Alabama Administrative Code
Title 290 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chapter 290-3-1 - PUBLIC SCHOOL GOVERNANCE
Section 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:

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

(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:

(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.