The board authorizes the creation of Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) courses and programs, as defined in the procedure which accompanies this policy.

The district will make available to students enrolled in an ALE courses educational opportunities 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.

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 board will adopt and annually review written policies authorizing ALE programs, including each ALE course and course provider. The policy must designate, by title, one or more school district official(s) responsible for overseeing the district's ALE programs.

The district establishes the following alternative programs who provide ALE courses on site, remote, or online, as defined in WAC 392-550-020:

The school district official(s) responsible for this (these) programs(s) and courses is/are:

School/Program Name	Courses Approved	Administrator
Highline Virtual Academy	Online Edgenuity & Online Standards Based Instruction; Grades 6 - 12	Amy Carlson, Principal
Innovation Heights Academy	Online Edgenuity & Site-based/Remote Hybrid Courses; Grades 9 - 12	Kevin Takisaki, Principal
Virtual Program at Seahurst Elementary	Synchronous Online Courses; Grades K - 5	Elizabeth Maine, Principal

Maritime High School	Site Based/Remote Hybrid Courses; Grades 11 &12	Jamilia Gordon, Principal
CHOICE Academy	Online Edgenuity Elective Courses; Grades 9 - 12	Mikie Sita, Principal
Contracted Graduation Alliance ALE	Graduation Alliance Online Courses; Grades 6 - 12	Todd Dalstad, Program Director

District Supervision: 

The district designates Assistant Director of Alternative Education Programs as the person responsible for approving specific alternative learning experience programs or courses, monitoring compliance with WAC 392-121-182 and reporting annually to the school district board of directors and to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Reporting Requirements

1.  Annual Report to the Board of Directors

The school district official responsible for overseeing each ALE program approval 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;

3.  A description of how the programs support the district's overall goals and objectives for student academic achievement; and

2.  Monthly Report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction

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.  Submissions to CEDARS

The district must report all required information to the office of superintendent of public instruction's Comprehensive Education Data and Research System under RCW 28A.300.500, including designating alternative learning experience courses as such when reporting course information to the Comprehensive Education Data and Research System.

4.  Annual Report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction

The district must report annually to the Superintendent of Public Instruction:

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.

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 Excused absences WAC 392-401-020 and in policy 3122.

Students who drop out of ALE courses

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

Procedures

The superintendent is authorized to develop procedures consistent with WAC chapter 392-550 to govern the administration of the district's ALE courses.

District Cross References:

Curriculum Development and Adoption of Instructional Materials. - Policy 2020 Excused and Unexcused Absences- Policy 3122

Online Learning Policy 2024

WSSDA Cross References:

Alternative Learning Experience Courses – Policy 2255

Legal References:

Alternative learning experience requirements- WAC 392-121-182

Instructional Materials – Instructional Materials Committee - RCW 28A.320.230

Management Resources:

“Guide to Offering Alternative Learning Experiences” - Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

“Alternative Learning Experience” - Policy News, October 2011, October 2012, and May 2018

Highline School District 401
Adopted by the Board: December 2004
Revised by the Board: 12.04, 1.07, 1.08, 3.09, 2.11, 3.12, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 11.17, 8.18, 3.20; 12.20; 8.21
Classification: Essential