2255 Alternative Learning Experience Programs

The district establishes theMethowValleyIndependentLearningCenter, an alternative high school, and REACH, a parent partnership program.  Both are alternative learning experience programs, provided as defined in WAC 392-121-182.  The Independent Learning Center (ILC) provides an alternative setting for high school students (Grades 9-12) to earn a diploma.  REACH provides a certified teacher (Grades K-8) for academic guidance and oversight.  The following components apply to both programs, with any delineation necessary.

I.       Every student enrolled in one of the programs shall have a written individual plan developed in collaboration with the student, the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s), and other interested parties.  The student’s supervisor, who must be certificated instructional staff or a contractor as defined in WAC 392-121-188, must approve the plan and has primary responsibility and accountability for the plan.  The student learning plan must meet the following minimum criteria. The plan must:

A.  Include a schedule of the duration of the program, including the beginning and ending dates;

B.  Describe the specific learning goals and performance objectives.  This requirement may be met through course syllabi or other detailed descriptions of learning requirements;

C.  Describe the average number of hours per week that the student will engage in learning activities to accomplish the objectives of the plan;

D.  Describe how weekly contact requirements will be fulfilled;

E.   Identify instructional materials essential to successful completion of the learning plan;

F.   Include a timeline and method for evaluating student progress toward the learning goals and performance objectives specified in the learning plan; and

G.  Identify whether the alternative learning experience meets one or more of the state essential academic learning requirements defined by the district. High school alternative learning plans must identify whether the experience meets state and district graduation requirements.

II.     Annually, during a public meeting, the board will approve the ratio of certificated instructional staff to full time equivalent students enrolled in alternative learning experience programs and courses.

III.    Student performance will be supervised, monitored, assessed, evaluated, and recorded by certificated instructional staff, or by certificated staff of a contractor.  The certificated teacher will meet with each enrolled student and/or parent weekly for the purpose of monitoring progress.  Each student’s educational progress will be reviewed monthly to determine satisfactory or unsatisfactory progress.  The results of these monthly reviews shall be shared with the students and parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student in K-8 programs.  If a student is not substantially successful in the activities identified in his/her monthly plan, a revised plan shall be implemented, which will include hourly documentation.  This monthly plan shall address some or all of the following areas:

•  Evaluating work presented in a learning portfolio;
• Conducting assessments of learning progress as measured by criteria-based, standardized and/or performance-based assessments;
• Making assignments of work to be accomplished;
• Making judgments on quality, quantity and completeness of past assignments;
• Recording grades and attendance and providing reports to parents and to the district administrator; and
• Updating graduation credit standing for 9-12 programs.

1. Each student and/or parent enrolled in an alternative learning experience program shall have personal contact with school staff at least weekly, to discuss and evaluate student progress, until completion of the course objectives or the requirements of the learning plan. Personal contact means either a face-to-face meeting or communication by telephone, email or other means of digital communication with the student and/or the parent or guardian.
2. Parent Responsibilities:

Parents or guardians are required to participate in the program on behalf of their children in at least the following ways, or their children may be excluded or removed from the program:

A.  The parent or guardian must approve the child’s plan;

1. The parent or guardian must provide or implement those portions of their child’s plan for alternative learning experiences that are identified in the plan as their areas of responsibility; and

C.  The parent or guardian must meet with certificated instructional staff as prescribed in their child’s plan for purposes of evaluating their child’s performance and/or receiving instructions on assisting with their child’s alternative learning experience.

If a student’s parent or guardian cannot or will not participate in the program, the supervisor of the program may accept another suitable adult who agrees to meet the policy and program requirements set out for parents on behalf of the student.

1. District Supervision:

The district shall designate one or more person(s) responsible for approving specific alternative learning experience programs, monitoring compliance with WAC

392-121-182 and reporting at the end of each school year to the board of directors on the program.  The annual report shall contain:

A.  The alternative learning experience student headcount and full-time equivalent enrollment claimed for basic education funding;

B.  A description of how certificated and classified staff are assigned program management and instructional responsibilities that maximize student learning, including the ratio of certificated instructional staff to full-time equivalent students;

C.  A description of how the written student learning plan is developed and student performance supervised and evaluated by certificated staff;

D.  A description of how the alternative learning experience program supports the district’s overall goals for academic achievement; and

1. Results of any self-evaluations conducted pursuant to WAC 392-121-182(7).

1. The district alternative learning programs shall satisfy the state board of education requirements for courses of study or equivalencies; and if the program offers credit or a high school diploma, the alternative learning program must meet the minimum high school graduation requirements.

VIII. District funds up to $1,200 per student per year may be spent on instructional support for students in REACH when these supplies are directly related to the Written Student Learning Plan.  Such funds may be used to reimburse families for art, music, dance or other specialty lessons, if approved in advance by the program coordinator. All purchased materials are the property of theMethowValleySchool District and are used on a “loan” basis.  (See Procedure 2255 for allocation guidelines.)

1. The district’s designee shall approve materials per the district’s instructional materials policy (2020).  In cases where the parent disagrees with an instructional materials decision, the parent may appeal to a district committee.

Legal Reference:

WAC 392-121-182                       Alternative learning experience requirements

RCW 28A.320.230                       Instructional Materials – Instructional Materials Committee

Cross References:

Board Policy 2020                        Curriculum Development and Adoption  of Instructional Materials

Adoption date: 8.10

MethowValleySchool District