ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

TRANSFER

EI (R)

North East Independent School District shall accept transfer credit earned from any fully accredited public high school or any private/parochial high school meeting state guidelines. Students earning credit from non-accredited public or private/parochial schools must demonstrate proficiency through course validation testing. [See EK (R)] This applies to in-state, as well as out-of-state transfers. The TEA list of accredited private schools and approved accrediting agencies is available on each campus.

STATE MINIMUM

REQUIREMENTS

A senior transfer student who is unable to schedule all district graduation requirements may be graduated under the State Minimum High School Program requirements.

HONORS CREDIT/HIGH TECH HIGH SCHOOL

The district shall award honors credit for coursework completed by transfer students or students at the High Tech High School only if the district offers the course for honors credit. For example, a student taking Algebra II at the High Tech High School will receive honors credit since Algebra II is offered as honors within the district. However, a student taking Technical Writing at the High Tech High School shall receive only regular credit because Technical Writing is not offered as an honors course within the district.

FOREIGN STUDY

Students may earn credit for work done by district students in a foreign country when students participate in "exchange" and "Americans Abroad" programs. Credit shall be awarded to students taking courses abroad if:

1. The course is properly documented.

2. Credit has been awarded by the foreign school.

3. The course satisfies the requirements established by SBOE rule regarding essential knowledge and skills.

4. The following minimum requirements are met:

a. Period of attendance.
b. Course description including hours of instruction.

c. Prerequisites for entry into course.

d. Overall evaluation/assessment of student performance.

e. Verification by LEA of Foreign Country.

f. Form returned to district home school for AAR approval.

SEMESTER CREDIT

The district shall abide by the following considerations in the award of semester credit:

1. Each passing semester grade will stand on its own and cannot be taken away.

2. A single semester passing grade and a single semester failing grade may be averaged together and full credit awarded if the two grades equal a passing average (70 or above).

a. If the student fails the first semester of a full-year course but passes the second semester, and if the average of the two semesters is 70 or above, the student shall receive full credit for the course. The student shall be encouraged to try to pass until the end of the course.
b. The student shall be required to pass the second semester to receive the benefit of averaging the two semester grades since mastery of the essential elements in a full-year course dictates a sequential and accelerating presentation of materials. If the teacher feels that there are special circumstances affecting the student’s inadequate perform- ance during the second semester, and that mastery of the essential elements has been achieved, the teacher may exercise his or her option to average the two semesters. If the average is passing, full credit may be awarded to the student.

3. The final exam may count no more than 25% of the final grade. It may count less at the discretion of the teacher.

4. The teacher shall consult with the student’s counselor and administrator when the true capability of the student is not apparent to the teacher.

ENROLLMENT IN FULL-YEAR COURSES

In courses which are designated in SBOE rules as full-unit

courses, the first semester shall be the prerequisite for the second semester to the course:

1. The regulation applies to lab and coop vocational courses.

2. The requirement may be waived only through an appeal to the Executive Director of Special Programs by the student and his or her parent(s) or guardian.

DRIVER EDUCATION

To award credit in the district for driver education, a student shall complete the essential knowledge and skills required by TEA according to guidelines established by the district.

If a student transfers into the district with credit awarded and reflected on an official transcript, the student will receive credit for completion just as for any other elective. Credit will not be awarded for driver education taken in a commercial driving school or other school which does not follow the guidelines established by the district.

ART

Art III and Art IV may be taken during the same year by an advanced art student for full credit.

The foundation for various art forms is outlined in Art I and Art II, with Art I being a prerequisite for other high school art courses. In Art III and Art IV, the program provides the opportunity for the advanced student to have concentrated, in-depth experiences in areas of special interests. Since the content of Art III and Art IV differ from each other, full credit should be allowed for each course successfully completed.

PEP SQUAD/ CHEERLEADING

Students desiring to belong to the pep squad and cheerleader organizations shall be registered, instructed, and awarded credit as follows:

1. Pep squad and cheerleading shall be registered as Dance I, II, or III as appropriate.

2. The instructor shall be a certified dance teacher.

3. Curriculum shall include the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, with emphasis on those elements most related to each semester’s activities.

4. One-half unit in fine arts or physical education shall be awarded each semester toward state graduation requirements.

OFFICE AIDES

The office aide program shall be structured as a business course entitled Administrative Procedures. The student shall receive state credit for the course. The course shall be assigned to a business teacher and the teacher shall teach the students during an assigned time during the day.

STUDENT COUNCIL PERIOD

The district shall award local credit for student council during the regular school day.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

A student may earn no more than one full credit in Research, Design, and Development to be applied toward graduation. The prerequisite for Research, Design, and Development shall be a semester of career and technology coursework in the systems area designated for research.

ISSUE DATE: 7/21/98

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT TRANSFER	EI (R) North East Independent School District shall accept transfer credit earned from any fully accredited public high school or any private/parochial high school meeting state guidelines. Students earning credit from non-accredited public or private/parochial schools must demonstrate proficiency through course validation testing. [See EK (R)] This applies to in-state, as well as out-of-state transfers. The TEA list of accredited private schools and approved accrediting agencies is available on each campus.
STATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS	A senior transfer student who is unable to schedule all district graduation requirements may be graduated under the State Minimum High School Program requirements.
HONORS CREDIT/HIGH TECH HIGH SCHOOL	The district shall award honors credit for coursework completed by transfer students or students at the High Tech High School only if the district offers the course for honors credit. For example, a student taking Algebra II at the High Tech High School will receive honors credit since Algebra II is offered as honors within the district. However, a student taking Technical Writing at the High Tech High School shall receive only regular credit because Technical Writing is not offered as an honors course within the district.
FOREIGN STUDY	Students may earn credit for work done by district students in a foreign country when students participate in "exchange" and "Americans Abroad" programs. Credit shall be awarded to students taking courses abroad if: 1. The course is properly documented. 2. Credit has been awarded by the foreign school. 3. The course satisfies the requirements established by SBOE rule regarding essential knowledge and skills. 4. The following minimum requirements are met: a. Period of attendance. b. Course description including hours of instruction. c. Prerequisites for entry into course. d. Overall evaluation/assessment of student performance. e. Verification by LEA of Foreign Country. f. Form returned to district home school for AAR approval.
SEMESTER CREDIT	The district shall abide by the following considerations in the award of semester credit: 1. Each passing semester grade will stand on its own and cannot be taken away. 2. A single semester passing grade and a single semester failing grade may be averaged together and full credit awarded if the two grades equal a passing average (70 or above). a. If the student fails the first semester of a full-year course but passes the second semester, and if the average of the two semesters is 70 or above, the student shall receive full credit for the course. The student shall be encouraged to try to pass until the end of the course. b. The student shall be required to pass the second semester to receive the benefit of averaging the two semester grades since mastery of the essential elements in a full-year course dictates a sequential and accelerating presentation of materials. If the teacher feels that there are special circumstances affecting the student’s inadequate perform- ance during the second semester, and that mastery of the essential elements has been achieved, the teacher may exercise his or her option to average the two semesters. If the average is passing, full credit may be awarded to the student. 3. The final exam may count no more than 25% of the final grade. It may count less at the discretion of the teacher. 4. The teacher shall consult with the student’s counselor and administrator when the true capability of the student is not apparent to the teacher.
ENROLLMENT IN FULL-YEAR COURSES	In courses which are designated in SBOE rules as full-unit courses, the first semester shall be the prerequisite for the second semester to the course: 1. The regulation applies to lab and coop vocational courses. 2. The requirement may be waived only through an appeal to the Executive Director of Special Programs by the student and his or her parent(s) or guardian.
DRIVER EDUCATION	To award credit in the district for driver education, a student shall complete the essential knowledge and skills required by TEA according to guidelines established by the district. If a student transfers into the district with credit awarded and reflected on an official transcript, the student will receive credit for completion just as for any other elective. Credit will not be awarded for driver education taken in a commercial driving school or other school which does not follow the guidelines established by the district.
ART	Art III and Art IV may be taken during the same year by an advanced art student for full credit. The foundation for various art forms is outlined in Art I and Art II, with Art I being a prerequisite for other high school art courses. In Art III and Art IV, the program provides the opportunity for the advanced student to have concentrated, in-depth experiences in areas of special interests. Since the content of Art III and Art IV differ from each other, full credit should be allowed for each course successfully completed.
PEP SQUAD/ CHEERLEADING	Students desiring to belong to the pep squad and cheerleader organizations shall be registered, instructed, and awarded credit as follows: 1. Pep squad and cheerleading shall be registered as Dance I, II, or III as appropriate. 2. The instructor shall be a certified dance teacher. 3. Curriculum shall include the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, with emphasis on those elements most related to each semester’s activities. 4. One-half unit in fine arts or physical education shall be awarded each semester toward state graduation requirements.
OFFICE AIDES	The office aide program shall be structured as a business course entitled Administrative Procedures. The student shall receive state credit for the course. The course shall be assigned to a business teacher and the teacher shall teach the students during an assigned time during the day.
STUDENT COUNCIL PERIOD	The district shall award local credit for student council during the regular school day.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT	A student may earn no more than one full credit in Research, Design, and Development to be applied toward graduation. The prerequisite for Research, Design, and Development shall be a semester of career and technology coursework in the systems area designated for research.