Economics is a one-semester course REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION. Students are expected to master the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for the course. A PISD district examination is administered at the end of the course to determine mastery. This exam counts 25% of the student’s grade.

COURSE OUTLINE

UNIT CHAPTERS TITLE

1 1, 2, 3 (sections 1 & 2) Scarcity
2 4, 5, 6 Interaction of Supply and Demand
3 7, 8, 9 Business Competition, Market Structures and Labor
4 12, 13 GDP, Unemployment and Inflation
5 14, 3 (sections 3 & 4) Role of Government in the Economy
6 15 Fiscal Policy
7 10, 11, 16 Money, Banking and Monetary Policy
8 17, 18 (sections 1-3) Global Economics

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Notebook or binder, notebook paper, pens, #2 pencils/and pencils of various colors for graphing, highlighter and a calculator. These are to be brought to class each day.

HOMEWORK AND ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students are issued a textbook and must read assignments prior to discussion of the lesson. Class discussion will consist of explanation of difficult concepts, application of concepts and time for teachers to answer student questions. Students are responsible for material in the text, teacher lectures, the computer lab lessons, videos and class discussions. It is very important that each student attend every day to be successful in economics. The class is very similar to math and the concepts build on each other.

GRADING POLICY:
The final grade is an average of the three six weeks grades and the semester exam. Each six-week grade includes pop and scheduled quizzes, homework, class work assignments and unit test and projects. Major evaluations, such as unit tests, count 75% of the six weeks grade. The remaining grades make up the other 25% of the six weeks grade. Students must maintain a 70% average or higher to pass and receive credit for this class.

GRADE REPORTING POLICY:
So that you as a parent can be aware of your child’s progress in economics, progress reports will be sent home at mid-six week intervals to all students. Also, all students receive six-week report cards. Students are expected to show these to their parents, have them signed and returned to the teacher. Please feel free to contact the teacher via email any time that you are concerned about your child’s progress. We also encourage you to attend the open house to meet the teachers. Each of the economic teachers’ names are listed at the end of this document.

MAKE-UP WORK POLICY:
Students have two weeks from the time of their absence to complete make-up work, including homework, quizzes, tests and projects. After two weeks any make-up work that has not been completed will receive a maximum grade of 70%. Extended absences will be handled on individual contracts. Students are issued a calendar and a packet at the beginning of each unit, so being absent is not a reason for NOT completing the appropriate assignment. Specific weekly make up and tutoring times are posted in each economics classroom. Additional times may be arranged with the teacher on an individual basis. Students must report to the appropriate make-up room at the beginning of the make-up period. Except under extenuating circumstances, all make-up tests and quizzes are essay/short answer and different from the original given in class.

LATE WORK POLICY:
No late work will be accepted unless the student has been absent and the appropriate sub-school has designated the absence as excused. A zero will be given for work not turned in to the teacher.

TUTORING POLICY:
If a student is having difficulty, he/she should attend during the times posted. Tutoring is offered one day every week at five (5) different times so that each student may take advantage of these sessions. If those times are not sufficient, individual appointments should be made with the teacher.

TARDY POLICY:
Tardies are very disruptive. They cause the student to miss work/evaluations and are an interruption to the learning of others. The current Plano East tardy policy will be followed. Please see the handbook for details.

TEAM TEACHING POLICY:
The Economics Department of PESH utilizes this method of instruction. All teachers work together to develop all of the instructional materials including calendars and evaluations/tests. At the beginning of each semester it is frequently necessary to move students to another team teacher in order to balance the size of the classes. This equal distribution of class size aids in the learning process for all students.

The Economics Team of Plano East Senior High:

Mrs. Brooks, kbrooks@pisd.edu
Ms. Meek, jmeek@pisd.edu
Mrs. McKeever, lmckeev@pisd.edu
Mrs. Storz, sstorz@pisd.edu
Mrs. Wofford, swoffor@pisd.edu