Section 5: Board policy
Rule Text
(5) Required school district board policies for alternative learning experiences: The board of directors of a school district claiming state funding for alternative learning experiences must adopt and annually review written policies authorizing such alternative learning experiences, including each alternative learning experience program and program provider. The policy must designate, by title, one or more school district official(s) responsible for overseeing the district's alternative learning experience courses or programs, including monitoring compliance with this section, and reporting at least annually to the school district board of directors on the program. This annual report shall include at least the following:
(a) Documentation of alternative learning experience student headcount and full-time equivalent enrollment claimed for basic education funding;
(b) Identification of the overall ratio of certificated instructional staff to full-time equivalent students enrolled in each alternative learning experience program;
(c) A description of how the program supports the district's overall goals and objectives for student academic achievement; and
(d) Results of any self-evaluations conducted pursuant to subsection (10) of this section.
Comments
In this revised rule, local board policy requirements have been substantially simplified. Much of the specific procedural requirements in the previous rule have been moved to other sections of the rule. The board policy section now is focused on the local board’s authorization of each ALE program operated by the district.
Common Questions
Q. Must the policy be in place by September 1, 2011?
A. No. The timeline of adoption of new rules and requirements is so short that it’s not realistic to expect policy to be in place by September 1. But, the board should be working on adopting policy as soon as it is practicable.
Last updated: 7/15/2011
A. A school district may have a single board policy in place that authorizes more than one ALE program and/or the availability of individual ALE courses to regular instructional students. However, the school district board of directors should develop separate policies authorizing each ALE program if these programs operate in distinctly different ways from each other, such as an elementary parent partnership program and a secondary online program.
Last updated: 7/15/2011
Q. Are there sample board policies available?
A. Sample board policies are available from WSSDA. For more information, contact WSSDA's Director for Policy & Legal Services.
Last updated: 11/19/2012
Relevant Forms or Samples
Sample board policies are available from WSSDA. For more information, contact Stacia Hollar, WSSDA's Director for Policy & Legal Services.