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The Board of Education recognizes the value to students of participating in programs offered by institutions of
higher education under the State’s Youth Options Program. The following guidelines have been established to
ensure that the Youth Options Program operates efficiently and in accordance with State law and the
administrative rules of the Department of Public Instruction. To the extent that these guidelines are ambiguous or
inconsistent with applicable law or administrative rules, the law or rules shall govern.
Enrollment in Institutions of Higher Education
Any student eligible may enroll in one (1) or more nonsectarian courses in an institution of higher education, which
includes institutions in the University of Wisconsin system, a tribally controlled college or a private, nonprofit
institution of higher education located in the State, that has notified the State Superintendent of its participation in
the program and complies with 118.13(1) (nondiscrimination). The student may take courses for high school credit
or postsecondary credit.
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the program, a student must be enrolled in the eleventh or twelfth grade and not
attending a technical college under Sec. 118.55(7r) or 118.15, Wis. Stats.
Application for Enrollment
A. The student is responsible for submitting an application for enrollment to the institution of higher education
The application must indicate whether the course(s) will be taken for high school or postsecondary credit.
The student must also specify on the application that if admitted, the institution of higher education may
disclose the student’s grades, course(s) and attendance record to the School District.
B. A student or his/her parent must also complete and submit the Intent To Participate Form available from the
Student Services Office or the Department of Public Instruction to the high school administration by March
1st if the student intends to enroll in the next fall semester and by October 1st if s/he intends to enroll in the
spring semester.
C. Failure to meet these deadlines shall exclude the student from the program for that semester.
Counseling Services
The student and parents may participate in the following counseling services provided by the high school
counselors:
A. Admission and Scheduling
A student will be admitted to an institution of higher education only if the institution has space available and
the student meets the admission criteria of the institution.
The District will assist the student in the admission process by providing transcripts and other related
documents. However, the institution of higher education shall have the sole discretion whether to admit the
student. Students who are awaiting acceptance should register for high school classes as if they were not
participating in the program. Schedule changes will then be made prior to the start of each semester for
those students who receive notice of admission. The institution of higher education must notify the District, in
writing, within thirty (30) days after the beginning of classes that a student has been accepted and for which
courses.
Reasonable efforts will be made in scheduling to accommodate the needs of students who will be leaving the
high school campus in order to participate in this program. However, scheduling conflicts are not the
responsibility of the District. Revising the master schedule and/or unduly overloading classes are not required
in order to accommodate schedule requests.
B. Financial Responsibilities and Limitations
University of Wisconsin System Institution of Higher Education/High School Credit, No Comparable
Course
The School District shall pay for, on behalf of a student taking a course at a University of Wisconsin system
institution of higher education, which the School Board (or the State Superintendent on appeal) has
determined qualifies for high school credit and is not comparable to a course already offered in the School
District, the tuition, fees, books, and other necessary materials directly related to the course. However, the
student shall be responsible for providing pens, pencils, and notebooks typically used and paid for by the
student while taking a course at the School District. Further, any equipment purchased by the School District
for use by the student in the course (e.g., calculator, computer, tools) shall be the property of the School
District and shall be returned to the School District upon completion of the course.
Private Institution of Higher Education/High School Credit, No Comparable Course
The School District shall pay for, on behalf of a student taking a course at a private institution of higher
education, which the School Board (or the State Superintendent on appeal) has determined qualifies for high
school credit and is not comparable to a course already offered in the School District the lesser of:
1. The actual cost of the tuition, fees, books, and other necessary materials directly related to the course;
or
2. An amount determined under Section 118.55(5)(c), Wis. Stats.
However, the student shall be responsible for providing pens, pencils, and notebooks typically used
and paid for by the student while taking a course at the School District. Further, any equipment
purchased by the School District for use by the student in the course (e.g., calculator, computer, tools)
shall be the property of the School District and shall be returned to the School District upon completion
of the course.
The School District’s responsibility to pay for tuition, fees, books and other necessary materials shall
be limited to eighteen (18) postsecondary credits per student.
Postsecondary Credit
A student taking a postsecondary course or courses for postsecondary credit is solely responsible for the
tuition and fees for the postsecondary course. The District has no responsibility for these costs.
High School Credit/Comparable Course
A student taking a postsecondary course or courses, which the School Board has determined is comparable
to a course offered in the School District, is solely responsible for the tuition and fees for the postsecondary
course. The District has no responsibility for these costs.
Reimbursement for Failing Grade or Failure to Complete a Course
If a student receives a failing grade in a course or fails to complete a course, the student’s parent or guardian,
or the student if an adult, shall reimburse the School District the amount paid on the student’s behalf under
this program. If the School Board is not reimbursed as requested, the student shall not be eligible for further
participation in the program. A grade that constitutes a failing grade in the School District shall constitute a
failing grade under this section of the guideline.
Transportation
The School District is not responsible for transporting a student attending an institution of higher education
under this program to or from the institution that the student is attending.
A student’s parent or guardian, who is unable to pay for transportation, may however, seek reimbursement for
such costs from the State Superintendent.
C. High School Credit for Postsecondary Coursework Under The Program
A student may be granted one-fourth (1/4) high school credit per one (1) semester credit offered by a
postsecondary course. To receive high school credit, the student must complete the postsecondary course
and receive a passing grade.
In addition, the postsecondary course must meet a requirement for graduation and satisfy one (1) or more of
the following conditions:
1. The postsecondary course is complementary to, consistent with, or expands on the course offered by
the District.
2. The postsecondary course offers the opportunity for the student to move to another level of academic or
vocational study.
3. The postsecondary course content meets or exceeds the same standards for rigor and substance as
other such courses approved, but not offered, by the District for graduation.
4. The postsecondary course supports rather than prevents the student from completing his/her high
school graduation requirements.
D. The principal may deny high school credit for any of the following reasons:
1. The postsecondary course is comparable to one offered by the School District.
2. The postsecondary course repeats the content of a course for which the student has already received a
passing grade and high school credit.
3. The course repeats the content of a postsecondary course the student has already taken and failed.
E. Appeal Process
A student may appeal satisfaction of high school graduation requirements, the number of high school credits
to be awarded, or the comparability of courses as they relate to this program to the State Superintendent
within thirty (30) days after the principal’s decision in accordance with the process stipulated by the
Department of Public Instruction.
F. Effect On Completion of Graduation Requirement
Credit for coursework at an institution of higher education under this program, may constitute credit toward
high school graduation. However, it is the responsibility of participating students and parents to be sure that
the courses undertaken will meet the graduation requirements of the School District. Upon acceptance by the
institution of higher education, students should schedule an appointment with a high school counselor to
develop a written schedule showing courses to be taken at the high school and at the institution of higher
education as well as all graduation requirements remaining to be met. No high school graduation
requirements shall be waived for any student as a result of participation in this program.
G. High School Diploma
The District will grant a diploma to a student who has satisfied all of its high school graduation requirements
under Wisconsin Stats. 118.33(1) regardless of whether the student has satisfied all or a portion of the
requirements while attending a participating institution under the Youth Options Program.
H. Available Student Services
Students enrolled in the postsecondary program will be entitled to all student services provided to any other
of the District’s high school students (counseling, health, etc.). However, these services will be provided only
while the students are on the high school campus and only upon request. It is also the students’
responsibility to stay informed of academic and other requirements for all students who attend the high
school.
I. Student’s Transcript
1. If a student withdraws from the postsecondary course s/he will be rescheduled for the appropriate high
school courses, and no record of the postsecondary course will appear on the student’s transcript.
However, if the student withdraws from the appear on the transcript and will carry a grade of
Withdrawn/Failing, which will be computed in the same manner as a failing grade on the high school
transcript.
2. Any course taken for high school credit at an institution of higher education and completed (or recorded
as Withdrawn/Failing) will be clearly identified on the transcript along with the name of the institution of
higher education where the work was undertaken.
J. Academic and Social Responsibilities of Students and Parents
Students must meet all requirements and standards established by the institution of higher education and
assume responsibility for attendance and behavior.
Notice
Annually by October 1st of each year, the high school principal shall provide information regarding Youth Options
Program to students currently enrolled in grades 9, 10, and 11 and their parents or guardians. This information
should be mailed to the student’s current address. A record should be kept of the mailing list and the date of the
mailing to confirm compliance with State rules.
Annually by September 1st, the District shall notify the DPI of the contact person responsible for administering the
program.
Secs. 118.37, 118.55, Wis. Stats.
P.I. 40
Approved/Adopted: July 13, 2009 |
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