Fallsnewspress.com - Program gives students flexibility

by Ellin Walsh

Reporter

Did you walk the Appalachian Trail this summer? That could earn you a get-out-of-gym pass.

Earning high school credit is no longer limited to classroom instruction. A credit flexibility option is a new offering at both Falls and Woodridge Highs this year. Four youngsters are enrolled in cred flex options at Woodridge presently, none at Falls High, although administrators expect its popularity to grow over time.

The 2010-11 school year is the first year districts are required to have a credit flexibility plan in place, according to Scott Blake, press secretary for the Ohio Department of Education. Blake says the ODE has no current estimate on how many districts have youngsters making use of this option; the agency will be collecting this information during this school year, Blake says.

"Credit flex options won't be for all students," says Terri Sigler, the director of curriculum and instruction for Woodridge Local Schools, "but it is another example of how districts are working to prepare students for the 21st century by striving to address their unique interest and talents."

With credit flexibility, pupils propose means of earning credit without sitting in a classroom. That means youngsters can test out of a course by demonstrating proficiency in its content area or bypass the traditional book-learning route by immersing themselves in a subject through an internship, Internet-based learning, travel or a community service project.

"Credit flexibility ... offers rich learning opportunities for students whose interests extend beyond the regular curriculum," Sigler says, adding, "It caters to the many different learning styles of students, it offers course elective options, it allows students to participate in programs outside the school (study abroad, internships, summer programs) and it allows students to earn college credit while in high school."

Credit flexibility allows students to build their education around their interests and around the things they want to do, Cuyahoga Falls Superintendent Dr. Edwin S. Holland says. Therefore, anything from a missions trip to raising a particular species of plants could be a springboard to credit.

Falls High's credit flexibility registration form requires the signatures of an approving parent or guardian and a supervising principal or his/her designee. The building principal must approve an instructional plan that contains measurable goals and an outline of activities, materials, resources and equipment needed to meet them. The costs and liability associated with the option chosen will be borne by the student and family.

Woodridge has developed a very comprehensive framework within which staff will provide credit flex options under the leadership of Sigler, the high school principal Mic Becerra, guidance counselors and teaching staff.

There is not any additional funding going to districts specifically for credit flexibility, Julie Daubenmire, assistant press secretary for the Ohio Department of Education, says.

"Since each district's policy on credit flexibility is unique and each district will have students taking advantage of it in different ways," Daubenmire says, "we don't really have any estimates on the costs."

She adds districts cannot set a cap on the number of courses or credits a student may earn via credit flexibility.

"It's nice for our kids to have the option," Falls High Administrative Principal Anne Alfano says, adding, "Would I have done it? I'm not sure, but it's nice to know the opportunity exists for students to gain credit in alternative ways."

"I believe credit flexibility is a very positive change that allows school districts to provide creative ways for students to demonstrate their skills," Woodridge Superintendent Walter C. Davis says. "It allows students an opportunity to earn credit and move on to work on other curricular areas. This can, in fact, be very motivating for students as they can demonstrate their mastery of content in new and innovative ways."

E-mail: ewalsh@recordpub.com

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