COEUR d’ALENE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BACKGROUND

Students in the Coeur d'Alene School District have the opportunity to participate in the Mastery Advancement Program, provided by the Idaho State Board of Education and Idaho State Department of Education to "successfully complete school curriculum at their own accelerated pace" beginning in the fall semester of the 2012 school year.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION

In 2010 the Idaho Legislature passed House Bill 493, in which selected districts could participate in a program to advance students through elementary and secondary schools at an accelerated pace. The bill also detailed a scholarship program for students who graduate early.

BENEFIT TO STUDENTS

Early graduates are eligible for a scholarship in the value of 35% of the statewide Average Daily Attendance rate in the State of Idaho, which is just over $1500 for the 2011 school year.  This scholarship is repeatable for each year in which the student has graduated early. 

Students must attend an Idaho public college or university for the entirety of the scholarship period and within two years of early graduation.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE

Students in grades 9-12 at Coeur d'Alene High School, Lake City High School or Venture High School can participate. This program is not to be used for credit retrieval.

WHAT HAS TO BE DONE?

Students who wish to test out of a course must demonstrate full course mastery equivalent to a semester of instruction.  This can be done in a variety of methods, orally and via examination.

The oral examination, given by a building administrator, is to gauge initial competency via demonstration, providing a opportunity for students to see the expectations for credit and show their knowledge in project form.  This may be in the form of a research paper, report, portfolio or other summative assessment that may be presented to the Department Chairperson or designee at least one week in advance of the oral examination.  Upon agreement that the student is ready to sit for examinations, the student will be scheduled to take one of two assessments, the CLEP examination or semester End-of-Course Assessment (EOCA).

In order to receive credit, a student must score a minimum of 85% on the EOCA or a 50 or higher on the comparable CLEP examination, offered by the CollegeBoard.

Students may not challenge a course again if failing to meet the objectives on the first attempt.

WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS?

Students who seek to test out of a course may not be given any assistance by district instructors.  Students, upon request, will be given a copy of the district's curriculum guide, a textbook, paper / portfolio / project guidelines and other assessment criteria to prepare for examinations.

 WHICH COURSES CAN BE EXEMPTED?

Prior to enrollment, any course taught at Coeur d'Alene High School, Lake City High School or Venture High School is available for exemption (not for remediation).  Students are limited to testing out of the courses at their school of attendance.  Courses must be taken in sequence per semester.  In other words, if attempting to exempt a year-long course, students would challenge first semester and then second semester if receiving a passing score.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CREDIT

Upon passage, students will receive a 'TO' for the semester credit.  Students will not be penalized for failing to meet the objectives of the course via examination.