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Credit for Learning
Type: School Board Policy
Section: 600 EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Code: 620
Adopted Date: 8/26/2002
Revised Date(s): 05/12/2008, 06/14/2010, 11/12/2013, 06/12/2017, 03/19/2020, 04/11/2023, 08/29/2023, 12/12/2023
Reviewed Date(s): 06/14/2004, 05/09/2005, 05/12/2008, 06/14/2010, 11/12/2013, 06/12/2017, 03/19/2020, 04/11/2023, 08/29/2023, 12/12/2023
Attachments:

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to recognize student achievement, which occurs in Post-Secondary Enrollment Options and other advanced enrichment programs. This policy also recognizes student achievement that occurs in other schools, in alternative learning sites, and in out-of-school experiences such as community organizations, work-based learning, and other educational activities and opportunities.  This policy addresses transfer of student credit from out-of-state, private, or home schools and online learning programs and to address how the school district will recognize student achievement obtained outside of the school district.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT

It is the policy of Moorhead Area Public Schools to provide processes and procedures for awarding students credit toward graduation requirements for credits and grades students complete in other schools, post-secondary or higher education institutions, and online courses and programs

III.  DEFINITIONS

A. “Accredited School” means a school that is accredited by an accrediting agency, recognized according to Minnesota Statutes section 123B.445 or recognized by the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).
 
B. "Concurrent enrollment" means nonsectarian courses in which an eligible pupil under Minnesota Statutes section 124D.095, subdivision 5 or 5b enrolls to earn both secondary and postsecondary credits, are taught by a secondary teacher or a postsecondary faculty member, and are offered at a high school for which the district is eligible to receive concurrent enrollment program aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.091.
 
C. “Course” means a course or program.
 
D. “Eligible Institution” means a Minnesota public post-secondary institution, a private, nonprofit two-year trade and technical school granting associate degrees, an opportunities industrialization center accredited by an accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education, or a private, residential, two-year or four-year, liberal arts, degree-granting college or university located in Minnesota. An eligible institution must not require a faith statement from a secondary student seeking to enroll in a postsecondary course under this section during the application process or base any part of the admission decision on a student's race, creed, ethnicity, disability, gender, or sexual orientation or religious beliefs or affiliations.
 
E. “Nonpublic School” is a private school or home school in which a child is provided instruction in compliance with the Minnesota compulsory attendance laws.
 
F. “Weighted grade” is a letter or numerical grade that is assigned a numerical advantage when calculating the grade point average.
 
IV. TRANSFER OF CREDIT FROM OTHER SCHOOLS
 
A. Transfer of Academic Requirements from Other Minnesota Public Secondary Schools
  1. The school district will accept and transfer secondary credits and grades awarded to a student from another Minnesota public secondary school upon presentation of a certified transcript from the transferring public secondary school evidencing the course taken and the grade and credit awarded.
  2. Credits and grades awarded from another Minnesota public secondary school may be used to compute honor roll and/or class rank if a student has earned at least five (5) credits towards graduation from the Moorhead Area Public Schools.
B. Transfer of Academic Requirements from Other Schools
  1. The school district will accept secondary credits and grades awarded to a student for courses successfully completed at a public school outside of Minnesota or an accredited nonpublic school upon presentation of a certified transcript from the transferring public school in another state or nonpublic school evidencing the course taken and the grade and credit awarded.
    1. When a determination is made that the content of the course aligns directly with school district graduation requirements, the student will be awarded commensurate credits and grades.
    2. Commensurate credits and grades awarded from an accredited nonpublic school or public school in another state may be used to compute honor roll and/or class rank if a student has earned at least five (5) credits towards graduation from the Moorhead Area Public Schools.
    3. In the event the content of a course taken at an accredited nonpublic school or public school in another state does not fully align with the content of the Moorhead Area Public Schools high school graduation requirements but is comparable to elective credits offered by the Moorhead Area Public Schools for graduation, the student may be provided elective credit applied toward graduation requirements. Credit that does not fully align with the school district’s high school graduation requirements will not be used to compute honor roll and/or class rank.
    4. If no comparable course is offered by the Moorhead Area Public Schools for which high school graduation credit would be provided, no credit will be provided to the student.
  2. Students transferring from a non-accredited, nonpublic school shall receive credit from the Moorhead Area Public Schools upon presentation of a transcript or other documentation evidencing the course taken and grade and credit awarded.
    1. Students will be required to provide copies of course descriptions, syllabi, or work samples for determination of appropriate credit.  In addition, students also may be asked to provide interviews/conferences with the student and/or student’s parent and/or former administrator or teacher; review of a record of the student’s entire curriculum at the nonpublic school; and review of the student’s complete record of academic achievement.
    2. Where the Moorhead Area Public Schools determines that a course completed by a student at a non-accredited, nonpublic school is commensurate with school district graduation requirements, credit shall be awarded, but the grade shall be “P” (pass).
    3. In the event the content of a course taken at an non-accredited, nonpublic school does not fully align with the content of the Moorhead Area Public Schools high school graduation requirements but is comparable to elective credits offered by the Moorhead Area Public Schools for graduation, the student may be provided elective credit applied toward graduation requirements.
    4. If no comparable course is offered by the Moorhead Area Public Schools for which local high school graduation credit would be provided, no credit will be provided to the student.
    5. Credit and grades earned from a non-accredited nonpublic school shall not be used to compute honor roll and/or class rank.
  3. A student must provide the school with a copy of the student’s grades in each course taken for secondary credit under this policy, including interim or nonfinal grades earned during the academic term.
V. POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT CREDIT 
 
A. A student who satisfactorily completes a post-secondary enrollment options course or program under Minnesota Statutes section 124D.09 that has been approved as meeting the necessary requirements is not required to complete other requirements of the content standards adopted by the Moorhead Area Public Schools corresponding to that specific rigorous course of study.
 
B. Secondary credits granted to a student through a post-secondary enrollment options course or program that meets or exceeds a graduation standard or requirement shall be counted toward the graduation and credit requirements of a student completing the Minnesota Academic Standards.
  1. Course credit will be considered by the Moorhead Area Public Schools only upon presentation of a certified transcript from an eligible institution evidencing the course taken and the grade and credit awarded.
  2. Seven quarter or four-semester post-secondary credits shall equal at least one full year of high school credit per course. Fewer post-secondary credits may be prorated.
  3. When a determination is made that the content of the post-secondary course aligns directly with a required course for high school graduation, the commensurate credit and grade will be recorded on the student’s transcript as a course credit applied toward graduation requirements.
  4. In the event the content of the post-secondary course does not fully align with the content of a high school course required for graduation but is comparable to elective credits offered by the Moorhead Area Public Schools for graduation, the Moorhead Area Public Schools may provide elective credit and the grade will be recorded on the student’s transcript as an elective course credit applied toward graduation requirements.
  5. If no comparable course is offered by the Moorhead Area Public Schools for which high school graduation credit would be provided, the Superintendent will notify the Commissioner, who shall determine the number of credits that shall be granted to a student.
  6. When secondary credit is granted for post-secondary credits taken by a student, the Moorhead Area Public Schools will record those credits on the student’s transcript as credits earned at a post-secondary institution.
C. A list of the courses or programs meeting the necessary requirements may be obtained from the Moorhead Area Public Schools.
 
D. By the earlier of (1) three weeks prior to the date by which a student must register for district courses for the following school year, or (2) March 1 of each year, the school district must provide up-to-date information on the district's website and in materials that are distributed to parents and students about the program, including information about enrollment requirements and the ability to earn postsecondary credit to all pupils in grades 8, 9, 10, and 11.
 
VI. CREDIT FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
 
Consistent with the career and technical pathways program, a student in grade 11 or 12 who is employed by an institutional long-term care or licensed assisted living facility, a home and community-based services and supports provider, a hospital or health system clinic, or a child care center may earn up to two elective credits each year toward graduation under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.024, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (7), at the discretion of the enrolling school district. A student may earn one elective credit for every 350 hours worked, including hours worked during the summer. A student who is employed by an eligible employer must submit an application, in the form or manner required by the school district, for elective credit to the school district in order to receive elective credit. The school district must verify the hours worked with the employer before awarding elective credit.
 
VII. ADVANCED ACADEMIC CREDIT

A. The Moorhead Area Public Schools will grant academic credit to a student attending an accelerated or advanced academic course offered by a higher education institution or a nonprofit public agency other than the school district.

B. Course credit will be considered only upon official documentation from the higher education institution or nonprofit public agency that the student successfully completed the course attended and passed an examination approved by the Moorhead Area Public Schools.

C. When a determination is made that the content of the advanced academic course aligns directly with a required course for high school graduation, the commensurate credit and grade will be recorded on the student’s transcript as a course credit applied toward graduation requirements.

D. In the event the content of the advanced academic course does not fully align with the content of a high school course required for graduation but is comparable to elective credits offered by the Moorhead Area Public Schools for graduation, the Moorhead Area Public Schools may provide elective credit and the grade will be recorded on the student’s transcript as an elective course credit applied toward graduation requirements.

E. If no comparable course is offered by the Moorhead Area Public Schools for which high school graduation credit would be provided, the Superintendent will notify the Commissioner and request a determination of the number of credits that shall be granted to a student.

 
VIII. WEIGHTED GRADES
 
A. The school district does offers weighted grades for courses that are identified as more rigorous or academically challenging as follows:

AP & HONORS

AP & HONORS

CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT

[ ENGLISH

  Honors English 9

  Honors English 10

  AP English Language and     Composition

  AP English Literature and     Composition

 

  MATH

  Freshman Geometry

  Honors Pre-Calculus

  Honors Trigonometry

  AP Calculus AB

  AP Calculus BC

  AP Statistics

 

 

 

 

SCIENCE

Honors Physical Science

Honors Biology

AP Biology

AP Chemistry

Advanced Chemistry

Physics

 

SOCIAL STUDIES

AP Geography

AP European History

AP Psychology

AP US History

AP Government and Politics - US

AP Government and Politics - Comparative

AP Microeconomics

AP Macroeconomics

College Accounting

College Algebra

College American Government

College Spanish I

College Spanish II

College Writing

College Writing About Literature

College Functions & Trigonometry

Introduction to Public Speaking

 

Any PSEO course
 
B. The school district will update its website prior to the beginning of each school year with a listing of courses for which a student may earn  a weighted grade.
 
IX. PROCESS FOR AWARDING CREDIT

A. The building administrator will be responsible for carrying out the process to award credits and grades pursuant to this policy. The building administrator will notify students in writing of the decision as to how credits and grades will be awarded.

B. A student or the student’s parent/guardian may seek reconsideration of the decision by the building administrator as to credits and/or grades awarded upon request of a student or the student’s parent/guardian if the request is made in writing to the Superintendent within five school days of the date of the building administrator's decision. The request should set forth the credit and/or grade requested and the reason(s) why credit(s)/grade(s) should be provided as requested. Any pertinent documentation in support of the request should be submitted.
 
C. The decision of the Superintendent as to the award of credits or grades shall be a final decision by the Moorhead Area Public Schools and shall not be appealable by the student or student’s parent/guardian except as set forth in Section IX.D. below.
 
D. If a student disputes the number of credits granted by the Moorhead Area Public School District for a particular post-secondary enrollment course or advanced academic credit course, the student may appeal the Moorhead Area Public Schools decision to the Commissioner. The decision of the Commissioner shall be final.
 
E. At any time during the process, the building administrator or Superintendent may ask for course descriptions, syllabi, or work samples from a course where content of the course is in question for purposes of determining alignment with graduation requirements or the number of credits to be granted. Students will not be provided credit until requested documentation is available for review if requested.

X. CREDIT BY ASSESSMENT

A. The Moorhead Area Public Schools will provide students, including those with special needs, with the opportunity to receive credit for standards achieved in extracurricular activities, activities outside of school, previous learning, and community and work experiences.

B. When a student requests recognition of work completed but for which no academic transcript exists, the student shall make application (Administrative Procedures 620.1 and 620.2) to the building administrator.

C. Not more than sixty (60) days after the application is filed, the building administrator shall inform the student and the student's parents/guardians what evidence must be presented to certify the completion of the standard. Evidence of completion might include letters of support and explanation from individuals or organizations who have actually witnessed the student's demonstration of the standard, oral or written tests or interviews, actual performances or demonstrations assessed by school district staff or others knowledgeable in the specifications of the standard, and/or other as appropriate for the individual situation.

D. Upon the building administrator's determination of successful submission of the required evidence, the standard shall be noted on the transcript, and a notation of where and when the standard was completed and verified.

 
Legal References: 
Minn. Stat. 120B.02 (Educational Expectations for Minnesota's Students)
Minn. Stat. 120B.021 (Required Academic Standards) 
Minn. Stat. 120B.11 (School District Process) 
Minn. Stat. 124D.09 (Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act) 

Minn. Stat. § 124D.094 (Online Instruction Act)

Minn. Stat. 120B.14 (Advanced Academic Credit)
Minn. Stat. 123B.02 (General Powers of Independent School Districts)
Minn. Stat. 123B.445 (Nonpublic Education Council)
Minn. Stat. 124D.03, Subd. 9 (Enrollment Options Program)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0010-3501.0180 (Graduation Standards - Mathematics and Reading)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0200 - 3501.0290 (Graduation Standards - Written Composition)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0505-3501.0655 (Academic Standards for Language Arts)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0700-3501.0745 (Academic Standards for Mathematics)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0800-3501.0815 (Academic Standards for the Arts)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0900-3501.0955 (Academic Standards in Science)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.1200-3501.1210 (Academic Standards for English Language Development)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.1300-3501.1345 (Academic Standards for Social Studies)

Minn. Rules Parts 3501.1400-3501.1410 (Academic Standards for Physical Education)

 
Cross References:
Moorhead School Board Policy 104: Mission Statement
Moorhead School Board Policy 601: Curriculum and Instruction Goals of Moorhead Area Public Schools
Moorhead School Board Policy 624: Online Learning Options 
Moorhead School Board Policy 613: Moorhead Area Public Schools Graduation Policy
Moorhead School Board Policy 616: School District System Accountability
Moorhead School Board Policy 615: GRAD Testing, Accommodations, Modifications, and Exemptions for IEPs, Section 504 Accommodations and LEP Students
Moorhead School Board Policy 620: Moorhead Area Public Schools State Mandated Testing Plan and Procedure
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 653: Credit for Learning
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 613 (Graduation Requirements)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 614 (School District Testing Plan and Procedure)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 615 (Testing Accommodations, Modifications, and Exemptions for IEPs, Section 504 Plans, and LEP Students)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 616 (School District System Accountability)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 618 (Assessment of Student Achievement)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 624 (Online Instruction)