The district may establish alternative learning experience programs, consisting of student contract learning programs or independent study programs.

Written Plan Requirements

Every student enrolled in the program shall have a written individual plan approved by the student's supervisor, who must be an employee of the district, that meets the following minimum criteria:

1. A schedule of the duration of the program, including beginning and ending dates,
2. A description of the learning standards to be met and learning activities the student is expected to successfully complete which includes all courses, classes, and/or services provided and credits to be awarded by the district for this student. Such description shall be sufficient in detail to guide and advise the student of the expectations,
3. A description of the teaching component(s) of the program, including where and when teaching activities will be conducted by school district staff,
4. A description of the responsibilities of the student including a requirement that if, on average, the student attends school less than five (5) hours a week, the student shall meet in person once each week one-to-one with qualified district staff for an average monthly minimum of sixty (60) minutes every five (5) school days for instruction, to review of the student's assignments, testing, and/or learning activities. If more than one (1) student meets with a qualified district staff member at a time, the required time is increased proportionately, for example, the required time becomes one hundred twenty (120) minutes if two (2) 1.0 FTE students meet with the staff member at one time, and,
5. A reasonably accurate estimate of the average number of hours per month that the student will be engaged in learning activities to meet the requirements of the alternative learning experience plan. This estimate may be used in reporting enrollment in compliance with reporting requirements of this procedure.

Reporting Requirements

The full time equivalency of students enrolled in alternative learning experiences shall be determined based upon the following:

1. Using the definition of a full-time equivalent found in state WAC and the number of hours that each student engages in learning activities as determined by either:

1. The total number of hours that the student engages in learning activities pursuant to the written alternative learning experience plan, including those hours which meet WAC criteria for Course of Study definitions for instruction and work based learning, and those hours of learning activity that are provided by the student's parent(s) or guardian, or other person as designated by the written plan, under the direct supervision of the district's qualified instructional staff, and those hours that the student participates in learning activities other that those already specified which are pursuant to the student's individual alternative learning experience plan, and if the student is in grades K-8 only those hours the student is supervised by the student's parent(s) or guardian, or other person designated in the plan, or
2. The estimated average hours per month the student is engaged in learning activities as stated in the written plan which meet the requirements of these procedures PROVIDED, that for any count date on which the student has averaged, for the immediate two (2) prior months during the current school year, a number of hours engaged in learning activities that differ by more than five (5) hours a week from the written plan estimate, the district shall adjust the FTE of that student for such count date to the lesser of 1.0 or the FTE equivalency calculated using the two (2) month average.

2. Excluding students meeting the definition of enrollment exclusions in WAC or students who have not met with appropriate district staff for twenty (20) consecutive school days. Any such excluded student shall not be counted until the student has met with appropriate district staff and resumed participation in their written plan or in another course of study.

Documentation

The district will keep on file in the appropriate school building, and have available for audit, documentation of all hours of learning activities used to determine the student's FTE including the following:

1. For students in grades K-8, written statements from the student's parent(s) or guardian or other person designated by the written plan. These statements shall be submitted monthly, or more often at the discretion of the district staff, and shall list those hours that the student has engaged in planned learning activities while not in the presence of district staff. Reported hours shall be used to determine the FTE of the student,
2. For students in grades 9-12, the student, and/or the student's parent(s) or guardian, or other person designated by the written plan, written statements on a monthly basis, or more often at the discretion of the district staff. Such statements shall list those hours that the student has engaged in planned learning activities while not in the presence of district staff. Reported hours shall be used to determine the FTE of the student.

Approved:
9/2/97