All public secondary schools, serving any grade(s) 9-12, will be accredited. Accreditation is voluntary for elementary schools, grades K-8, private and parochial schools, and alternative schools not identified in Subsection 140.01.a. through 140.01.e. of this rule. (Section 33- 119, Idaho Code) Effective date (3-20-14)

01.  Alternative Schools. Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, an alternative school serving any grade(s) 9-12 that meets any three (3) of the criteria in Subsections 140.01.a. through 140.01.e. of this rule, shall be required to be accredited. An alternative school that does not meet three (3) of the following criteria in Subsections 140.01.a. through 140.01.e. shall be considered as an alternative program by the district board of trustees and shall be included in the accreditation process and reporting of another secondary school within the district for the purposes of meeting the intent of this rule. Effective date (3-20-14)

• a. School has an Average Daily Attendance greater than or equal to 36 students based on previous year's enrollment; Effective date (3-20-14)

• b. School enrolls any students full-time for the school year once eligibility determination is made as opposed to schools that enroll students for "make-up" or short periods of time; Effective date (3-20-14)

• c. School offers an instructional model that is different than that provided by the traditional high school within the district for a majority of the coursework, including but not limited to online/virtual curriculum; Effective date (3-20-14)

• d. School administers diplomas that come from that alternative school as opposed to students receiving a diploma from the traditional high school within the school district; or Effective date (3-20-14)

• e. School receives its own accountability rating for federal reporting purposes. Effective date (3-20-14)

02.  Continuous School Improvement Plan. Schools will develop continuous school improvement plans focused on the improvement of student performance. Effective date (4-2-08)

03.  Standard. Schools will meet the accreditation Standard of the Northwest Accreditation Commission. Effective date (3-29-12)

04.  Reporting. An annual accreditation report will be submitted to the State Board of Education. Effective date (4-2-08)

Alternative secondary programs are those that provide special instructional courses and offer special services to eligible at-risk youth to enable them to earn a high school diploma. Designated differences must be established between the alternative school programs and the regular secondary school programs. Alternative secondary school programs will include course offerings, teacher/pupil ratios and evidence of teaching strategies that are clearly designed to serve at-risk youth as defined in this section. Alternative high school programs conducted during the regular school year will be located on a separate site from the regular high school facility or be scheduled at a time different from the regular school hours. Effective date (3-29-17)

01.  Student Qualifications. An at-risk youth is any secondary student grade six through twelve (6-12) who meets any three (3) of the following criteria, Subsections 110.01.a. through 110.01.g., or any one (1) of criteria in Subsections 110.01.h. through 110.01.n. Effective date (3-29-17)

• a. Has repeated at least one (1) grade. Effective date (4-1-97)

• b. Has absenteeism that is greater than ten percent (10%) during the preceding semester. Effective date (4-1-97)

• c. Has an overall grade point average that is less than 1.5 (4.0 scale) prior to enrolling in an alternative secondary program. Effective date (4-1-97)

• d. Has failed one (1) or more academic subjects in the past year. Effective date (3-29-17)

• e. Is below proficient, based on local criteria or standardized tests, or both. Effective date (3-29-17)

• f. Is two (2) or more credits per year behind the rate required to graduate or for grade promotion. Effective date (3-29-17)

• g. Has attended three (3) or more schools within the previous two (2) years, not including dual enrollment. Effective date (3-29-17)

• h. Has documented or pattern of substance abuse. Effective date (3-29-17)

• i. Is pregnant or a parent. Effective date (4-1-97)

• j. Is an emancipated youth or unaccompanied youth. Effective date (3-29-17)

• k. Is a previous dropout. Effective date (4-1-97)

• l. Has serious personal, emotional, or medical issue(s). Effective date(3-29-17)

• m. Has a court or agency referral. Effective date (3-29-17)

• n. Demonstrates behavior that is detrimental to their academic progress. Effective date (3-29-17)

Annually, prior to the tenth legislative day, the department of education shall file with the legislature a report detailing the alternative school programs within the state. On July 1 of each year, or as soon thereafter as feasible, each school district receiving moneys pursuant to the alternative school support units factor in section 33-1002, Idaho Code, or section 33-1002C, Idaho Code, shall file with the state department a comprehensive report of the amount of money received in the district, the expenditure on alternative school programs, and the programs provided. This information shall be compiled by the department for transmission to the legislature.

Guide addresses interim alternative education settings.