Post Secondary Options Policy

BOARD POLICY 6001.1

I. Statement of Purpose

1. The Post Secondary Enrollment Option Program is a state program where high school juniors

and seniors may take college-level courses at a state approved post secondary institution while

enrolled in high school. They can be full-time or part-time students at Ironton High School

with options for high school and college credit, or college credit only.

Enrollment Options:

Option A permits eligible students to enroll in college courses for college credit. Students electing this option will be required to pay all costs incurred, including tuition, books, materials and fees.

Option B permits eligible students to enroll in college courses for college and high school graduation credit. Students electing this option will not be required to pay for tuition, books, materials, or fees associated with such courses.

2. The local district is required to notify all 10^th and 11^th grade students and parent and/or

guardians of the Post Secondary Option by March 1^st of each school year.

3. Students and/or parents are required to inform the local board of education of intent to

participate by March 31^st of the year wishing to enroll. Failure of the student to inform the

board of intent to participate shall result in the local superintendent determining student .

participation.

II. Eligibility Requirements

1. Must be classified as a junior – at least 9 credits or carnegie units – by Ironton High School.

2. Must be accepted by a college (on the approved list).

3. Must be enrolled under Option A or B stated above and less than a full-time high school

student (not taking six periods of classes).

III. Graduation Requirements – Total Credits

1. A student must fulfill all requirements for graduation on the same date as when all final senior

grades are due in order to participate in commencement exercises.

2. If a student successfully completes a college course in which he/she was enrolled, the Ironton

Board of Education will award him/her appropriate credit toward high school graduation

requirements.

3. The board will not award credit toward graduation if the student is taking Option A, and at the

time of enrollment, the student does not indicate that he/she wants these courses to count

toward high school credit.

IV. Graduation Requirements – Subject Area

1. If a course comparable to one a student completed at a college is offered by the Ironton City

School District, the Board shall award comparable credit for the course completed at the

College.

2. If no comparable course is offered by the Ironton City School District, the Board shall grant to

the student an appropriate number of credits in a similar subject area.

3. If there happens to be a dispute between the Board and the student regarding high school

credit granted for a course, the student may appeal the Board’s decision to the State Board of

Education. The State Board’s decision regarding any high school credits granted under this

rule is final.

4. Once a student has successfully completed a course, the course, date taken, what college,

grade, and credit(s) earned shall be included on the student’s permanent record. It shall also

indicate that the course was taken as part of the Option’s Program.

V. Support Services

1. Support Services will be made available to Post Secondary Option Students on the same basis

as any 11^th or 12^th grade student. Some services are provided through group sessions during

the school day and will be available to Post Secondary Students if their schedule permits.

2. Colleges will offer a certain amount of counseling services, as well as information about costs,

specific courses, textbooks and materials, course scheduling, etc. In some cases, the high

school counselors will refer the student and parents to the college for further information.

3. Guidance Counselors do not have the responsibility for providing counseling services about

this option throughout the summer when the staff is on summer break.

VII. Scheduling

1. In the college option program, students must carry at least 4 classes per year (either at the

college level or a combination high school and college level) and still meet 20 credit

requirement for graduation.

2. A student cannot be enrolled in this program for more than 6 periods or credits per year.

3. All required classes for graduation must be completed by the end of the colleges’ first semester

or second quarter of the students senior year in order to participate in commencement

exercises.

4. Students are not permitted to take summer classes under the Post Secondary Options because

of state allocations are limited to the academic year (September through June).

VII. High School Credits

1. It is possible that a student could earn up to 12 credits in the Secondary Options program or a

maximum 6 credits per year. At a college or university that operates on a quarter system, the

normal school year (September through May or early June) is three-quarters. The average

number of quarter hours is 15 per quarter or 45 for the year. If a student took the average load

(45 quarter hours), he/she would receive 6 credits or carnegie units toward high school

graduation. The formula for awarding high school credits from college courses is 7 ½ quarter

hours (or 5 semester hours) equals one (1) carnegie unit. Fractional carnegie units shall be

awarded proportionately in ¼ credits increments.

2. Following is the Ironton Board Policy on issuing credits:

Quarter System Conversion

1 quarter hour = ¼ credit or carnegie unit

2 quarter hours = ¼ credit

3 quarter hours = ¼ credit

4 quarter hours = ½ credit

5 quarter hours = ½ credit

6 quarter hours = ¾ credit

7 quarter hours = ¾ credit

8 quarter hours = 1 credit

Semester System Conversion

1 semester hour = ¼ credit

2 semester hours = ¼ credit

3 semester hours = ½ credit

4 semester hours = ¾ credit

5 semester hours = 1 credit

VIII. Potential Benefits of This Program

1. Would expand the curriculum available to students – courses the high school does not offer

would be available.

2. Would provide opportunities for students to study “in-depth” those areas of special interest

or need.

3. Would allow students to earn college credit while still in high school.

4. Would provide financial support for taking college courses for high school credit.

5. Would allow students to experience college-level work and student life prior to making final

decisions about whether and/or where to attend college.

6. In summary, a number of students could earn college credit while in high school – free.

IX. Financial Arrangements

1. If the student takes Option A - all financial responsibilities for any college courses taken for

college credit rests with the student and his/her parents. Colleges will notify student and

parents.

2. If the student takes Option B – for both college and high school graduation credit – payment

for college courses, including tuition, fees, books, and materials, will be made by the Ohio

Department of Education.

3. If a student does not complete the course due to class drop process or non attendance, the

financial obligations shall default to the student and his/her parents.

4. If a student is taking Option B, no financial aid is permitted.

X. Transportation

1. Students will need to furnish their own transportation to the location of the college class.

2. If a student is receiving a free lunch, that student, at the end of school, would be reimbursed

100 percent of the average per capita cost of transportation in the Ironton City School District.

If a student is on a reduced lunch, whatever the percent would be the amount reimbursed.

XI. Academic and Social Responsibilities of Students and Their Parents for Participation

in Options Program

1. Must be accepted by college.

2. Must meet all requirements and standards for college courses.

3. Must meet all attendance requirements.

4. Must have a reliable source of transportation.

XII. Consequences of failing or not completing a course

1. If a student starts this program at the beginning of the school year – September, and drops out

of the course before October 1, he/she must return to the high school immediately and pick up

any additional necessary courses.

2. If a student starts this program at the beginning of the school year, completes the first quarter,

but desires not to continue in the program, or drops out after October 1^st, he/she will not be

permitted to start additional classes at Ironton High School until second semester begins in

January and grades will be treated as a transfer student. This, possibly, could mean that a

student might not be able to get all graduation credits completed by the time of graduation

in May/June.

3. It could affect the grade point average.

4. It could lead to ineligibility to participate in extra curricular activities.

5. It could result in the student not meeting graduation requirements on time.

6. Athletic eligibility.

7. Students will need to accept more responsibility for the learning process. They will be more

on their own.

XIII. Other Considerations of the Options Program

1. Colleges must send written notice (to all appropriate parties including student, parent, school

district, superintendent, and superintendent of public instruction) within ten (10) days of

enrolling students. Such notices shall include courses and hours of enrollment and the option

selected.

2. It is the responsibility of any college participating in the Options program for high school

graduation credit to notify the student, parent, school district, superintendent of public

instruction of a participating student’s failure to complete the course(s) as a result of a formal

“class-drop” process, or failure to attend classes regularly. Such notification shall be made in

a timely manner, but no later than fourteen (14) calendar days of such determination.

3. A student enrolled in the program will follow the local district attendance policy:

Board Policy #5113; as well as the district code of conduct for curricular and extra curricular

activities: Board Policy # 5131.3. These policies and codes will be applicable during the time

the student is attending Ironton High School and is on school property for any class or

activity.

4. The student enrolled in this program must realize that the master schedule will not be

altered or adjusted in order to permit enrollment.

5. Beginning with the 91-92 school year, the top graduating students at Ironton High School will

be announced as Honor Graduates replacing Valedictorian and Salutatorian. These honor

students will be Summa Cum Laude (4.0) and Magna Cum Laude (3.5 and above).

6. The Ironton City School District will adhere to the Ohio High School Athletic Association

for eligibility to participate in athletics. In order to be eligible the student must be passing

four units of credit during the prior grading period. The four units of credit may be a

combination of high school and college credits.

2-20-91