Gooding Jt. School District 231
INSTRUCTION 2460
Extended Learning Opportunities
The Board encourages students to pursue extended learning opportunities (ELOs) as a way to gain knowledge and skills outside the traditional classroom. The District shall allow students to receive credit for ELOs.
“Extended learning opportunity” or “ELO” shall mean an out-of-classroom learning experience that provides a student with:
- Enrichment opportunities outside of a classroom setting;
- Career readiness or employability skills, including internships, pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships; or
- Any other type of out-of-classroom educational opportunity approved by the State Board of Education or the District.
ELOs may include, but are not limited to performing groups, internships, community service, apprenticeships, or other opportunities approved by the District, in conjunction with Board policies.
All ELOs shall comply with applicable laws and regulations, including child labor laws and regulations governing occupational safety.
In determining whether to approve an ELO proposed by a student or by a prospective supervising organization, the District shall consider the overall benefits, costs, advantages, and disadvantages to both the student and the District.
Approval of a Proposed ELO
An organization such as a nonprofit organization, an Idaho business, a trade association, or the United States armed forces may apply to offer District students a for-credit ELO. The application must demonstrate the opportunity will teach students specific Idaho Content Standards or the Idaho College and/or Career Readiness Competencies and Subskills.
Requests by organizations seeking to offer an ELO shall be evaluated by the Superintendent or their designee. The Board directs the Superintendent to create a process for evaluating these applications.
At a minimum, all applications by supervising organizations or students must meet the following criteria:
- Provide for administration and supervision of the program; and
- Meet rigorous standards, including the minimum standards established by the The Board directs the Superintendent to draft such standards.
Request by Student for Credit
In addition to opportunities proposed by a supervising organization as described above, a student may request credit for a proposed ELO on an individual basis. To do so, they must provide written permission from their parent, if the student is a minor, to participate in a particular extended education opportunity.
The application must demonstrate the opportunity will teach the student specific Idaho Content Standards or the Idaho College and/or Career Readiness Competencies and Subskills.
Such applications must be submitted to the building principal at least ten (10) days prior to the beginning of the proposed opportunity when prior approval is sought. The deadline may be waived at the principal’s discretion. Alternatively, a student may apply to receive credit for an activity as an ELO after it has begun, provided application is made within ten (10) days of the completion of the activity.
The application will be reviewed by the building principal and any other staff the District deems appropriate. A decision will be made within five (5) days of receipt of the application. The student will be notified in writing of the status of the application. If additional information is requested, the information must be submitted within one week of receipt of the request.
A student whose application has been denied may request a meeting with the building principal. The principal will provide the student with a rationale as to why the proposal was denied. The student may resubmit an alternate proposal if there is enough time to do so within the deadline described above. If the building principal rejects the resubmitted proposal, the student may appeal to the Superintendent. All decisions made by the Superintendent shall be final.
Once a student-initiated opportunity has been approved as an ELO, the District may consider it an approved ELO for other students.
Nature of Credit Awarded
If a middle level or high school student requests credit for an ELO and the District approves this request, or if the student participates in an approved ELO, the student shall receive credit toward their graduation requirements.
If an elementary student requests credit for an ELO and the District approves this request, or if the student participates in an approved ELO, the student shall receive credit toward mastery of required skills or standards.
The District may award elective credit for an ELO that does not qualify for credit toward core of instruction graduation requirements.
The Board directs the Superintendent to draft criteria for determining whether a proposed learning opportunity will qualify for credit toward one or more core subjects, elective credit, or required skills or standards. Credit counted toward a core subject shall only be awarded for ELOs which align with the content standards of a course for which core credit is awarded.
The District reserves the right to determine the number of credits to be awarded. Any credits earned may be calculated towards the student’s grade point average (GPA). In that instance, the course name and actual grade earned will be noted on the student’s official transcript.
The Board may direct the Superintendent or their designee to track approved ELOs and may direct the Superintendent or designee to make information on approved ELOs available to guide students, parents/guardians, and community members who may be interested in pursuing or offering an ELO.
Responsibility
Any ELO shall be the financial responsibility of the student’s parent/guardian. The student or their parent/guardian will be responsible for providing transportation to and from the off-campus site. However, the District may choose to provide transportation, if feasible.
The organization supervising any ELOs shall be responsible for the student’s personal safety and well-being.
A signed agreement among the school, the student, the student’s parent/guardian, and a designated agent of the supervising organization may be required before any ELO will be approved by the District. The agreement should specify the roles and responsibilities of each party.
It is the student’s responsibility to maintain academic standing and enrollment in the approved program. Any failure to complete an approved program may jeopardize the student’s ability to earn credit for the course and may result in the ELO being counted as a failing grade.
In order to ensure the integrity of the learning experience approved under this program, the student will be required periodically or upon request to provide evidence of progress and attendance. The building principal shall be responsible for certifying completion of the ELO and the award of credits consistent with the District’s policies, procedures, and rules.
In order to certify completion of co-curricular programs and activities based upon specific instructional objectives aligned to the standards, each school shall develop appropriate mechanisms to document student progress and program completion in each student’s record.
Legal References: I.C. § 33-6401 et seq. Extended Learning Opportunities Policy History:
Adopted on: 11/15/22 Revised on: