Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-1-.03 - Extended Learning Opportunities

(1) An Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) is an out-of classroom learning experience, approved by the State Board of Education, a local board of education, or a public charter school, where an eligible entity provides a student with any of the following:

(a) Enrichment opportunities.

(b) Career readiness or employability skills opportunities, including internships, pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships.

(c) Any other approved educational opportunity.

(2) In accordance with Alabama Code section 16-46C-5, eligible outside entities shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(a) Nonprofit organizations.

(b) Businesses with established locations in the state.

(c) Trade associations.

(d) Any of the Armed Forces of the United States, subject to applicable age requirements.

(3) ELOs shall involve partnerships between local education agencies, parents or guardians, students, and outside entities who will be providing or assisting with high quality instruction. Such partnerships shall clearly delineate the responsibilities of each entity partner and provide structures to guide the ELO. To assist local school districts implement ELOs, the State Department of Education shall publish a sample guidance which, at a minimum, shall include:

(a) A sample ELO Application.

(b) A sample ELO Agreement for to guide LEA, entity and student responsibilities.

(c) A sample ELO Criteria for Approval to assist local education agencies as they adopt policies for ELOs and develop ELO plans.

(d) A sample rubric for evaluation of an ELO proposal.

(4) The ELO application is to be completed by the student, a certified educator, parent/guardian, ELO partner, superintendent, and other members of the school leadership team designated in the local district policy.

(5) At the time of application, the responsible entities will select the amount of elective credit to be awarded and will set the guidelines for awarding such credit.

(6) ELO experiences may not duplicate or replace courses, programs, or work-based learning experiences that are a part of the school district's academic guide.

(7) No student shall receive more than one (1) credit for any given ELO.

(8) Local school board policy will set guidelines for grading, calculation of GPA, and inclusion of ELO credit on the student transcript.

(9) Matriculation through the ELO requires benchmarks that may include, but are not limited to small projects, rehearsals, practices, drafts, artifacts, or other work that allows the student to move towards competency mastery.

(10) Students with IEPs and 504 Plans shall be given the appropriate accommodations so that they can construct meaning from their ELO experience.

(11) A signed copy of the ELO application shall be placed in the student cumulative record to document the standards by which the credit was awarded and transcripted.

(12) An ELO that has been approved by at least 50 percent of school districts shall be eligible to apply to the department for state-wide approval.

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-1-.03

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 10, July 29, 2022, eff. 9/12/2022.

Rules 290-3-1-.02 through 290-3-1-.05 of Chapter 290-3-1, Public School Governance, was repealed in the certification filed August 14, 1998; effective September 18, 1998. Rule 290-3-1-.06, was amended and renumbered 290-3-1-.02 in the certification filed August 14, 1998; effective September 18, 1998.

Author: Eric G. Mackey

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 16-46C-7; 16-3-12.