Transcript THE BASICS OF FLEXIBLE CREDIT FOR OHIO’S STUDENTS

THE BASICS OF FLEXIBLE
CREDIT FOR OHIO’S
STUDENTS
Jim Harbuck
October 4, 2010
WHAT WE ARE USED TO:
The Carnegie Unit
• Introduced at the beginning of the 20th century
• Equates learning with “seat time”
- 120 hours = 1 Carnegie unit
- 150 hours = 1 Carnegie unit for a lab course
• Requirements for graduation are measured in
Carnegie units
WHAT ARE THE WEAKNESSES IN THE CURRENT
METHOD?
• Assumes that all students will learn at the same pace
• Handicaps both slower and more advanced learners
• Makes differentiation difficult
SENATE BILL 311 (126th General Assembly)
• Established the Core Curriculum for high schools
• Changed requirements for college admission
• Changed physical education requirements
• Mandated flexible credit in high schools
• Required ODE to design program requirements and
SBOE to adopt (March 2009)
• Effective the 2010-11 school year (Partial waiver
was possible)
HOW DOES CREDIT FLEXIBILITY WORK?
• Allows students to earn credit through normal “seat
time” process or by demonstrating mastery of the
course content
• Is available to all students at the high school level
• Is not limited to type of course work or number of
credits
• Courses are not identified or separated in any
manner on the transcript
• Applies to career tech centers as well as
comprehensive high school settings
• Examples include
- Distance learning
- After school programs
- Independent study
- Internships
- Travel
- Community service
- “Testing out” of course work
BENEFITS OF OFFERING FLEXIBLE CREDIT TO
STUDENTS
• Creates more learning choices
• Focuses on performance rather than seat time
• Accommodates different learning styles, paces, and
interests
• Recognizes importance of student ownership and
engagement
LOCAL PLANS MUST
• Allow all students to participate
• Communicate the plan annually
• Determine equivalency to Carnegie units
• Count credits earned toward graduation
• Accept flexible credits earned from other districts
• Establish a review process
• Establish provisions for when
- Students do not complete requirements
- Students transfer between schools
- Students graduate early
• Collect data for the state
- Methods and frequency of communication with
students and families
- Number of students participating
- Number of credits earned
- Evidence that student participation reflects the
diversity of the student body
WHO CONTROLS THE PROCESS?
• Board of education sets governing policy and rules
• Licensed teachers provide/verify grades and credit
QUESTIONS ?
www.education.ohio.gov
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