To: Dr. Linda Besett

From: Dennis Nicholson

Subject: Concurrent Enrollment

Date: March 9, 2004

Concerns have been raised recently regarding the current School Board Policy involving college coursework taken by students at Kirtland Central High School. Section 006.107 Alternative Course Offerings allows a student in their junior or senior year to take up to two college courses, with permission of the principal and receive high school credit.

One concern raised at the February board meeting involved allowing .5 (one half) high school credit for a three credit college course. Thomas and Julie Grant attended the February school board meeting. Mr. Grant addressed the board, requesting the District consider revising the amount of credit allowed for students taking college courses. He recommends the District award a full 1.0 credit for a three credit college course.

To determine how the amount of allowable credit was previously determined, I contacted Patricia Concannon at the Public Education Department’s Curriculum, Instruction, and Learning Technologies Unit. Pat said most school districts allow college credit for college coursework based on the amount of classroom time required. She said the department allows individual school districts to determine the amount of credit awarded.

At the recent community meeting held in Kirtland to determine budget priorities, Myla Palmer voiced her concern with the awarding of college credits based on a 4.0 grading scale. She said her daughter was taking coursework at San Juan College and would be required to make a decision to enroll in less rigorous high school coursework at the high school next year, so she can be considered for academic recognition at graduation next spring. Kirtland Central High School is phasing in a 5.0 grading scale starting with this years freshman class for Honors and Advanced Placement courses.

I discussed this issue with Tom Sullivan, Superintendent, Farmington Municipal Schools and with Jim Knowles, Head Counselor, Gallup High School. Both School Districts allow a 5.0 grading scale only for Advanced Placement coursework. In addition, both Districts allow .5 (one half) high school credit for a three credit college course.

School Board Policy 006.107 provides high school students with an opportunity to enroll in college courses beyond the high school curriculum and apply those earned credits toward high school graduation requirements. I do not recommend a change in School Board Policy to increase credit earned for college courses, since the original intent appears to be based on the amount of classroom time spent in a course. A three credit college course is roughly equivalent to a semester of a high school course.

I also recommend maintaining the current structure of allowing a 5.0 grading scale for only Honors and Advance Placement coursework. Allowing additional courses taken at the college to count on a 5.0 scale would encourage students to take multiple college courses for additional grade points without ownership from the school on the curriculum content.

I will be available at the next board meting to answer questions the board may have regarding this recommendation.