| Whitmore Lake Public Schools |
| Administrative Guidelines |
2271 - POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS
The following guidelines have been established to ensure that these programs operate as effectively as possible and in accordance with Board policy and the School Code.
Each year, prior to March 1st, the high school principal shall provide information regarding the optional postsecondary enrollment program to the students currently enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11 and to their parents.
The postsecondary institutions to which this option program applies are any State-assisted college or university and any other nonprofit educational institution that is certified to operate in the State.
Eligibility
Students must be bona-fide juniors or seniors for the year in which participation is sought. A senior student must have completed the requirements for a State-endorsed diploma or his/her eligibility is limited to enrollment in a subject area in which s/he has met the endorsed-diploma requirement. A senior who has not met all of the requirements for the State-endorsed diploma may take courses in computer science, a foreign language not offered by the District, or fine arts as long as s/he has met one requirement. A junior student must have met the requirements for a State-endorsed diploma in all subject areas of the High School Proficiency Test. (See AG 5460 - Graduation Requirements). Parents of tenth grade students may request that their child be allowed to take any test the District uses to grant a State-endorsed diploma at the time the test or retest is offered.
In addition, the student must meet the eligibility requirements of the postsecondary institution of choice and be accepted by that institution.
Credit Options
Students will be able to elect to take courses for college credit only, for high school credit only, or for both high school and college credit. The student shall designate the type of credit desired at the time of enrollment.
Grades
If the student wishes to have the grade from each course entered on his/her transcript and made a part of his/her GPA either for possible scholarships or participation in collegiate athletics, s/he should so notify the principal at the time of enrollment.
Enrollment
By May 15th of each year, a student or his/her parent must complete and submit the Intent To Participate Form 2271 F1 filed with the high school administration which signifies the student's intent to participate in the program for the following school year.
Prior to completing this form the student and his/her parents must participate in the special counseling sessions described below and confirm receipt of these counseling services by signing at the prescribed place on the intent form.
Failure to meet this deadline shall exclude the student from the program for that school year unless a waiver is granted by the Superintendent. Participation may be withdrawn by the student or parent at any time upon written notification to the high school administration.
Students must identify the appropriate postsecondary enrollment option prior to the start of the first class session of the fall quarter or semester at the college. Once the first class session of the fall term has been held, the student may not change the option selected during the period of that school year, regardless of the number of courses taken.
Counseling Services
The student and parents must participate in the following counseling services provided by the high school counselors:
| A. | Program Eligibility and Credit Options |
| 1. | An eligible course is any course offered by the postsecondary institution other than one considered to be a hobby craft; recreation or physical education; theology, divinity or religious education and that is not offered by the school, or is offered but determined by the school not available to the student. | ||
| 2. | The student may opt to receive high school credit, college credit, or both at the time of enrollment in each course. | ||
| 3. | High school credit may be counted toward graduation and subject area requirements. | ||
| 4. | The student may request to test out of a course, in accordance with Board policy and administrative guidelines 5460A in order to be eligible for a particular postsecondary course. |
| B. | Potential Risks and Consequences |
Among the potential risks of participation the student must be willing to accept are:
| 1. | increased student responsibility for learning because of less instructional guidance; | ||
| 2. | reduced opportunities to participate in high school co-curricular and extra-curricular activities; | ||
| 3. | potential loss of after-school employment opportunities; | ||
| 4. | possible effect on grade point average and class standing; | ||
| 5. | possible delay of graduation; | ||
| 6. | increased time for travel, study, etc. |
| C. | Potential benefits are: |
| 1. | expanded curriculum offerings; | ||
| 2. | opportunities to study in more depth those areas of special interest or need; | ||
| 3. | opportunities to earn college credits while still in high school; | ||
| 4. | opportunities for financial support for taking college courses while still in high school; | ||
| 5. | opportunities to experience college level work and life prior to making final decisions about whether and/or where to attend college. |
| D. | College Acceptance and Scheduling |
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Participation is contingent upon admission to the postsecondary institution. The District will assist the student in gaining admission by providing transcripts and other related documents but will accept no responsibility if the student is not accepted by the postsecondary institution. Students who are awaiting acceptance should register for high school classes as if they were not participating in the program. |
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Schedule changes will then be made prior to the start of each semester for those students who receive notice of admission which must be provided by the postsecondary institution, in writing to the student and the District within ten (10) days of acceptance. |
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In the event that the student withdraws from the postsecondary institution class for high school credit within the first two (2) weeks of the course, the student will be re-enrolled in the high school classes which were previously dropped. |
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Reasonable efforts will be made in scheduling to accommodate the needs of students who will be leaving the high school campus in order to participate in this program. However, if a schedule conflict cannot be accommodated, the student may enroll in the postsecondary course. Revising the master schedule and/or unduly overloading classes are not required in order to accommodate schedule requests. |
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E. |
Financial Arrangements |
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The District will pay the charges submitted by the postsecondary institution or the prorated percentage of the State foundation allowance paid on behalf of the particular student, whichever is the lessor. Charges in excess of the payment will be billed by the postsecondary institution to the student and his/her parents. |
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The postsecondary institution will not charge a late fee providing the student registers during the institution's drop/add period. |
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Should students fail to complete a course and a refund is available, the School District shall be reimbursed first. |
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F. |
Process for Granting Academic Credits |
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When students have elected to receive high school credit for postsecondary institution courses, credit will be awarded for successful completion of courses in accordance with the following guidelines: |
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| 1. | The principal shall require the student to submit a course syllabus or detailed description of each postsecondary institution course taken so that a comparison can be made with existing high school courses. | ||
| 2. | If the principal determines that the postsecondary institution course is comparable to one offered by the high school, the equivalent high school credit shall be granted. | ||
| 3. | If the principal determines that the postsecondary institution course is not comparable to one offered by the high school, credit shall be granted in a subject area similar to that taken by the student at the postsecondary institution. | ||
| 4. | In the event that the student or parents contest the credit, the Superintendent shall determine the appropriate credit. The Superintendent's decision shall be final and binding. | ||
| 5. | Students who enroll in a postsecondary institution course for both high school and postsecondary institution credit will receive on their high school transcript the grade issued by the postsecondary institution. While the course will be clearly designated on transcripts as a postsecondary institution course taken for high school credit, the grade will not be computed in the grade point average. | ||
| 6. | Students who are enrolled for eighteen (18) credits (either exclusively through high school courses or through a combination of high school courses and postsecondary institution courses taken for high school credit) may still enroll in postsecondary institution courses for postsecondary institution credit. However, such supplemental enrollment will be at the student's expense. |
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G. |
Criteria for Transportation Aid |
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All students participating in the postsecondary enrollment option program will be responsible for their transportation to and from their homes and the postsecondary institution or to and from the high school and the postsecondary institution. |
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H. Available Student Services
Students enrolled in the postsecondary program will be entitled to all student services provided to any other of the District's high school students (counseling, health, etc.). However, these services will be provided only while the students are on the high school campus and only upon request. It is also the students' responsibility to keep themselves informed of academic and other requirements for all students who attend the high school.
| I. | Consequences of Failing or Not Completing a Course | |
| If students withdraw from the postsecondary institution course within the first two (2) weeks of the course, they will be rescheduled for the appropriate high school courses, and no record of the postsecondary institution course will appear on the transcript. However, if students withdraw from the postsecondary institution courses after two (2) weeks of the classes, the course will appear on the transcript and will carry a grade of Withdrawn/Failing. | ||
| Any course taken for high school credit at a postsecondary institution and completed (or recorded as Withdrawn/Failing) will be clearly identified on the transcript along with the name of the postsecondary institution where the work was undertaken. | ||
| J. | Effect on Completion of Graduation Requirements | |
| Students using postsecondary institution courses for credit toward high school graduation may do so. However, it is the responsibility of participating students and parents to be sure that the courses undertaken will meet the graduation requirements for the students. Upon acceptance by the postsecondary institution, students should schedule an appointment with a high school counselor to develop a written schedule showing courses to be taken at the high school and at the postsecondary institution as well as all graduation requirements remaining to be met. No high school graduation requirements shall be waived for any student as a result of participation in this program. | ||
| K. | Academic and Social Responsibilities of Students and Parents | |
| When attending either regular classes or co-curricular/extra-curricular activities at the high school, students participating in this program will be expected to abide by all District policies and the Student Code of Conduct. | ||
| No student is allowed to participate in intercollegiate athletics while participating in the postsecondary options program. | ||
| Students and their parents assume all responsibility and liability related to attendance at a postsecondary institution and must agree to hold harmless the Board of Education, the administration, and the staff for any incidents arising out of participation in this program. |
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Students must meet all requirements and standards established by the postsecondary institution and assume responsibility for attendance and behavior. |
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L. Information and Encouragement to Use Postsecondary Institution Counseling Services
The high school counselors, during the individual counseling sessions, shall make available any information provided by the postsecondary institution concerning its counseling services. In addition, counselors should encourage students and their parents to utilize counseling services available at the postsecondary institution to better ensure successful completion of the postsecondary institution courses.
| M. | Encouragement of Students | |
| Counselors should encourage the participation of those students who have been identified as academically gifted and talented or as otherwise identified as potentially successful in such postsecondary institution course work. | ||
| N. | Grade Point Computation and Reporting of Grades | |
| For those postsecondary institution courses taken for high school credit, the grade for that course will be listed at the end of the next regular grading period at the high school, following the receipt of an official transcript from the postsecondary institution. All grades to be entered on the high school transcript must be taken from an official transcript from the postsecondary institution. Should there be an urgent need for a letter grade, notification on official letterhead from the postsecondary institution instructor advising of the grade will be accepted to verify the grade. | ||
| Eligibility for co-curricular and extra-curricular activities in accordance with Board Policies 2430 and 2431 will be affected if courses are taken for high school credit. Students will be provided Form 2271 F3 on which the postsecondary institution course instructor indicates that the student is passing the course. This form must be submitted bi-weekly prior to the close of high school classes each Friday. In addition, eligibility will also be checked at the end of each postsecondary institution quarter or semester. |