The Board of Education recognizes the continuing challenge to enable all students to develop competencies, interests, and attitudes needed to meet their own educational goals as well as to provide a variety of ways for students to meet the District's educational goals.

Therefore, the Board endorses the use of educational options as another way that learning opportunities can be provided.

The intent of educational options is to allow students an opportunity to benefit from alternatives to the existing school courses and course sequence and to enable them to learn from other educators, scientists, artists, business persons, parents, and community members.

Educational options may encompass a variety of activities including mentorships, independent and individual studies, a combination of academic and action-work experiences, and concurrent enrollments, distance learning and on-line coursework.

Prior approval of the educational option application (Form 2370 F1) by the Superintendent shall be required before a student participates in one (1) of the available educational options. Prior permission of a parent or guardian shall also be required before a student under age eighteen (18) participates in one (1) of the available educational options.

Participation in an educational option shall be in accordance with an instructional plan which will be developed based on the individual student's needs. The instructional plan will include:

Participation must be subject to the oversight of a credentialed teacher who will review the instructional plan, provide or supervise instruction, and evaluate student performance.

Student performance shall be evaluated as either pass or fail, or by awarding letter grades relative to the instructional objectives set forth in the instructional plan.

Generally, educational options are to be used to meet specific needs of individual students in general education requiring remediation, enrichment or acceleration activities under unusual circumstances. They may be used in addition to or in place of existing regular school offerings. Objectives must be related to adopted courses of study or to an individualized educational plan.

The parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be responsible for all costs and transportation related to approved educational options unless otherwise specified by the District.

Credit may be granted to the student upon successful completion of the program. The credit shall be placed on the student transcript.

A maximum of six (6) credits earned from educational options may be counted toward graduation requeirements.

The Superintendent shall develop a procedure for the enrollment of students in educational options and an evaluation plan for the educational options program.

The Superintendent shall develop the administrative guidelines necessary to implement this policy.

A.C. 3301-35-02(C)

November, 1995
Revised 1/27/97
Revised 11/26/01