2255 Alternative Learning Experience Programs
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The board authorizes the creation of alternative learning experience (ALE) courses, as defined in the procedure which accompanies this policy. The district will make available to students enrolled in ALE courses educational opportunities designed to meet their individual needs. The district will comply with all requirements necessary to count an ALE as a course of study and ensure state funding for ALE students.
ALE programs may include, the following types of courses as defined in RCW 28A.232.010:- On-line courses (See Policy 2024, Online Learning);
- Remote courses; and
- Site-based courses.
The board will adopt and annually review written policies authorizing ALE courses, including each ALE course and course provider. The policy must designate, by title, one or more school district official(s) responsible for overseeing the district's ALE courses.
The district establishes the following alternative course(s) provided on site, remote, or online, as defined in WAC 392-550-020: Yelm Extension School. The school district official responsible for these programs is the Yelm High School Principal.Reporting Requirements
A. Annual Report to the Board of Directors - The school district official responsible for overseeing each ALE course will report at least annually to the board. This annual report will include at least the following:
- Documentation of ALE student headcount and full-time equivalent enrollment claimed for basic education funding;
- Identification of the overall ratio of certificated instructional staff to full-time equivalent students enrolled in each ALE course; the number of certificated instructional staff in each ALE course;
- A description of how the course supports the district's overall goals and objectives for student academic achievement; and
B. Monthly Report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction - The district must report monthly to the Superintendent of Public Instruction:
- Accurate monthly headcount and full-time equivalent enrollment for students enrolled in alternative learning experiences; and
- Information about the resident and serving districts of such students.
- Regular Submissions to CEDARS
- The district must report all required information to the office of superintendent of public instruction’s comprehensive Education data and Research System under RCW 28A.300.500, including designating alternative learning experience courses as such when reporting course information to the comprehensive Education data and Research System.
C. Annual Report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction - The district must report annually to the Superintendent of Public Instruction:
- The number of certificated instructional staff full-time equivalent assigned to each alternative learning experience program; and
- Enrollment of students (separately identified) where ALE instruction is provided entirely under contract pursuant to RCW 28A.150.305 and WAC 392-121-188.
- The costs and purposes of any expenditures made to purchase or contract for instructional or co-curricular experiences and services that are included in an ALE written student learning plan, along with the substantially similar experiences or services made available to students enrolled in the district’s regular instructional program.
Assessment Requirements
All students enrolled in alternative learning experience courses or course work must be assessed at least annually, using, for full-time students, the state assessment for the student's grade level and using any other annual assessments required by the district.
Part-time students whole ALE enrollment is claimed as greater than 0.8 FTE in any one month through the January count date must be included by the district in any required state or federal accountability reporting for that school year. However, part-time students who are either receiving home-based instruction under Chapter 28A.200, RCW or who are enrolled in an approved private school under Chapter 28A.195, RCW are not required to participate in the assessments required under Chapter 28A.655, RCW.
Students enrolled in nonresident district alternative learning experience courses or course work who are unable to participate in required annual state assessments at the nonresident district must have the opportunity to participate in such required annual state assessments at the district of physical residence, subject to that district's planned testing schedule. It is the responsibility of the nonresident enrolling district to establish a written agreement with the district of physical residence that facilitates all necessary coordination between the districts and with the student and, where appropriate, the student's parent(s) to fulfill this requirement. Such coordination may include:- arranging for appropriate assessment materials;
- notifying the student of assessment administration schedules;
- arranging for the forwarding of completed assessment materials to the enrolling district for submission for scoring and reporting; and
- arranging for any allowable testing accommodations, and other steps as may be necessary.
The agreement may include rates and terms for payment of reasonable fees by the enrolling district to the district of physical residence to cover costs associated with planning for and administering the assessments to students not enrolled in the district of physical residence. Assessment results for students assessed according to these provisions must be included in the enrolling district's accountability measurements, and not in the district of physical residence's accountability measurements.
Valid Justification for Missed Contact
Valid justifications why a student may miss the weekly contact requirements of ALE for the purpose of truancy include those outlined in Excused absences WAC 392-401-020 and in policy 3122.
If the district has additional locally determined valid justifications unique to the ALE setting, list here:
Students who drop out of ALE courses
A school district offering or contracting to offer an alternative learning experience course to a nonresident student must inform the resident school district if the student unenrolls from the course or is otherwise no longer enrolled.
Procedures
The superintendent is directed to develop procedures consistent with WAC chapter 392- 550 to govern the administration of the district’s ALE courses.
Cross Reference:
Board Policy 2020 Curriculum Development and Adoption of Instructional Materials
Board Policy 2024 Online Learning
3122 Excused and Unexcused Absences
3141 Nonresident StudentsLegal References:
RCW 28A.150.305 Alternative educational service providers – Student eligibility
RCW 28A. 232.010 Alternative learning experience courses – Generally – Rules – Reports
RCW 28A.250.050 Student access to online courses and online learning programs – Policies and procedures – Course credit – Dissemination of information – Development of local or regional online learning programs.
Laws of 2018, ch.56 Alternative Learning Experience Course - Definitions
WAC 392-121-107 Definition – Course of study
WAC 392- 550 Alternative Learning Experience requirements
WAC 392-121-188 Instruction provided under contract
WAC 392-137-230 Length of Acceptance
Chapter 28A.225 RCW Compulsory school attendance and admissionManagement Resources:
Policy News Oct. 2011; Oct. 2012
Policy & Legal News Feb. 2014; April 2017; May 2018; August 2020
ADOPTED: 09/25/1997
REVISED: 05/27/99; 12/16/04; 10/27/05; 08/26/10; 02/23/12; 09/27/12; 01/24/13; 8/28/2014; 5/10/2017; 5/23/19; 2/23/2023Procedure No. 2255P Alternative Learning Experience Programs
Definitions
A. Alternative learning experience (ALE) means a course or, for grades kindergarten through eight, grade-level course work, that is a delivery method of basic education and is:
- Provided in whole or in part independently from a regular classroom setting or schedule, but may include components of direct instruction;
- Supervised, monitored, assessed, evaluated and documented by a certificated teacher employed or contracted by the school district.
- Provided in accordance with a written student-learning plan that is implemented pursuant to the district’s policy and Chapter 392-,550 WAC.
B. Online courses are courses or grade-level coursework where;
- More than half of the course content is delivered electronically using the internet or other computer-based methods;
- More than half of the teaching is conducted from a remote location through an online course learning management system or other online or electronic tools;
- A certificated teacher has the primary responsibility for the student’s instructional interaction. Instructional interaction between the teacher and the student includes, but is not limited to, direct instruction, review of assignments, assessment, testing, progress monitoring, and educational facilitation; and
- Students have access to the teacher synchronously, asynchronously, or both.
C. Remote course means an alternative learning experience course or course work that is not an online course where written student-learning plan for the course does not include a requirement for in-person instructional contact time.
D. Site-based course means an alternative learning experience course or course work that is not an online course where the written student-learning plan for the course includes a requirement or in-person instructional contact time.Student Eligibility and Enrollment
- ALE courses will be available to all students, including students with disabilities.
- All students in grades10-12 are eligible to participate in ALE programs.
- Students enrolling in an ALE must have a Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP) as defined in WAC 392-550.
- Families must be notified of difference between ALE and home-based instruction prior to enrollment.
Student Performance
- Students participating in ALE will be evaluated monthly by a certificated instructional staff, or, for students whose written student learning plans include only online classes, school based support staff, to track student progress toward completion and to establish whether an intervention plan should be developed, in accordance with WAC 392-550.
- The methods for determining satisfactory progress will be outlined in the written student learning plan and may include:
- Progress grades;
- Assignment completion rates;
- Non-academic factors such as attendance, attitude, and behavior; and
- Local school expectations.
Student Responsibilities
- Students enrolled in an ALE program must meet the contact requirements defined in WAC 392-550.
District Verification of Student Work
- The district will use reliable methods to verify a student is doing their own work. These include, but are not limited to:
- Proctored examinations;
- Proctored projects;
- In-person presentations; or
- Real-time presentations using videoconference technology.
ADOPTED: 10/27/2005
REVISED: 01/24/13; 08/28/14; 5/10/18; 5/23/19; 1/23/20; 2/23/2023
2000 Policies
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PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES
2000 Student Learning Goals
2004 Accountability Goals
2005 School Improvement Plans
2019 Curriculum Development
2020 Course Design, Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials
2021 Library Information and Technology Program
2022 Electronic Resources and Internet Safety
2023 Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy
2024 Online Learning
2025 Copyright Compliance
2027 District Ownership of Staff-Created Work
2029 Animals as Part of the Instructional Program
2030 Service Animals in Schools
2090 Program Evaluation
LEARNING PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS
2100 Educational Opportunities for Military Children
2104 Federal and/or State Funded Special Instructional Programs
2106 Program Compliance
2107 Comprehensive Early Literacy Plan
2108 Learning Assistance Program
2110 Transitional Bilingual Instruction
2121 Substance Abuse Program
2125 Sexual Health Education
2126 AIDS Prevention Education
2140 Guidance and Counseling
2145 Recognition, Screening, and Response to Distress in Students
2150 Co-Curricular Program
2151 Interscholastic Athletics
2152 Extracurricular Activities
2153 Non-curriculum-Related Student Groups
2161 Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students
2162 Education of Students with Disabilities under Section 504
2165 Home or Hospital Instruction
2170 Career and Technical Education
2178 Traffic Safety Education
2190 Advanced Academic Program
2195 Academic Acceleration
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION
2220 School Calendar
2240 Summer School
2255 Alternative Learning Experience Programs
PROGRAM SUPPLEMENTS
2320 Field Trips, Excursions and Outdoor Education
2331 Controversial Issues/Guest Speakers
2333 Flag Exercises
2336 Required Observances
2337 Disability History Month
2340 Religious-Related Activities and Practices
REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS
2409 Credit for Competency/Proficiency
2410 High School Graduation Requirements
2411 Certificate of Educational Competency
2412 Diplomas for Veterans
2413 Equivalency Credit for Career and Technical Education Courses
2414 Community Service
2418 Waiver of High School Graduation Credits
2420 Grading and Progress Reports
2421 Promotion/Retention