Students in or Released from an Institutional Education Facility
The Meridian School Board recognizes that students in Washington’s secure facilities have been unable to access the education and supports they need to make life-changing academic progress. As a result, these students have experienced dismal graduation and recidivism rates, and have lost invaluable opportunities for hope and transformation. Therefore, the Meridian School District and its schools will take steps to support students in or released from an institutional education facility, such that these students have the opportunity to graduate with a meaningful diploma that prepares them for postsecondary education, gainful employment, and citizenship.
Facilitating on-time grade level progression
The district will: 1) waive specific courses required for graduation for students in or released from an institutional education facility if similar coursework has been satisfactorily completed in another school district; or 2) provide reasonable justification for denial of the waiver. In the event the district denies a waiver and the student would have qualified to graduate from their sending school district, the district will provide an alternative process of obtaining required coursework so that the student may graduate on time.
The district will consolidate partial credit, unresolved, or incomplete coursework and will provide students in or released from an institutional education facility with opportunities to accrue credit in a manner that eliminates academic and nonacademic barriers for the student.
For students who have been unable to complete an academic course and receive full credit due to withdrawal or transfer, the district will grant partial credit for coursework completed before the date of the withdrawal or transfer. When the district receives a transfer student in these circumstances, it will accept the student’s partial credits, apply them to the student’s academic progress or graduation or both, and allow the student to earn credits regardless of the student’s date of enrollment in the district. In the event a student is transferring at the beginning of or during their junior or senior year of high school and is ineligible to graduate after all alternatives have been considered, the district will work with the sending district to ensure the awarding of a diploma from the sending district if the student meets the graduation requirements of the sending district. In the event a student enrolled in three or more school districts as a high school student, has met state requirements, has transferred to the district, but is ineligible to graduate from the district after all alternatives have been considered, the district will waive its local requirements and ensure that the student receives a diploma.
Additionally, the district will provide students in or released from an institutional education facility with access to world language proficiency tests, American Sign Language proficiency tests, and General Education Development tests. The district will not condition access to the tests upon a student’s request. The district will award mastery-based credit according to the board’s mastery-based credit policies cross-referenced below. For students in or released from an institutional education facility, the district will award at least one high school credit to students upon meeting the standard established by the State Board of Education on a world language or American Sign Language proficiency test or a General Education Development test. The district may award additional credits if a student in or released from an institutional education facility has completed a course or courses of study to prepare for the test.
Legal References:
RCW 28A.320.192
RCW 28A.175.105
Cross References:
Policy 2402 – English Language Arts Mastery-Based Credit
Policy 2403 – Math Mastery-Based Credit
Policy 2404 – Science Mastery-Based Credit
Policy 2405 – Social Studies Mastery-Based Credit
Policy 2409 – World Language Mastery-Based Credit
Policy 2411 – Certificate of Educational Competency
Policy 2413 – Equivalency Credit Opportunities
Policy 2418 – Waiver of High School Graduation Credits
Management Resources:
2022 – September Policy Issue
Adoption Date: 04/12/23
Classification: Encouraged
Revised Dates: