San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Administrative Regulation 6184
Continuation Education
This Administrative Regulation applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
Alternative Credits shall be coordinated, evaluated and carried out under the general supervision of a certificated employee. (Education Code 51747.5) The teacher may be the student’s regular classroom teacher, Advisory teacher, or other certificated staff.
The coordinating teacher shall:
- Complete a written agreement describing the work to be completed, requirements for satisfactory completion, and the credit value of the work
- Assess all student work and determine and assign grades or other approved measures of achievement in accordance with the agreement
- Sign and complete the agreement when the student has reached his/her objectives
The responsibilities of the administrator shall be to:
- Approve the participation of students requesting alternative means
- Facilitate the completion of written agreements describing the work to be completed, requirements for satisfactory completion, and the credit value of the work.
- Approve all credits earned through alternative means and forward the information to the appropriate staff so that the information becomes part of the student’s record
- Complete or coordinate the preparation of all necessary records and reports
- Supervise staff planning and execution of alternative means to ensure that credits earned are substantially equivalent in quality to classroom instruction
- Obtain and maintain current information and skills required for the operation of alternative means that meets established standards for the district’s educational programs
Practical demonstration of skills and competencies provide students with opportunities to demonstrate high school competencies the student has already obtained in order to make progress toward the student’s graduation plan. This option is typically used when a student has previously taken a course but has not yet received credit due to transiency or other disruption. Such experiences include but are not limited to:
- Proficiency on a standardized test designed to measure course standards.
- Passing score on a semester or end of course final exam from an SFUSD traditional high school.
- Demonstration of ability to perform tasks requiring mastery of course objectives.
Other Outside School Experiences provide students with opportunities to access high school content outside of the regular school day in order to supplement learning and make progress toward the student’s graduation plan. This option is typically used when a student has completed partial credit in a course. Such experiences include but are not limited to:
- Special assignments extending the content of regular courses of instruction
- Individualized study in a particular area of interest or in a subject not currently available in the regular school curriculum
- Individualized alternative education designed to teach the knowledge and skills of the core curriculum
- Continuing and special study during travel, volunteer community service, civic activity and other activities that support and strengthen student achievement.
Involuntary Transfer
A decision to transfer a student involuntarily into continuation education classes shall be based on a finding that the student meets either of the following conditions: (Education Code 48432.5)
- The student committed an act enumerated in Education Code 48900.
(cf. 5144 – Discipline)
(cf. 5144.1 – Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process)
(cf. 5144.2 – Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process (Students with Disabilities))
(cf. 6185 – Community Day School)
- The student has been habitually truant or irregular in attendance from instruction he/she is lawfully required to attend.
(cf. 5113 – Absences and Excuses)
(cf. 5113.1 – Chronic Absence and Truancy)
Involuntary transfer to a continuation school shall be made only when other means fail to bring about student improvement. However, a student may be involuntarily transferred the first time he/she commits an act enumerated in Education Code 48900 if the principal determines that the student’s presence causes a danger to persons or property or threatens to disrupt the instructional process. (Education Code 48432.5)
Prior to an involuntary transfer, the student and parent/guardian, or, if the student is a foster child, the foster child’s educational rights holder, attorney, and county social worker, or, if the student is an Indian child, the Indian child’s tribal social worker, and, if applicable, county social worker shall be given written notice that they may request a meeting with the Superintendent or designee. (Education Code 48432.5)
(cf. 5145.6 – Parental Notifications)
At the meeting, the student or parent/guardian, or, if the student is a foster child, the foster child’s educational rights holder, attorney and county social worker, or, if the student is an Indian child, the Indian child’s tribal social worker, and, if applicable, county social worker shall be informed of the specific facts and reasons for the proposed transfer and shall have the opportunity to inspect all documents relied upon, question any evidence and witnesses presented, and present evidence on the student’s behalf. The student may designate one or more representatives and witnesses to be present with him/her at the meeting. (Education Code 48432.5)
A written decision to transfer, stating the facts and reasons for the decision, shall be sent to the student and parent/guardian, or, if the student is a foster child, the foster child’s educational rights holder, attorney and county social worker, or, if the child is an Indian child, the Indian child’s tribal social worker, and, if applicable, county social worker. It shall indicate whether the decision is subject to periodic review and the procedure for such review. (Education Code 48432.5)
The persons making the final decision for involuntary transfer shall not be members of the staff of the school in which the student is enrolled at the time. (Education Code 48432.5)
No involuntary transfer to a continuation school shall extend beyond the end of the semester following the semester when the acts leading to the involuntary transfer occurred unless there is a procedure for yearly review of the involuntary transfer at the request of the student or the parent/guardian. (Education Code 48432.5)
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.