Certificate of Educational Competency Procedure 2411
Issuance of the Certificate of Educational Competence
1. Residents of the Longview School District who are between sixteen (16) and nineteen (19) years of age may apply for a Certificate of Educational Competence by completing the appropriate form (SPI/LEA 3002), available in the counseling and administrative offices in each high school.
2. The building principal or designee is authorized by the board of directors to determine whether or not the applicant has substantial and warranted reason for leaving the regular high school education program. That determination must be made according to the criteria listed in WAC 180-96-045:
A. Personal problems which seriously impair the student's ability to make reasonable progress toward high school graduation.
B. A financial crisis which directly affects the student and necessitates the student's employment during school hours.
C. The lack of curriculum and instruction which constitutes appropriate learning experiences for the student.
D. The inability or failure of the school of attendance to adjust its program for the individual or otherwise make arrangements for enrollment in an educational program in a manner which enables the student to advance toward graduation with reasonable progress and success.
E. A determination by the building principal or designee that it is in the best interest of the student to drop the regular high school program for one of the following purposes:
- Enter a post-secondary institution.
- Enter the military.
- Engage in employment.
F. Provided that no person under eighteen (18) years of age shall be judged to have a substantial and warranted reason for leaving school unless the minor's parents, guardian, or legal custodian, if available, agrees that dropping school is in the best interest of the minor.
3. Any applicant aggrieved by the decision of the building principal or designee may, within fifteen (15) days of the date of notification, either: (1) request that a final decision be deferred and the applicant's file be placed on inactive status pending further evidence; or (2) appeal the proposed decision to the board of directors. Requests for deferral shall be honored and reopened at the option of the applicant.
4. Appeals to the board of directors shall be heard by the board in a closed hearing on the date of the next regular board meeting after receipt of a written appeal request. The board of directors shall issue a written decision on the appeal within fifteen (15) days of hearing the appeal. The decision of the board of directors shall be final except as it may be appealed pursuant to RCW 28A.88.010
Initially Adopted: September 4, 1975
Adopted: December 14, 2009