FAQ

Daily Summary Screen is constantly updating and records attendance for the current day only.
Study Hall attendance is updated the following day. Check on the attendance tab the following day for the update.
Parental and Administrative excuse may take up to 24 hours to update. Check the attendance tab the following day for the update.
On the Attendance Tab, remember to mouse (hover) over the day to see attendance details.

Q: What do I do if I have a question about attendance information on the Attendance Tab after 24 to 48 hours.
A:

First, check with your son or daughter
Second, contact the teacher. On the ETHS website, under contact us is a list of teacher e-mails.
Third, e-mail the attendance office at AttendanceOffice@eths.k12.il.us .
If you have a question about Study Hall attendance, contact Althea Brown.

Q: What is a published assignment and how often will teachers publish assignments?
A:

After an assignment has been graded, teachers can publish the assignment in order for parents/students to view the grade/score for the assignment.
Teachers are required to publish graded assignment in a reasonable amount of time. Reasonable varies depending on the nature of the assignment. Major projects and papers require a longer timeline for grading. Contact the teacher if you have any questions.
Questions about your child’s grades should be directed to the individual teacher.

Q: When do the official Interim Progress Reports and Report Cards get posted on HAC?
A: These are posted on the official mail date

Q: What is an Interim Progress Report and how often do teachers do this report?
A:

Interim Progress Report is done 4 times a year. One for each quarter.
This report reflects your son/daughters grades on the date of the report. You may see a different grade on the HAC assignment level since teachers will continue to grade after this date.
Teachers also can add comments to help inform you of your student’s progress.

Q: What should I do if I feel there is a grade discrepancy?
A:

Please have a conversation with your student to gain clarity on what assignment/grades have been returned, and whether the teacher has shared any information that may resolve the discrepancy. Check back at a later time to see if the discrepancy has been updated.
Should the grade discrepancy still be unresolved, we encourage the student to meet with the teacher to address the issue. However, if no progress has been made between the teacher and the student, we are always open to having our parents make contact with the classroom teacher to bring clarity to the situation.

Q: What if I lost or forgot my password or username?
A:

Call Peter Naughton at 847 424-7121
E-mail the homeaccesscenter@www.eths.k12.il.us
If a student, go to any center with your ID and a staff member will assist you.

Q: How do I change my password?
A:

Click on MY PROFILE in the upper right hand corner
Type in the OLD PASSWORD and then type in your NEW PASSWORD twice.

Q: What do I do if I am having trouble with my password?
A:

0 (zero) and O (letter O) can look very much a like. So if you have a 0 or O in your password, try both.
Call Peter Naughton 847 424-7121 and he can help change your password.

PSAE

Q: What is the Prairie State Achievement Examination, or PSAE?
A: The PSAE is the state achievement test for grade 11 public high school students. It tests five academic subjects: reading, mathematics, writing and science.

Q: What is the purpose of the PSAE?
A: The PSAE assesses the progress of both high schools and individual students in meeting the Illinois Learning Standards.

Q: What are the Illinois Learning Standards?
A: The Illinois Learning Standards are descriptions of the specific knowledge and skills that students should learn in Illinois public schools.

To develop the Illinois Learning Standards, thousands of Illinois citizens - teachers, parents, school administrators, employers, community leaders, and representatives of higher education - contributed ideas about what students need to know and be able to do at five benchmark levels from the early elementary years through late high school. Thus, the Illinois Learning Standards have a real connection to entry-level jobs and post-high school education.

Q: Where can I find more information about the Illinois Learning Standards?
A: A Parent's Guide to the Illinois Learning Standards (a brochure) and printed copies, call the Illinois State Board of Education at (217) 782-4321. If you have Web access, you may read and download the full 144-page text at www.isbe.net/ils/.

Q: When do students take the PSAE?
A: Grade 11 students take the PSAE on the fourth Wednesday and following Thursday in April. Makeup tests for students who are not in school on one or both April test dates are two weeks later. Grade 12 students can opt to retake the PSAE in late October to raise their scores.

Q: How is the PSAE administered?
A: Students are tested over two days. On Day 1 they take the ACT Assessment®, which includes English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning tests.

On Day 2 they take tests developed by the State Board of Education in writing, science, and social science and two ACT-developed WorkKeys® tests, Reading for information and Applied Mathematics.

Q: Should students with disabilities take the PSAE?
A: Students with disabilities should take the PSAE unless they have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that identifies regular state testing as being inappropriate for them, even with accommodations. Decisions about participation and any need for accommodations that students with disabilities may have are made on an individual basis by each student's IEP team.

Q: Should students in state-approved bilingual education programs take the PSAE?
A: Students in these programs should take the PSAE unless they have been in a program less 5 or more cumulative academic years.

Q: Why does the PSAE include different kinds of tests?
A: The State Board of Education wants the PSAE to have value for individual students, so tests that will be useful to them are included.

The WorkKeys tests measure skills in mathematics and reading that employers believe are critical to job success. The ACT Assessment may be used for college admissions.

Q: Why include tests that measure workplace skills on the PSAE?
A: Many employers use WorkKeys test scores to determine whether an applicant is suited for a particular job. High school students may use their WorkKeys scores to identify the reading and mathematics skills they have and those they need to acquire to qualify for different jobs.

Q: Why should students who are not planning to go to college take the ACT Assessment?
A: Standards are for all Illinois students, not just those who plan to go to college. Taking the ACT Assessment, which is well aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards, gives students a measure of their academic strengths and weaknesses.

Furthermore, students who do not want to attend college immediately after high school graduation may decide to go back to school graduation may decide to go back to school after they have worked for a time. The need for learning in the workplace is continuing; most high school graduates will eventually have to continue their education to achieve career or life goals.

Q: What scores do students get from the PSAE?
A: Students receive five PSAE scores, one for each of the subjects tested on the PSAE: reading, mathematics, writing and science. In addition, they receive scores for each of the individual tests that constitute the PSAE as well as the bonus of ACT Assessment results that they can report to colleges.

Q: Must PSAE scores appear on transcripts as part of the student permanent record?
A: Yes. Student transcripts must include scores for each of the five PSAE subjects and indicate the subject(s) in which a student earned a Prairie State Achievement Award. Scores for the individual tests that constitute the PSAE, including the WorkKeys scores, may be included on the student temporary record but not the permanent record.

Q: Must ACT Assessment scores be placed on student transcripts?
A: No. Schools should not automatically place ACT Assessment scores generated by taking the PSAE on transcripts. These scores should be included on transcripts only with a student's permission (or a parent's or guardian's permission if the student is less than 18 years old).

Q: What is a Prairie State Achievement Award?
A: A Prairie State Achievement Award is recognition of excellent performance on the PSAE. A student can earn an award in each of the five subjects that are tested. (There is no composite score or overall award for the PSAE.) Students receive a certificate in their senior year that indicates each subject in which they earned an award.

Q: Do colleges and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) accept ACT Assessment scores from the PSAE?
A: Yes. Colleges and universities throughout the United States and ISAC have indicated their willingness to use ACT Assessment scores reported from state testing.

Q: Where can I find more information about the PSAE?
A: Call your local high school for more information, or contact the State Board of Education using the information given below. A test preparation booklet for students that includes questions and answers about the PSAE as well as sample test questions is posted on the Web Site

SNAP

Q: How does the SNAP system work?
A: The SNAP System identifies each student's meal account by reading a bar code that is printed on the Student ID Card. This allows a parent to prepay into the student's account to establish a "line of credit." This credit can be used to purchase breakfast, lunch and a la carte items in any school Food Court. Students who pay full price for their meals, as well as those who are eligible for free or reduced price meals, run their ID cards past a bar code reader to access their personal accounts to obtain food. This eliminates the need to use separate meal tickets or to carry cash. Students eligible for free or reduced price meals are also able to make prepayments into their accounts to cover any desired a la carte purchases.

Q: What are the advantages of SNAP?
A: The system is convenient for parents since daily lunch money does not have to be provided. Payments may be sent to the school on a periodic basis by mail or with students and may be made in any amount with a check, cash or VISA/Mastercard. Use of the barcoded ID card guarantees that money is actually spent on food. It also helps students develop budgeting skills as they learn to "charge" their meals against a declining balance in their account. The system makes the breakfast and lunch lines move faster since less cash is handled. It also ensures that students approved for free and reduced price meal benefits remain anonymous.

Q: Can meals be charged with the SNAP system?
A: No. This is not a system designed to develop a bill to be paid later. It is a debit card to be used much like a bank debit card. Students will be able to access their accounts only if money is available. An exception is made for students eligible to receive free meals. These students are able to access their accounts immediately to obtain one Combo Breakfast and one Combo Lunch each day.

Q: What happens when the SNAP account is depleted?
A:

The Food Court cashier will advise the student when the balance is $5.00 or less. The student can then inform the parent so additional funds can be sent to school. If for some reason money is not added, the student will be able to charge a maximum of $3.00 in food purchases before new funds are added. This will allow the student to keep a good credit rating without missing a meal. The amount owed will be deducted from future payments.

Negative balances should be paid immediately.

Q: How long does it take to open a SNAP account?
A: An account is established once a student obtains their new ETHS ID card.

Q: Will SNAP refunds be made?
A: Cash refunds will not be made to students. Refunds of $5 or more of unused monies will be made by check only to parents/guardians upon written request. Students may ask a Food Court cashier for the account status at any time. Balances will carry over from one year to the next. Negative balances also carry over and are considered fee obligations that will be payable during fall registration, if not paid sooner.

Q: How much does a meal service cost?
A: A complete student breakfast is priced at $1.90. Lunch prices range from $3.25 to $3.50 based on the main dish selected. A reduced price lunch is priced at $.40; a reduced price breakfast is $.30. Many a la carte selections are also available. The average student spends about $4.00 per day.

Q: What happens with SNAP if the bar-coded student id card is lost or stolen?
A: Students are required to carry their ID Cards at all times while in school. They should take extra care to ensure that cards are kept secure and should never lend them to someone else. If a card is lost or stolen, it should be reported at once to the Dean’s office and the School Nutrition Services office. The card's barcode will be deactivated to prevent someone else from using it. A new barcode will be established for the student's account when the student receives a replacement ID card from the ID Center.

Q: Can students use their SNAP cards to buy food for friends?
A: Yes, but only if they want to. The amount of money in each student's SNAP account is known only to that student. Students and parents may wish to discuss any spending restrictions or daily limits that might be set, if desired.

Q: How is a SNAP account established?
A: To open or add money to a SNAP account for your student, please complete a SNAP prepayment form (English or Spanish). Enter your VISA/Mastercard account number and your signature or attach a check or money order made out to ETHS Nutrition Services Dept. Mail your prepayment to the Nutrition Services Department, Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Avenue, Evanston IL 60201. You may also send a payment with your student who should give it to the Food Court cashier at mealtime. A completed prepayment form must accompany each payment to guarantee proper credit to an account. We also ask that you write your student's ID number on the check.

Safety

Q: What are the Responsibilities and Duties of the Safety Department at ETHS?
A:

Some of the duties of the Safety team include:

Preventative Patrols
Crowd control at special ends
Enforcement of school rules and regulation
Access Control
Discipline review
Conflict resolution
Student engagement and mentoring
Preliminary investigations
Problem-solving
Educational programs
Crisis planning

Q: Who do I contact for Lost & Found?
A: Stop by the Safety Office at Door 1 during the day and speak with the receptionist or Assistant Safety Director, or call 847-424-7500.

Registrar

Q: How can I get my transcript?
A:

In Person at the Registrar Office (Room H114)

Pay a fee for each transcript request.
Give us your name, time attended ETHS, birth date, graduation year, and the date you last attended ETHS.
Address to send transcript.

Via Post Office Mail

Cash or Money Order Only

Online

Q: Do you have a copy of my diploma?
A: No, the original was the only copy.

Q: When can we expect our report cards?
A: Please visit the school calendar section of the ETHS websites for mailing dates for student report cards.

Q: How do I withdraw my student?
A: To withdraw your student a parent / legal guardian needs to contact the counseling secretary in person.

Q: How long will it take to get my transcript?
A: Please allow 48 hours from the time your fee was received for your transcript to be processed and mailed.

Community Service

Q: What counts as community service?
A: Coming soon

Student Information

Q: Is it possible to change our home address somewhere on this site?
A: Unfortunately, not at this time. Please contact the registrar's office at (847) 424-7180. Office hours and key contacts are listed here: http://www.eths.k12.il.us/student_services/registrar/default.aspx.

Q: Is it possible to change our home address somewhere on this site?
A: Address changes must be processed by the ETHS Registrar's office. Please contact the registrar's office at (847) 424-7180. Office hours and key contacts are listed here: http://www.eths.k12.il.us/student_services/registrar/default.aspx.

Q: Is there any difference between a B+ and a B- when it comes to my GPA? If so, what is the point scale.
A: There is a difference in points applied to each different course mark when GPAs are calculated. Please take a look at the Student\Parent Handbook (aka The Pilot) for details.

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1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston, IL 60201 | 847-424-7000