Instruction at a Post-Secondary Educational Institution

Code No.: 604.3
INSTRUCTION AT A POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
Students in grades nine through twelve may receive academic or vocational-technical credits that count
toward the graduation requirements set out by the board for courses successfully completed in postsecondary
educational institutions. The student may receive academic or vocational-technical credits
through an agreement between a post-secondary educational institution or with the board’s approval on a
case-by-case basis.
Students in grades nine through twelve who successfully complete courses in post-secondary educational
institutions under an agreement between the school district and the post-secondary educational institution
will receive academic and vocational-technical credits in accordance with the agreement.
Students who have completed the eleventh grade but who have not completed the graduation
requirements set out by the board may take up to seven semester hours of credit at a post-secondary
educational institution during the summer months when school is not in session if the student pays for the
courses. Upon successful completion of these summer courses, the students will receive academic or
vocational-technical credit toward the graduation requirements set out by the board. Successful
completion of the course is determined by the post-secondary educational institution. The board will have
complete discretion to determine the academic credit to be awarded to the student for the summer courses.
The following factors are considered in the board’s determination of whether a student will receive
academic or vocational-technical credit toward the graduation requirements set out by the board for a
course at a post-secondary educational institution:
 the course is taken from a public or accredited private post-secondary educational institution;
 a comparable course is not offered in the school district. A comparable course is one in which the
subject matter or the purposes and objectives of the course are similar, in the judgment of the
board, to a course offered in the school district;
 the course is in the discipline areas of mathematics, science, social sciences, humanities,
vocational-technical education, or a course offered in the community college career options
program;
 the course is a credit-bearing course that leads to a degree;
 the course is not religious or sectarian; and
 the course meets any other requirements set out by the board.
Students in grades eleven and twelve who take courses, other than courses taken under an agreement
between the school district and the post-secondary educational institution, are responsible for
transportation without reimbursement to and from the location where the course is being offered.
Ninth and tenth grade talented and gifted students and all students in grades eleven and twelve will be
reimbursed for tuition and other costs directly related to the course up to $250. Students who take courses
during the summer months when school is not in session are responsible for the costs of attendance for
the courses.
Students who fail the course and fail to receive credit will reimburse the school district for all costs
directly related to the course. Prior to registering for the course, students under age eighteen will have a
parent sign a form indicating that the parent is responsible for the costs of the course should the student
fail the course and fail to receive credit for the course. Students who fail the course and fail to receive
credit for the course for reasons beyond their control, including, but not limited to, the student’s
incapacity, death in the family or a move to another district, may not be responsible for the costs of the
course. The school board may waive reimbursement of costs to the school district for the previously
listed reasons. Students dissatisfied with a school board’s decision may appeal to the AEA for a waiver of
reimbursement.
The superintendent is responsible for annually notifying students and parents of the opportunity to take
courses at post-secondary educational institutions in accordance with this policy. The superintendent will
also be responsible for developing the appropriate forms and procedures for implementing this policy.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256.11, .11A; 261E.6, E.7,; 279.8; 280.3, .14 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12, 22.
Approved 3/7/16___