West Virginia Code of State Rules
Agency 126 - Education
Title 126 - PROCEDURAL RULE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Series 126-020 - Regulations For Alternative Education Programs For Disruptive Students (2418)
Section 126-20-6 - Program Requirements
Universal Citation: 126 WV Code of State Rules 126-20-6
Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 38, September 20, 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.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. West Virginia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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