Maximum High School Credits/More than 40

revised 8/6/07

Usually, high school students will take six, 5-credit courses equaling 30 credits per semester.  There may occasionally be a reason for a student to take additional courses and earn more credits, such as retaking a failed course while staying on-track to graduate.  An ES must have the prior approval of Ed. Support Mgr. if a student is planning to earn more than 35 credits in one semester.  Without prior approval, the excess credits may be denied.  If the student is attempting more than 40 credits, the student must save all of his/her work in every subject area.  From that body of work, the student will compile a portfolio to turn in to the school for documentation of the high number of credits.  Additionally, the student will make an appointment at the end of the semester with his/her ES and the Ed. Support Mgr. for evaluation of the entire body of work, review of the portfolio, and possible approval of the credits.  Granting 40 credits is not automatic and an ES may not assure a student or parent that the student will be granted 40 credits until after the review meeting at the end of the semester.

The 'more than 40' portfolio will include 10 samples of the student's work, from each course in which the student wishes to earn credits for that particular semester.  The samples may be originals or photocopies.  At least 3 of the samples for each course will need to be graded assessments, including the midterm/final.  If the course is one that wouldn't produce this many samples and/or wouldn't produce graded, written assessments, such as PE or music, documentation of the successful completion of the hours is necessary, such as the Class Completion Check Off sheet or some other log, with a parent signature.  Art classes may pose another challenge, in terms of samples and/or assessments.  Photographs or photocopies of art projects will suffice, and any written work included as a component of the art class should be included in the 'more than 40' portfolio.  For college courses, a copy of the grade report/transcript will be included in the portfolio, and it can be counted as a sample for the 'more than 40' purposes, even though it is not student-produced.  Ten samples may be a challenge for college courses, as often, the students do not get their work back from the college professor.  This situation will be handled on a case-by-case basis.