Family Policies
General
As followers of Christ, all behaviors from students, parents, teachers, and leaders, should reflect our Statement of Faith at all times while on campus at PATH Milford.
Our teachers are General Contractors. Choosing to teach here, they agree to teach in accordance with our Statement of Faith. As general contractors, they run their own classes. We give general rules for the PATH Milford program as a whole, but teachers decide the rules for their class. This includes curriculum selection that does not go against our statement of faith, assignments, grading, behavior rules, etc. This is very helpful in preparing for college where each professor has their own way of running their class.
PATH is not liable or responsible for teen drivers or their passengers.
PATH Milford is a drop-off program. You may drop off your student 30 minutes before the first class of the day as long as one leader has arrived. Students may use the Break Room until the end of class. You must pick up your student on time. Please allow extra drive time for unexpected delays.
Parent Volunteer Responsibilities
Volunteer Positions: Board of Directors, Cleaning or Set up Coordinator, Registration, Tuition, HSL Liaison, Webmaster, or setting up classrooms.
Each family is required to participate in a volunteer capacity. Unless you are serving in one of the other volunteer capacities, you should expect to sign up for three to five setup/teardown dates for the year, and at least 2 family members must be present. Signups will be divided between 2 semesters. The signup link will be emailed in August and signup for the first semester should be completed by Orientation in order for your student to attend class. Your willingness to help is greatly appreciated!
Any family wishing to opt out of the volunteer assignment for the year may notify Leadership and pay a one-time, non refundable setup fee of $100 which is due at orientation.
It is the family's responsibility to mark on their calendars the dates of their volunteer responsibilities. It is not the responsibility of the setup coordinator or PATH leadership to remind you. If you have a sudden schedule conflict, you need to find your own replacement or pay a $25 opt-out fee. Use the Directory found on the website to find a substitute and text them. Then please inform the setup coordinator or leadership.
If there is a no-show for setup, a $25 fee (paid to the person that did your job) will be added to their balance.
Tardiness/Absences
Students must be on time to class. A pattern of tardiness is disruptive to the class and disrespectful to the teacher.
Skipping class is prohibited! Due to the nature of our program, it is important that you prioritize attendance.
Parents must notify (text/email) each of their student’s teachers and PATH leadership of any absences as soon as the date of the absence is known.
It is the student’s responsibility to promptly turn in all class assignments missed due to an absence. It is not the teacher's responsibility to oversee this.
Cancellations/Delays
(Parents must check email and website)
When we have inclement weather, PATH Leadership will determine if the first class of the day will be delayed for 30 minutes or if in-person classes need to be canceled.*
An email will be sent by 7:30 a.m. Please, text a director when in doubt (see the directory for cell phone numbers).
PATH does not have make-up days built into our schedule. Most teachers will conduct virtual classes. The teachers will have communicated their plan for non-meeting days in their syllabus. Common choices are: emailing assignments, holding virtual classes online, or adjusting the syllabus. The teachers will communicate that morning via email any further instructions for that day.
*Families may determine for themselves whether or not the roads in their area are suitable; we want everyone to be safe. There is no penalty for staying home if PATH meets in person. In some cases, we may be able to facetime your student so they can still participate. Our families come from all directions and distances, and as we all know, road conditions can vary greatly in the greater Cincinnati area.
Grades and Family Responsibilities
Students must commit to a high work ethic at all times, coming to class fully prepared with all assignments completed. Students must submit acceptable academic work.
Parents are responsible to oversee school days outside of the co-op days.
Students are responsible for writing down homework assignments in class so they are not fully relying on electronic communications.
Parents and students must regularly check their HSL account to look at class information, assignment completion, and grades.
Students and parents are responsible to keep track of missing assignments by regularly checking the gradebook online. This is not the teacher's job. This is a co-op.
Students must have regular access to the following: a computer with printer, internet access, and email (family account is fine).
Families will check their email daily to receive assignments, updates, and messages from teachers and PATH leadership.
Families will print documents (syllabus, handouts, assignments, etc), which the teacher emails, and bring them to class.
Parents are to address any complaints or concerns to the teachers first before leadership or others. Teachers want to know if there is an issue and usually want to work with the parent and student.
Teacher policy regarding late work will be listed on their syllabus.
The high school transcript is the parent’s responsibility. Parents must print grades by May 31st. Teachers are allowed to archive the grades after June 1st.
Academic Expectations & Probation
Our Teachers have agreed to:
- Select curriculum that does not go against our Statement of Faith
- Provide a quarterly syllabus prior to the upcoming quarter
- Post grades at least one week after due date
- Post end of quarter or year grades within 10 days
- Give an automatic zero for classroom cheating or plagiarism. The second offense for cheating or plagiarism may result in dismissal from the program for that academic year.
If a student's average quarterly grade falls below 70%, the teacher will notify the parents. If the grade doesn't improve, PATH Leadership will schedule a meeting in which the student, parents, and PATH Leadership will be present. Teachers may choose to attend.
All parties will discuss the probationary period and create an Academic Achievement Plan to try and help the student succeed.
Failure to comply or at least try, may result in dismissal from the class.
Use of AI for various assignments will be determined by each teacher. A composition generated by AI will be considered cheating. Students must create their own content.
Behavioral Policies
PATH desires to have a respectful atmosphere, pleasing to God and reflecting Christian standards in words and dress.
- Parent and student communication regarding PATH, including emails to teachers, leadership, and parents, will be respectful and Biblical at all times.
- Classroom cheating or plagiarism/AI generated papers will result in an automatic zero for that assignment.
- Students will come to class prepared and with all assignments completed.
- Inappropriate talk, gestures, or actions will not be tolerated. Respect will be given at all times toward leadership, teachers, classmates, parents, the church staff, etc.
- Students must behave properly in a structured classroom setting. Academic, behavior, and social maturity must be at a level as not to distract from the group learning environment.
- During class time, respect must be shown by alert attention and participation. Disruptive behaviors such as talking to a neighbor, interrupting, distracting, or the passing of notes are unacceptable. Teachers are welcome to send any students with disruptive behaviors to sit with leadership until class is done. If this happens, parents will be notified.
- Students will not use electronic devices, including cell phones, during class time. They will be confiscated for the remainder of the day.
- Playing video games and watching movies/TV shows, etc is not allowed at PATH.
- Do not bring knives into the building or any type of weapon into the building.
- Students will not have any material at PATH that gos against Biblical standards.
- Students will respect property, both inside and outside of the facility. Parents are financially responsible for any property damage caused by their child.
- No public display of affection (PDA), such as hugging, holding of hands, or kissing.
- Students will pick up after themselves and assist in cleanup.
- Students are not to leave campus unless going home for the day. If you find it necessary for your child to leave the campus between classes, the parent must contact the director to give verbal permission and also send an email to PATH saying they gave permission for their child to leave. Groups of teens leaving campus will not be allowed.
Dress Code Policies (I Tim 2:9-10, Deut 22:5)
In order to provide a non-distracting environment, the dress code is to be modest at all times.
- Shirt sleeves must be over the shoulder, no sleeveless shirts, tank tops, or spaghetti straps and no cleavage showing.
- Shirts must be able to be tucked in; no backs, midriffs, boxers, or underwear showing anytime, including when arms are raised or stretched.
- Shirts and pants must not be tight or clingy. Please do not wear leggings/active wear to PATH. Leggings are considered undergarments and not pants.
- Skirts and shorts must be at least mid-thigh in length, even with leggings. (No running shorts)
- Shirts and jewelry must not display any offensive symbols, messages, logos, or anything contrary to Christian values.
- Pants must not have holes above mid-thigh, and they must not have writing across the back.
- Leadership reserves the right to define inappropriate and/or offensive apparel.
Church Policies
PATH must help with setting up and putting away tables/chairs when the church needs help.
Everyone, except leadership, needs to enter through the doors at the far end of the building.
Teen drivers must drive SLOWLY coming in and going out of the parking lot. Warning: sometimes there are small children in the parking lot.
Students can only be in the designated PATH areas of the Life Center.
MPR-Students must not hit the ceiling tiles with anything. No kicking balls in the MPR. $25 fine for violation of this policy.
Family members and siblings are welcome to come in. Parents are responsible for their children and must supervise/maintain appropriate behavior, and clean up after them.
All visitors must have prior approval.
Touching or operating of room dividers is prohibited.
Students will not use the copier.
Students will not use the kitchen, though leadership may put things in the refrigerator for them.
Selling of products is not allowed for individual profit or fundraising.
Violation of Policies
Typically, students are given warnings. The first warning will be given to the student privately. The second warning will result in talking with the leadership and parental notification. Depending on the situation, a third infraction for the same issue may result in dismissal from the class or program for that academic year. Something that is more serious in nature may skip to a higher action.
Students will be given an automatic zero for classroom cheating or plagiarism. The second offense for cheating or plagiarism/AI generated papers will result in dismissal from the program for that academic year.
Leadership reserves the right to call a parent to have the student removed from campus or the program without any warning.
*We want to enforce these rules kindly and ask for your cooperation so the program runs smoothly and consistently for everyone. May everyone strive to live up to their God-given potential!
3/12/26