Governance.Md + Seat Time Model

Reference: ST-011
Repository: SydTek_Scholars_Canon
File: GOVERNANCE.md + SEAT_TIME_MODEL.md
Checked: 2026-10-24T00:07:53.705Z
Website edition: 2

The source bytes match the current GitHub file hash checked for this release. This verifies the copied document’s identity, not the accuracy of every assertion or institutional accreditation.

Git blob SHA:
a0514dd468767d8d2345793c98ce96932fabe534
SHA-256:
1e4b3a8932cf9f06130d7d3dbe3ef4280c59a2b2d07c84107f9519c15fe2f957

Optional: original GitHub file and history · Exact source blob

Existing authorship, source notices and licenses remain applicable. This website copy grants no additional AI-training or commercial-use license.

# Governance
## SydTek Scholars Academy | Institutional Governance Framework

---

## Legal Structure

| Entity | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| SydTek Scholars Academy LLC | Delaware LLC | K-12 private school legal entity |
| SydTek University | Separate entity | Higher education (DEAC track) |
| GCB Ministries | Nonprofit (pending) | Community deployment layer |
| G. Rune Publishing | Publishing arm | Curriculum publishing |
| Gemach DAO | DAO | Governance + token infrastructure |

---

## Board of Trustees

**Minimum required for Cognia eligibility:** 3 members

Board responsibilities:
- Policy adoption and revision
- Financial oversight
- Accreditation progress review
- Curriculum standards approval
- Institutional mission alignment

Meeting cadence: Minimum quarterly
Documentation: `00-canon-governance/board/resolutions/`

---

## Version Control Policy

All policy documents are versioned (v1.0, v1.1, etc.).
Major updates require a Board Resolution filed in:
`00-canon-governance/board/resolutions/`

Changes are proposed via GitHub Issues and merged via Pull Requests.
Every merge is a public, timestamped record of institutional change.

---

## Privacy Boundary

This repository is public-safe. It contains:
- Institutional policy documents
- Curriculum frameworks
- Accreditation evidence structures
- Process documentation

It does NOT contain:
- Student personally identifiable information (PII)
- Student records or transcripts
- Financial account details
- Private board deliberations

Student records are maintained in a separate, private, FERPA-compliant system.

---

## Doctrinal Governance

All institutional decisions are evaluated against the Mirror → Water → Fire framework:

- **Mirror:** Does this decision reflect truth, accountability, and alignment with the GCB mission?
- **Water:** Does this decision refine and correct prior practice where needed?
- **Fire:** Does this decision execute toward legacy and 50-year institutional permanence?

---

## 50-Year Permanence Standard

SydTek Scholars is built to outlive its founder. Every system, document, and process is designed to operate without collapse in the founder's absence. The GitHub repository, DOI indexing, and public accreditation record are the institutional permanence infrastructure.

---

*Document version: 1.0 | Last updated: 2026*

# Seat Time Model
## SydTek Scholars Academy | Instructional Hours Documentation

---

## Per-Course Model

| Component | Count | Duration | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video lessons | 20 | 10 min each | 200 minutes |
| Reflection per lesson | 20 | 5 min each | 100 minutes |
| Written assignment | 1 per unit (4 units) | 15 min each | 60 minutes |
| End-of-unit assessment | 4 | 20 min each | 80 minutes |
| **Total per course** | | | **~440 minutes (~7.3 hours)** |

---

## Per-Year Model

| Grade Band | Courses/Year | Hours/Course | Annual Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-5 | 8 | ~5 hrs | ~40 hours |
| 6-8 | 10 | ~6 hrs | ~60 hours |
| 9-12 | 12 | ~7 hrs | ~84 hours |

> Note: These are minimum documented instructional hours. Actual engagement typically exceeds these figures due to supplemental reading, parent-led discussion, and project work.

---

## Cognia Seat Time Alignment

Cognia does not mandate a specific seat time hour count for nontraditional online schools. Instead, Cognia evaluates:
1. Whether the instructional model is documented
2. Whether seat time is consistently tracked
3. Whether student achievement evidence exists

SydTek Scholars satisfies all three:
1. This document + `CURRICULUM_FRAMEWORK.md` provide full documentation
2. Parent dashboard progress logs + YouTube watch history provide tracking
3. Reflection assignments, written responses, and assessment records provide achievement evidence

---

## Evidence Sources

| Evidence Type | Source | Public? |
|---|---|---|
| Video delivery | YouTube playlist views + timestamps | Public |
| Course structure | GitHub repository (this repo) | Public |
| Student engagement | Reflection assignments (parent-held) | Private |
| Assessment records | Student records system | Private (FERPA) |
| Progress logs | Parent dashboard | Private (member) |

---

*Document version: 2.0 | Last updated: 2026 | Replaces v1.0*