A student may earn credits towards high school graduation by demonstrating mastery of the course outcomes through a performance instrument. The standards for designing and passing the performance instrument shall be set sufficiently high to ensure credits earned by such means shall be equivalent to those offered in the framework of the Carnegie unit.

A written request to “test out” of a class must be submitted prior to the beginning of each semester/year. A student may not request to “test out” of a class in which he or she is currently enrolled or has been enrolled.

The request is to be evaluated within 30 school days by a review committee composed of: a building administrator, a school counselor, a faculty member appointed by the principal, and the students’ parent(s) or guardian(s).

If the request is approved, the course instructor will have 30 school days to design a performance instrument that reflects mastery of all course outcomes. Commercially available instruments may be used if they cover all course objectives. A performance instrument shall be approved by the principal. The principal, in consultation with the instructor, will determine the setting and the timelines for the administration of the instrument, as well as the criteria for successful completion of those tasks.

The student has 10 school days in which those designated tasks developed by the teacher and approved by the administration must be performed.

Credit for such classes shall be awarded only on a pass/fail basis. Students will be allowed only one opportunity to “test out” of any particular class. It will not be the responsibility of the school or the instructor to provide instructional and/or review time for the student. However, the outcomes, as noted in the district curriculum guide, and class syllabus will be made available.

Graduation Credit Through Integrated Coursework

The board may allow graduation credit for integrated academic or career and technical education course work. The teacher awarding academic credit shall be fully licensed and may work collaboratively with another instructor to develop a course plan for instruction. The teacher shall monitor the student's progress and level of achievement. The plan will be reviewed periodically to maintain rigor and relevance.

Credit Through Alternative Educational Opportunities

Students enrolled in grades six through twelve may earn course credits through alternative educational opportunities with sponsoring entities. For the purposes of this policy, terms have the following meanings.

• “Alternative educational opportunity” means instruction that primarily occurs outside the classroom with a sponsoring entity.

• “Sponsoring entity” means a business, not-for-profit organization, nonprofit organization, trade association, parent of a student, teacher, or administrator that partners with a school district to provide an alternative educational opportunity to students.

Eligibility Requirements for Sponsoring Entities

The board may accept a proposal from a sponsoring entity if the alternative educational opportunity provided by the sponsoring entity provides an additional learning opportunity for students through a work-based, pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, internship, industry certification, or community program; and either the proposal is approved by the state board of education as an alternative educational opportunity, or it complies with the requirements of this policy regarding such opportunities.

Requirements for the Provision of Alternative Educational Opportunities

Each approved alternative educational opportunity with a sponsoring entity shall be managed and directed by a licensed teacher employed by the school district. The teacher may work collaboratively with the principal, the sponsoring entity, or another teacher to develop a course plan for instruction with learning outcomes identified. The teacher shall monitor the student’s progress and level of achievement based on this plan. The plan will be reviewed periodically and adjusted as needed to promote a quality learning experience. The principal shall provide a report annually, or as requested, to the superintendent evaluating the additional educational opportunity provided to participating students and making recommendations to the superintendent on continuation, termination, or modification of the opportunity.

Processes for Submitting a Proposal for an Additional Educational Opportunity

Sponsoring entities wishing to partner with the district to provide additional educational opportunities to students, shall submit a proposal to the superintendent outlining the contact information and credentials of the person(s) that would be working directly with the student participants in this experience; educational goals for the partnership; any time, place, manner, and number of participant restrictions regarding how the learning opportunity would be provided; proposed learning outcomes for participating students; and any details regarding prerequisite coursework, certification, or experience a candidate for this experience should possess prior to entering the program.

Criteria for Evaluating Such Proposals

Prior to making a recommendation to the board on whether the district should partner with or continue to partner with a sponsoring entity, the superintendent shall review the proposed alternative educational opportunity in comparison with the board approved curriculum and goals, consulting other staff members as necessary in that process. Before recommending action to continue such partnership from year-to-year, the superintendent may seek and shall review any available reports on the opportunity provided by the principal in accordance with this policy.

The board should consider the recommendation of the superintendent in determining whether to partner with or continue partnership with a sponsoring entity. In order for the board to partner with a sponsoring entity and to maintain such partnership, the sponsoring entity must first meet the eligibility requirements as outlined in this policy.

Additional considerations weighing into the decision to partner with a sponsoring entity may include, but may not be limited to: whether the learning experience meets the curricular, rigor, and relevance needs of the student and/or the district; qualifications, experience, reputation, and responsibility of the sponsoring entity and/or individuals that would be working directly with students; related costs for the district, regarding the provision of transportation, equipment, human resources to monitor the experience, etc.; space and time constraints if the experience will be provided in district facilities; student and staff safety; the need for and/or availability of insurance coverage, as applicable; effect on other district course offerings and activities; and student interest. As the welfare of students is of paramount importance to the board, the district reserves the right to complete background checks on any individuals working directly with students on behalf of the sponsoring entity and to base decisions on entering or exiting such a partnership, in whole or in part, on the results thereof.

Determining the Course Credit that May Be Earned Through These Opportunities

The superintendent may develop procedures for review of the experience and the award of credit in accordance with board approved curriculum. The superintendent may award credit for the experience as deemed appropriate for district elective offerings based on meeting local standards for those offerings. In order for any alternative educational experience to be approved for credit in a state-required course, such experience must meet all applicable statutory, regulatory, and Kansas State Board of Education approved standards for award of such credit.

State Reporting Requirements

The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall make reports to the Kansas State Department of Education as required thereby. Such reports will include information regarding the alternative educational opportunities offered at each school, the names of sponsoring entities, the number of students participating in such opportunities, and credits earned.