Westlake City School District
Credit Flexibility Plan
Credit Flexibility is any alternative coursework, assessment or performance that demonstrates
proficiency needed to be awarded equivalent graduation credit as approved by the school district.
Approved credit awarded through this policy will be posted on the student’s transcript and
counted as required graduation credit in the related subject area or as an elective. Flexible credit
is designed to be an alternative to the standardized unit of credit, Carnegie Unit, or 120 hours of
seat time.
The school district will communicate the aspects of the Credit Flexibility policy and plan via
multiple communication methods including, but not limited to the district website and the student
handbooks at the middle school and high school.
The Credit Flexibility process will be reviewed annually by a District Credit Flexibility Review
Committee. Performance data will be collected including the number of participating students,
credits earned and the extent to which student participation reflects diversity of the student body.
This data shall be submitted to the State per Ohio Department of Education guidelines.
Transportation, Fees and Supplies
The District shall not assume responsibility for student transportation, program registration fees,
and/or purchase of books, materials, supplies, or other items necessary for student participation
in such a program.
Credit Flexibility Review Committee
The Credit Flexibility Review Committee shall be comprised of the following members:
Chair: Principal or Administrative Designee
Guidance Counselor
Two Certified Teachers – at least one of whom is licensed in the content area for which the
student is applying for credit and who will be the teacher of record.
Athletic Director (when applicable)
Application:
Any student may apply for credit to be awarded through Credit Flexibility. The student will
submit an application on the district Credit Flexibility Application and Contract form. All
required information must be presented. The student may be required to provide supporting
documentation as determined by the Credit Flexibility Review Committee. Applications will be
accepted September 1 to November 1 and March 1 to May 1.
Review of Application:
The application will be reviewed by the Credit Flexibility Review Committee. Upon approval of
a completed application, the student will proceed with the learning activity and credit will be
awarded accordingly. An appeal may be made to the Superintendent or designee should a
student’s proposed alternative learning credit application be denied.
Awarding credit:
The student will be eligible to receive credit upon satisfactory completion of the approved
alternative coursework, activity, assessment and/or performance. The following standards and
guidelines apply to credit awards:
The total number of credits that may be awarded is not limited.
The credit may count toward a related course requirement for graduation as approved by
the Credit Flexibility Review Committee. Credit may count toward credit required in a
subject area or for a related elective.
The student will be awarded a single Carnegie Unit for 120 hours engaged in learning, as
approved by the Credit Flexibility Review Committee. The Credit Flexibility Review
Committee may also award a Carnegie Unit for intensive activities in the amount
approved based upon the equivalence to a 120 hours course. In any case, fractional units
may be awarded.
The Credit Flexibility Review Committee may award a Carnegie Unit or partial unit for
any assessment that demonstrates acceleration past any related course offered at Westlake
High School.
The student will be awarded a Carnegie unit or equivalent fraction of a Carnegie unit for
credit that substitutes for required courses. The credit shall be equivalent to the course
credit offered at the school provided that the student demonstrates proficiency through an
assessment, performance or work product as required by the Credit Flexibility Review
Committee. The assessment to determine how credit will be awarded must be
outlined and approved in the student’s plan at the time of the Credit Flexibility Plan
approval.
Credit can be earned simultaneously, as approved in the Credit Flexibility Plan for: 1)
Secondary and post secondary credit: 2) Academic and career technical experiences, or
3) More than one academic content/course area. (See third bullet.)
As approved, credit may be earned from other districts and other educational providers
(including on-line providers) in accordance with the Ohio Department of Education
Operating Standards.
If a student is a transfer from another district and the student has not completed the Credit
Flexibility Plan approved by the other district, the Credit Flexibility Review Committee
shall consider this a new application for credit. The committee may consider partial
completion toward partial credit or toward total credit (if completed).
Credits completed in another district before transfer to the Westlake City School District
shall count as graduation credits as awarded by the sending district. The Credit
Parent
Student
Flexibility Review Committee may review the transfer credit to determine substitution
for specific courses or adequacy as a pre-requisite course.
Testing Out: Tests or assessments solely used to determine advancement and course
credits will be given annually in August and December due to planning for the
subsequent school semester/year. If a test or other assessment is used the student must
score at an 85% or better level to receive credit and advance. The student failing to
achieve this score may not apply for the assessment for the same course credit until one
calendar year after the date of the initial assessment. Any assessment for a particular
course credit may only be attempted two times.
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Determining Grades
The student will hold primary responsibility for overall success or failure of the credit
flexibility project/course/approved activity.
All Credit Flexibility course credit will be reported as a Pass/Fail grade unless the
student chooses to be awarded a letter grade. The choice between the pass/fail
option and a letter grade must be made at the time of application and may not be
changed once the application is approved. The letter grade, to be posted on the
transcript and included in the student’s G.P.A., will be awarded as determined by the
Credit Flexibility Review Committee.
Weighted grades shall be determined by the Credit Flexibility Review Committee
based on factors including, but not limited to course content, course rigor, and/or
comparability with the board approved Course of Study.
Credit Flexibility Plans seeking Advanced Placement (AP) credit are subject to
College Board rules and regulations.
If a student fails to complete the alternative coursework, activity, assessment or
performance as stated in the plan approved by the Credit Flexibility Committee,
the approval to pursue the proposed credit will be revoked and a failing grade
reported. The failing mark will be included on the transcript and calculated in
the grade point average.
The grade must be posted before the credit can count toward graduation, including
early graduation.
The instructor or teacher of record reserves the right to remove the student from the
course (withdrawn with penalty) for issues involving plagiarism, copyright violation,
or any other form of academic dishonesty.
If a student is unable to complete the credit due to illness (with a medical excuse by a
licensed physician) or other good reason the Credit Flexibility Review Committee may
extend the time permitted. If the student does not intend to complete the credit and
there has been an illness or other good reason the Credit Flexibility Committee will
determine if the application may be revoked by the committee without posting a failing
grade.
Should a student transfer to another district in Ohio, upon request of the student or
parent, the district shall forward a copy of the approved application to the new district
for their consideration.
Athletic Eligibility
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that s/he is academically eligible.
Credit flexibility options that affect athletic eligibility will be determined by policies and
guidelines from the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Access
This policy does not in any way prohibit access to on-line education, postsecondary options or
services from another district approved by the board.