The board recognizes the need for all high school students to have greater access to rigorous advanced courses, including dual credit programs.  To that end, the district will automatically enroll students who meet or exceed the state standard on the eighth grade or high school English Language Arts or mathematics statewide student assessments in the next most rigorous level of advanced courses or program offered by the high school.  

The subject matter of courses or program in which students are automatically enrolled will be determined by the areas of the statewide assessment in which the student met state standards.  Students who meet or exceed state standards on the English Language Arts student assessment are eligible for enrollment in English, social studies, humanities, and other related subjects.  Students who meet or exceed the state standard on the mathematics statewide student assessment are eligible for enrollment in advanced mathematics course.

Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, students who meet or exceed the state standard on the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science are eligible for enrollment in advanced courses in science.

Students who successfully complete the advanced courses will then be enrolled in the next most rigorous level of advanced courses, with the ultimate goal being the student's automatic enrollment in dual credit courses. 

The district will notify students and parents/guardians regarding the academic acceleration policy and the advanced courses available to students.  The district will provide the parent/guardian with an opportunity for the student to opt out of participation in the academic acceleration process and enroll in an alternative course or program that aligns with the student's high school and beyond plan goals.

Cross References: 
Policy 2000     Student Learning Goals
Policy 2413     Equivalency Credit for Career and Technical Education Courses

Legal References:   
RCW 28A.300.560     Data on college credit through dual credit courses-Posting on website
RCW 28A.320.195     Academic acceleration for high school students-Adoption of policy
RCW 28A.320.196     Academic acceleration incentive program-Dual credit courses-Allocation of funds-Reports

Management Resources:
Policy and Legal News     Sept. 2013; July 2019

ADOPTED: 08/28/2014
REVISED: 12/12/2019

Procedure No. 2195P Academic Acceleration

Academic Acceleration Incentive Program for High Schools

The following students are considered to have earned dual high school and college credit in a course offered by a district high school:

• Students who achieve a score of three or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) examination;
• Students who achieve a score of four or higher on an examination of the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme;
• Students who successfully complete a Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education examination;
• Students who successfully complete a course through the college in the high school program under Chapter 28A.600 RCW of Laws of 2021, ch 71.& 1 and are awarded credit by the partnering institution of higher education; and
• Students who satisfy the dual enrollment and class performance requirements to earn college credit through a CTE dual credit course.

Reporting requirement

The district will annually report the following information regarding dual credit programs to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction:

• Students who achieve a score of three or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) examination;
• Students who achieve a score of four or higher on an examination of the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme;
• Students who successfully complete a Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education examination;
• Students who successfully complete a course through the College in the High School program under RCW 28A.600.290 and are awarded credit by the partnering institution of higher education;
• Students who satisfy the dual enrollment and class performance requirements to earn college credit through a CTE dual credit course; and
• Students who successfully complete a course through the Running Start program under RCW 28A.600.300 and are awarded credit by the institution of higher education.

ADOPTED: 08/28/2014
REVISED: 12/12/2019, 3/24/22