School Board Policy 620 -
Credit for Learning

Adopted: may 26, 1998
REVISED: august 27, 2001
revised: january 10, 2011
revised: june 10, 2017
revised: December 14, 2020
Revised: September 11, 2023
Revised: October 14, 2024

I. Purpose 

This policy recognizes student achievement that meets White Bear Lake Area School District's required curriculum, standards, and graduation requirements. The experiences include but are not limited to, student achievement in other schools, alternative learning sites, Postsecondary Enrollment Options, concurrent enrollment programs and out-of-school experiences, such as community organizations, work-based learning, and other educational activities and opportunities. This policy addresses the transfer of student credit from out-of-state, private, or home schools and online learning programs and to address how the school district will recognize student achievement obtained outside of the school district. 

II. General Statement of Policy 

The school district will develop and provide processes and procedures by which students may meet a curriculum credit requirement, whether the district offers the credit within its curriculum, or the student accomplishes the work in another learning environment. The school district will provide a process for approving the transfer of credits or curriculum standards completed in another Minnesota school district, for recognition of work completed in other schools and postsecondary institutions, and for recognition of previous learning, community, and work experiences as demonstrated by the student through assessment. This is a process to allow students who, through other means, have mastered content and can move on to other areas of study.

III. DEFINITIONS

A. “Accredited school” means a school that is accredited by an accrediting agency, recognized according to Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.445 or recognized by the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education (Commissioner).

B. "Concurrent enrollment" means nonsectarian courses in which an eligible pupil under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.095, subdivision 5 or 5b, enrolls to earn both secondary and postsecondary credits, are taught by a secondary teacher or a postsecondary faculty member, and are offered at a high school for which the district is eligible to receive concurrent enrollment program aid under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.091.
 
C. “Course” means a course or program.

D. “Eligible institution” means a Minnesota public postsecondary institution, a private, nonprofit two-year trade and technical school granting associate degrees, an opportunities industrialization center accredited by an accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education, or a private, residential, two-year or four-year, liberal arts, degree-granting college or university located in Minnesota.
 
E. “Nonpublic school” is a private school or home school in which a child is provided instruction in compliance with the Minnesota compulsory attendance laws.

F. “Weighted grade” is a letter or numerical grade that is assigned a numerical advantage when calculating the grade point average.

IV. Transfer of Content Standards

A. The school district will transfer high school credits achieved in earlier grades or in other schools, in credit-based programs that meet district curriculum and graduation requirements, to the student’s record upon admission or completion of the experience.

B. When a student transfers into the school district from another Minnesota public school district, any credits completed in the sending school district, along with scores recorded by the sending district, shall be recorded as completed with a notation indicating the identity of the school district from which the records are transferred.

C. Students shall be advised of opportunities available to complete further requirements and electives.

D. The school district will determine a transferring student’s grade level placement, as well as the letter grade assigned for completed courses, and credits granted toward diploma requirements in accordance with district procedures.

V. Recognition of Completed Work 

A. The school district will equate high school or postsecondary level credits completed by students in other schools into equivalent course credits.

B. The district may formally evaluate other learning experiences to declare that a transfer student meets or exceeds a specific academic standard requirement or course credit.

C. Students must receive prior approval from the district for any courses to be completed outside the district for credits towards graduation.

D. The district will determine the awarding of the course credit and the letter grade assigned to that credit. The district does not cover the expenses of related courses identified in this section.

VI. Credit by Assessment 

A. The school district will provide students in grades 9-12 with the opportunity to receive course credit by assessment provided such experiences meet current Minnesota academic standards.

B. The superintendent or designee shall establish a procedure by which student achievement and competence in content standards will be assessed.

C. A student must provide the school with a copy of the student's grades in each course taken for secondary credit under this policy, including interim or nonfinal grades earned during the academic term.

VII. Postsecondary and Concurrent Enrollment Credit 

A.  A student who satisfactorily completes a postsecondary enrollment options course or program under Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09, that has been approved as meeting the necessary requirements is not required to complete other requirements of the academic standards corresponding to that specific rigorous course of study. 

B.  Secondary credits granted to a student through a postsecondary enrollment options course or program must be counted toward the graduation requirements and subject area requirements of the district. 

1. Course credit will be considered by the school district only upon presentation of a certified transcript from an eligible institution evidencing the course taken and the grade and credit awarded.

2.  Seven-quarter or four-semester postsecondary credits shall equal at least one full year of high school credit. Fewer postsecondary credits may be prorated. 

3.  When a determination is made that the content of the postsecondary course aligns directly with a required course for high school graduation, the commensurate credit and grade will be recorded on the student's transcript as a course credit applied toward graduation requirements. 

4.  In the event the content of the postsecondary course does not fully align with the content of a high school course required for graduation but is comparable to elective credits offered by the school district for graduation, the school district may provide elective credit, and the grade will be recorded on the student's transcript as an elective course credit applied toward graduation requirements. 

5.  If no comparable course is offered by the school district for which high school graduation credit would be provided, the school district will notify the Commissioner, who shall determine the number of credits that shall be granted to a student. 

6.  When secondary credit is granted for postsecondary credits taken by a student, the school district will record those credits on the student's transcript as credits earned at a postsecondary institution.

C. A list of the courses or programs meeting the necessary requirements may be obtained from the school district.

D. By the earlier of (1) three weeks prior to the date by which a student must register for district courses for the following school year, or (2) March 1 of each year, the school district must provide up-to-date information on the district's website and in materials that are distributed to parents and students about the program, including information about enrollment requirements and the ability to earn postsecondary credit to all pupils in grades 8, 9, 10, and 11. To assist the school district in planning, a pupil must inform the district by October 30 or May 30 of each year of the pupil's intent to enroll in postsecondary courses during the following school year’s academic term. A pupil is bound by notifying or not notifying the district by October 30 or May 30.

E. Postsecondary institutions must notify a pupil’s school as soon as practicable if the pupil withdraws from the enrolled course. The institution must also notify the pupil’s school as soon as practicable if the pupil has been absent from a course for ten consecutive days on which classes are held, based on the postsecondary institution’s academic calendar, and the pupil is not receiving instruction in their home or hospital or other facility.

VIII. Credit for Employment with Health Care Providers

Consistent with the career and technical pathways program, a student in grade 11 or 12 who is employed by an institutional long-term care or licensed assisted living facility, a home and community-based services and supports provider, a hospital or health system clinic, or a child care center may earn up to two elective credits each year toward graduation under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.024, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (7), at the discretion of the enrolling school district. A student may earn one elective credit for every 350 hours worked, including hours worked during the summer. A student who is employed by an eligible employer must submit an application, in the form or manner required by the school district, for elective credit to the school district in order to receive elective credit. The school district must verify the hours worked with the employer before awarding elective credit.

IX.  Advanced Academic Credit

A.  The school district will grant academic credit to a student attending an accelerated or advanced academic course offered by a higher education institution or a nonprofit public agency, other than the school district.  

B.  Course credit will be considered only upon official documentation from the higher education institution or nonprofit public agency that the student successfully completed the course attended and passed an examination approved by the school district. 

C.  When a determination is made that the content of the advanced academic course aligns directly with a required course for high school graduation, the commensurate credit and grade will be recorded on the student's transcript as a course credit applied toward graduation requirements.

D.  In the event the content of the advanced academic course does not fully align with the content of a high school course required for graduation but is comparable to elective credits offered by the school district for graduation, the school district may provide elective credit, and the grade will be recorded on the student's transcript as an elective course credit applied toward graduation requirements. 

E.  If no comparable course is offered by the school district for which high school graduation credit would be provided, the school district will notify the Commissioner and request a determination of the number of credits that shall be granted to a student.  

X.  Weighted Grades

A.  The school district offers weighted grades for courses that are identified as more rigorous or academically challenging as follows:

1.  A grade awarded in an Advanced Place course will be multiplied by a factor of 1.25.

2.  A grade awarded in a concurrent enrollment course will be multiplied by a factor of 1.25.

3.  A grade awarded in a Project Lead the Way course will be multiplied by a factor of 1.25.

4. A grade awarded in a Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) course will be multiplied by a factor of 1.25.

B.  The school district will update its website prior to the beginning of each school year with a listing of the courses for which a student may earn a weighted grade. 

XI.  Process For Awarding Credit

A.  The building principal will be responsible for carrying out the process to award credits and grades pursuant to this policy. The building principal will notify students in writing of the decision as to how credits and grades will be awarded. 

B.  A student or the student's parent or guardian may seek reconsideration of the decision by the building principal as to credits and/or grades awarded upon request of a student or the student's parent or guardian if the request is made in writing to the superintendent within five school days of the date of the building principal's decision.  The request should set forth the credit and/or grade requested and the reason(s) why credit(s)/grade(s) should be provided as requested. Any pertinent documentation in support of the request should be submitted.  

C.  The decision of the superintendent as to the award of credits or grades shall be a final decision by the school district and shall not be appealable by the student or the student's parent or guardian except as set forth in Section X.D. below.

D. If a student disputes the number of credits graded by the school district for a particular postsecondary enrollment course or advanced academic credit course, the student may appeal the school district's decision to the Commissioner. The decision of the Commissioner shall be final. 

E.  At any time during the process, the building principal or superintendent may ask for course descriptions, syllabi, or work samples from a course where content of the course is in question for purposes of determining alignment with graduation requirements or the number of credits to be granted.  Students will not be provided credit until the requested documentation is available for review, if requested. 

Legal References:
Minn. Stat. § 120B.02 (Educational Expectations for Minnesota’s Students)
Minn. Stat. § 120B.021 (Required Academic Standards)
Minn. Stat. § 120B.11 (School District Process for Reviewing Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Achievement Goals; Striving for Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness)
Minn. Stat. § 120B.14 (Advanced Academic Credit)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.02 (General Powers of Independent School Districts)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.445 (Nonpublic Education Council)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.03, Subd. 9 (Enrollment Options Program)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.09 (Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.094 (Online Instruction Act)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0640-3501.0655 (Academic Standards for Language Arts)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0700-3501.0745 (Academic Standards for Mathematics)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0820 (Academic Standards for the Arts)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.0900-3501.0960 (Academic Standards in Science)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.1200-3501.1210 (Academic Standards for English Language Development)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.1300-3501.1345 (Academic Standards for Social Studies)
Minn. Rules Parts 3501.1400-3501.1410 (Academic Standards for Physical Education)

Cross References: 
WBLASB Policy 601 (School District Curriculum and Instruction Goals)
WBLASB Policy 613 (Graduation Requirements)
WBLASB Policy 614 (School District Testing Plan and Procedure)
WBLASB Policy 615 (Testing Accommodations, Modifications, and Exemptions for IEPs, Section 504 Plan, and LEP Students) WBLASB Policy 616 (School District System Accountability)
WBLASB Policy 618 (Assessment of Student Achievement)
WBLASB Policy 624 (Online Instruction)