West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 126 - Education › Title 126 - LEGISLATIVE RULE BOARD OF EDUCATION › Series 126-020 - Regulations For Alternative Education Programs For Disruptive Students (2418) › Section 126-20-6 - Program Requirements

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
6.1.
				County boards of education establishing alternative education programs shall
				meet the following requirements:
6.1.1.
				Policies and Procedures - County boards of education shall adopt policies and
				procedures for the operation of alternative education programs in accordance
				with the provisions of this policy. Policies and procedures shall include, but
				are not limited to: the goals of the program; the eligibility criteria and
				process for placement of students in the program including the composition of
				the Alternative Education Placement Team which may be an existing school team
				such as the Student Assistance Team; the involvement of parents and community
				agencies; length and time of day the after-hours/night school program operates,
				if applicable; plan for awarding of credits; behavioral management plan as an
				alternative to the county=s discipline policy, if applicable; the staffing
				plan, personnel qualifications and class size limits; the criteria for
				completion of the alternative education program or reentry into regular
				education; and the performance measures and process for program evaluation. The
				State Superintendent's approval of the county board's policies and procedures
				is required for authorization to operate an alternative education program under
				these regulations.
6.1.2.
				Eligibility for Placement in Alternative Education Programs - Students may be
				placed in alternative education programs for:
a. violations of the Productive and Safe
				Schools Act (W. Va. Code '18A-5-1a)
				in accordance with the provisions of the Act;
b. repeated violations of the county=s
				discipline policy following documented multiple behavioral interventions by the
				Student Assistance Team at the referring school; and c. continuation of
				educational services during periods of suspension or expulsion.
6.1.3. Placement of Students in
				Alternative Education Programs
a. Placement
				decisions, excluding short-term in-school suspensions, shall be made by an
				Alternative Education Placement Team, which may be the Student Assistance Team,
				as defined in the county's policy and procedures. County school districts shall
				provide for the opportunity for parents to participate in the placement team
				meeting.
b. The Alternative
				Education Placement Team, which may be the Student Assistance Team, shall
				develop a student=s written plan which includes academic courses and behavioral
				components, criteria for re-entry to the regular school program and provisions
				for periodic review of the student=s progress at least on an annual basis. The
				team for all students with disabilities shall be the IEP team and the written
				plan shall be the IEP.
6.1.4. Curriculum - County boards of
				education shall have an identified written curriculum for alternative education
				programs based upon State Board of Education approved instructional goals and
				objectives. The curriculum shall also include a component for teaching and
				learning responsible behavior. In addition, the county shall provide for the
				participation of staff certified in the core subject areas in the development
				of the academic curriculum and the assessment measures to determine mastery of
				instructional goals and objectives.
6.1.5. Instruction - County school districts
				shall deliver instruction in accordance with the following standards:
a. instructional activities shall be
				consistent with the written curriculum and appropriate for the students'
				developmental levels;
b.
				instructional materials shall be age appropriate, functionally appropriate, and
				of high interest level for students;
c. the program shall provide for
				individualized instruction and accommodate the entry and exit of
				students;
d. curricular and
				instructional practices shall reflect high expectations for students;
e. the instructional program shall be
				delivered in a climate conducive to learning; and f. sufficient instructional
				materials, supplies, and equipment shall be available to deliver the
				instructional program.
6.1.6. State Assessment Program - Students
				enrolled in alternative education programs shall participate in the State
				Assessment Program, in accordance with State Board of Education Policy 2340:
				The Statewide Assessment Program. The test scores for these students shall be
				counted in the results of the home county school of referral.
6.1.7. Support Services - Students in
				alternative education programs shall receive school counseling services and/or
				other support services such as school social work or psychological services as
				indicated in the student=s written plan.
6.1.8. Special Education - County boards of
				education shall comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations
				in the education of exceptional students placed in alternative education
				programs.
6.1.9. Personnel a.
				Selection Criteria - It is the responsibility of the county board of education
				to select the most qualified applicant(s) to implement the alternative
				education program. Classroom teachers shall be selected on the basis of the
				teachers' demonstration of competence in meeting the following standards:
A. any West Virginia professional teaching
				certificate
B. ability to effect
				positive behavior in disruptive students
C. effective leadership and/or mentoring
				skills in working with youth
D.
				successful experience in providing education to troubled or disruptive
				youth
E. specialized training or
				experience in non-traditional programs
F. specialized training in behavior
				management skills
6.1.10. Licensure
a. West Virginia Professional Teaching
				Certificate - A teacher assigned to deliver the academic subjects within an
				alternative education program must possess a West Virginia professional
				teaching certificate in any area.
b. Temporary Authorization - A Temporary
				Authorization valid for one year shall be granted to the successful
				candidate(s) for the alternative education program position(s). The employing
				county superintendent must verify that the applicant possesses the competencies
				identified in Section 6.1.9.a. The Temporary Authorization may be renewed each
				year based on the applicant's continued employment in an alternative education
				program.
6.1.11.
				Day-School Programs - Absent expulsion, a student attending an alternative
				education day school program shall have the opportunity to receive a full-time
				instructional program and full instructional day.
6.1.12. After-Hours/Night School Classes -
				County boards of education are authorized to provide alternative education
				programs after regular school hours for expelled students and for students who
				have repeated serious violations of the county=s discipline policy following
				documented multiple behavioral interventions and out-of-school suspensions.
				After-Hour/Night School programs shall include the provision of academic
				coursework and development of social skills/pro-social behavior. Unless
				otherwise required by law, regulation, or court order, transportation services
				for such programs are at the discretion of the county board of
				education.
6.1.13. Home-Based
				Programs for Disruptive Students - County boards of education may provide
				home-based programs solely for students expelled under the Productive and Safe
				Schools Act (W. Va. Code '18A-5-1a)
				or for disruptive students who meet the eligibility criteria for Home/Hospital
				Instruction under State Board of Education Policy 2510 - Assuring the Quality
				of Education: Regulations for Education Programs.
6.1.14. Units of Credit - County boards of
				education shall grant units of credit for work satisfactorily completed in an
				alternative education program. Units of credit based upon mastery of
				performance criteria may be granted as an alternative to the standard units of
				credit.
6.1.15. Program Completion
				- Students may complete an alternative education program in one of the
				following manners:
(a) fulfillment of the
				criteria for re-entry into the regular school program;
(b) completion of regular high school
				graduation requirements and awarding of a regular high school diploma from the
				home county school of referral;
(c) completion of identified performance
				criteria leading to a high school diploma; or
(d) completion of a GED in accordance with
				State Board of Education Policy 2444.4: Issuance of High School Equivalent
				Diplomas, State of West Virginia.