

STU-003 · Student · Policy & Procedure

Policy Number	STU-003
Category	Student
Effective Date	2026–2027 School Year
Last Reviewed	March 2026
Next Review Due	December 2026
Approved By	Principal
Standards	WASC B2, C1 · NSQ B2, C4 · digiTIES Core Values
Policy Contact	Principal – principal@digities.org
Scope	All enrolled students, Grades 1–12, live and asynchronous modalities
Replaces	Participation Rubric 2024 – converted from rubric to formal policy with rubric as appendix

Policy Overview

Purpose & Statement

Active, meaningful participation is the foundation of learning at digiTIES. This policy establishes clear, consistent expectations for student engagement in both live and asynchronous settings, defines how participation is assessed, and provides teachers with a standardized rubric for documenting student engagement. Participation reflects not only academic readiness but also the core ethical values – responsibility, honesty, trustworthiness, and care – that define a digiTIES student.

Scope & Who This Applies To

This policy applies to all students in Grades 1–12 in all learning formats. Participation expectations apply equally to synchronous (live) and asynchronous learners, with format-specific criteria detailed below. Teachers are responsible for consistently applying this policy in their courses.

Grade Weight

Participation counts for up to 5% of the overall course grade. This percentage is applied consistently across all courses and grade levels. Teachers may not weight participation above 5% without written approval from the Principal.

Participation Expectations

Live Session Expectations

Students log in on time – within minutes 1–4 of class start (see ADM-002 for tardiness definition).
Camera is on at all times during live sessions, with the student’s full face and upper half of body clearly visible. Niqab exemption is recognized and documented. Exceptions for turning the camera off may be granted with teacher and administration permission on a case by case basis.
Microphone is in proper working order and used appropriately during class activities.
Students actively contribute to discussions, activities, and assigned tasks.
Students are prepared – required materials and assignments are ready at class start.
Students maintain respectful, positive behavior throughout the session.

Asynchronous Expectations

Students complete all assigned coursework by 11:59 p.m.EST each Friday of the current week.
Students engage meaningfully with all course materials – videos, readings, and discussion boards.
Students respond to teacher feedback within 24 hours.
All work is completed honestly and independently, in alignment with the digiTIES Honor Code.

Participation Rubric

Teachers assess participation using the following rubric. Each criterion is scored 0–4. Scores are recorded in digiTIES SIS at the end of each week, supported by daily documentation notes.

Criteria	4 – Excellent	3 – Good	2 – Satisfactory	0–1 – Needs Improvement
Behavior	Consistently respectful and positive. Never disruptive.	Usually respectful. Rarely disruptive.	Occasionally disruptive or uncooperative.	Frequently disruptive or disrespectful.
Participation	Actively contributes to all discussions and activities.	Regularly participates and contributes.	Participates but may be passive or inconsistent.	Rarely participates or contributes.
Preparedness	Always prepared with materials and assignments completed on time.	Generally prepared with most materials.	Sometimes unprepared or missing materials.	Often unprepared with incomplete or missing work.
Engagement	High interest and enthusiasm. Camera on, face visible (niqab exemption). Mic working.	Engaged in most activities. Camera/mic generally functional.	Some interest but often passive. Camera on most of the time.	Little to no engagement. Camera or mic not functional.
Punctuality	Always on time (logs in within min. 1–4) and meets all deadlines.	Usually on time. Meets deadlines with minor exceptions.	Occasionally late or misses deadlines.	Frequently late (logs in min. 5+) or misses deadlines.

Scoring & Grading

Total rubric score: 20 points maximum (5 criteria × 4 points each). Participation grade is calculated as a percentage of points earned out of 20, applied to the 5% course weight.

17–20 points: Excellent participation – full credit
13–16 points: Good participation – partial credit
9–12 points: Satisfactory participation – reduced credit
0–8 points: Needs improvement – minimal credit; teacher must document concern and notify parent

Documentation & Recording

Teachers record daily participation notes in digiTIES SIS attendance comments to support end-of-week scoring.
Weekly participation score is entered in digiTIES SIS by the following Monday.
Teachers provide written comments on student participation on each report card.
Participation scores below 2 in any criterion trigger parent notification.
Positive reinforcement is built into daily teaching – teachers document recognition notes alongside participation records.

Positive Reinforcement Integration

Teachers are expected to build positive reinforcement into participation tracking. Suggested tools include: early dismissal pass, extra credit, no-homework pass, student choice rewards, class competitions, student suggestions. Where possible, allow students to have input on reward preferences – this increases motivation and ownership.

Standards & Legal Alignment

Standard / Law	Reference	How This Policy Addresses It
ACS WASC 2026	Standards B2, C1	Student-centered instruction ensures engagement and critical thinking; school culture supports students’ academic and social-emotional growth.
NSQ Online Programs 2025	Standard B2	Online teachers promote active student participation and engagement using varied strategies appropriate to the online environment.
NSQ Online Programs 2025	Standard C4	Policies and procedures are reviewed annually and implemented consistently across all learning modalities.
digiTIES Core Values	Responsibility & Honesty	Student participation reflects core ethical values of responsibility, honesty, and academic integrity.

Related Policies & Documents

STU-002 – Student Behavior & Discipline Policy
STU-004 – Core Ethical Values Policy
ADM-002 – Attendance Policy
HR-005 – Teacher Evaluation & Observation Policy
CUR-001 – Lesson Planning Standards Policy

Annual Policy Review Log

Per NSQ Standard C4 and ACS WASC Standard A6, all policies must be reviewed annually with documented stakeholder input and governing body approval.

Date	Revised By	Approved By	Summary of Changes
03.2026	Manal Nachef	Principal / Board	Initial adoption

digiTIES Vision, Mission & Values – Policy Alignment Reference

VISION

By 2030, digiTIES will stand among the world’s most respected virtual schools – a premier destination for Muslim youth seeking rigorous academics, global opportunity, and a community rooted in faith and integrity.

MISSION

digiTIES delivers a rigorous, WASC-accredited virtual education that prepares Muslim youth for competitive university pathways and meaningful futures. We combine academic excellence, innovative digital learning, and a values-driven community rooted in the Islamic tradition to develop confident, ethical, and future-ready leaders.

CORE VALUES ALIGNMENT

Before adoption, confirm this policy supports: Academic excellence · Islamic values · Digital innovation · Student agency · Community partnership · Continuous improvement

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