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Policy 0534-10

The Board of Trustees recognizes the benefits for students of the Advanced Opportunity Program established by the Legislature of the State of Idaho. Advanced Opportunity Program, funded by the State of Idaho, provide financial assistance for students to earn advanced credits in middle or high school; dual credits; AP or IB exams; CEE exams; designated Career technical examinations that lead to an industry-recognized certificate, license or degree; or CTE workforce training courses.

DEFINITIONS

  • AP Exams: Advanced Placement (AP) is a program created by the College Board, which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. Colleges and universities may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain certain scores on the examinations.
  • Dual (Concurrent) Credit: Provides college courses for high school students on the high school or college campus that meets the district curriculum standards along with the college curriculum for the specific class. This program provides an opportunity for high school students to receive both high school and college credits. If a student is taking a dual credit course, the grade listed on their college transcript will reflect the grading practices set by the university or college. The grade listed on the student’s high school transcript will reflect the grading practice set by West Ada School District. If a university or college grading policy does not mention a specific grading practice, then the grading practice set by West Ada School District will be followed. Colleges and universities have the right to determine how college credits transfer to their institution. Transferability depends on curriculum, college requirements, and degree seeking, and a guarantee of any credit type must be approved through post-secondary advising for that institution. Any concurrent credits offered within West Ada School District will be transferred to the specific college/university partner for the course listed in the course syllabus.
  • Full Load Course: Students must be enrolled in a full course load in school, as outlined in Policy 500.1 - Secondary Attendance, to use Advanced Opportunities funds for overload course(s).
  • Overload Course: A high school course taken outside of the school day that is in excess of a full course load.
  • School Year: Begins upon the conclusion of the break between grade levels and ends upon the beginning of the same break of the following year.
  • CTE Exams: Career Technical Education Exams are industry examinations that students may take at the completion of a CTE course in an effort to earn industry certifications in the field.

CTE Workforce Training Courses must meet the following requirements:

  • Be courses provided by an Idaho public technical college;
  • Lead to an industry-recognized certificate, license, or degree;
  • Be required training for occupations deemed regionally in demand;
  • Be courses that are not otherwise available within the student’s school district; and
  • Allow high school-aged students to participate.
  • IB Exams: International Baccalaureate (IB) exams are a part of the IB program offered at Renaissance High School. Colleges and universities may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain certain scores on the examinations.
  • CLEP Exams: College-Level Examination (CLEP) are a set of standardized tests development by the College Board that are taken at local colleges or universities. These exams allow individuals to earn college credit by demonstrating proficiency in specific subject, essentially "testing out" of introductory college courses.
  • CEE Exams: College Entrance Exams (CEE) exams that may be required for college admissions, including the SAT, PSAT and ACT.
  • Cumulative GPA: An average of all semester grades an individual student earned in middle school if a middle school student, or all semester grades an individual student earned in high school if a high school student.
  • Fails to earn credit in a course: The student receives an F or W on their transcript.
  • Unsuccessful examination: A student whose exam is paid for by Advanced Opportunities for which they do not complete, the student will be deemed as unsuccessful for Advanced Opportunities purposes. This includes all types of exams that are covered under Advanced Opportunities funding.
  • Repeat courses: Courses that are taken to replace the grade of a course on the student academic transcript.
  • Remedial Courses: Courses that are below the students’ current grade level.

ADVANCED OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS

Advanced Opportunities: “Students attending public school in Idaho will be eligible for $ $4,625 to use towards overload courses, dual credits, post-secondary credit-bearing examinations, career technical education workforce training courses, college entrance examinations, and preliminary college entrance examinations." (Idaho Code 33-4602)

Students are allocated a total of $4,625 to use in grades 7-12. Funds can be used towards:

  • Overload Course (s): a maximum of $225 per course
  • Students must be enrolled in a full course load in a West Ada School District school to use Advanced Opportunities funds for overload course(s).
  • Students should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to take overload courses.
  • Overload courses cannot be repeated courses or courses taken for remediation.
  • An overload course must be taken for high school credit and must be accredited by an organization that accredits Idaho public schools.

Dual Credits: a maximum of $75.00 per credit.

  • Dual credit courses must be offered by a regionally accredited post-secondary institution.
  • Dual credit courses are those that help you earn both West Ada School District high school credit and college credit for the class.
  • The dual credit course must be a credit bearing 100 course or higher.

Examinations: Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination

Program (CLEP), Career Technical Education (CTE) Exampination, and College Entrance Exams (CEE). The State Department of Education maintains a list of eligibile exams and costs.

  • AP, IB, and the CLEP exams that have the potential to earn the same credit as a dual credit college course or another exam will require a student to pick one such opportunity for funding request purposes.
  • CTE examinations that lead to an industry-recognized certificate, license, or degree.
  • Student can use funds for an initial CEE (ACT, PSAT, and SAT).

CTE Workforce Training Courses: The State Department of Education collaborates with the division of career technical education to maintain a list of eligible training courses and costs.

  • Eligible training courses must be approved and provided by an Idaho public technical college, lead to an industry recognized certificate, license, or degree, be required training for occupations in demand regionally, and are not available at a student's high school.

All courses paid for by Advanced Opportunities must be transcribed on the student’s West Ada School District high school transcript. Courses taken directly from a college or university will be transcribed as elective credit unless on approved district lists. Students may petition for core credit by completing the post-secondary dual enrollment petition for core credit. Petitions will be reviewed to determine whether core or elective credit will be granted.

If a student fails to earn credit or successfully complete a course or exam for which Advanced Opportunities funds has paid, the student must pay for and successfully earn credit in a course OR pay for any approved Advanced Opportunities exam to be reinstated in the Advanced Opportunity program and access future funding.

Advanced Opportunities funds may not be used for repeated or remedial courses or exams, with the exception of College Entrance Exams (CEE). Exams and courses that lead to the same college credit outcome will be deemed as a repeat, therefore, Advanced Opportunities funds will only pay for the course OR exam, bot both.



References: IC 33-4602


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