IGBHE - Expanded Options Program

Code:  IGBHE

Revised/Readopted:  2/26/18, 10/22/18

Orig. Code(s): IGBHE

The Board is committed to providing additional options to students enrolled in grades 11 and 12 to continue or complete their education, to earn concurrent high school and college credits and to gain

early entry into post-secondary education.  The district’s Expanded Options Program (EOP) will comply with all requirements of Oregon law and give priority to at-risk students.

Eligible students may apply to take courses at an eligible post-secondary institution through the Expanded

Options Program.  A student is eligible for the EOP if he/she:

1. Is 16 years of age or older at the time of enrollment in a course under the EOP;
2. Is in grade 11 or 12 at the time of enrollment in a course under the EOP or has not yet completed the required credits to be in grade 11 or 12, but the district has allowed the student to participate in the program;
3. Has developed an educational learning plan; and
4. Has not successfully completed the requirements for a high school diploma.  A student who has graduated from high school may not participate; and
5. Is not a foreign exchange student enrolled in a school under a cultural exchange program.

Prior to February 15 of each year, the district shall notify all high school students and the parent or guardian of students of the EOP for the following school year.  The district will notify a transfer high school student, or a returning dropout, of the EOP if the student enrolls after the district has issued the February 15 notice.  The district will notify a high school student who has officially expressed an intent to participate in the EOP, and the student’s parent or guardian, of the student’s eligibility status within 20 business days of the expression of intent. 

It is a priority for the district to provide information about the EOP to high school students who have dropped out of school.  The district shall establish a process to identify and provide those students with information about the program.  The district shall send information about the program to the last-known address of the family of the student.

The notice must include the following:

1. Financial arrangements for tuition, textbooks, equipment and materials;
2. Available transportation services;
3. The effect of enrolling in the EOP on the student’s ability to complete high school graduation requirements;
4. The consequences of failing or not completing a post-secondary course;
5. Notification that participation in the EOP is contingent on acceptance by an eligible post-secondary institution;
6. District timelines affecting eligibility and duplicate course determinations;
7. Exclusion of duplicate courses as determined by the district;
8. The process for a student to appeal the district’s duplicate course determination to the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the superintendent’s designee under ORS 343.030;
9. Exclusion of post-secondary courses in which a student is enrolled if the student is also enrolled full time in the resident high school.

Prior to May 15 of each year, a student who is interested in participating in the EOP shall notify the district of his/her intent to enroll in eligible post-secondary courses during the following school year.  A high school transfer student or returning dropout has 20 business days from the date of enrollment to indicate interest.

The district shall review with the student and the student’s parent or guardian the student’s current status toward meeting all state and district graduation requirements and the applicability of the proposed eligible post-secondary course to the remaining graduation requirements.

A student who intends to participate in the EOP shall develop an educational learning plan in cooperation with an advisory support team.  An advisory support team may include the student, the student’s parent or guardian and a teacher or a counselor.  The educational learning plan may include:

1. The student’s short-term and long-term learning goals and proposed activities; and
2. The relationship of the eligible post-secondary courses proposed under the EOP and the student’s learning goals.

A student who enrolls in the EOP may not enroll in eligible post-secondary courses for more than the equivalent of two academic years.  A student who first enrolls in the EOP in grade 12 may not enroll in eligible post-secondary courses for more than the equivalent of one academic year.  If a student first enrolls in an eligible post-secondary course in the middle of the school year, the time of participation shall be reduced proportionately.  If a student is enrolled in a year-round program and begins each grade in the summer session, summer sessions are not counted against the time of participation.

The district will establish a process to determine duplicate course designations.  The district will notify an eligible student and the student’s parent or guardian, of any course the student wishes to take that the district determines is a duplicate course, within 20 business days after the student has submitted a list of intended courses.

A student may appeal a duplicate course determination to the deputy superintendent for teaching and learning based on evidence of the scope of the course.  The Board will issue a decision on the appeal within five business days of receipt of the appeal.  If the appeal is denied by the Board, the student may appeal to the district’s determination to the Superintendent of Public Instruction or designee under ORS 340.030.

The number of quarter credit hours that may be awarded by a high school under the EOP is limited to an amount equal to the number of students in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in the high school multiplied by a factor of 0.33.  For example, the cap for a high school with 450 students in grades 9 through 12 would be 148.5 (450 X 0.33 = 148.5).

At the district’s discretion, the district may choose to exceed both the individual high school level cap and the aggregate district level cap.  If the district chooses not to exceed the cap it will establish a process for selecting eligible students for participation in the program.  The process will give priority for participation to students who are “at risk.”  An “at-risk student” means (1) a student who qualifies for a free or reduced price lunch program; or (2) an at-risk student as defined by rules adopted by the State Board of Education if it has adopted rules to define an at-risk student.

If the district has not exceeded the credit hour cap, the district shall ensure that all eligible at-risk students are allowed to participate in the EOP and may allow eligible students who are not at-risk to participate in the program.

Prior to beginning an eligible post-secondary course, the district shall notify the student of the number and type of credits that the student will be granted upon successful completion of the course.  If there is a dispute between the district and the student regarding the number or type of credits that the district will or has granted to a student for a particular course, the district’s decision may be appealed to the Board.

Credits granted to a student shall be counted toward high school graduation requirements and subject area requirements of the state and the district.  Evidence of successful completion of each course and credits granted shall be included in the student’s education record.  A student shall provide the district with a copy of the student’s grade in each course taken for credit under the EOP.  The student’s education record shall indicate that the credits were earned at an eligible post-secondary institution.

The district shall negotiate in good faith a financial agreement with the eligible post-secondary institution for the payment of instructional costs associated with the student’s enrollment, including tuition, costs of textbooks, equipment and materials.

A district may request a waiver from the Superintendent of Public Instruction if:

1. Compliance would adversely impact the finances of the school district; or
2. Accelerated programs are offered by the district (i.e., Dual Credit, Sponsored-Based Dual Credit, Assessment-Based Dual Credit, Articulated Career Technical Education (CTE) courses, two-plus-two programs, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate Programs or other locally developed program that offers accelerated college credit to their respective high school student).

Students are not eligible for any state student financial aid for college course work, but students may apply to the district for reimbursement for any textbooks, fees, equipment or materials purchased by the student that are required for an eligible post-secondary course.  All textbooks, fees, equipment and materials provided to a student and paid for by the district are the property of the district.

The district may provide transportation services to eligible students who attend post-secondary institutions within the education service district boundaries.

The district of an eligible student participating in the EOP shall be responsible for providing any required special education and related services to the student.  If a post-secondary institution intends to provide special education and related services to an EOP participant, the institution shall enter into a written contract with the district of the student.  The contract shall include the following at a minimum:

1. Allowance for the student to remain in the program during the pendency of any special education due process hearing unless the parent or guardian and district agree otherwise;
2. Immediate notification to the district if the institution suspects that a student participating in the program may have a disability and requires special education or related services;
3. Immediate notification to the district if the student engaged in conduct that may lead to suspension or expulsion; and
4. Immediate notification to the district of any complaint made by the parent or guardian of the student regarding the student’s participation in the program at the institution.

Any new program, agreement or plan that is developed after January 1, 2006 may be initiated at the discretion of the district and the post-secondary institution.

END OF POLICY

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ORS 329.485
ORS 332.072
ORS 336.615 to -336.665
ORS Chapter 340

Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1111-1605; §§ 3111-3203 (2012).

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Subtitle VII-B, reauthorized by Title IX-A of Every Student Succeeds Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11431-11435 (2012).