At Sora Schools, we designed a school that aims to help our students make better, more informed choices about their next step in life–be it college, a job, research, grad school, or anything else they choose. We intentionally put student interests first, using them to help students create meaningful experiences that teach real life skills. From new forms of assessment, to giving students real agency to make their own academic decisions, we’ve designed our school to accelerate students toward their wildest dreams.

Welcome to Sora Schools!

Chris Wilson, Head of Schools

MA History, Stanford University

M.Ed. Educational Leadership, Loyola University Maryland

BA, University of Maryland

Elizabeth Davis, Director of School Operations

Ed.D. Educational Leadership, University of Colorado

MA Education, Claremont Graduate University

BA Political Science, Vassar College

Jonathan Oglesbee, High School Director

Graduate Certificate in Independent School Leadership, Johns Hopkins University

M.Div. Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

BM, Indiana University School of Music

Emily Smith, Middle School Director

MA Secondary Education, West Virginia University

BA General Science & Biology, West Virginia University

Benedum Collaborative Teacher Education Program, West Virginia University

The claims made in this handbook are subject to change at any time. The Sora Schools Community will be informed of any substantive changes.

Sora Schools seeks students from all ethnic, cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds who can benefit from a challenging academic program and make positive contributions to their world. Students are admitted on the basis of demonstrated interest and ability within a certain interest outside of traditional school, in addition to showing academic competency and past satisfactory performance. The admissions process thus cannot be gamed by external credentials or scores. We want to know students’ true selves and base our decisions holistically.

The school seeks to find a family fit with both the student and parent(s) or guardian(s) with school culture, mission, and philosophy.

The school adheres to local, state, and federal laws and regulations when establishing enrollment, admissions, and nondiscrimination policies.

Sora Schools will ensure that the admissions process and/or transcript provides sufficient documentation of a match before offering admission to any student.

Sora Schools maintains a transparent admissions process that respects the needs of students and families to learn about school programs and activities, that communicates in user-friendly formats, and that provides clear information, dates, and timeframes for all aspects of the admission process, including the acceptance of an admissions decision.

Sora Schools recognizes the right of currently enrolled students and families to consider other educational options, and if a transfer is initiated by the family, Sora Schools provides appropriate translation and documentation in a timely manner, including reminding the family of any policies related to contractual obligations to Sora Schools. Families are reminded that though transferring from Sora mid-program is possible, there is the possibility they will have to test into / provide additional documentation to the new school.

Sora Schools shares complete information about the total cost of attendance and other financial expectations with families before families are required to contractually commit to enrollment. Sora also commits to fully addressing any concerns or questions of its prospective families before requesting an admissions decision.

At Sora Schools we are committed to meeting students' needs in accordance with our admissions standards and a team decision regarding appropriate student placement.

As an independent institution funded by tuition, Sora Schools does not receive federal funding. Parents must be aware during the application process that independent schools are not required to provide special education services which are provided by federal or state government entities and local education agencies. Independent schools therefore are not required to adhere to federal and state laws regarding IDEA and special education. Existing plans and protections guaranteed under federal law are reserved for publicly-funded schools only. Sora Schools recommends that parents carefully consider all options for students who have existing IEP plans as modifications to the standard curriculum cannot be made and services cannot be provided.

Sora Schools does recognize and provide reasonable accommodations under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Most of these exist as a natural part of the Sora Schools academic program. For example, extra time on assignments (up to 48 hours with no penalty), preferential seating, small groups, alternative assignments, 1:1 assistance (through regular office hours) are accommodations Sora Students can access regularly and without any additional notification to school administration. Please note that as an independent school, Sora Schools can provide reasonable accommodations which align with its unique online academic program.

We encourage prospective parents to research and explore the Sora Schools program carefully to ensure that students’ needs can be adequately addressed in our unique academic environment.

Our goal is to be transparent with each of our Sora families. Sora Home is designed so that parents and students have access to up-to-date information regarding student attendance and progress. House Advisors are both regularly available and proactively schedule meetings with our families to consult about their student’s academic and personal progress through our program.

If a parent wishes to speak to a member of the Sora team, the parent is welcome and encouraged to reach out to them via email which can be found in the directory on Sora Home and schedule a meeting.

As a parent/guardian of a student in a virtual school, you will need to play an enhanced role in ensuring the timely progress and success of your student. With this in mind, we ask all parents/guardians to sign the Sora Parent Pledge at the beginning of each school year.

Sora Schools implements a school calendar based upon twelve week learning cycles. During a learning cycle, students will enroll in expeditions, which are scheduled sessions during which students explore interdisciplinary topics. Learning Experts serve as topical experts and collaborate with students on their projects.

When students first enroll, these projects are designed by the staff to expose students to this new paradigm of learning and its processes. As they advance through the program, students are strongly encouraged to start designing their own projects based on their interests. In turn, faculty Experts keep them accountable to their goals and ensure rigor and breadth in their work. While students are exposed to a holistic set of academic standards, they also learn important, universally transferable skills like design thinking, time management, leadership, communication, and more.

Sora does not believe in tests as the primary form of assessment. We believe tests only spot-check random standards and are a poor measure of true student progress.

We’re intentional about putting student interests first and using them to create projects for students to learn real skills. Sora staff helps students design their projects so they can use them to learn relevant things for a specific career or field. We let students lead with their own projects and when they finish, we take what they accomplished and determine what academic credit(s) they have earned.

Because we’re measuring individual credits, students can visualize their learning progress and where they need to spend more time for mastery. Over time, students will complete all academic subjects required to graduate.

The main way students earn academic credit at Sora is by demonstrating their mastery level in various curricular units and abilities through Sora’s Expeditions, Activities, and Independent Study Expeditions (ISEs). Students demonstrate their mastery of these units and abilities through the final deliverable/final project at the end of each learning cycle.

A full course load at Sora typically consists of 4 experiences per cycle. This includes:

All students are expected to participate in at least one synchronous, expert-led Sora expedition per cycle to ensure engagement with peers and faculty in real time. Even students who pursue a mostly asynchronous learning path are required to attend House Meetings as a core part of the Sora community. Exceptions to these expectations may be granted only with prior approval from the School Director, for reasons such as periodic scheduling conflicts, health or accessibility needs, or other exceptional circumstances.

Due to the interdependence between participation and async work, students who accrue more than three unexcused absences or more than 12 total absences (including excused ones) during an expedition or project cycle may not demonstrate sufficient mastery to earn credit for that cycle.

Beyond the offerings at Sora, students can earn credit through a variety of options. In all cases, prior approval of the School Director or their designee is required to ensure credit.

Sora students can earn credit through Dual Enrollment with Arizona State University’s Universal Learner Program (ASU) or Acadeum. Students can earn credit for both units and abilities through coursework completed through these programs. Mastery scores from these courses are included in the student’s GPA as follows:

See our Dual Enrollment section.

Please note that before the 2024-25 school year, Sora granted only abilities for ASU courses. Units were credited as Outside Electives.

Students may earn credit—both units and abilities—by completing college-level coursework at accredited community colleges or universities (other than ASU and Acadeum, which are covered separately).

Mastery scores from these institutions are converted to Sora’s scale as follows:

Example: A student who takes Calculus or Photography at a community college would receive Sora credit with a mastery score included in their Mastery Composite Score (MCS).

Students may also complete coursework at other accredited high schools or accredited online high school programs. However, these courses, including AP courses, are awarded transfer credit only, with no mastery score, and it is reflected on the transcripts as Transfer Credit.

Example: A student who takes Algebra II at a local high school, or Forensics through an accredited online high school, would receive transfer credit only.

Students can earn credit for Sora courses or electives with successful AP or CLEP exam scores. A Level 3 or better on an AP Exam or a 50 or better on a CLEP exam is required. Relevant exams count towards Sora’s curriculum subjects or as electives and are represented as a Transfer Credit with no mastery scores.

In rare instances, students can earn Outside Elective credit through institutions certified by a larger organization or the government, with prior approval from the School Director. These courses are evaluated on the Carnegie credit system of 120 content hours per 1 credit, and are represented as a Transfer Credit with no mastery scores.

Sora may accept high school-level homeschool courses for transfer credit during the admission process, which count toward graduation requirements. After enrollment, additional homeschool courses are not accepted for credit.

Sora reserves the right to make final determinations regarding all academic decisions related to dual enrollment and credit earned outside of Sora.

For information about reimbursement for Dual Enrollment courses, please refer to the Dual Enrollment FAQ. Please note that the reimbursement policy only applies to accredited college-level courses offered by post-secondary institutions. This policy does not cover high school-level courses, including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or any other courses offered at the high school level.

A Sora transcript will reflect the work students have completed in all learning experiences (expeditions, independent study, dual enrollment courses, etc.). Additionally, it will reflect a student’s abilities which are assessed over time. The Sora transcript is designed to communicate a student’s growth and achievement to outside institutions and is created with an external audience in mind. For a deeper understanding of a student’s academic progress, mid- and end-cycle reports, along with advisor conferences, offer the most comprehensive insight.

For high school transcripts, we also include a “Mastery Composite Score” (MCS) to further support communicating student mastery to outside institutions. For additional information, please refer to Sora’s Mastery Composite Score (High School) in the Appendix. For more information about a Sora transcript and the updates that have been made for 2025-206 please click here.

All asynchronous Tasks that are assigned before the Final Deliverable are formative and lead to a demonstration of mastery through the Final Deliverable. Students’ Experts make use of formative tasks in a variety of ways. For example, formative assessment may be given feedback within synchronous sessions by Experts, or by peers, and feedback may also be given within Sora Home. The Final Deliverable is a student’s cumulative work that is submitted at the end of a cycle. Tasks contribute to an Expert’s assessment of mastery, but are not a substitute for the Final Deliverable. Students must submit a Final Deliverable in order to earn credit.

Due dates for Tasks are designed to support timely progress on the Final Deliverable and to support meaningful synchronous learning sessions with other students in their expeditions. As such, students are expected to complete and submit all asynchronous tasks on time. Tasks submitted on time will be assessed with feedback by their expert within two school days following the due date. Tasks submitted on time in Sora Home will be tagged “submitted.” Once the Expert has reviewed the task and provided feedback, the task will be tagged as “reviewed.”

Tasks that are not submitted by the due date cannot be submitted, will not be assessed by their expert, and will not appear in Sora Home. Students who miss the submission deadline may attend Office Hours for guidance from their expert and can seek to incorporate their learning into the next task and the Final Deliverable.

Final Deliverables for Expeditions are expected to be submitted on time. If this is n

ot possible, students may request a 48-hour extension through Sora Home.

At Sora, we view assessment as part of the learning process, and students are encouraged to engage in thoughtful and respectful conversations with experts if they have questions about a final assessment. The student should initiate these discussions soon after receiving their End-of-Cycle Report, typically within 5 school days. The goal is to seek clarity, reflect on feedback, and explore possible next steps, which may include upholding the original assessment, revising it, or revisiting the work. If disagreement remains, the student can contact the School Director for further discussion. All of this is designed to emphasize growth, transparency, and shared responsibility for learning.

Final Deliverables must be submitted by either the original deadline or the approved extension deadline. Beyond this, Final Deliverables will not be accepted.

For High School Students: Final Deliverables must be submitted by either the original deadline or the approved extension deadline. Beyond this, Final Deliverables will not be accepted. If a student would like assistance with how to recover credit from a missed Final Deliverable, please reach out to a High School Dean of Students.

For Middle School Students who still wish to demonstrate mastery of the Units/Abilities from the expedition, they must have their parent/guardian communicate in writing to the Dean of Students. Students will work with the Dean of Students to create an action plan to make up the Units/Abilities missed. Students whose parent/guardian has not communicated a plan of action with the Dean of Students will not be permitted to enroll in subsequent cycles.

Registration and scheduling of Expeditions at Sora is a two step process:

1.) Set your schedule by selecting learning hours

Sora Home’s learning hours feature lets students and families select a preferred schedule for the upcoming school year by choosing from preset options or building a custom time block. Learning hours are set for the full year, so any needed changes must be requested through your School Director. Only one submission is allowed per student, and once submitted, changes cannot be made independently. Sora observers U.S. Daylight Savings Time, which may impact session times for students in areas that do not observe it.

2.) Choose your Expeditions

Once your learning hours are selected, you can then select your Expeditions. While we aim to honor your choices, final placement depends on faculty availability and student demand. After all students have been placed in expeditions, there will be an opportunity to add/drop/swap expeditions that are not fully enrolled (section enrollment is capped to provide an optimum experience for students).

Each high school student at Sora is also placed in a pathway for STEM, Humanities, and Math. A pathway is a group of Expeditions designed to help students complete a specific academic subject—such as Biology—within one school year. Pathways guide the Expeditions available to students, ensuring they stay on track for graduation while allowing for choice and interdisciplinary exploration.

Middle school students do not follow formal pathways but instead select from curated Expeditions each cycle that ensure a well-rounded academic experience.

Our faculty lead Expeditions and support student individual learning by serving as a guide and coach for our students: sparking their interests, creativity, and self-driven learning. The Sora Expert also hosts office hours for students to meet with them and discuss Expedition content and projects. They will review students’ projects, give them feedback from their perspective, and track earned credits. They will also answer questions the students have for them. This also includes working with students to find resources and incorporate graduation standards into their projects.

Daily House Meeting- Houses typically meet once daily, and attendance is required. They go over announcements, connect socially, discuss their plans for the day, work on projects, and ask for help. House meeting times are chosen when a family selects their learning hours.

During the Day - For all other parts of the day and week, students attend scheduled synchronous Expeditions sessions, visit with Experts during Office Hours, attend spark sessions, and work asynchronously on their tasks, projects, Activities, ISEs. Additionally, students use their time to participate in clubs, and other occasional campus events, programs and initiatives.

For scheduled school closings and school holidays, please refer to the Sora School Calendar.

In the increasingly competitive and unpredictable climate of college admissions, it is important for students and parents to understand that, ultimately, students are evaluated primarily on their own academic records and their demonstrated interests and talents. The goal of Sora Schools is to provide a platform for students to learn complicated, rigorous material in a more meaningful and engaging way. Sora will remain path-agnostic and will support its students should they choose to apply to college, start a business, get a job, etc. after they graduate. Because we realize that the majority of our students will seek to attend college, we’ve built college guidance into our program. The aim of the Life After Sora program is to assist every student in selecting colleges well suited for them in terms of interests, ability, and academic record.

Our faculty and staff will assist students in narrowing their college choices, completing applications, and obtaining the school recommendations that are required by colleges and universities.

Students must take charge of the process. Sora can provide practical assistance, encourage students to be open-minded, to consider various types and locations of colleges; to aim high, seeking admission to the very best college fit possible, while remaining realistic about one’s chances of admission; to visit college campuses wherever possible as the most crucial step in the admission process; to take the initiative in all aspects of the process; to complete all applications themselves instead of relying on parents to do so; and above all, to meet all obligations and deadlines set by Sora and the colleges.

Attendance at a good, rigorous school alone does not guarantee college admission; rather, admission is based on how successfully students have used their secondary school experience. Major factors in candidate selection include a student’s overall secondary school record (by far the most important factor, including mastery scores, rigor of content and projects), SAT or ACT and SAT Subject Test scores, the school’s recommendation, intellectual interests and attainments, extracurricular participation, evidence of leadership, personal interview, character, personality, and conduct record.

Sora does not administer or sponsor the College Board or ACT tests. Students should work with the Life After Sora Counselor to ensure they understand test date deadlines and college deadlines for completing these tests if they are required for the colleges they wish to apply to.

In the event that a student suffers a concussion, it is imperative that the parents notify a member of Sora’s administrative staff. We will make every effort to meet the student's needs but will not compromise the student's learning objectives or the school's standards. Students and parents should recognize the serious nature of concussions, both in terms of long-term medical implications as well as academic progress and even promotion.

For students suffering from a prolonged concussed period or suffering multiple concussions, Sora’s staff will review the case and prepare its recommendations. A representative from Sora will meet with the parents to develop a plan that will assist the student in reaching and maintaining overall academic success. This plan could include repeating work, or utilizing other external resources in order to assure that the student has mastered the skills necessary for graduation. If a student is unable to demonstrate mastery of the course material, Sora’s staff will collaborate with the family in creating an action plan.

The House Advisory Program is an integral part of the Sora educational experience, providing a supportive and engaging environment for all students. Each Sora student is assigned to a unique house with its own name, personality, and traditions. These houses create a sense of community and belonging, fostering strong bonds among students.

Houses meet every weekday and are led by a faculty House Advisor. These meetings provide valuable opportunities for collaboration, support, and personal growth. Students can discuss strategies for overcoming academic obstacles, share their successes, and build social relationships within their houses. Additionally, the meetings incorporate Advisory Curricular content that is aligned with Sora's core mindsets, enhancing students' personal and academic development.

Central to the House Advisory Program is the role of the House Advisor. Each student is assigned a House Advisor with whom they are encouraged to meet for thirty minutes to one hour each month. The House Advisor serves as a coach, mentor, accountability partner, and student advocate, providing invaluable guidance and support throughout the student's educational journey at Sora. They help students set goals, navigate challenges, and celebrate achievements, fostering a strong sense of individual empowerment and growth.

The House Advisory Program embodies the core values of Sora education, emphasizing the importance of community, collaboration, and holistic development. By actively engaging with their houses and House Advisors, students not only enhance their academic performance but also cultivate vital life skills such as communication, teamwork, and resilience. The program creates a nurturing and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and supported, fostering a deep sense of belonging within the Sora community.

At Sora, students can connect and socialize with their peers, Experts, and Advisors throughout the school year, in both structured and unstructured opportunities. These activities are offered both during the school day and at extracurricular times.

Each Campus has special traditions and events that evolve and grow each year based on the student body. Some of our core traditions include:

Clubs are student-founded and student-led social organizations that meet on Wednesdays. Examples of student clubs include, but are not limited to: Arts Clubs, Games Clubs, Hobbies Clubs and more. All Sora students have the opportunity to propose and start new clubs throughout the school year.

Sora After School, Sora's extracurricular program, offers classes and camps for both Sora students, and students not currently enrolled. These classes have a fee associated with participation that allows Sora to contract with expert coaches. Extracurricular participation is optional and not linked to academics or graduation progress.

Every Cycle students compete with their house in the House Cup Competition. At the end of each Cycle we tally up points earned to announce which Middle School and High School Houses scored the Cup and join the House Cup Hall of Fame. Scores are based on competitions such as games, “Pop-Up” challenges, and using student voice to share feedback in surveys.

Sora Schools seeks to create a community of learners where integrity and the wellbeing of all is held in the highest regard. We honor the diversity of each person’s identity and also a diversity of opinions and pathways of knowing. We value the expression of ideas when they affirm and when they challenge. We respect the integrity of an individual’s work and effort, and the worth of deep relationships that foster learning, collaboration, and nurture community. Sustaining these values requires a shared commitment from every member of the community.

As a school, we believe learning and growth are available to everyone in every moment and situation through awareness, accountability, reflection, and action.

When a student behaves in a way that is inconsistent with our norms and core values, our first responsibility is to ensure the safety of the community and to care for those who may have been negatively impacted by the actions of others. This is followed by invoking individual accountability to support growth and learning. Our goal is to help a student who behaves counter to our school’s expectations to understand the impact of their actions and to bring them back into a healthy, harmonious relationship with the community. This work involves efforts to solicit individual reflection, repair and restore relationships, and increase personal accountability, as well as determining proportional consequences for one’s actions.

Situations may arise where repair/restoration is not possible, and/or the damage to the relationship between the student and the community is too chronic or severe. In these situations, the health and safety of the community must prevail and a student may need to separate from the Sora Schools community temporarily or permanently as part of the restoration process. The decision to separate a student from the Sora Schools community is at the sole discretion of the Sora Schools leadership. These situations are the exception, and the vast majority of behavioral incidents at Sora Schools resolve with the achievement of our intended outcomes: student and community safety, individual student growth, and community reconciliation.

School Directors, Deans, and House Advisors can all be participants in supporting student growth through disciplinary conversations and actions.

Sora Schools is committed to creating and maintaining an environment that is inclusive to all members of the community. Students are expected to treat all individuals with respect. There will be no tolerance for bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, discrimination, or use of racial slurs/derogatory terms on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion, orientation, age, physical differences, or otherwise. Sora Schools does not tolerate sexual harassment. If a student feels that they are a victim of sexual assault or harassment, they should reach out to a trusted adult (Head of Schools, House Advisor, or email [email protected]) immediately. Students who display hostility, discrimination, and/or intimidation may be asked to leave Sora Schools.

All types of verbal and physical sexual abuse are prohibited across all online networks and in-person workshops, meetings and activities. Sexual abuse can be defined as unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent. This also includes any mature workplace banter, memes, or questionable content that may be accepted in the outside world, but not for minors at Sora Schools.

According to state law, a minor is defined as any person under the age of 18. Sora Schools, Inc. complies with all state laws on sexual relations and abuse according to minors. We require that our faculty, mentors in our mentor network, and students, report any cases of reasonable suspicion of sexual abuse or misconduct to the Sora Schools administrative team immediately. You may email [email protected] OR reach out to the Head of Schools or CEO to file a report to the whole administration. Any Mentor, Student or Faculty member who fails to comply with this policy will have their relationship with Sora Schools terminated. Sora Schools also bears the responsibility to report acts of sexual abuse to local authorities, the parents of our students, and any other interested party such as our insurer or accreditor.

Students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner in person at all school sponsored events, online over any platform related to Sora Schools, and in work completed through Sora Schools. Sexual intimacy in any location or event related to Sora Schools, whether in-person or online, is unacceptable. Major offenses will result in guardian notification and a conference with the guardian(s) and School Director or Dean of Students.

Sora Schools complies with Georgia Law requiring students to be age appropriately immunized with all required vaccines at the time of first entry in school. All students must have the Georgia Department of Human Resources Form 3231 immunization certificate marked Complete for School.

Sora Schools does not follow any specific set of spiritual or religious beliefs. Sora Schools will accept qualified students and hire qualified faculty regardless of their religious beliefs. Sora Schools schedule aims to provide enough flexibility for students to participate in their respective religious holidays, events, and rituals. Students are expected to follow Sora Schools’ Planned Absence policy.

Driving options for Sora Schools sanctioned events and meetups include parents, legal guardians, or designated adults driving student(s); having students drive themselves; or having students use public transportation options. Sora Schools and the Sora Schools staff members will not be responsible for driving a student anywhere.

Honor is paramount at Sora Schools. While the project-based, self-paced nature of the program disincentivizes cheating, we understand that students could misrepresent others’ work as their own. Our Humanities and STEM Experts will conduct source checks while reviewing final projects per the guideline below:

Academic Integrity at Sora Schools represents the practice of being truthful, fair, and transparent about all work that has been or will be submitted for review. This is traditionally centered around maintaining originality in all assignments, and at Sora Schools, this extends to appropriate use of learning programs/platforms, and responsible application of AI with proper attribution. Upholding academic integrity assures students will receive full credit for their genuinely completed work.

Many task submissions and final deliverables at Sora Schools are within the Google workspace: docs, sheets, presentations, and more. Google doc revision history must be visible and shared with experts for tasks/final deliverables. Google docs shared without revision history will not be accepted nor reviewed.

Student task and project submissions should occur within Sora Home. Students may not submit work which is intentionally deceptive. This includes: typing the word “done” without including a link, submitting a blank document, submitting a blind link (a link which goes nowhere), submitting a document without giving the expert the ability to view, and other similar submission methods. These actions are inconsistent with the expected integrity of academic work. Experts will notify parents and the School Director and repeated behavior may result in no credit being given.

Standard Course of Action:

Plagiarism: Students are prohibited from plagiarism, which is understood as the practice of taking someone else’s ideas or products and presenting them as your own. All incidents of suspected plagiarism will be reviewed by the School Director or Dean.

There are opportunities at Sora Schools for students to learn proper citation and reference techniques:

Citations & Reference Pages: In order to cultivate academic integrity, students are required to utilize citations and reference pages wherever appropriate. Many different iterations of citations and reference pages will be accepted. Your Expert will clarify any questions that you may have about specific requirements, but no matter the format that you choose, the expectation is that students respect the academic contributions of others to their learning process. Additionally, students can learn more about how to cite using traditional systems reaching out to any Expert for more information.

Fairness When Collaborating: When students collaborate on work that will be reviewed for credit, students must make note of the areas in which another student helped them in a way that significantly increased their ability to complete the work.

Sora Schools believes that while Artificial Intelligence (AI) software provides powerful tools for enhancing learning and creativity, it also poses challenges related to originality, fairness, and data privacy. This policy aims to guide students in the ethical, safe, and productive use of AI tools in the creation, submission, and presentation of their work. This policy applies to all students, Experts, and other members of the Sora Schools community involved in the use or evaluation of student work that involves AI. This includes, but is not limited to, projects, assignments, presentations, and other student-generated content.

This policy will be reviewed regularly to keep pace with technological advancements and changing best practices. Breaches of this policy may result in disciplinary action. Any concerns about the use of AI in student work should be reported to the campus School Director.

Sora Schools is built on community; students learn better, are more engaged in creating enduring understanding, and enjoy school more through meaningful connections with faculty and other students. These connections at Sora Schools are primarily formed through synchronous Zoom meetings in which students interact with faculty and other students through face-to-face discussion.

Attendance is key to creating both a sense of community and instilling positive habits, practicing time management and accountability skills, and respecting the time facilitators and your peers. We also don't want faculty chasing absences when they could be focused on developing the learning experience.

Students are responsible for attending all school commitments. Students are expected to attend expeditions, advising sessions, and scheduled appointments with staff and faculty on their calendars. Students are expected to attend daily House Meetings, which are a cornerstone of the Sora experience.

These policies are designed to support Sora Schools’ philosophy about student learning and are not designed to be punitive. Given the nature of a virtual school, being present is paramount in ensuring the educational quality of our school.

Regardless, students will be responsible for making a plan to complete project work when returning from an absence. If a student or parent anticipates missing a significant number of expedition sessions and/or house meetings in an upcoming cycle, they should reach out to their House Advisor and School Director to pursue async learning opportunities such as activities or independent studies.

With this in mind, attendance is a cornerstone to success at Sora Schools, and it entails the use of cameras during Zoom meetings. “Camera-on” is a requirement at Sora Schools; students should have their camera on in all expedition sessions and house meetings with their full face visible. If a student feels uncomfortable sharing a video of their surroundings, they are encouraged to use the background feature in Zoom, or comparable features on other platforms. Students can also utilize the "hide self-view" feature on Zoom, as seeing oneself can often be a source of concern or distraction for students.

Students and staff members feel more connected and engaged when others in a meeting are sharing their video. Experts also thrive on non-verbal cues, smiles, looks of confusion, etc. that bring life to their sessions. Being “present” at Sora Schools means being online, on time, with camera-on.

Camera-off attendance at Sora Schools will not be allowed except in extenuating circumstances. If a student arrives at a house meeting or expedition session with their camera off, they will first be verbally reminded by their expert or house advisor to turn their camera on. At the five-minute mark of a meeting or session, any student who continues to have their camera off will be removed from the Zoom meeting.

If a student has an approved, legitimate reason for their camera being off (for example due to tech problems, low connectivity, etc.), the rationale for a student’s camera being off must be submitted in writing by a guardian using the planned absence form on Sora Schools Home. During the synchronous session, students will rename themselves in Zoom so that all participants are aware (for example one’s Zoom name would appear as “First name Last name - Camera off - planned absence submitted”).

If a student is not feeling well, or too sick to turn their camera on, they should not attend house meetings, expedition sessions, or extracurricular activities. Students who are sick should rest, their parents/guardians should submit absence reasoning on Sora Schools home, and experts will provide recordings of sessions for students to catch up on the work they missed.

If a parent/guardian believes there are extenuating circumstances for their student to attend off-camera, they must seek permission from a Dean of Students.

Except in the case of an emergency, a student’s parent/guardian is required to submit the Excused Absence Form on Sora Home before the school day containing the absence. Although there will inevitably be unique situations that will be handled individually by a House Advisor in conjunction with the campus School Director, typical excused absences include medical/health appointments, sickness, family matters/emergencies, and religious holidays.

The registration process at Sora Schools allows students to indicate a limited number of learning blocks as unavailable in order to accommodate their personal schedules. Students and families should take care to ensure that their Sora Schools schedule indicates known conflicts with regular personal obligations. School-related activities such as meetings with faculty, college tours, or dual enrollment will be accepted as excused absences from other school activities. Absences which are not excused by a parent/guardian will be considered unexcused.

Parent/Guardian Attendance Feedback: Student’s parents/guardians will receive immediate feedback (via text) if students are absent from a required meeting or if their camera is off.

Planned Absences and Vacations: Parents/guardians should notify Sora Schools of a planned absence 48 hours in advance of the date of the absence. Students will be allowed excused planned absences for educationally and culturally enriching activities (i.e. going to museums, touring companies) provided they are able to complete the required tasks for any missed expeditions. Students will be responsible for collaborating with their Experts on a plan to complete their project work in a timely manner.

Inclement Weather and Outages: In the event of a power/internet outage or inclement weather event, students should try their best to contact their House Advisor from a mobile phone to let them know that they are unable to attend. If a student is unable to do that, once the event is over and the student is safe, the student must report to their House Advisor as soon as possible.

Tardiness: If a student arrives more than three minutes late to a meeting, they will be considered late. Arriving more than 10 minutes late, they will be considered absent. Students arriving late for any reason should enter without creating a disruption to the session in progress. If a student finds they will be late to a 1:1 meeting, it is expected that the student will communicate directly with the individual they were scheduled to meet with in advance of the scheduled meeting.

If the parent knows their student will be arriving more than 10 minutes late to a session, they are encouraged to fill out the “Absence Form” on the Sora Home Parent Dashboard.

If a student is late two or more times within a learning experience, it will be considered one absence and we will alert their parent(s). If a student is absent, we will alert their parent(s) via text. Parents/Guardians will receive emails for all other, non-urgent communications related to expedition performance.

The significance of being an active participant within the Sora Schools community cannot be overstated. It's not simply about logging in; it demands consistent attendance, active engagement, the sharing of insights, and the open exchange of ideas with peers and faculty. Through full synchronous participation, students and faculty alike have the chance to benefit from diverse experiences and perspectives, while also contributing their unique viewpoints to enhance the collective understanding. Furthermore, this kind of engagement helps to develop crucial social and citizenship skills, empathy, and what it means to be a responsible member of a community. Sora Schools cherishes the principle of learning not as an isolated pursuit, but as a collaborative, respectful, and shared journey. Hence, our commitment to active, synchronous participation is not just about maintaining academic rigor, but about fostering comprehensive growth in an increasingly digital world.

Students should participate throughout every Expedition session. When students are not actively participating, they are expected to have their microphone muted, unless otherwise instructed. There are many valid forms of participation in live sessions, and students should engage in all of these regularly:

In live sessions, students should also practice note-taking, and general respect for their Expert and fellow students. This means that all students should show up to meetings with their work space set up, note-taking material ready, and phones and other devices not directly used for learning put away.

Over time, if an Expert identifies that a student has not been participating, the Expert may request a meeting to discuss obstacles that they may be facing, and ways to better support their involvement in sessions.

Additionally, synchronous expedition sessions are designed to assist students in developing many of the skills they are seeking to master, and some units and abilities can only be demonstrated through these synchronous sessions, such as Effective Communication or Conducting Research.

Because of our commitment to a community of learners, if a student accrues more than three unexcused absences or more than 12 total absences (including those that may be excused) during an Expedition or project cycle, the School may determine that a student is unable to demonstrate a sufficient level of mastery to earn credit in that expedition during the cycle.

Similarly, if a student misses more than half of their house meetings in a cycle, the student, their parents and School Director will meet to discuss whether it is appropriate for the student to remain enrolled at Sora Schools.

Students should refrain from using any demeaning language, including, but not limited to, swearing, pejoratives, or religious-based swear words, directed at any other individuals, both in and outside of Sora Schools. Within the context of Expert-led learning experiences, students may engage with historical material that may include such language. Students should respect the boundaries of engagement set out by the Expert. Generally, all students are expected to use words with care and be aware of the context that they are engaging with.

With the prevalence of text-speak, gamer language, and other digital vernaculars, we understand the desire to communicate in familiar and fun ways. However, it's essential to uphold standards of academic discourse. While it's acceptable to use informal language in casual chats, official communication such as classroom discussions, assignment submissions, and interactions with faculty and staff should maintain a level of formality and clarity. Acronyms, abbreviations, and slang can often lead to misunderstandings or unintentional exclusion of those unfamiliar with such language. Inclusivity and clarity are the foundations of our communication standards, and everyone is expected to uphold these principles when participating in school-related activities. Remember, the words you choose represent you, so let's aim to communicate with respect and understanding.

We are proud of the diversity of the Sora Schools Community, as it is a cornerstone of our school. We acknowledge that this diversity includes a wide range of languages that many of our students, families, and faculty are able to speak and communicate with. This is celebrated and encouraged, but it is important to note that all Etiquette and Conduct rules (as well as anything stipulated in the Student Handbook) apply to all languages, idiomatic expressions, and/or regionalisms.

English is the official language for all Sora Schools documents, materials, emails, or any official communication. Because of this, it is expected that any and all documentation, materials, and official communication of students with teachers, staff, or other students is done in English. The majority of our informal communication in Sora Schools channels, such as Heartbeat, should also be in English. However, we may create casual chat channels in other languages that have agreed to be monitored by Sora Schools staff who are fluent in those languages. The primary language used in channels on Heartbeat should be English, unless a channel has specifically been labeled to indicate another language (“Spanish Casual Chat,” for example). It is also acceptable for students to use other languages they are studying in channels that have been labeled “Rosetta Stone.”

For personal private communication between students, both students can communicate in a language that they both understand without the need for translation; but said translation can be requested at any time and it should be provided to ensure transparency. If students are communicating with each other in a private and informal setting, everyone should stick to languages that they all are able to understand or offer accurate translations so that no one is excluded by the language barrier. This is especially important in group DMs.

Students should refrain from using memes and images in digital communication (Heartbeat, Zoom chat, etc.) that could be perceived as offensive or confusing. Many memes have long histories that have conveyed different meanings depending on the context.

If one is unsure whether or not a meme or image is appropriate, it is best to not use it.

Weapons, real or replica, should never be visible on screen during Sora Schools meetings of any kind. This includes, but is not limited to, firearms, knives, and any other potentially harmful objects. This policy applies to both live synchronous sessions and any uploaded images or videos shared during school-related interactions on any school platform. This weapon-free environment enhances the safety and comfort of everyone at Sora Schools and demonstrates respect for your fellow students and school staff by promoting a non-threatening atmosphere.

Students are expected to dress in a manner that is appropriate, presentable, and respectful. Students are representatives of Sora Schools as a whole, as well as representatives of their own personal brand. Dressing in this manner shows respect for themselves, for Sora Schools, for their peers, for their advisors, and for their teachers. Situations that require additional guidance about appropriate dress will be handled individually with a School Director, Dean, or House Advisor.

Sora Schools expedition sessions and house meetings are for Sora Schools students only. For the sake of the privacy and safety of Sora Schools students, others, including parents, family members, friends, or any visitors, may not take part in any Sora Schools activities, expedition sessions, house meetings, or other school events without permission from Sora Schools. While we understand that in the virtual environment there is always the possibility of members of students’ households passing by in the background, non-students (guardians, siblings, friends, etc.) should do their best to stay off-camera and not participate in Sora Schools meetings.

Students should check all relevant learning platforms a minimum of twice per day: Sora Home, Gmail, and Heartbeat. Other platforms such as Khan Academy, Duolingo, and others (see a longer list here) will only be relevant for some students. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of which learning platforms are relevant to their education at Sora Schools.

Students should check their Sora Schools email account multiple times per day. It is recommended that one leaves Gmail open as a browser tab during the school day. Important emails, calendar invites, reminders and more arrive there daily.

If a student does not understand how to use a learning platform (after Tech Orientation), they are encouraged to reach out to their House Advisor or peers for guidance.

During each school day, students’ Sora Schools Google Calendar should be up to date and reflect all obligations during this time. It is the responsibility of the student to both keep their calendar up-to-date and to check it regularly for event invites. This includes accepting or declining invites to reflect scheduled absences.

Students are encouraged to use technology in ways that provide them with access to information, people, and research sources. Students are expected not to access any websites containing pornographic, racist, gambling, or other questionable content while utilizing Sora Schools’ networks. Students are expected not to engage in illegal or illicit activities, including but not limited to downloading copyrighted software, graphics, videos, text, and games. Students are responsible for maintaining a respectful online environment for people of all backgrounds, and are therefore prohibited to harass, bully, or use racial slurs or derogatory terms toward any student. More information can be found in Sora Schools’ Technology Use Agreement in the Appendix.

The Sora Schools team has the right to read and review all communications through Sora Schools’ technology platforms, including but not exclusive to, Zoom, Heartbeat, Google, and Sora Home to ensure program quality and student safety.

Sora Schools students have access to accounts that use their Sora Schools email. We work with these vendors to ensure their data privacy practices are in line with our own. Here is the list of technology tools every Sora Schools student has access to:

However, individual campuses may ask students to use additional tools for certain projects. Contact your School Director for information about the specific tools your student may be using as part of their work at Sora Schools.

You can review our Privacy Policy in the Appendix.

You can review our Data Retention Policy in the Appendix.

Sora Schools moderates and oversees designated technology tools as listed above. If and when disruptive behavior occurs on these platforms, Sora swiftly addresses it and seeks resolution to ensure the safety of our students and community. However, Sora students often connect and communicate through non-Sora Schools platforms such Discord, Minecraft and other types of social media that are NOT designated Sora Schools platforms. Non-designated platforms are NOT overseen by Experts, Deans, or School Directors. Sora Schools does not monitor or manage student interactions on social media and non-designated platforms.

However, Sora Schools reserves the right to intervene if interactions significantly impact the school community or student safety. While Sora Schools does not monitor social media, we urge students to report any serious incidents, such as cyberbullying, to both the school and appropriate authorities. The school will take necessary actions if such incidents impact the school environment or student well-being.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to actively engage in their children’s online activity. Parents and guardians should be aware of the different platforms students are using and discuss with them online etiquette, safety, and staying focused on school-related tasks during the school day. Common Sense Media has created guides we recommend to engage with your students and understand different platforms. On the Common Sense Media website, you will find guides to the following non-designated platforms: TikTok, Snapchat, Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, Discord, and Instagram.

Students are required to use their real name for account usernames. Heartbeat server nicknames should include some recognizable form of the student’s name. Zoom names should be the student’s first and last name. Student records at Sora Schools will reflect the full legal name of the student. See the Name and Gender Change Policy in the Appendix.

For faculty, especially new faculty, it’s important that they are able to accurately record attendance as well as reach out to students on Heartbeat or by email. Additionally, it’s important for new students to be able to reach out to students without confusion over who is who.

Students should use school-appropriate images for their student profiles on all school-related platforms. This includes images not only of their own face, but also images they have drawn or created, pictures of pets, etc.

The Middle School is an exploratory, nurturing and community building experience where students are exposed to a wide variety of topics and disciplines and have numerous opportunities to expand on their passions. Exploration in the middle school is foundational to strengthening key academic and life skills to further build upon in future educational experiences.

Our Sora Schools MS Curriculum is comprised of a series of academic units that are re-visited during each year of the Middle School experience. Curricular units have been designed to provide experiences in key academic disciplines, building a foundation for deeper learning as these units are re-visited each year, and built upon in later educational experiences (high school and beyond). This model allows for spaced repetition of thematic topics and concepts, promoting long-term retention of skills and allowing students to build upon prior knowledge each year while maintaining a balanced and well-rounded academic experience.

All themes, topic lenses and spotlight abilities are mapped out for the year for our middle school students, as seen in the image below. This helps to ensure that all topics are covered to allow for a smooth tracking of yearly progress.

Sora Schools provides students with a unique approach to middle school curriculum. Through our expeditionary learning model, students complete projects in areas of interest and select their own pathway to fulfill our yearly requirements. Each student is expected to attend ALL learning sessions, complete all tasks on time as assigned, and to fully and meaningfully engage in the school community. While each student has a House Advisor who helps to guide their learning journey and provide advice and support, the primary motivation for student success must come from within the student.

The term intrinsic motivation refers to a student’s desire to achieve a goal due to their own internal value system. This is as opposed to extrinsic motivation, which is when a student responds to outside pressures or motives. Most schools use extrinsic motivation to keep students focused–grades, test scores, college admissions, fear of punishment, etc. While Sora Schools students do (and should) care about their progress, achievement, and next steps after Sora Schools, the primary source of motivation to achieve within our school should be intrinsic. In other words, students must make choices to learn certain things because they want to learn them.

Unlike a traditional, in-person school, Sora Schools requires and expects a unique approach to parent participation and support to ensure student success. Whereas a traditional school might employ certain approaches to mitigate student underachievement (for example, detention, lunch with a teacher, loss of privileges), Sora Schools has limited means to intervene when students are not physically present. As a result, we need and expect parents and guardians to support their child by providing various appropriate supports within the home as needed. This might include greater direct supervision regarding task completion, regular attendance, time management, and even supplemental academic support when a student is not on pace with their Expedition. Additionally, this includes monitoring their child’s pace and progress with Expeditions and graduation.

Each student and caregiver has access to a full range of personalized performance data on Sora Home, including task assignments and completion rates, registration data, and formative and summative assessment feedback.

Each student is assigned an advisor, who meets with their house as a group regularly and with students individually. The advisor meetings are generally focused on academic wayfinding and goal setting, although advisors also share feedback on overall academic progress with students and parents as needed.

Faculty provide weekly scheduled office hours for students to ask questions, receive feedback, and extra help. Students are expected to make use of these times as part of their academic journey.

The School Director and/or Dean of Students provide support for students who, in the school’s judgment, are struggling to meet Sora Schools’ academic expectations. This can include a range of interventions, including individualized action plans, registration guidance, and parental support. The Dean of Students and School Directors will be able to tap into resources, levels of support, training and services provided by Sora Schools.

When students join Sora Schools’ High School, they are introduced to our philosophical approach to learning as well as the mindsets and student skills needed for success at Sora Schools and beyond. These foundational years equip students to transition to a higher level of independence in 11th and 12th grades.

During the 11th-grade year at Sora Schools, students participate in the Mentorship Program. In this program, they are supported in selecting a potential career field of interest, identifying a mentor in the chosen field from their local community, and planning a Capstone Project that they will expand on in 12th grade.

In the 12th-grade year at Sora Schools, students engage in a Capstone Project, which allows students to further explore an issue or topic within their field of interest. This will also reflect their time at Sora Schools, culminating in a showcase presentation before graduation.

Throughout the Sora Schools experience, students in good academic standing are able to submit proposals for Independent Study Expeditions (ISE). These expeditions provide additional depth, breadth, and individualization to the Sora Schools experience. Students must always coordinate Independent Study plans with their Campus School Director prior to beginning an ISE; ISEs must be approved before academic credit will be given.

Below is an overview of the Sora High School Graduation Requirements. By the time you're ready to graduate from Sora, your graduation page in Sora Home should reflect 100% completion of all graduation requirements.

It is the student and their guardian’s responsibility to track graduation progress using Sora Home and your House Advisor as key resources.

Your House Advisor will support you throughout your High School journey, help add Wildcard and Elective topics to your program, and is available to answer any questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your House Advisor to learn more or ask about specific requirements.

Sora Schools provides incoming students with transfer credit for any successfully completed high school-level course offered by an accredited educational institution.

During the admissions process to Sora Schools, courses that fulfill Sora Schools’ high school graduation requirements will be honored and will exempt a student from being required to complete that topic at the same level again while at Sora. If a Sora Schools identifies a gap in a student's knowledge that is hindering them from advancing to a more challenging level of inquiry, however, a student may be required to refresh their knowledge in any given area, including a subject for which they received transfer credit.

For reference, one credit corresponds to one year of coursework at a traditional school and 0.5 credits corresponds to one semester of coursework at a traditional school.

Sora Schools extracurriculars, such as esports, drama, and debate, are open to all students, depending upon what grade level they are in. However, participation in extracurriculars is a privilege, and only for Sora Schools students who are actively attending and participating in expeditions, house meetings, and showing regular academic progress. Students must be actively enrolled (attending expeditions and house meetings, submitting tasks and final deliverables) in order to participate in an extracurricular. Additionally, students may not continue to participate in an extracurricular after they graduate (for example, if a student graduates midyear). Students on a Leave of Absence may not participate in extracurriculars.

Students more than 4% behind graduation pace may continue to practice with their extracurricular, but may not participate in tournaments, competitions, or performances. Students who are more than 4% behind graduation pace may seek permission from their School Director to participate in extracurricular competitions, performances, or tournaments.

As a parent/guardian of a virtual school student, you will need to play an enhanced role to ensure the student's success. Please read these expectations and responsibilities carefully.

Sora Schools is committed to preparing students for success in their personal and professional futures, and this includes our commitment to providing an individualized World Language Program for our students.

Students have access to 25 different World Language options through Rosetta Stone, the world leader in individualized language instruction.Here is a list of the available languages to learn through Sora's program with Rosetta Stone:

Live tutoring assistance is available through Rosetta Stone for: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, and Spanish.

These languages offer four-year progressions: Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain).

As a reminder, High School students are required to complete two (2) consecutive years of the same world language, either through Sora Schools or through an outside accredited program.

Options for completing this requirement are as follows:

Contact your School Director to learn more about how to sign up and register for a World Language through Sora Schools.

A few things to consider if you are interested in signing up for a World Language:

Contact your School Director to sign up and register to learn a World Language through Sora Schools.

Adapted from Common Sense Media Family Media Agreement

Responsible use of technology is a key component of a Sora student’s experience. We have specific device and internet recommendations to get the most out of your experience, which can be reviewed below at the end of this policy.

By enrolling in and attending Sora, students and families agree to the following contents of this agreement.

You agree to:

In addition to abiding by all expectations and norms found in Sora’s Student Handbook, we also encourage you to practice thoughtful digital citizenship. As a Sora student, you agree to:

Make sure that you have a device that meets our technology recommendations before you start school. Parents, you can also find this information on Heartbeat.

Here's a quick recap of what you need to know:

Using Chromebooks/ChromeOS: We’re actively working to improve the experience for students using ChromeOS devices.

Students need a computer to successfully participate in the Sora program. The minimum hardware recommendations for the Sora Program are as follows:

Sora recommends a broadband connection of at least 10 Mbps to properly access Sora’s learning resources. You may go here to perform a speed test: https://www.speedtest.net.

Unfortunately, mobile devices such as tablets and phones cannot be used as a primary device for accessing Sora because they do not support all the necessary software products.

Sora Schools seeks to create an inclusive and safe environment for all students, including those whose identity may be different from their designation at birth.

If a student requests to use a different preferred name or pronouns than those legally indicated on the student’s application portfolio, the School and its employees will seek to use the student’s preferred pronouns in written and verbal communications.

Students and parents/guardians may notify Sora through their House Advisor, School Director, or Dean of Students if they wish to change their preferred name or pronouns.

Informal preferred name/gender identity changes:

Changes to preferred name/gender identity will be noted in Sora Home in the “preferred name and pronouns” field. School personnel, at the School’s sole discretion, on a “need to know” basis, will have access to this record in Sora Home.

Legal name changes:

If a student wishes to use a name that is different from the student’s legal name, the parents/legal guardians of the student are to inform the School, via the campus in which the student is enrolled, of their request in writing. The parent/guardian will then be asked to submit their request through the Preferred Name/Pronoun Request Form. Once informed, the School will change these identifiers in its communication platforms including email in accordance with the student’s wishes. However, unless a parent furnishes legal documentation of name changes, all school records, including progress reports, academic transcripts, health records, school-issued photo ID, class or trip lists, etc. will reflect the student’s legal name.

In managing name or gender changes, families should make note of the following challenges:

At Sora Schools, we champion an educational atmosphere where free speech and expression are both safeguarded and actively promoted. Recognizing the vital role that dialogue plays in the academic and personal growth of our students, this policy is designed to uphold the values of openness, respect, and mutual understanding. Importantly, it also aims to foster the development of citizenship skills essential for participating in a democratic society. By engaging in thoughtful discourse, students learn to navigate diverse perspectives, contributing to their ability to function as informed, responsible citizens.

Commitment to Free Expression and Democratic Citizenship:

We believe that freedom of thought and expression is fundamental to learning and is a cornerstone of democratic engagement. Our community is encouraged to explore a wide array of ideas, engage in robust debate, and express themselves freely, all while adhering to our standards of respect and without infringing on the rights of others. We strive to cultivate an environment where students not only learn about their rights and responsibilities as members of a democracy but also practice these principles through active participation and dialogue. This approach helps students develop the critical thinking, empathy, and ethical reasoning skills necessary to navigate and contribute to a diverse and complex world.

Educational Context and Support:

Free expression must be exercised within a framework that is both age-appropriate and supportive. To assist our students in navigating complex topics, we provide clear definitions and examples of key terms such as civil discourse, defamation, and harassment. [See below] Support mechanisms such as discussion groups, House Advisor/Expert, and/or Dean/School Director conversations are available to help students process and respond to challenging discussions.

Civil Discourse:

We promote a vigorous exchange of ideas guided by the utmost respect and civility. Expressions that constitute personal attacks, harassment, or disrupt the educational environment are contrary to our mission. This commitment ensures that all members feel safe to voice their opinions while being open to others' perspectives.

Institutional Neutrality:

Sora Schools maintains neutrality on political or ideological controversies to support our educational mission and ensure a balanced platform for discussion. The school does not endorse or oppose any political or ideological cause but instead facilitates independent exploration.

Faculty at Sora work to maintain institutional neutrality through their curricular and pedagogical choices. This does not mean shying from controversial topics or avoiding difficult concepts in history or current events. Rather, faculty are expected not to share their personal political beliefs and to provide a forum for students to explore the development of their own world view.

Designated Spaces for Expression:

We provide specific virtual spaces through Heartbeat where individuals can express themselves freely. These spaces are regulated by guidelines ensuring that expression does not disrupt the academic setting and respects all community members.

Responsibility and Limits:

Freedom of expression comes with responsibilities. Our policy explicitly prohibits expressions that are unlawful, such as threats of violence, defamation, or violations of intellectual property rights. Specific examples are provided to help students understand these boundaries. The school reserves the right to intervene when speech or expression crosses these lines.

Implementation, Education, and Training:

Understanding and exercising free speech rights is critical. We commit to regular forums that educate our community about the principles of free expression, with sessions tailored to different age groups and held at least once per cycle.

Ongoing Review and Transparency:

This policy will be reviewed biennially or as needed, with input from a diverse group of stakeholders, including students, faculty, and administrators. The review process will be transparent, with findings and amendments shared openly with the community.

Definition: Civil discourse means engaging in conversations, both spoken and written, that are respectful and considerate, especially when discussing opposing viewpoints.

Example: During a class debate, even if two students strongly disagree about a topic, they listen to each other’s points, speak politely without interrupting, and use facts or calm reasoning instead of insults or raised voices.

Definition: Defamation occurs when false information is presented as a fact that injures a person’s reputation.

Example: Spreading a rumor that a classmate cheated on an assignment when it's not true, especially if most people end up believing it and treating the classmate poorly, is an example of defamation.

Definition: Harassment involves unwanted behavior that makes someone feel intimidated, offended, or humiliated. It can happen in person, online, or through messages.

Example: If a student repeatedly sends mean or threatening messages to another student on social media or directly through other means, or makes fun of someone constantly because of how they look, how they identify, or what they believe in, it's considered harassment.

Definition: Threats of violence involve saying or doing something that suggests causing harm to someone else, which can scare the person being threatened.

Example: Telling someone, "I’m going to hurt you if you don’t do what I want," is a threat of violence.

Definition: Intellectual property rights protect creations of the mind, like music, art, or writing. Violating these rights means using someone’s creative work without permission.

Example: If a student uses a photograph from the internet in a school project without crediting the photographer or ensuring it's free to use, they are violating the photographer's intellectual property rights.

1. PURPOSE OF POLICY

Thank you for joining Sora Schools’ growing community! We are committed to protecting your privacy as you visit and use our website, participate in our educational services, or otherwise interact with us. We understand how important privacy is to you, and we are committed to creating a safe and secure environment for all of our users.

We created this Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) to give you confidence as you use our website, participate in our marketing activities, and engage in our educational services. This Policy covers how we collect, use, store, and share your information when (1) you use our website or engage in other online services or marketing activities, other than as a customer participating in Sora’s educational program (collectively, “Website and Marketing Service”), and (2) when you are a Student or Parent, as defined below, participating in Sora’s educational program (“Customer Service”). In this Policy, the term “Service” refers to both the Website and Marketing Service and the Customer Service. All references in this Policy to “we”, “us”, “our”, “Sora,” “School” or “Sora Schools” refer to Sora Schools, Inc. All references to “you”, “your”, or “user” refers to all persons who use or access the Service, including each student or prospective student of Sora (“Student”) and such Student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) (referred to as “Parent,” which term includes the singular or plural, as applicable). All capitalized terms not elsewhere defined in this Policy shall have the same meaning ascribed to them in the Terms. Do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions or want to discuss this Policy.

As noted above, this Policy describes our practices related to information of individuals with whom we communicate for marketing or promotional purposes but who may not otherwise be users of the Service (the “Marketing Recipients”). By clicking the applicable button or checkbox to indicate your acceptance to this Policy and our Terms, or otherwise by using the Service, or by agreeing to this Policy as a Marketing Recipient, you consent to the privacy practices described in this Policy and agree that you are at least 13 years old.

2. PRIVACY OF CHILDREN UNDER 13 YEARS OF AGE

Our Customer Service is currently designed for use by students. We understand that Student users of the Customer Service who are under 13 years of age (“Students Under 13”) require special privacy protection and safeguards under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”).

Before we have obtained required consents under COPPA, we do not allow Students Under 13 to provide any personal information, such as first and last name, address, email address, or telephone number information. Such personal information must be provided by the Parent and will be available only to Sora staff, and we will use the information only for purposes of providing the Customer Service. We will never otherwise share or use such information without prior consent from the Parent.

Prior to Student Enrollment with Sora.

In the event that we wish to collect personal information from a Student Under 13 prior to the time such Student is enrolled with Sora, we will first obtain a Parent’s verifiable consent within our parent & student application. We will include a link to this Privacy Policy at the point at which a form is completed. In a direct privacy notice to the Parent, we will explain what information we are collecting (this includes information such as Student’s first and last name, email address, phone number, state/region, and grade level), how we plan to use it, how the Parent can provide consent, and how the Parent can revoke consent. We will also provide a link to this Privacy Policy. If we do not receive consent from the Parent within a reasonable time, we will delete any information collected from such Student Under 13 in connection with that activity.

Upon Student Enrollment with Sora.

Upon a Student’s enrollment with Sora, the Parent must provide a signed enrollment agreement (“Enrollment Agreement”). The Enrollment Agreement includes a COPPA Parental Consent Form that the Parent must fill out, sign, and return along with the Enrollment Agreement for enrollment of a Student Under 13.

3. INFORMATION WE COLLECT FOR THE WEBSITE AND MARKETING SERVICE AND HOW WE USE IT

Information You Voluntarily Provide Us.

You will not be required to provide any personally identifiable information to browse our website. However, if you would like to contact our admissions team via our website, register for and/or attend an admissions event, or communicate with us for other marketing or promotional purposes, you will be required to provide us with various information that, on its own or in combination with other information, can be used to identify you as an individual (“Personal Data”).

For Marketing Recipients, this Personal Data consists of basic contact information such as the Marketing Recipient’s email address and phone number. This Personal Data is collected by us when Marketing Recipients sign up for commercial emails from us via online sign-up forms, and through other means, including the Facebook platform. In addition, we use a third-party service provider that collects certain information about your browsing behavior, including but not limited to the pages you visit, the links you click, and the amount of time you spend on each page. This information and the Personal Data received by us may be used by our third-party service provider to develop targeted marketing campaigns for other potential customers.

For Marketing Recipients who are not otherwise users of the Customer Service, we only use your Personal Data to improve our marketing activities and send communications, including updates on promotions and events, relating to products and services offered by us and by third parties we work with that are related to the Service. If you no longer wish to receive marketing-related emails from us, you may opt out at any time via the unsubscribe link included in such emails. We will comply with your request as soon as reasonably practicable. Please note that if you opt out of receiving marketing-related emails from us, we may still send you important administrative messages that are required to provide you with the Customer Service, if applicable.

Additionally, if you participate in an admissions event, we may use video conferencing software. As such, your name, image and/or voice may be accessible to other participants at such time.

The information described above is used to provide you with the Website and Marketing Service, to better understand our users and how they use the Website and Marketing Service, to market our Customer Service and engage with potential Parents, and to improve the Website and Marketing Service.

4. INFORMATION WE COLLECT FOR THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HOW WE USE IT

We will collect information you provide to us voluntarily as part of the application and enrollment process for the Customer Service or that you subsequently provide through your use of the Customer Service. Such information includes, without limitation:

First and last name (for Student and Parent);

Physical and/or mailing address (for Student and Parent);

Email address (for Student and Parent);

Phone number (for Student and Parent);

Age and school grade level (for Student);

Social security number (for Student);

Financial information, including, but not limited to, credit or debit card numbers or bank account information (for Parent);

Health and medical information (for Student); and

Educational transcripts (for Student).

Other materials that may relate to an application and/or enrollment process when relevant for Student

We also may collect and store communications that occur through the website or other online platforms we use for delivery of the Customer Service or outside of such platforms between you and Sora, such as through email communications. If we’re contacted directly by a Student or Parent with any question or inquiries about our Customer Service, Sora may collect personal information from or about the Student or Parent in order to address the question or inquiry.

Further, now or in the future, we may allow you to provide us with access to additional information and data through integrations with third-party goods and services.

Information Collected Through the Delivery of Our Educational Services

Sora may collect information contained in student assignments and assessments relating to our Customer Service, including information in responses to instructional activities or participation in collaborative or interactive features. As part of the online teaching and learning experience, some of our services may enable students to carry out assessments, write texts, and create and upload images, video and audio recordings. Some aspects of our online educational services may enable educators to provide scores, written comments, or other feedback about student responses or student performance. Further, Sora’s online services may generate information on student progress and results (including in relation to assignments and assessments).

Recording Policy.

Sora records school sessions via audio- and video-conferencing at all times. The purpose of such recordings is to facilitate marketing and periodic program reviews by accreditors and school administration.

De-Identified Data

Sora may use de-identified or aggregate data for purposes allowed under applicable law to research, develop, and improve its Customer Service and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Customer Service. Sora may also share de-identified data with research and evaluation partners to help us analyze the information for product improvement and development purposes. Records and information are considered to be de-identified when all personal identifiers such as name and email have been removed or obscured, such that remaining information does not permit a Student’s identity to be personally identifiable, taking into account all reasonably available information. Sora protects against the re-identification of Student data, and does not disclose de-identified data to its research and evaluation partners unless that party has agreed in writing not to attempt to re-identify such data.

Use of Personal Information Collected Through the Customer Service, and Prohibitions

The various categories of information in this subsection are, or may be, considered personally identifiable information, and are used for the purposes of:

While all of the information described here may not be required to use the Customer Service, some aspects of the Customer Service may not be available if you choose not to provide us with such information.

Sora does not and will not:

Sora may, from time to time, provide customized recommendations for educational products and services and commercial messages to Parents, provided that such content will never be based on Student data.

Sora provides Parents with access to their Student’s School records, and Parents may request that Sora correct records that they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If you’re a Parent and would like to review, correct, or update your Student’s records maintained with us, contact us at privacy@soraschools.com.

5. INFORMATION WE COLLECT FOR THE SERVICE, INCLUDING BOTH THE WEBSITE AND MARKETING SERVICE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

Information Collected Automatically As You Use The Service.

In addition to the information that you provide to us voluntarily, we collect information automatically through the Service, such as how you use and interact with the Service, data on activities that you pursue through the Service, and other similar activities.

We may also automatically collect your IP address and geo-location while you are using the Service through your device. You may be able to limit any such collection in the settings on your device. As with the voluntarily provided information described above, some aspects of the Service may not be available if you choose not to provide us with such information and Personal Data as applicable.

Cookies.

After you have interacted with the Service on our website, we use cookies to remember you as a user of the Service and to streamline the functionality of the Service. Cookies set by us are called “first-party cookies”. Cookies set by other parties are called “third-party cookies”.

Sora uses first-party cookies that are only used to track your activity on the Service, and not on third-party sites or services

In addition to the first-party cookies described above, Sora uses the following cookies:

Other Anonymous Data We Collect.

When you use and visit the Service, we may also use web beacons (tracking pixels) or third-party services, such as Google Analytics, as described above, and Hubspot, all of which may use cookies to collect or track generic, anonymous information that does not identify you. We use this information to better understand how users interact with the Service and to improve your user experience while using the Service.

Do Not Track Signals.

We do not track you or collect your information across third-party websites or online services. Thus, we do not receive Do-Not-Track signals or other similar signals. To the extent that we do receive any such signals, we will not comply with them as it is not an aspect of the functionality of our Service.

6. HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

We do not sell or share your personally identifiable information with advertisers. We also do not share your personally identifiable information with other third parties except to the extent that it is in furtherance of the Service, or when you choose to do so (as described below).

School Directory.

To facilitate School communications and community-building, we place Student family information, including name(s), home address(es), email address(es), and telephone numbers of Parent, Student and other students in attendance at the School, in a directory (the “Directory”) made available to School families.

We do not share the Directory or information contained therein with commercial third parties or any person other than other School families. While we require all Sora enrollees to agree to the same and strive to ensure and enforce compliance, we do not retain control over actions taken by School families. If you wish to opt out of inclusion in the Directory, please contact [email protected].

Our Personnel And Vendors.

To be able to effectively provide you with the Service, and to improve the functionality of the Service, we may disclose your information to our employees, contractors, agents, vendors, and other similar persons or entities, to the extent that such persons or entities have a need to know such information in furtherance of the Service. Our third-party vendors (“Third-Party Vendors”) provide us with various types of services, including without limitation, hosting services and marketing software services. We may share your Personal Data with our Third-Party Vendors.

Third-Party Payment Services.

We may share your personal information, including your name, with our third-party payment processing providers to allow you to make purchases or payments related to the Service. All payment information, including credit card number, will be collected and stored by our payment partners (“Payment Partners”). All purchases made through the Service are subject to the applicable Payment Partner’s privacy policy, and by making a purchase or payment through the Service, you agree to be bound by such policies. This includes, but is not limited to, the TADS Policy, which may be viewed at https://www.tads.com/privacy-policy/.

Sale of Company or Assets.

In the event that we sell all or substantially all of our company or its assets, including the user information collected through our Service, we may transfer your information, upon reasonable notice to you, to the acquiring company.

Other Third Parties.

In addition to our practices described above, we may share your information if we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to (1) comply with the law (see the section below on “Government Requests”), (2) protect and defend the rights or property of Sora, or (3) prevent an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to any person.

7. STORING YOUR INFORMATION AND SECURITY

Storage and Retention Of Your Information.

We use commercially reasonable managerial and technical safeguards to preserve the integrity and security of your personal information.

We cannot, however, ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to Sora or guarantee that your information on the Service may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by breach of any of our managerial and technical safeguards. As such, we will not be liable for any loss or damage you incur as a result of a breach of our security systems. In the event that personal information is compromised as a result of a breach of our security systems, we will promptly notify those persons whose personal information has been compromised as required by applicable law.

Security.

We use reasonable administrative, technical, operational, and physical practices and procedures to secure your information and to attempt to prevent the loss, misuse, and alteration of the information that we obtain from you. For example, we require our personnel to sign confidentiality agreements that extend to your personal information, we have in place incident response measures, we have personnel to monitor privacy-related correspondence, and we review the privacy practices of new products and services that we integrate into our Service. In addition, we use reasonable technical safeguards, such as encryption, to secure your Personal Data, and we rely on the technical safeguards provided by the third-party vendors we use to host, store, and process your information. However, you acknowledge and agree that loss, misuse, and alteration may occur despite our efforts to protect your information. We are not responsible to our users or to any third party due to any such loss, misuse, or alteration.

8. GOVERNMENT REQUESTS

From time to time, we may receive requests from government agencies to obtain information about our users. In handling such government requests, we greatly value the privacy of your information. While we may be required to turn over user information at times, we will strive to require a search warrant or subpoena, to the extent that we can reasonably demand such warrant or subpoena, before we turn over information about you and we will also strive to notify users when we receive government requests about their data.

9. THIRD-PARTY SERVICES AND PRACTICES ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL

Our Service utilizes third-party services as part of the functionality of the Service, such as hosting services, analytics providers, and other vendors, and we may share your information with third parties to the extent explained in this Policy. Authorized users of the Customer Service can log in to our platform using third-party sign-in services, such as Google, which authenticates the user’s identity and provides the user with the option to share certain personal information with us, including a name and email address. If you choose to enable a third party to share your third-party account credentials with us, we may obtain personal information via that mechanism. You may configure your account on these third-party platform services to control what information they share. Additionally, we use third-party payment processing services. We provide these third parties with the least information needed to do their work for Sora, and where feasible, contractually bind them to protect personal information in a manner consistent with this policy. Otherwise, we have no control over such third parties. Thus, we make no guarantees about, and assume no responsibility for the information, services, or data/privacy practices of third parties, which may differ significantly from our practices described in this Policy. We encourage you to review the privacy practices of such third parties.

10. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

Sora reserves the right to change this Policy from time to time, with or without notice to you. If you continue to use the Service, you consent to the new Policy. Sora will always have the latest Policy posted here on Sora’s website, available at https://soraschools.com/privacy-policy.

11. SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENTS

California. If you reside in California, you have the right to ask us one time each year if we have shared personal information with third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make a request, please send us an email at [email protected] or write to us at 3343 Peachtree Rd. NE, STE 145-606, Atlanta, GA 30326. Indicate in your letter that you are a California resident making a “Shine the Light” inquiry.

We will retain your information as long as needed to provide you with our Service. We may also retain and use your information in order to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, prevent abuse, enforce our agreements, or as otherwise described in this Policy.

Nevada: This section applies if you are a resident of the state of Nevada. While Sora does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personally identifiable information to [email protected].

12. PLEASE REACH OUT TO US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK

If you have any questions about this Policy or our Service, please feel free to contact us by email at [email protected]. Please be aware that we may require you to verify your identity before processing any request under this Policy.

Purpose:

The purpose of this data and document retention policy is to provide guidelines for the retention and disposal of all student data and documents collected, processed, and stored by Sora, in compliance with applicable law.

Disposal:

Student data that is no longer needed for legal or operational purposes will be disposed of securely. Sora will ensure that disposal methods are in compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations. Disposal methods may include shredding, deletion, or other secure methods.

Review:

This policy will be periodically reviewed to ensure that it is up-to-date and complies with applicable laws and regulations.

Contact:

For questions about this policy or data retention practices related to student data, including email, please contact Sora’s Head of Schools, Chris Wilson ([email protected]).

Sora Schools is committed to fostering academic growth and personal development in a manner that prepares students for future success. Due to the flexibility of Sora Schools, we recognize that for some highly motivated and hardworking students, early graduation (through three years of high school) is possible but is only permitted with guardian consent and School Director approval under the parameters of this policy.

Early graduation is a rare and exceptional pathway, reserved for students who demonstrate readiness and a clear plan for their post-secondary goals. Sora Schools seeks to ensure that early graduation aligns with our educational philosophy and supports students' long-term success. The following principles guide this policy:

Sora Schools is excited to offer students the opportunity to earn college credits through our Dual Enrollment Program. This program allows students to take courses from accredited post-secondary institutions while fulfilling their high school graduation requirements at Sora.

Courses can be taken as substitutions for Sora Expeditions OR as additions to their Sora Expeditions.

Dual Enrollment at post-secondary institutions is an option for Sora Students who meet the following requirements:

Sora Schools supports Dual Enrollment options in three different ways:

Sora Schools is excited to offer students the opportunity to earn college credits through our Dual Enrollment Program. This program allows students to take courses from accredited post-secondary institutions while fulfilling their high school graduation requirements at Sora.

This policy only addresses accredited college level work addressed by post-secondary institutions. It does not apply to high school level courses including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or other courses offered at the high school level.

1. What is Dual Enrollment?

Dual Enrollment enables high school students to take college-level courses that count towards both high school and college credit. Sora has partnerships with institutions such as Arizona State University (ASU) and the Acadeum Consortium, allowing students access to a broad selection of courses.

2. What are the advantages of Dual Enrollment?

3. How does Dual Enrollment affect my high school experience at Sora?

Students who choose Dual Enrollment can substitute college courses for Sora expeditions. For example, instead of taking a STEM expedition, a student could enroll in a college biology course. This allows the student to receive both high school and college credit.

4. Do I need approval before enrolling in a Dual Enrollment course?

Yes, students must receive approval from their Dean or School Director before enrolling in any Dual Enrollment course. This approval ensures the course aligns with Sora’s academic requirements and can be substituted for a Sora experience. Without prior approval, Sora will not cover the cost of the course, and the student will be responsible for any associated fees.

5. Do I need to complete a portion of my coursework through Sora to receive a diploma?

Yes, to graduate from Sora, students must complete at least 25% of their coursework through Sora experiences. This requirement ensures that students engage with Sora’s unique educational model while participating in Dual Enrollment.

6. What is a full course load at Sora?

A full course load at Sora typically consists of 4 experiences per cycle. This includes:

7. What is the difference between course substitution and addition?

8. Who pays for the Dual Enrollment courses?

Sora covers the cost for ASU and Acadeum Dual Enrollment courses that replace a Sora experience. This includes enrollment fees for ASU and selected Acadeum courses. However, if students choose to take an additional course that does not substitute a Sora experience, they are responsible for the associated costs, which include the cost of the course and any applicable transcription fees. Sora does not pay the nominal costs which may be charged by the Dual Enrollment institution to send an official transcript to another institution.

Institutions may require specific texts and materials for Dual Enrollment courses. Sora Schools does not provide reimbursement for texts or materials. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) should plan to pay for those separately.

9. What happens if I don’t pass a Dual Enrollment course?

To receive credit on the Sora transcript, students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in the college course. Courses with grades lower than a "C" will not be added to the Sora transcript. In addition, students may need to make up the missed Sora experience(s) if the course was a substitution.

Additionally, receiving less than a “C” in a dual enrollment course will make the student ineligible for approval for any additional dual enrollment courses for the following 2 Sora cycles.

10. Do I need to follow the policies of the institution offering the Dual Enrollment course?

Yes, students enrolled in a Dual Enrollment course must adhere to the policies of the accredited post-secondary institution offering the course. This includes attendance requirements, deadlines, grading policies, and academic integrity rules. These courses are governed by the institution’s policies, not by Sora Schools. It is important to be familiar with the institution’s guidelines, as failure to comply with their policies could result in penalties, including the possibility of failing the course. Sora cannot intervene in matters related to the institution’s academic policies.

11. Are my Dual Enrollment courses transferable to other institutions?

Each postsecondary institution has its own policies regarding transfer credit. Students should check with the admissions department of the receiving institution to ensure that the dual enrollment courses will be credited to their course of study. Sora does not control and cannot influence whether or not a course or credit is transferable.

12. Can I earn an Associate’s Degree while enrolled at Sora?

Yes, students can work toward an Associate’s Degree while completing their high school diploma. By substituting college courses for Sora experiences, students can progress toward both goals simultaneously. Mentorship and Capstone projects remain required for high school graduation.

By definition, Associate’s Degree programs are dual enrollment, and students must obtain prior approval from their School Director in order to enroll and participate. This requires a meeting with the student, parent, Life After Sora Counselor, Dean and/or School Director before pursuing an Associate’s Degree.

Please note that ASU does not offer an Associate’s Degree through our partnership.

13. Can I take synchronous courses at any accredited post-secondary institution?

Yes, students can take synchronous (real-time) courses at accredited post-secondary institutions while enrolled at Sora. However, students must ensure these courses do not conflict with the Sora schedule. Sora will reimburse a maximum of $500.00 of the cost per course if:

Students’ Sora advisor will help coordinate the schedule to accommodate both the post-secondary course and Sora commitments.

14. How do I enroll in Dual Enrollment courses?

Students interested in Dual Enrollment should consult their House Advisor or Dean, who will help identify suitable courses and guide students through the enrollment process to ensure it aligns with their academic goals.

15. Can I still participate in Sora activities while enrolled in Dual Enrollment?

Yes, Dual Enrollment students remain active participants in Sora activities, including House Activities, Advisory, Life After Sora, Clubs, Mentorship, and Capstone. These experiences are integral to students’ high school education and will continue alongside the Dual Enrollment coursework.

16. When do I need to decide if I want to enroll in a Dual Enrollment course?

Each institution has its own enrollment deadlines. It is best to begin planning early and speak with the Sora advisor to ensure students meet all required deadlines.

17. How many Dual Enrollment courses can I take simultaneously?

Students taking dual enrollment may be enrolled in no more than two 3-semester-hour courses simultaneously.

If a student is enrolled in an Associate’s Degree pathway through Acadeum, the student may be enrolled in up to five courses required to complete that pathway. Associate’s Degree candidates will only participate in Mentorship, Capstone, and House Activities at Sora Schools.

18. When must I complete my Dual Enrollment courses?

All Acadeum Dual Enrollment courses must be completed by the deadline for the course. All ASU Dual Enrollment courses must be completed by the last day of the cycle. It is the student’s responsibility to submit all work necessary in order for grading to be completed by the course end date. Courses not completed by the end date will be billed to the student’s account. Sora Schools cannot request an extension on behalf of the student. There are no exceptions to this.

Additional Requirements for Seniors who intend to graduate:

Seniors may not begin a Dual Enrollment course after the first day of Cycle 3. This will allow a full 12 weeks for the student to complete the course.

All Dual Enrollment courses taken by seniors must be completed by May 15 of the graduation year. It takes approximately 10 days for dual enrollment grading to be completed. No senior will be enrolled in a Dual Enrollment course that has an end date past June 1 of the graduation year. Students who have not completed a Dual Enrollment course by May 15 of the graduation year will be billed to the student’s account. There are no exceptions to this.

If a course is necessary for students to have completed graduation requirements and is not completed by May 15 of the graduation year, the student must enroll at Sora for the following year for a minimum of one complete cycle until all graduation requirements are fulfilled. This student will not graduate as expected and will have a graduation date of the following year.

19. How do I get my dual enrollment transcript sent to other colleges?

If a student requires a transcript, they must request that it be sent from the Dual Enrollment institution to the receiving institution. There may be a cost associated with that request. Sora Schools does not pay the nominal costs that the Dual Enrollment institution may charge to send an official transcript to another institution.

For additional information or questions about the Dual Enrollment program, please contact your House Advisor, your Dean, or your School Director.

At Sora, you're more than a number—and so is your learning.

At Sora Schools, we believe your learning journey can’t—and shouldn’t—be reduced to a single number. That’s why we’ve designed a mastery-based model where growth, curiosity, and real understanding matter most. We don’t give out traditional grades, and we don’t think ranking students by a single score helps anyone truly learn.

Still, we know there are times when students need to provide a summary of their academic progress—whether for college or job applications, scholarships, or insurance purposes. That’s where the Mastery Composite Score comes in.

The Mastery Composite Score is a mastery-based, cumulative measure of your best learning at Sora. It offers a way to represent your academic journey for external reporting, while staying true to how learning works at Sora: as a process of continuous growth.This is a snapshot in time until your final transcript at graduation.

This score is updated after every cycle and appears on transcripts you and your family can generate through Sora Home. Just like your mastery scores on individual units and abilities, your Mastery Composite Score can always be improved upon until graduation. In fact, we expect it to rise over time, as you gain deeper understanding and demonstrate your learning in more advanced ways.

And as our transcript states, the Mastery Composite Score may be used as a GPA equivalent if desired.

We calculate your Mastery Composite Score through a few key steps:

Unlike traditional models that lock you into early outcomes, the Mastery Composite Score is designed to grow as you grow. Each new unit and demonstration is a chance to strengthen your score. The system encourages persistence, growth, and reflection—not perfection at first attempt. For example, if one earns a 0 or 0.5 in a unit, that score factors into one's MCS. However, one has the opportunity to revisit that unit, and if one earns a higher mastery score, it would replace the 0 or 0.5, thereby increasing one's MCS.

Let’s be clear: you are not your Mastery Composite Score. You’re a unique learner with passions, strengths, and ideas that go far beyond what any number can capture. This score is just one lens—a simplified way to summarize your academic progress when needed. But it doesn’t define your value or your future. At Sora, learning is personal, deep, and lifelong—and so is success.