Credit Flexibility
This information provides a broad overview of Credit Flexibility, but please refer to the Worthington Schools Credit Flexibility Plan for complete information and program details.
As you are aware, students must earn credits in order to graduate from high school. Typically, students sit through a semester of classwork taught by a teacher and earn ½ a credit when they pass the class. This traditional format can be called “seat time” credit. The simplest way to understand credit flexibility is that it is any other way a student earns high school credit other than the traditional seat time credit option. So, for example, a student can develop an independent study project for credit, a student can demonstrate proficiency of course material by completing an end of course test, project, or combination of test and project, or a student can elect to complete a course through some other program such as online or through a correspondence course.
Educational Options is the first category for credit flexibility. This would be any student designed project or program to earn credit in some area of interest. Independent study programs would be an example of an educational option under credit flexibility. For this category, it is not necessary for a course to already exist in the student’s area of interest. So, if a student has a particular passion and can demonstrate how he/ she will study and develop this area of learning and how it will meet various learning targets, then it could be possible for the student to earn high school credit for this area of study.
Demonstration of Proficiency is the second category for credit flexibility. This allows students to declare that they are already proficient in the course content and objectives and that they will demonstrate that proficiency. Each course has been identified for its category of demonstration of proficiency and will be assessed through a one time test, through a test plus some type of performance or through performance alone. For example, a math course likely falls in the test only category. So, a student who wants to demonstrate that he/she is proficient in Algebra 2, for example, would complete a credit flex application indicating that he/ she would be demonstrating proficiency in Algebra 2. An example of a course that is test plus performance might be a Chemistry class where the student would complete the test for the course, but also have to demonstrate that he/ she had knowledge of how to complete some lab elements fundamental to the course curriculum. A performance only option might be a theater course where the student would perform in various plays and programs and earn his/ her credit in that manner. Students must complete and submit the credit flex application indicating their intent to demonstrate proficiency and the tests will then be administered during exams at the end of the first and second semester as well as in August prior to the start of the school year. Students must indicate on their application when they intend to complete their test (plus any performance components) and then whatever grade is earned will be reflected on the student's transcript. Applications for demonstration of proficiency must be submitted before the end of the school year for testing in August, by the third week of November for testing in December, and by the week after Spring Break for testing in May.
The final credit flexibility category is “other.” This category includes all of the other aspects of earning credit that do not fall into one of the first two major categories. Courses that are designed, developed and accredited, but provided by a source outside of the traditional Worthington Schools option would be in the other category. This includes courses that are completed through Post-Secondary Enrollment Options, online courses, and correspondence courses.
If students are interested in completing a course through Credit Flexibility, they must complete an application and have it approved before work on the course can begin.