Revised: 10/00/04 343.42
School District of Prairie Farm
Youth Options
I. In 1997 Wisconsin statute 118.55 created the Youth Options program starting in the 1998-99 school year. Any public school pupil enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade may enroll in a center or institution with the University of Wisconsin system, a Wisconsin technical college or one of the state’s participating private, nonprofit institutions of high education. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction has created s.PI 1.01 (2)(f) and ch. PI 40 which contain administrative rules relating to appeals and the Youth Options program.
II. Due to the fact that the above cited administrative rules do not address the issue of grade point average, let it be resolved that:
A 2.5 G.P.A. is required to participate in the Youth Options program.
Grades earned at an institution of high education WILL NOT be used in calculating the student’s high school grade point average.
III. The Youth Options program permits any 11th or 12th grade pupil enrolled in a public school to attend a Wisconsin Institution of High Education (IHE)* for the purpose of taking one or more non-sectarian courses. *An institution of high education (IHE) includes a center or institution within the UW system, a tribally controlled college or a private, nonprofit institution.
IV. A student may participate in the Youth Options program if:
1. They notify the school board (complete form PI-8700A) of the student’s intention of enrolling in a college no later than March 1 for a course or courses to be taken in the fall semester; or October 1 for a course or courses to be taken in the spring semester.
2. They meet admissions standards and application deadlines established by the IHE.
3. They are in good academic standing in high school and have an acceptable disciplinary record.
4. They are not an at-risk student as specified under s.118.153, Wis.Stats.
5. Their EEN costs do not impose an undue financial burden on the school district.
V. A Youth Option student will be awarded high school credit, dual credit, or college credit upon successful completion of their course of study. Students who seek high school credit must apply to their school board for approval. The Board shall grant credit if the course meets any of the high school graduation requirements under 118.55 Stats. Including requirements under approved board graduation policies under 118.33 (2) or if one or more of the following conditions apply:
1. If the Youth Option course is complimentary to, consistent with, or expands on a course of study or sequence of courses offered by the school.
2. If the Youth Option course expands on the opportunity for the pupil to move to another level of academic or vocational course of study.
3. If the Youth Option course curriculum meets or exceeds the same standards for rigor and content as other courses approved by but not offered by the district for credit toward graduation.
4. If the Youth Option course supports rather than prevents a pupil from completing the high school graduation requirements under PI 18.
VI. The School Board can deny high school credit for a Youth Options course taken under this chapter if the school district:
1. Offers a comparable course, provided the course has been offered, the student can enroll in it, and the course content, as determined by curriculum guides, expectations, goals, scope and sequence is 80% equivalent to the content of a Youth Option course. (It is the district’s burden to prove that these conditions exist.)
2. Can show that the Youth Option course repeats the course content for which a pupil has already taken and failed.
3. Determines that the Youth Option course repeats the Youth Option course content for which a pupil has already taken and failed.
VII. Payment of tuition and fees as follows:
1. The school board must pay the IHE for any course that is taken for high school credit and that is not comparable to a course offered in the school district.
2. The school board shall pay a technical college for any course that is taken for high school credit. If the student takes 10 or more credits per semester at the technical college, the school district would be responsible for payment for comparable courses for one-half the total number of credits taken, but no more than 6 credits.
3. A student must pay for any postsecondary course taken at a technical college that is comparable to a course offered at the school district if the student is taking less than 10 postsecondary credits during any semester.
4. A student must pay for a postsecondary course taken at an IHE or technical college for postsecondary credit only.
5. A student must pay for incidental college fees (such as for a parking permit) and for equipment, tools and supplies that will become the property of the student. The school board may agree to loan equipment on a case-by-case basis.
VIII. A student may appeal the school board’s decision regarding awarding of high school credit / comparability of a postsecondary course to the state superintendent within 30 days. Failure of the student to meet the 30 days timeline deprives the DPI of jurisdiction in the matter.
IX. Parents or students are responsible for transportation between the school and the college. Transportation assistance is available from the DPI for low-income parents (eligible for free/reduced lunch under the federal school lunch program.) Claims for transportation reimbursement are available from the district or the DPI and must be submitted to the DPI no later than 30 days after the end of the school semester to which the claim pertains.
X. A parent or guardian is responsible for satisfactory student attendance and the student’s compliance with the compulsory school attendance law under s. 118.15 (1)(a), Stats.
XI. Students who fail a Youth Options course shall be required to pay back all costs associated with the program that have been incurred by the school district. Students have the right to appeal any disagreement relating to said costs.
LEGAL REF.: PI 1.01 (2)(f)
Ch.PI 40
Wis. Stat. 118.55 (7t) (c)
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