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Board opens discussion on high-school credit for accelerated algebra II/precalculus taught in junior high; administration to return with policy
Summary
District administrators and board members discussed allowing high-school credit for accelerated Algebra II and precalculus taught in junior high; the administration said it will prepare policy language and any needed memoranda of understanding for board review in February.
The board discussed whether District 211 should permit the awarding of high-school credit for an accelerated Algebra II/precalculus course taught in some junior high schools.
Doctor Small said prior practice varies by district and that Districts 15 and 54 have taught the class at times in their junior highs and later moved it back to the high school depending on local conditions. She recommended the board consider a policy that would allow junior highs to offer the course for high-school credit if taught by qualified teachers and under defined standards, with execution handled through memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between the high school district and any partner junior-high districts. The administration recommended a February policy presentation if the board wished to proceed.
Board members sought clarity about whether a policy would be narrowly tailored to this course or broader, and whether MOUs would be subject to board review and renewal. The administration and staff indicated the board policy could be drafted at a broad level (authorizing the approach) while specifics—course lists, teacher qualifications and MOUswould be handled in the implementing agreements and brought to the board for approval. Board members emphasized the need for parity of instructional qualifications and protections against adding unanticipated workload on high-school staff.
Several members asked that any MOU include clear timelines and board review; the administration said the normal spring staffing and FTE timeline governs whether a course will run and that decisions in early spring inform teacher assignments for the coming year. Doctor Small and staff said they would prepare a draft policy for the board to consider at the February meeting and would work with feeder districts on the MOU language.
Outcome: administration to prepare a policy and recommended MOU language for board consideration in February; no final policy adopted at this meeting.
