2255 - Alternative Learning Experience Programs

The Richland School District’s Board of Directors authorizes the creation of alternative learning experience (ALE) courses, as defined in the procedure which accompanies this policy. 

The District will make available to students enrolled in an ALE courses educational opportunity designed to meet their individual needs. The District will comply with all program requirements necessary to count an ALE as a course of study and ensure state funding for ALE students. 

Definitions 

1. Alternative learning experience (ALE) means a course or, for grades kindergarten through eight, grade-level course work, that is a delivery method of basic education and is:

1. Provided in whole or in part independently from a regular classroom setting orschedule, but may include components of direct instruction;
2. Supervised, monitored, assessed, evaluated, and documented by a certificated teacher employed or contracted by the school district; and
3. Provided in accordance with a written student-learning plan that is implemented pursuant to the district’s policy and Chapter 392-550, WAC.

2. Online courses are courses or grade-level coursework where:

1. More than half of the course content is delivered electronically using the internet or other computer-based methods;
2. More than half of the teaching is conducted from a remote location through an online course learning management system or other online or electronic tools;
3. A certificated teacher has the primary responsibility for the student's instructional interaction. Instructional interaction between the teacher and the student includes, but is not limited to, direct instruction, review of assignments, assessment, testing, progress monitoring, and educational facilitation; and
4. Students have access to the teacher synchronously, asynchronously, or both.

3. Remote course means an alternative learning experience course or course work that is not an online course. Further, the student-learning plan for the course does not include a requirement for in-person instructional contact time.

4. Site-based course means an alternative learning experience course or course work that is not an online course where the written student-learning plan for the course includes a requirement for in-person instructional contact time.

ALE programs may include the following types of courses as defined in RCW 28A.232.010: 

1. Online courses;
2. Remote courses; and
3. Site-based courses.

The District has the following ALE programs: 

• Three Rivers HomeLink 
• Rivers Edge High School 
• Pacific Crest Online Academy 

School Officials Overseeing ALE Programs and Courses: 

The Principal or designee at each of the District’s ALE programs and courses is responsible to oversee the program and/or courses at the school or program. The school or programs’s courses can be found in the school/program’s course catalogue. 

Reporting Requirements 

1. Annual Report to the Board of Directors

The official responsible for overseeing each ALE programs and courses will report at least annually to the Board. This annual report will include at least the following:

1. Documentation of ALE student headcount and full-time equivalent enrollment claimed for basic education funding;
2. Identification of the overall ratio of certificated instructional staff to full-time equivalent students enrolled in each ALE course; the number of certificated staff in each ALE course; and
3. A description of how the course supports the District's overall goals and objectives for student academic achievement.

2. Monthly Report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)

The District must report monthly to the Superintendent of Public Instruction:

1. Accurate monthly headcount and full-time equivalent enrollment for students enrolled in alternative learning experiences; and
2. Information about the resident and serving Districts of such students.

3. Regular Submissions to CEDARS

The District must report all required information to the OSPI’s Comprehensive Education Data and Research System, including designating alternative learning experience courses.

4. Annual Report to the OSPIThe District must report annually to OSPI:

1. the number of certificated instructional staff full-time equivalent assigned to each alternative learning experience program; and
2. enrollment of students (separately identified) where ALE instruction is provided entirely under contract pursuant to RCW 28A.150.305 and WAC 392-121-188; and
3. the costs and purposes of any expenditures made to purchase or contract for instructional or co-curricular experiences and services that are included in an ALE written student learning plan, along with the substantially similar experiences or services made available to students enrolled in the District's regular instructional program.

Assessment Requirements

All students enrolled in alternative learning experience courses or course work must be assessed at least annually, using, for full-time students, the state assessment for the student's grade level and using any other annual assessments required by the District. 

Part-time students whose ALE enrollment is claimed as greater than 0.8 FTE in any one month through the January count date must be included by the District in any required state or federal accountability reporting for that school year. However, part-time students who are either receiving home-based instruction under Chapter 28A.200, RCW or who are enrolled in an approved private school under Chapter 28A.195, RCW are not required to participate in the assessments required under Chapter 28A.655, RCW. 

Students enrolled in nonresident District alternative learning experience courses or course work who are unable to participate in required annual state assessments at the nonresident District must have the opportunity to participate in such required annual state assessments at the District of physical residence, subject to that District's planned testing schedule. It is the responsibility of the nonresident enrolling District to establish a written agreement with the District of physical residence that facilitates all necessary coordination between the Districts and with the student and, where appropriate, the student's parent(s) to fulfill this requirement. Such coordination may include: 

• arranging for appropriate assessment materials;
• notifying the student of assessment administration schedules;
• arranging for the forwarding of completed assessment materials to the enrolling District for submission for scoring and reporting; and
• arranging for any allowable testing accommodations, and other steps as may be necessary.

The agreement may include rates and terms for payment of reasonable fees by the enrolling District to the District of physical residence to cover costs associated with planning for and administering the assessments to students not enrolled in the District of physical residence. Assessment results for students assessed according to these provisions must be included in the enrolling District's accountability measurements, and not in the District of physical residence's accountability measurements. 

Valid Justification for Missed Contact 

Valid justifications why a student may miss the weekly contact requirements of ALE for the purpose of truancy include those outlined in WAC 392-401-020 and in policy 3120. 

The ALE school principal or designee may excuse a missed weekly contact in those instances where the missed weekly contact did not negatively impact progress in the course or learning plan. 

Students who drop out of ALE courses

A District offering or contracting to offer an alternative learning experience course to a nonresident student must inform the resident district if the student unenrolls from the course or is otherwise no longer enrolled. 

Procedures

The Superintendent is directed to develop procedures consistent with WAC chapter 392-550 to govern the administration of the District's ALE courses. 

Student Eligibility and Enrollment 

1. ALE courses will be available to all students, including students with disabilities. 
2. All students in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade are eligible to participate in ALE programs. 
3. Students who wish to enroll in an ALE program must follow each school’s/program’s application process. 
4. Students enrolling in an ALE must have a Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP) as defined by state law. 
5. Families must be notified of difference between ALE and home-based instruction prior to enrollment. 
6. When enrolling in an ALE program, parents and students must:
   1. Attend information meetings; 
   2. Submit the appropriate transfer paperwork; and 
   3. All enrollment is dependent on space availability and staffing. 

Student Performance 

1. Students participating in ALE will be evaluated monthly by a certificated instructional staff, or, for students whose written student learning plans include only online classes, school-based support staff, to track student progress toward completion and to establish whether an intervention plan should be developed, in accordance with state law. 
2. The methods for determining satisfactory progress shall be outlined in the written student learning plan and may include: 1. Progress grades; 2. Assignment completion rates; 3. Individual school/program expectations; 4. Non-academic factors such as attendance, attitude, and behavior; and 5. Direct contact with school/program representatives. 
3. Students that are determined overall unsatisfactory for the month, will have an intervention plan developed by a certificated teacher. Intervention plans are intended to support the academic needs of a student. In the event a student is unsatisfactory for three months, the ALE will need to work with the family on a substantial change to the written student learning plan that may result in removal from the ALE program and enrolled in a traditional school setting. 

Student Responsibilities 

Students enrolled in an ALE program must meet the weekly contact requirements defined by state law and each program. This weekly contact will be defined in the specific school’s/program’s handbook (i.e. onsite attendance, email, phone call, text message, or communication through a learning management system such as Canvas). All contacts must be documented as two-way between the student and the assigned teacher of the particular course. 

Parent Responsibilities 

Each school/program has its requirements for parents of participating students. For example, Three Rivers HomeLink requires all parents participate in an orientation that is designed to support at-home learning and partnership between the school and parents. All of these requirements will be detailed in each program’s enrollment packet or required informational meeting prior to enrollment. 

District Verification of Student Work 

The District will use reliable methods to verify a student is doing his or her own work. These include, but are not limited to: 

1. Proctored examinations; 
2. Proctored projects; 
3. In-person presentations; or 
4. Real-time presentations using videoconference technology.