Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Academic Policies topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board reviews academic guide changes: ELOs, homeschool extracurricular access, AP weighting clarified
Summary
District staff previewed proposed 2025–26 high‑school academic guide updates, including a new Extended Learning Opportunities course, standardization of weighted grades, and a district consensus on which extracurriculars homeschool students may join at the high‑school level.
District staff reviewed proposed edits to the Madison County high school academic guide on Jan. 9, previewing a board vote to follow. The guide changes presented by Jennifer Fanning focus on consistent district policy for weighted grades, homeschool student participation in extracurricular activities, and a new Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) course for seniors.
Fanning said the proposed guide standardizes weighted credit for Advanced Placement, honors, dual enrollment and similar programs so that extra GPA points are consistently applied only when students pass the course. She explained the change is intended to prevent students from receiving weight for a course when they fail to meet the passing requirement: "If you're committing to an AP class, you're going to do the best that you can do, and you're going to pass that class. … We do want to make sure that you put in enough effort to pass the class," she said.
On extracurricular access for homeschool students, Fanning said the district convened high school principals and reached consensus to allow homeschool students to participate in ROTC, band, athletics (including cheer and dance) at the high‑school level. Board members asked about middle‑school coverage and whether the Tim Tebow law or other statutes constrain grade spans; staff said they would research middle‑school policy and return with clarification.
Fanning also introduced an Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) course approved under state guidance that would allow seniors who have met graduation and CCR requirements to apply for an unpaid, supervised off‑campus learning placement (internship, competitive arts training, equestrian training and similar activities) for an elective credit. The district presented a rubric and application form aligned to state guidance; staff stressed that paid work would be categorized under coop/workforce options and not ELO. The course requires an application, school approval, and evidence that the student completed the described activity.
Fanning said the district had previously run a senior exploratory program similar in spirit and that the ELO pathway gives students “opportunity to explore some things outside of just the boxed in curriculum.” The academic guide changes are posted for board review; the district expects to present the final guide for board approval in the formal meeting process.
Board members raised questions about uniform implementation and scheduling impacts, including master‑schedule constraints for AP drops (the guide currently allows principal discretion for withdrawals within a short window), and the need for consistent middle‑school policy on homeschool participation. Staff said they would provide additional language and districtwide uniform procedures before a final vote.
No board vote was taken on the academic guide at the Jan. 9 session; staff asked the board to review the posted changes and prepare for an upcoming approval vote.
