Approved: 9/12/2018
START COLLEGE NOW PROGRAM
The Evansville Community School District Board of Education supports a wide variety of programs and options in its mission to provide college and career readiness opportunities for students.
Evansville High school students in the 11th grade or 12th grade who meet the eligibility requirements defined in applicable statutes, regulations, and ECSD policies may be permitted to enroll in one or more courses at a technical college through the Start College Now Program. In addition to other applicable eligibility requirements, a student who wishes to enroll in a course through a technical college under this policy must:
- have the written approval of a parent or guardian, if a minor;
- notify the District of his/her intent to attend a technical college by March 1 if the student intends to enroll at the technical college in the fall semester, and by October 1 if the student intends to enroll in the spring semester;
- not be a child at risk of not graduating from high school, as defined by state law; and
- be in good academic standing within the District (Solely for purposes of determining a student’s eligibility to enroll in a course at a technical college under this policy, “good academic standing” in the District means that the student has a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 2.0 at the time of the determination and meets the Evansville High School credit threshold as a second-semester sophomore.
A student who is interested in attending individual courses under the Start College Now Program must also submit an application directly to the applicable technical college, pursuant to any procedures and deadlines established by the technical college. A technical college district board may deny a high school student admission to the technical college, or registration in a specific course, for any reason that is consistent with state law, including the technical college’s determination, following any appropriate verification with the District, that the student has an unacceptable record of disciplinary problems.
Program Administration:
The District Administrator or designee shall be responsible for:
- ensuring that the District appropriately processes requests/applications related to the Start College Now Program; and
- except for refusal of permission to take a course that is based on an undue financial burden, determining whether the District will approve individual applications and pay for specific courses based on the criteria established in state law, any applicable state regulations, and applicable District policies and procedures.
The authority of the District Administrator or designee includes, but is not limited to, the authority to make or approve the following determinations on behalf of the District:
- Whether a student meets the minimum eligibility criteria for participation in the program;
- Whether a proposed course is comparable to a course already offered in the District;
- Whether the student will be eligible to receive high school credit for the successful completion of a proposed course; and
- Whether the proposed course and any resulting credit meets any of the District’s high school graduation requirements.
The District may refuse to allow a student with a disability to attend a technical college through the Start College Now Program if the costs related to any special services required for the student would impose an undue financial burden on the District. The determination of an undue financial burden shall be made by the School Board.
Responsibility for Costs; Limitations on District Payments:
To the extent required by state law, the District shall pay for certain costs associated with students’ enrollment in a technical college under this policy if the course is taken for high school credit and the course is not comparable to a course offered in the District. Limitations on the District’s responsibility for payment include the following:
- The District shall pay only such tuition, fees, and course materials costs as are required by law. If the District is required to pay the technical college for the cost of a book or similar resource that is not a one-time use item, the student may be required to return the resource(s) to the District upon completion of the course.
- The District shall pay for no more than the equivalent of a combined total of 18 post-secondary semester credits per student for any courses that are taken through the Start College Now Program or the Early College Credit Program. Any courses that the District paid for under the former Youth Options Program count toward this credit limit.
- Unless the District Administrator determines that extenuating circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the student caused the student to be unable to successfully complete a course, the District shall require a student who receives a failing grade in or who fails to complete a technical college course to reimburse the District for all amounts paid for the course on the student’s behalf. For a student who is a minor, the student’s parent or guardian is responsible for such reimbursement. If reimbursement is not made upon request, the student is ineligible for any further participation in the Start College Now Program and the Early College Credit Program.
- Unless otherwise required by law, the District is not responsible for providing transportation to technical college courses taken under this policy or paying for transportation-related costs.
Determinations of Course Comparability, Eligibility for High School Credit, and Satisfaction of High School Graduation Requirements:
The determination of whether a course satisfies a high school graduation requirement shall be made with reference to the District’s policy that sets forth such requirements and by applying the standards and guidelines that the District applies to its own course offerings and to courses that are submitted for a similar assessment by students who are transferring into the District.
Pending the development of any formal state regulations applicable to the Start College Now Program that address the granting of high school credit for a course taken at a technical college under this policy, or the adoption of other specific local standards for such credit determinations, the District shall apply the mandatory and discretionary standards found in PI 40.07(1) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, as such standards were in effect as of December 31, 2017. In addition, in order for a student to receive high school credit for a course taken at a technical college under this policy, the student must complete the course and receive a passing grade, as determined by the technical college.
For purposes of determining whether a course that a student wishes to take through the Start College Now Program is comparable to a course offered by the District, and pending the development of any formal state regulations applicable to the Start College Now Program or the adoption of other specific local standards for determining course comparability, the District shall apply the standards found in PI 40.07(1m) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, as such standards were in effect as of December 31, 2017.
The District shall notify the student, in writing, by May 15 (for fall semester courses) and November 15 (for spring semester courses) if a course in which the student intends to enroll (1) does not meet the high school graduation requirements, and (2) whether the course is comparable to a course offered in the District.
Appeals of Course Denial Decisions:
If an applicant for the program disagrees with a District decision regarding course comparability or the satisfaction of high school graduation requirements, state law provides that the applicant may appeal the District’s decision to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction within 30 days after the District’s decision.
Legal Ref. Sections: 38.12(14) Wisconsin Statutes (Start College Now Program)
115.385(4) (Parent Notification of Education Options)
118.15(1)(b) (Attendance at a Technical College)
118.33 (High School Graduation Requirements)
118.55 (Early College Credit Program)
118.57 (Public Notification of Education Options)
Local Ref.: Policy #348 Early College Credit
Policy #412.1 Full-time and Part-time Student Status
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