FAQ High School

STEM Summer Programs

We are very pleased to bring our summer program to Dublin Unified School District for the 9th straight year. Please note that all DPIE high school courses are the same courses taught at Dublin High School.

On March 16, 2017 the governing board of the Dublin Unified School District, following the guidelines of the UC systems “Principal’s Certification” process, passed resolution 2016-17-32 accepting all DPIE courses as their own and agreeing to issue credit and add them to student transcripts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can enroll in the DPIE STEM Summer Program?

Dublin students in grades 9 – 11 who attend school in the Dublin Unified School District may enroll in the program for course credit and receive A-G UC admission credit towards college admission. The courses taught in the summer academy follow the course outlines as taught at Dublin High School and all quizzes, tests and finals are those used by Dublin teachers.

Non-Dublin High School Students can participate in our program for exposure purposes only, they will NOT be able to submit transcripts to their district for advancement purposes nor will DPIE be able to issue a transcript for college admissions purposes. Please note that some school districts allow students to “challenge” a course by successfully taking the course final assessment for a specific course. Students who successfully challenge a class in their home district may receive high school credit towards graduation in that district. You will need to check with your district’s Educational Services Department to determine if they approve you to take course for credit in our program using the Principal Certification policy as supported by the UC Admissions office.

Can any Dublin student take a DPIE course for credit & advancement?

All Dublin students who wish to enroll in DPIE math and science courses for advancement purposes must be pre-approved by Dublin High School to participate in the program and receive credit. Approvals will be based on satisfaction of class pre-requisites and grade criteria established by Dublin High School. Students enrolling in Physical Education or Elective courses do not need prior approval and may begin enrolling in classes the day enrollment opens on January 29, 2020.

This school year (2019 – 2020), the DUSD is doing away with the paper application form and allowing students to complete an online Course Credit Application form which will be submitted to department chairs at Dublin High. Students and their families may use the link below to apply for approval to take courses with DPIE for Math and Science.

Online MATH Approval Form Link

Online SCIENCE Approval Form Link

Once first semester grades have been posted to student transcripts the Head of Math and Science department leads will begin reviewing student applications and will send email notifications.

Please understand that although students may be approved to take a class with DPIE during the summer, students are expected to maintain qualifying grades throughout the third and fourth quarters. Students who do not maintain qualifying grades could have their approvals revoked.

What are the pre-requisites and grade criteria required for approvals?

Math Pre-Requisites and Grade Criteria

*NOTE: Students may only take one Algebra based course for acceleration through DPIE. They can take either Algebra 1 or Algebra 2/Trigonometry in DPIE, but they cannot take both classes through any Summer program.

** Math students who do not earn the minimum grade requirements to have their grades automatically added to their high school transcript and move on to the next course level, may appeal to have their grades counted and to move onto the next course level by completing the Dublin High School Waiver form. As a convenience, the Waiver form will be distributed by DPIE via email to the families of all math students enrolled in the Academy during the last week of the summer session. The waivers can be turned into your DPIE math teacher and they will be collected and given to the head of the DHS Math Department for review.

Science Pre-Requisites & Grade Criteria

Biology

Student must be entering grades 9 or 10 in the Fall (2020 – 2021 school year).
Students wanting to enroll in this class must have a strong “B” or better in both their current science and English classes.

Note: Students enrolling in the Biomedical Academy must take this class during the regular school year and cannot take this class in the Summer.

Honors Chemistry

Successful completion of or concurrently enrolled in Alg.2/Trig class.
Successful completion of Biology.

Physical Education and Elective Courses

Students who want to enroll in Physical Education or Elective programs do not need prior approval from the high school and may register as soon as registration opens on January 29, 2020.
Physical Education credit earned during the Summer counts toward the completion of the Sophomore PE requirement and does not satisfy the requirement of Physical Education for Freshman. This means all freshman will be required to take Physical Education in their Freshman year.

Where Will the DPIE STEM Summer Program be held this year?

Dublin High School
8151 Village Parkway
Dublin, CA 94568

What are the dates and hours for the 2020 STEM Enrichment Academy?

Dates: Tuesday, June 2 - Friday, July 10, 2020

Times: Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 1:30pm

Holidays: Friday, July 3 2020, NO SCHOOL

Why do I have to pay to enroll my student in the DPIE summer program?

The State of California does not fund summer courses for any California public school district. Without your fees, there could not be a STEM Enrichment Academy. The good news is that our fees are significantly lower than both private and public options in the Bay Area and run $700 to $2,000 less than nearby programs.

What does the enrollment fee cover?

DPIE charges a fee for STEM Summer Academy to pay the costs for teacher and staff salaries, additional mandatory employer expenses, administration, security, utilities, custodians materials, supplies and rental of classroom facilities, textbooks, chrome books, and other related costs.

What method of payment do you accept?

When you enroll online, you will be required to pay the enrollment fee with your credit card. Our website is secure and encrypted so you can feel safe in paying online. Your card number is not stored. Please contact us if you need additional payment information or have payment questions.

Is Financial Aid available?

Yes, any family that qualifies for the National School Lunch program which provides free lunches to students can receive financial assistance. If you are already in the program email us the name of your child, their student ID number and school of attendance. Once we have determined they are in the program, we will send you information to help you enroll your child in the class of their choice. Students must still be pre-approved by the district to take a class with us.

If you would like to know more about the National School Lunch Program and complete an online application, please click here http://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=2203112030183753. This Link will take you to the DUSD webpage where you can apply for entrance into the program. It will take a couple of days for the school district to determine if you qualify. Upon notification of qualification for this program, please let us know your students full name and ID number. We will then verify that you have qualified for the program, and how much financial aid for which you qualify.

Which grade levels may enroll in the high school STEM Enrichment Academy?

Students currently enrolled in grades 7-11 may enroll in the high school program for credit and course advancement pending approval from Dublin High School.

What if my child does not meet the grade criteria by the end of the first semester, can they still participate in the program for course credit if their grades improve?

Students who not meet the grade criteria at the end of the first semester will have their grades re-evaluated by Dublin High at the end of the 3rd and 4th quarters. If their grades improve and they meet the grade criteria as required by DHS policy, they will be notified that they have been approved and they can then enroll in the course they applied for.

Can my Child enroll in the DPIE High School Summer Academy purely for enrichment purposes?

Yes. Students wo want to take a DPIE Summer Academy high school course purely for enrichment purposes or to be better prepared for the same course in the Fall, may enroll in the program without approval from the high school. Please be aware that even if your child earns a qualifying grade in the course, Dublin High School will NOT accept that grade without prior approval.

What is the cost of enrolling in the STEM summer program?

Enroll Early and Save

All 6-week, year-long Summer high school courses

$980 – January 29 to February 29
$1,030 – March 1 to March 31
$1,080 – April 1 to June 3

3-week semester courses

$490 – January 29 to February 29
$515 – March 1 to March 31
$540 – April 1 to June 3 for 1st semester and June 21 for 2nd semester

What is the refund policy if we change our mind or my child’s grades drop?

Before enrolling your child, please be aware that DPIE has a strict “NO REFUND” policy in place so we recommend you only make the decision to enroll if you are confident your child meets the requirements established by the school district.

We apologize for this inconvenience, but it is important that we get an early start hiring teachers so we get the best teachers possible for our program. Once we contract with teachers, we are obligated to pay them and as a non-profit, we cannot afford to give refunds once we’ve committed to hire a teacher.

Additionally, you will find that DPIE charges anywhere from $700 - $2,000 less than other summer programs in the area or online. We do our best to keep costs down and make the program affordable to Dublin families.

My child has an IEP or a 504 Plan, can I enroll them in the summer program?

If you have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 plan set up by a California school district, you can apply for approval to take a class in the STEM Enrichment Academy. A copy of the IEP or 504 plan MUST be provided to DPIE so that we may determine if we can accommodate the student’s need in our programming. Enrollment in our program is provisional until we have made this determination as this is an accelerated learning environment that may not be compatible with your child’s needs.

How do I enroll my child in the DPIE STEM summer program?

Enrollment in our program takes place online on our website. Click on the Academy tab and select Summer High School, where you will find the enrollment link. Classes will be filled on a first come, first served basis, as determined by the date stamp at the completion of enrollment. Seating is limited so please consider enrolling early. Once you have completed enrollment you will receive an email receipt. You will receive a second notification once the class has filled and will be moving forward.

Enrollment Now Open

What do I need to know about enrolling my child in DPIE Math & Science courses?

Students must meet the prerequisites to qualify for any math courses offered by DPIE STEM Enrichment Academy. As an example, students must have successfully completed Algebra I before taking Geometry. Additionally, the STEM Enrichment Academy is an accelerated program and students should be strong students who come ready to work. It’s normal to expect 1-4 hours of homework each night, but some students report that it takes them longer to complete all assigned work. Please See the Math & Science Criteria above.

What if my student does well on the Spring Math Assessment?

DPIE understands that the Dublin Unified School District will administer a math placement assessment in mid-April and results will be shared with parents in early May. We realize that some students will do well enough on the assessment that they will be placed into Advanced Algebra 1 and those students will not be required to take Math Course 3 during the summer. However, DPIE cannot wait until May to hire math instructors to teach our summer courses, so please be aware that if you choose to enroll your child in Math Course 3 with us prior to receiving the results of the math placement assessment, we have a strong NO REFUND Policy.

NO REFUND POLICY AND PROCESS

The only source of funding that DPIE receives to pay teacher salaries, custodial services, campus supervision, administration, supplies and rent are the enrollment fees we charge for the program. DPIE hires teachers as soon as classes fill so we can hire the best teaches available to lead our courses. Once those teachers are hired, we are legally obligated to pay them.

Therefore, if you enroll in Math Course 3 with us and then learn in May that your child performed well enough on the math assessment to be placed in Advanced Algebra 1 for the 2020-2021 school year your options are listed below:

Stay in the Class - DPIE encourages you to keep your child enrolled in the program so they can learn the concepts that were not taught in Math Course 2. The Math Course 3 concepts we teach during the summer will be vital to your child’s success in Advanced Algebra 1 and passing the assessment does not mean your child fully understands those concepts.
Waitlist Refund – If you decide you don’t want to keep your child in the Math Course 3 program because they have been recommended for enrollment in Advanced Algebra I, we will be glad to refund you all but the $75 enrollment fee charged by the online registration company IF we can find a student on the waitlist to replace your child in the class. The registration company will not refund the fee for any reason.
No-one on Waitlist? – We will consider providing you with a partial credit on your account that can be used by any of your children for any DPIE sponsored program. The amount of the credit will depend on the loss the program incurs because of your decision to withdraw your child.

If my child performs well and meets the grade criteria required by Dublin High, will they be allowed to advance to the next course level in the Fall of 2020 - 2021?

Yes, please see the “DPIE Grades Required for Advancement” Column of the Dublin High Math Criteria document above to see what is required for advancement in Math courses. If parents feel that their student should move onto the next course level, even if they did not meet the miimum grade requirement to do so, they may complete a Dublin High School Waiver form at the end of the Summer Academy and turn it into their Academy teacher. The forms will then be given to Dublin High Administration for decisions.

Physical Education Students earning B- or above in Science, Physical Education and Elective courses will be allowed to advance to the next course level in the Fall.

Your Literature indicates that the STEM Summer Academy meets the UC Systems A – G Requirements, so why Isn’t the DPIE STEM Enrichment Academy Listed on their Approval List?

All STEM Enrichment Academy courses meet the curriculum guidelines of the Dublin Unified School District. The Dublin School Board has passed a resolution, # 2016-17-32, allowing DPIE courses and grades to be added to Dublin High transcripts and therefore are approved and meet the A-G requirements for UC admission. This process, known as "Principal's Certification" was created by the UC system’s Admissions department in support of supplementary programs like ours. UC recognizes that the DPIE Academy is accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools & Colleges) just like Dublin High and we offer the same courses as offered by Dublin High School.

When may I enroll my child in the DPIE summer program?

Once you receive the approval email from Dublin High School you may enroll your child in the Summer Academy. The Enrollment button will go live on January 29, 2019. Once you have enrolled your student, you will receive an email receipt of enrollment which you should keep for your records and proof of enrollment.

When will I receive my child’s schedule and room assignment?

You will receive several emails from DPIE between the time you enroll and the time the summer program begins.

You will receive a enrollment receipt upon enrollment in the program.
A second email will be sent once the class you enrolled your child in has enough enrollments to move forward. You can consider this a confirming email that you class is going to happen.
About a week before the Summer Academy begins, you will receive notification of your room and teacher assignment.
Additional emails will be sent during the Summer Academy to inform you of any program updates.

What is the attendance policy?

All students MUST attend the last day of their assigned class so they can take their final exam. Students must successfully complete the final in order to successfully complete the class.

Any student not in attendance on the first day needs to receive prior approval from DPIE STEM Academy Administration for the absence or they will be dropped in favor of a student on the waiting list.

Excused absences must be agreed to in advance with Academy Administration. Students are generally not allowed more than 1 ½ days of absence in any 3-week semester. Students are not allowed more than 3 days of absence when enrolled in a 6-week program without prior consent of Academy Administration. Two tardies equal one ½ day absence. It is very important that your student be on time and available for the full session to be successful at such an accelerated pace.

Each day in the STEM Enrichment Academy is the equivalent of one week of instruction in the regular school year. Students who miss class are not likely to be successful in the program.

How can I get a copy of my grade report?

A grade report will be mailed out at the end of the Academy to the families of all enrolled students. Grades for all Dublin students who meet the grading criteria for advancement will automatically be uploaded to your child’s transcript in August or September when the DHS counselors return from Summer Break.

How do I order additional transcripts?

Since your child’s grade will be automatically added to their DHS transcript, there will be no need to order additional transcripts from DPIE.

The Dublin High Counseling Department will be able to inform you about how to order your child’s Dublin High transcripts when your child applies for college admission.

NON-DUBLIN students enrolled in our program in the summer of 2016 can order additional transcripts through parchment.com. For a guide to ordering transcripts from Parchment, click here https://www.parchment.com/wp-content/uploads/Parchment_guide_ordering_transcript.pdf. Because our transcripts were issued by Dublin High School at the time your student was enrolled with us you must search for Dublin High School to find the school that has your student’s transcript. You will not find DPIE in the system therefore, searching for DPIE will yield no results.

In May of 2017, the Pleasanton Unified School District School Board passed a resolution that called for the acceptance of course grades and credits for courses taken through the DPIE STEM Academy by Pleasanton students in the summer of 2017 and placing them on Pleasanton transcripts. Therefore grades from the summer of 2017 should already be reflected on your student's Pleasanton school transcript.

How can I monitor my child’s performance in the class during the summer program?

DPIE will be allowed to use Infinite Campus to record all course grades during our six-week Academy and parents will be able to monitor student progress via the same parent portal they use during the regular school year.

May our child take more than one class at the same time in the DPIE summer program?

DPIE Summer Academy classes run for five hours per day, therefore, students will only have the time to take one year-long course in our Summer Academy.

My questions were not answered, what should I do?

If you need additional information or have a question that was not answered, please contact:

Vickie Constantinides
Academy Program Manager
Dublin Partners In Education
(925) 587-5610 Ext. 1003
vickie@dpie.org

or
Rich Boschetti
Academy Superintendent
Dublin Partners in Education
925 587-5610 Ext. 1004
rich@dpie.org

HIGH SCHOOL COURSES & TO ENROLL

High School summer courses accredited by Western Association of School Councils (WASC).

Through Dublin High School, courses satisfy University of California "a-g" subject requirements.

Secure enrollment & registration on DPIE's Active Network account–TRUSTe Certified for Kid's Privacy.

Questions or Comments

We are here to help. Please contact us with questions or feedback.

Main Office
(925) 587-5610

Vickie Constantinides
Academy Program Manager
(925) 587-5611
vickie@dpie.org

Rich Boschetti
Academy Director
(925) 587-5613
rich@dpie.org