Policy 2255: ALTERNATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS

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The district establishes the Curlew Alternative School/Parent Partnership Program as an alternative learning experience program, provided on site, at alternative sites, over the internet, or by other electronic means, as defined in WAC 392-121-182.

1)      Each student shall have a written alternative learning plan, which may be developed in partnership with the student, the student’s parents and other interested parties, with recognition that school staff has the primary responsibility and accountability for the plan, including supervision and monitoring, and evaluation and assessment of the student’s progress.  The written alternative learning plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:

a.       A beginning and ending date for the learning experience;

b.      An estimate of the average number of hours per week that the student will engage in learning activities to meet the requirements of the alternative learning plan;

c.       A description of how weekly contact requirements will be fulfilled;

d.      A description of the specific learning goals and performance objectives of the alternative learning experience, including a clear identification of the requirements that the student must meet to successfully complete the course or program;

e.       Identification of instructional materials essential to successful completion of the learning plan;

f.       A description of the timelines and methods for evaluating student progress toward the learning goals and performance objectives specified in the learning plan;

g.      The written alternative learning plan shall identify whether all alternative learning experiences meets one or more of the state essential academic learning requirements or any other academic goals, objectives, and learning requirements defined by the school district;

h.      The written alternative learning plan may be documented electronically using suitable software based on superintendent approval.

2)      As established on an individual basis, considering the needs of each student, the responsibilities of the parent or guardian may include:

a.       Approval of the written alternative learning plan;

b.      Provision or implementation of a portion of the student’s alternative learning experience under the supervision of school staff;

c.       Meeting periodically with school staff for purposes of evaluating the student’s performance and/or receiving instructions on assisting with the student’s learning plan.

3)      If a parent or guardian cannot or will not be a participant in the student’s alternative learning experience, the superintendent or designee may identify another person to supervise a portion of the student’s alternative learning plan.

4)      Direct personal contact with school staff must occur at least weekly, until the student completes the course objectives or the requirements of the learning plan, according to the following criteria:

a.       Direct personal contact shall be for the purpose of instruction, review of assignments, testing, reporting of student progress, or other learning activities;

b.      Direct personal contact means a face-to-face meeting with the student and, if appropriate, the students parent or guardian;

c.       Direct personal contact may be accomplished through the use of telephone, e-mail, instant messaging, interactive video communication, or other means of digital communication, where such contact does not threaten to compromise educational quality, student health and safety, or the fiscal integrity of the district;

d.      Direct personal contact may be made at an off-site location.  The meeting must be in a public location or in the home with a parent or pre-approved adult present at all times.

e.       A letter is given to the parent designating the instructor/tutor, where the instruction or tutoring will take place, and the times the instructor/tutor will meet with the student.  The signed letter must be on file before the first meeting.

f.       The parent agrees to provide transportation, not funded by the district, to and from the meeting location, if not in the home. The parent also agrees to the delivery and pick-up times for the meeting. 

g.      Direct personal contact shall be documented by certificated instructional staff and reviewed for compliance by program director or designee.  Documentation may be electronic, based on superintendent approval.

5)      Student performance shall be monitored, supervised, assessed, evaluated and record by school staff, according to the following criteria;

a.       Each student’s progress shall be reviewed at least once per month.  The progress review shall be based on the learning goals and performance objectives defined in the written student learning plan;

b.      Each student’s progress shall be assessed annually using the state assessment or other superintendent-approved assessment device;

c.       Each full-time student’s progress shall be assessed annually using the state assessment for the student’s grade level.

d.      A non-resident student has the option of taking the state assessment for the student’s grade level in his or her resident district, and coordination with the resident district shall be the responsibility of the program director or designee;

e.       Periodic reporting shall be accomplished by documenting the subsections (a) through (d) of this section, and maintaining that documentation in each student’s file, or electronically where appropriate and approved by superintendent or designee.

6)      A student deemed to be making inadequate progress shall be monitored and assisted under WAC 392-121-182, subsections 6 and 5(iii).

7)      All alternative learning experience curricula and course requirements must be approved by the school district as follows:

a.       The Superintendent or designee is authorized to approve the curricular content in all alternative learning plans if it meets the following criteria:

                                                              i.      Approval shall be granted for all curricular content contained in alternative learning plans if that content is mentioned in the Basic Education Act (RCW 28A.150.210) or the “home-based” curriculum detailed by law (RCW 28A.225.101 4) including occupational education, social, physical and life sciences, mathematics, language, social studies, civics and history, geography, health and fitness, reading, writing, communication, spelling, the development of an appreciation of art and music, thinking skills and problem solving, and an understanding of the importance of work and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities;

                                                            ii.      Given the highly personalized nature of alternative learning programs that include a significant proportion of parent or guardian supervision and learning plan implementation, broad latitude is given to parents and guardians to choose products and services to meet each learning goal in the approved alternative learning plan with consideration for the individual learning needs of their children;

                                                          iii.      Consistent with Article I Section 11 of the Washington State Constitution, any curricular content in an alternative learning plan that addresses any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or the support of any religious establishment shall not be approved and no public money may be used for the purchase of any products or services intended to be used for these purposes;

                                                          iv.      All products and services chosen by parents or guardians for the implementation of alternative learning plans must bear directly on those learning goals detailed in such a plan and their purchase must be approved by the Superintendent.

b.       All products used to support a student’s alternative learning plan shall be subject to policy 2020.

c.       Any curricular content not meeting the criteria stated above may not be approved directly by the Superintendent or designee and must be brought before the Curlew School District Board of Directors for approval.

8)      The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that all alternative learning experiences meets the following criteria:

a.       Maintain a ratio of full-time equivalent certificated instructional staff serving the annual average full-time equivalent students reported for basic education funding pursuant to this section does not exceed 90 full-time equivalent students per full-time equivalent certificated instructional staff.

b.      Forms shall be created for documentation of all necessary reporting.  Documentation may be done electronically using appropriate software as approved by superintendent or designee.

c.       A school district official is designated who must report annually on the following:

i.          Documentation of the alternative learning experience student head count and full-time equivalent enrollment claimed for basic education funding;

ii.      A description of how certificated and classified staff are assigned program management duties that maximize student learning

iii.    The ratio of certificated instructional staff to full-time equivalent students;

iv.    A description of how the program support the district’s overall goals and objectives for student academic achievement;

v.      Results of periodic self-evaluation designed to measure effectiveness and continual improvement;

d.      Alternative learning experiences shall be accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.  Alternative learning experiences for special education students shall be in accordance with chapter 392-172 WAC.

e.       Each student has all curricula, course content, instructional materials and other learning resources to successfully complete the requirements of the learning plan.  Instructional materials shall be provided in accordance with RCW 28A.320.230, and shall at minimum be consistent in quality with those available to the district’s overall population.

f.       Contracting for alternative learning experiences shall be subject to the provision of WAC 392-121-188 and RCW 28A.150.305

g.      Each parent or guardian, prior to a student’s enrollment shall be provided with a description of the difference between home-based instruction, and alternative learning experiences, and shall require that the parent or guardian sign documentation attesting to his or her understanding of the difference.

h.      An effort is made to verify that each student is doing his or her own work. 

i.        Coordination occurs between the district, and the districts of any non-resident students, to assure that no student is counted more than full-time in the aggregate.

9)      Administrative reporting of enrollment shall be in accordance with WAC 392-121-182 (5).

10)  Administrative maintenance of required documentation shall be in accordance with WAC 392-121-182 (9).

11)  This policy shall be reviewed at least annually in accordance with WAC 392-121-182.

HIGH SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

Students in the Curlew School District Alternative Learning Programs will be awarded a Curlew High School Diploma upon meeting the graduation requirements of Curlew School District.   

Students working towards a high school transcript will receive pass/fail grades unless the class taken is from an accredited, Curlew School District approved institution.  A student working towards a Curlew High School Diploma through the alternative education program is not eligible for Curlew High School NHS, Valedictorian or Salutatorian, or to participate in Curlew High School Graduation.  Exceptions may be granted by the school administration or school board on a case by case basis.  Other opportunities for these honors can be provided through the Curlew School District Alternative Learning Programs.

 Legal Reference:         WAC 392-121-182                       Alternative learning experience requirements
                                      RCW 28A.320.230                       Instructional Materials – Instructional Materials Committee

Cross References        Board Policy 2020                          Curriculum Development and Adoption of Instructional Materials

Adoption date: 11/22/2005

School District Name

Revised: 08.05, 10/06, 11/07, 08/09: 08/10

Classification: Essential