MEMORANDUM NO. 070–15MSE&SS

Page 1

November16, 2015

November16, 2015(X)Action Required

Due Date: December 2, 2015

(X)Informational

MEMORANDUM NO. 070–15M SECONDARY EDUCATIONSTUDENT SUPPORT

TO:Educational Service District Superintendents

School District Superintendents

School Building Principals

School District Curriculum Directors

School Counselors

FROM:Randy I. Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

RE:2015–2016High School Academic Acceleration: Dual Credit Capacity Expansion Competitive Grants

CONTACT:Dixie Grunenfelder, Director, Secondary Education
360-725-0415,

Danise Ackelson, Guidance and Counseling, Supervisor

360-725-4967,

Laura Moore,Program Assistant

360-725-6433,

Agency TTY number: 360-664-3631

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) invites Washington school districts, on behalf of their high schools, to apply for funds todevelop new capacity for dual credit courses by supporting teacher training, curriculum acquisition, technology, examination fees, and other costs associated with offering dual credit courses to high school students. Priority will be given to schools seeking to expand capacity by creating greater access and support for underrepresented student populations. High schools funded under this grant package in 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 are not eligible for a second grant per RCW 28A.320.196 (2).

To be eligible for these grants, a school district must have adopted an academic acceleration policy, consistent with the standards of RCW 28A.320.195. The policy must provide that students, who meet the state standard on the high school state assessment, are automatically enrolled in the next most rigorous advanced course offered by the high school. The objective being that these students will eventually be enrolled in dual credit courses.

The subject of the course depends on the subject of the state assessment. Students must pass end-of-course tests in Algebra I (Integrated Math I) or Geometry (Integrated Math 2) to meet the standard in mathematics. Students who meet the standard in reading and writing qualify for advanced English, Social Studies, Humanities, and other related courses.

Under this adopted policy, school districts must notify students and parents about the policy, and provide parents an opportunity to opt out and enroll the students in alternative courses.

OSPI will give priority to high schools with a high proportion of low-income students and high schools seeking to develop new capacity for dual credit courses rather than marginal expansion of current capacity.

RCWs 28A.320.195 and 196 assert the importance of making dual high school and college credit courses available for students, as well as a desire that more be done to promote academic acceleration for all students, including the elimination of barriers, real or perceived.

Each school district board of directors is encouraged to adopt an academic acceleration policy leading to the advancement of high school students to the next most rigorous levels of advanced courses, including dual credit options, as they meet or exceed state assessment standards.

This law also establishes a two-part, academic acceleration incentive program to support teacher training, curriculum, technology, examination fees, and other costs associated with offering most dual credit courses to high school students.

The program requires OSPI to (1) award funds for the purposes of launching an incentive program on a competitive basis to provide one-time grants for high schools to expand the availability of dual credit courses; (2) design and implement an appropriation incentive award to go to high schools for each student who earned dual high school and college credit for courses offered by the district's high schools during the previous school year; (3) collect and post the rates at which students earn college credit through dual credit course opportunities on the Washington state report card website; and(4) report to the legislative education policy and fiscal committees, by January 1 of each year, on the demographics of the students earning dual credits in the schools receiving grants for the prior school year.

For more background on the Academic Acceleration legislation and statutes, refer to OSPI Memorandum No. 036-13M: High School Academic Acceleration/Dual Credit Programs (August 29, 2013).

Application Process

School districts, working with their high schools, may apply through OSPI’s iGrants Package #661—Dual Credit Capacity Expansion Competitive Grants. Awards will range up to $10,000 per high school. Applications must be submitted by the district on behalf of all schools interested in Dual Credit Capacity Expansion Competitive grant fundingby 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 2.

Questions regarding applications for 2015–2016Dual Credit Capacity Expansion Competitive Grants should be directed to Dixie Grunenfelder, Director, Secondary Education, at 360-725-0415, ; Danise Ackelson, Guidance and Counseling Supervisor, at 360-725-4967,; or Laura Moore, Program Assistant, 360-725-6433, . The agency TTY number is 360-664-3631

K–12 EDUCATION

Gil Mendoza, Ed.D.

Deputy Superintendent

SECONDARY EDUCATION & STUDENT SUPPORT

Dan Newell

Assistant Superintendent

Dixie Grunenfelder, Director

Secondary Education

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OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at 360-725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200 Olympia, WA 98504-7200.