Education, Administration

Rule R277-730

Alternative High School Curriculum

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Repeal)

DAR File No.: 35538
Filed: 12/14/2011 02:43:56 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is repealed because the standards and procedures in this rule are outdated and are no longer applicable.

Summary of the rule or change:

This rule is repealed in its entirety.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 53A-1-402(1)
• Subsection 53A-1-401(3)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to the state budget. The standards and procedures in this rule are no longer applicable so there is no cost associated with repealing the rule.

local governments:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to local government. The standards and procedures in this rule are no longer applicable so there is no cost associated with repealing the rule.

small businesses:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to small businesses. This rule applies to public education and does not affect businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities. The standards and procedures in this rule are no longer applicable so there is no cost associated with repealing the rule.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons. The standards and procedures in this rule are no longer applicable so there is no compliance cost associated with repealing the rule.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

I have reviewed this rule and I see no fiscal impact on businesses.

Larry K. Shumway, State Superintendent

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Education
Administration
250 E 500 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-3272

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Carol Lear at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7835, by FAX at 801-538-7768, or by Internet E-mail at carol.lear@schools.utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

01/31/2012

This rule may become effective on:

02/07/2012

Authorized by:

Carol Lear, Director, School Law and Legislation

R277. Education, Administration.

[R277-730. Alternative High School Curriculum.

R277-730-1. Definitions.

A. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Education.

B. "Alternative high school" means a non-standard high school, other than a home school, for students with special needs, interests, or learning styles, which meets all of the following criteria:

(1) the local school has been officially designated as a high school by the local board of education;

(2) a principal or coordinator and staff are assigned to the school;

(3) extra costs are associated with the school such as counseling staff, library, and other supporting costs;

(4) students have access to an approved vocational education program;

(5) the school is primarily for youth in continuous education who have not graduated from high school but are working toward graduation. Its programs qualify students as candidates for graduation.

C. "Home study/drop-in program" means an education program in which a student independently completes assignments away from the school and comes to the school on a periodic basis to submit or discuss the assignments with a designated counselor or instructor.

 

R277-730-2. Authority and Purpose.

A. This rule is authorized by Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3 which vests general control and supervision of public education in the Board, Section 53A-1-402(1) which directs the Board to adopt minimum standards for public schools, and Section 53A-1-401(3) which allows the Board to adopt rules in accordance with its responsibilities.

B. The purpose of this rule is to specify curriculum standards for alternative high schools.

 

R277-730-3. Curriculum and Graduation Requirements.

A. An alternative high school must provide instruction in the subjects which are required for student graduation.

B. A student education plan shall be developed, and reviewed at least annually, by each alternative high school student, the student's parent, and designated school personnel. The plan shall be guided by the general program of studies, graduation requirements, and individual student interests and goals. The plan shall identify an area of concentration in a cluster related to the student's post-secondary goal.

C.(1) Candidates for graduation must demonstrate mastery of the general core subjects and be formally assessed on mastery of the core courses during or at the conclusion of grades 10 and 12.

(2) If a student has a condition which precludes the successful demonstration of mastery, the student education plan team may modify the competency demonstration to accommodate the condition.

 

R277-730-4. Awarding Credit.

A. Units of credit in alternative high schools are awarded on the same basis as in regular high schools. Credit shall be awarded only once for a specific required course with the same content during the secondary school experience.

B. Credit may be earned by any of the following methods:

(1) satisfactory completion of a course that meets state course standards;

(2) demonstrated proficiency via preassessment;

(3) demonstrated mastery in approved courses completed outside of the school day or year;

(4) concurrent enrollment in approved post-secondary institutions;

(5) demonstrated mastery in approved correspondence or extension courses; and

(6) upon application, demonstrated mastery in special experimental programs.

C. Assessment of mastery is the responsibility of local boards of education.

D. A maximum of three units of home study/drop-in credit may be transferred to qualify for high school graduation. A minimum of nine hours of student/teacher interaction is required for each quarter unit of credit awarded for a home study/drop-in program.

E. Make-up credit offered through an alternative high school program must be approved by the high school from which the student intends to graduate. The course work prescribed must be on the same academic level as that in which the student is deficient. For example, general math credit will not substitute for algebra or geometry credit.

 

R277-730-5. Operation Procedures Related to Curriculum.

A. Home study/drop-in programs in alternative high schools must be approved by the Board or by the respective board of education if the school is operated by a district.

B. Alternative high school teachers must hold a Basic or Standard Teaching Certificate endorsed in one or more subjects required in the core curriculum approved by the Board. In addition, they must have completed not fewer than nine quarter hours of state approved college or in-service course work in each of the subject areas to which they are assigned.

C. Curriculum and teaching strategies shall be designed to meet the individual needs of the student. A written course description shall be available for all classes taught.

D. Students shall have access to a media center containing books, film strips, videos, tapes, and equipment.

E. The alternative high school must have an outreach program in place to contact enrolled students who are not attending the school.

 

KEY: alternative school, education

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 1987

Notice of Continuation: January 8, 2008

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: Art X Sec 3; 53A-1-402(1); 53A-1-401(3)]