(1) All program instruction will meet the following criteria:
(a) Instruction will be designed to help students acquire high school credits, acquire at least high school level skills, and be academically prepared for success in college and/or work.
(b) Instruction will be provided in accordance with the skills level and learning needs of individual students and not the student's chronological age or associated grade level. Therefore:
(i) Instruction that is at the ninth grade level or higher shall generate credits that can be applied to a high school diploma; and
(ii) Instruction that is below the ninth grade level shall not generate high school credits but will be counted as part of the program's instructional programming for the purposes of calculating FTE and will be designed to prepare students for course work that is at the ninth grade level or higher.
(c) Instruction in which each student is enrolled will not be limited to only those courses or subject areas in which they are deficient in high school credits.
(d) The program will administer standardized tests to new students, as defined in WAC
392-700-015 (12)(a), and reenrolling student, as defined in WAC
392-700-015 (12)(d), within one month of enrollment or secure test results from no more than six months prior to enrollment in order to determine a student's initial math and reading level upon entering the program.
(e) The program will provide all instruction, tuition, and required academic skills assessments at no cost to the students, but may collect mandatory fees as established by each program.
(i) Consumable supplies, textbooks, and other materials that are retained by the student do not constitute tuition or a fee.
(ii) Programs are encouraged to offer a waiver or scholarship process.
(2) Instruction for students enrolled in programs operated by a district, tribal compact school, charter school, or agency will meet the following criteria:
(a) Instruction must include:
(i) Academic skills instruction and high school equivalency certificate preparation course work with curriculum and instruction appropriate to each student's skills levels and academic goals; and
(ii) College readiness and work readiness preparation course work.
(b) Instruction may include:
(i) Competency based academic and/or vocational training;
(ii) College preparation math or writing instruction;
(iii) Subject specific high school credit recovery instruction;
(iv) English language learners instruction (ELL); and
(v) Other course work approved by the district, tribal compact school, or charter school including cooperative work experience.
(c) Instruction will be scheduled so that enrolled students have the opportunity to attend and work with instructional staff during the hours of the program's standard instructional day.
(d) The program will maintain an instructor to student ratio as follows:
(i) The scheduled teaching hours of an instructional staff will equal or exceed the hours of the program's standard instructional day plus one additional hour per every five teaching hours for planning, curriculum development, recordkeeping, and required coordination of services with case management staff.
(ii) For any one instructional session, the program will assign instructional staff as needed to maintain an instructional staff to student ratio that does not exceed 1:25.
(iii) For programs that use noninstructional staff as part of the calculated instructional staff to student ratio, the following conditions must be met:
(A) Noninstructional staff may not be a replacement for the instructional staff and must work under the guidance and direct supervision of the instructional staff; and
(B) The ratio of total instructional and noninstructional staff to students may not exceed 2:50.
(3) Instruction for students enrolled in programs operated by a college will meet the following criteria:
(a) Instruction will be provided through courses approved by the college, identifiable by course title, course number, quarter, number of credits, and, for vocational course, the classification of instructional program (CIP) code number assigned by OSPI to the approved career and technical education (CTE) course.
(b) The following instruction will be offered to all students, as appropriate for their goals, skills levels, and completion of prerequisites:
(i) Basic skills courses and high school equivalency certificate preparation courses;
(ii) Courses that will lead to a postsecondary degree or certificate;
(iii) Course work that will lead to a high school diploma; and
(iv) College and work readiness preparation course work.
(c) The program will maintain an instructor to student ratio as follows:
(i) Instructor to student ratio for any course open to both program students and nonprogram students will be determined by the college; and
(ii) Instructor to student ratio for classes designed exclusively for program students will not exceed 1:35.
