There’s been discussion on this website about taking UW classes and the WI Youth Options Program – who pays and who gets credit, what are the District’s policies. Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has a website with a brochure and frequently asked questions on this program – http://dpi.wi.gov/youthoptions/yocolcont.html. The website also includes the state law on this topic.
The Youth Options program allows all public high school juniors and seniors who meet certain requirements to take postsecondary courses at a Wisconsin technical college or institution of higher education. An institution of higher education (IHE) includes UW System institutions, tribally controlled colleges and private, nonprofit institutions. Youth Options Program Brochure
On Monday, November 13th at 6:15 p.m., McDaniels Auditorium, the Board of Education’s Performance and Achievement Committee’s second topic for discussion isCredits for courses outside the MMSD.
Two questions from DPI’s FAQ on the Youth Options Program that may pertain to next Monday’s Performance and Achievement Committe’s discussion on this topic:
1. May a school district limit the number of credits a student takes through the youth options program?
Yes, if a school district has a board policy in place, the school district may limit a student to 18 college credits over the two years the student is eligible for youth options. {§118.55(7t)(a), Wis. Stats.} The school district is not authorized to set the number of credits lower than 18, however the district may set the number of credits higher or not set a limit.
2. Can the number of college credits per semester be limited?
The number of college credits per semester may be limited by the post-secondary institution, but the school district does not have authority to limit the number of credits in a semester.
I hope that the committee and board attempt to determine (at this meeting or a future meeting) whether MMSD’s policies violate state law.
The BOE’s Performance and Achievement committee is planning to meet on November 13 at 6:15 pm in Doyle. I hope people interested in the District’s policies concerning the status of non-MMSD courses taken by students will attend. Unfortunately, this item, although originally listed on the agenda for November 13, no longer seems to be on it 🙁 People can still talk about the topic during the public comment period.
Janet, Did you reach Performance and Achievement Committee chair Shwaw Vang today to ask him about the change in the agenda for tomorrow night’s meeting? What did he say?
I phoned Shwaw Vang Sunday night with this question, leaving a message on his answering machine. He has yet to return my phone call.