My Suggested Changes to the Proposed MMSD Policy on Students Taking Outside Courses

February 25, 2008 draft proposal from Janet Mertz regarding the proposed MMSD Policy.

It is the policy of the Board to expand the opportunities for students to take courses outside of the District without increasing the costs to the District and without undermining the integrity of the diploma a student receives from the District. A student may receive credit for taking such outside courses. No District funds shall be utilized to pay for the costs to a student taking courses under this policy.

Taking outside courses if a student wishes to receive credit toward graduation.

• By May 1 of the previous school year for first semester courses and by December 1 for second semester courses, the student shall submit to his/her principal or the principal’s designee the student’s request to take a course under this policy. Within 15 school days after receiving the student’s request, the principal, in consultation with the appropriate staff member(s), shall make a recommendation to the Superintendent or his/her designee as to whether the course shall be approved. Within 15 school days after receiving the principal’s recommendation, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall notify the student whether his/her request has been granted or denied.
• A student may receive credit toward graduation. The grade will be recorded but not counted in the GPA.
• Credits toward graduation shall be granted in the following manner:
• No more than 4 credits per year.
• No more than 11 credits may be applied to the total graduation requirement.
• The student’s transcript shall include a description of the course, the institution, if any, the date the course was completed, the credit, and the grade.
• No grades shall be included as part of a student’s grade point average (GPA).
• All costs related to taking the course shall be the responsibility of the student and/or his/her parent/guardian.
• Taking outside courses if a student does not wish to receive credit.
• By May 1 of the previous school year for first semester courses and by December 1 for second semester courses, the student shall submit to his/her principal or the principal’s designee the students’ request to take a course under this policy. Within 15 days after receiving the student’s request, the principal, in consultation with the appropriate staff member(s), shall make a recommendation to the Superintendent or his/her designee as to whether the course shall be approved. Within 15 days after receiving the principal’s recommendation, the Superintendent or his/her designee shall notify whether his/her request has been granted or denied.
• The student’s transcript shall include a description of the course, the institution, if any, the date the course was completed, and the pass/fail grade unless the student or his/her parent/guardian request that the student’s letter grade appear on the transcript in which case the student’s letter grade will appear on the transcript.
• No grade shall be included as part of the student’s GPA.
• All costs related to taking the course shall be the responsibility of the student and/or the student’s parent/guardian.

Posted by Janet Mertz at February 25, 2008 3:22 PM
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