In the Congress of the Republic of Atlasia ASSEMBLED
An Act
To increase the prevalence of educational opportunities across Atlasia.
Extended Educational Learning Opportunities Act
Section 1. Purpose and Background
1. To provide for the enrollment of students in extended learning opportunities; to provide a means for allowing students to request and receive credit for participation in extended learning opportunities; to provide a process for awarding certificates of completion.
(a) Students attending schools in each of the regions would benefit from experiencing extended learning opportunities outside of the traditional classroom.
(b) Students are capable of learning both inside and outside of the traditional classroom.
(c) Students should earn credit for approved extended learning opportunities that facilitate their mastery of required skills or fulfilling state standards.
Section 2. Definitions
For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1. EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITY. An out-of-classroom learning experience, approved by the State Board of Education, a local board of education, or a public charter school, that provides a student with any of the following:
a. Enrichment opportunities.
b. Career readiness or employ-ability skills opportunities, including internships, pre-apprenticeships, and apprenticeships.
c. Any other approved educational opportunity.
(2) A student shall include those attending elementary and secondary school in K-12 non-charter public schools and public charter schools.
Commencing with the 2022-2023 school year, the local board of education and public charter school shall routinely inform students and their parents of the ability to earn credit for participating in extended learning opportunities. Employees of the local boards of education, and public charter schools may assist students, and their parents, in completing any enrollment processes required for participating in approved extended learning opportunities. Permission is not required from the local board of education or public charter school in which the student is enrolled and attending, for a parent to enroll his or her student in any approved extended learning opportunity.
Section 3. Process
1. An extended learning opportunity shall count as elective credit toward graduation requirements and the achievement of applicable state standards for students, upon approval of the extended learning opportunity by the State Board of Education, a local board of education or public charter school. To receive credit, a student shall submit a written request for credit and proof of successful completion of the approved extended learning opportunity, to the designated administrator of the school he or she is attending. The State Board of Education shall adopt, and each local board of education and public charter school distribute and implement, an extended learning opportunities policy that provides all of the following:
a. An application process for accepting and approving extended learning opportunities offered for credit by outside entities.
b. A list of entities that are eligible to submit applications for offering extended learning opportunities. Eligible entities shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
i. Nonprofit organizations.
ii. Businesses with established locations in the state.
iii. Trade associations.
iv. Any of the Armed Forces of the United States, subject to applicable age requirements.
v. The Peace Corps and AtlasiaCorps
Section 4. Criteria for credit
1. A process for students to follow for requesting credit.
a. Criteria the local board of education or public charter school shall use to determine whether a proposed extended learning opportunity shall be approved to count toward credit.
b. Criteria the local board of education or public charter school shall use to award a student a certificate of completion and credit for completing an approved extended learning opportunity. The criteria shall include, but not be limited to, allowing a student to demonstrate competencies through performance-based assessments and other methods independent of instructional time and credit hours.
c. An entity approved by local school districts to offer an extended learning opportunity shall be automatically qualified to offer that extended learning opportunity for all local boards of education and public charter schools in the state.
d. A student who successfully completes an approved extended learning opportunity, and satisfies criteria established for the award of a certificate of completion and credit shall be considered to have completed all of the required coursework for the particular course. If an approved extended learning opportunity satisfies all required coursework for a high school course, the student shall also be considered to have satisfied the equivalent number of credits toward his or her graduation requirements.
Section 5. Funding
a. A grant shall be defined as "any sum of money used to fund an educational activity such as an after school activity."
b. Grants shall only be distributed to regional nonprofits, recreational, and community centers in all regions. These nonprofits, recreational, and community centers must be entities that sponsor school sponsored activities. Grants cannot be made for any other purpose.
c. The total amount of grants for these programs shall not exceed $30,000,000.
d. $300,000,000 shall be appropriated to the Peace Corps for the development of a college scholarship and student debt reduction reward program, no less than 90% of which must be used directly for the reduction of student debt.
e. $100,000,000 shall be appropriated to AtlasiaCorp for the development of a college scholarship and student debt reduction reward program, no less than 90% of which must be used directly for the reduction of student debt.
