LOCAL SCHOOLS
Alternative Credit Options
Alternative credit options give high school students the added flexibility to earn credits through alternative methods and fill their regular class schedule with more courses that interest them.
Explore Your Options
- College Credit Plus
- Credit Flexibility
- PE Waiver
- Secondary Summer School
- Ohio High School Equivalence (GED)
- FAQ for Alternative Education Options
College Credit Plus
Lakota is offering the College Credit Plus (CCP) program as another option for students in grades 7-12 to earn college and high school credits simultaneously.
The courses are offered through agreements with local public universities. The option is free to students, but it should be noted that it is an unfunded state mandate, meaning Lakota must cover the costs.
Students may take courses during fall, spring and summer terms. Any courses offered on campus at Lakota's high schools are noted in Lakota's High School Program of Study. Lakota high school graduation requirements are not waived, but may be met through CCP courses. Through the program, students can complete a year of college or more, thus reducing the time and expenses required to earn a degree.
Because it is transcripted college credit, it will transfer to any Ohio public institution of higher learning.
Credit Flexibility
Credit Flexibility is available to students with high school standing to earn graduation credits through alternative methods outside of their regularly scheduled high school classes. All options must be generated and planned by students according to the provisions and process outlined in the Lakota Credit Flexibility Handbook and application.
Students can earn credit by:
- Taking an online secondary course from an approved online vendor.
- Testing out of a course by showing mastery of content.
- Developing an individual plan to include an internship/field experience, community service, educational travel, or other independent study.
Students who are interested in applying for Credit Flexibility can submit their applications at any time during the school year. Students must apply and be approved before beginning an online course or activity. Applications cannot be submitted for work or activities already completed.
All questions can be directed to your student's guidance counselor or Justin Frost, Asst Director of 7-12 Curriculum.
Related Resources
PE Waiver
For eligible student-athletes, the PE Waiver waives the PE requirement for high school graduation.
It does NOT award credit. However, it allows a student to pursue other options to earn the 0.5 credit, rather than taking two PE courses (0.25 credit each). Students are still required to meet the minimum number of credits for graduation.
For more information, please visit the Ohio Department of Education site about the state guidance regarding the PE Waiver.
Who is eligible?
Students who are participating in interscholastic athletics at the high school are eligible to use the waiver after they have successfully completed two full seasons. This can be two seasons in two different sports, allowing a student to meet the requirements for the PE Waiver in one school year.
In addition to cheerleading and marching band, interscholastic athletic teams currently recognized by the Ohio High School Athletic Association in Lakota Local Schools include the following:
- Baseball
- Basketball (Boys & Girls)
- Bowling (Boys & Girls)
- Cross Country (Boys & Girls)
- Dance Team
- Diving (Boys & Girls)
- Football
- Golf (Boys & Girls)
- Gymnastics
- Lacrosse (Boys & Girls)*
- Lacrosse Cheer*
- Soccer (Boys & Girls)
- Softball
- Swimming (Boys & Girls)
- Tennis (Boys & Girls)
- Track (Boys & Girls)
- Volleyball (Boys & Girls)
- Wrestling
*Effective Spring 2017
Under Ohio law, local boards of education may NOT add additional areas of participation beyond interscholastic athletics, marching band or cheerleading, which may be used to excuse a student from the high school physical education requirement.
How to Participate
FAQs
- Can my student waive the 8th grade PE course because he/she plans to participate in sports or Marching Band in high school?
- Why can't a club sport count toward the waiver?
- If my student only participates in one, full season of an eligible sport or Marching Band, can he/she receive partial credit and waive one of the PE courses?
- Does Winter Guard count towards the waiver?
Can my student waive the 8th grade PE course because he/she plans to participate in sports or Marching Band in high school?
Why can't a club sport count toward the waiver?
If my student only participates in one, full season of an eligible sport or Marching Band, can he/she receive partial credit and waive one of the PE courses?
Does Winter Guard count towards the waiver?
Secondary Summer School
Lakota Summer School offers opportunities for high school students seeking original and recovery credit courses needed for graduation; junior school students wanting to take math advancement courses; and students wanting to retake any end-of-course assessments.
Credit Recovery registration will take place from April 21st to June 13th.
Summer School 2025 will take place from May 27th to June 27th.
Students needing to recover a credit (scored less than 60% for their semester grade) can sign up for summer school on this Google Form, (opens 4/21) until Friday, June 13th. Note: not all courses are offered during the summer. The summer school counselor will review transcripts to determine what courses are needed, if any.
Original Credit Registration is now closed.
Summer school will be offered virtually this summer with the option of both zoom and in person help sessions. In person help sessions will be held at East Freshman School.
Math Advancement overview for students going into 7th or 8th grades - registration deadline is April 25.
Senior Connections
Senior Connections will be held this year at Lakota East Freshman and run by the summer school staff. Our program will run from May 27th to June 27th. Students will need to report to East Freshman from 9AM to 1PM Monday - Thursday during this time. Use this link to sign students up for Senior Connections. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
EOC Exams and AIR Testing Dates
Testing will be held from June 23rd - June 26th. For each date, there will be an AM and a PM testing session. The first session will start at 8:00 AM. The second session will start at 11:00 AM. Students should plan on 2 hours for English tests and 90 minutes for all other course assessments. Students can take both parts of a test in one session.
Please note: All LEP students are eligible for extended time and dictionary use. All IEP accommodations for the test will be provided.
A reminder email with dates, times, and locations will be emailed to both parents and students at least one week prior to the assessments for verification.
Cost: There is no cost to take the assessment..
Registration: The deadline to register is June 9th.
Summer AIR/EOC Testing Registration Link
Questions? Please email us at summerschool@lakotaonline.com or visit our Summer School web page
Ohio High School Equivalence (GED)
Individuals who are 18 and older, withdrawn from school, and have not earned a high school diploma are eligible to take the high school equivalency tests. Individuals who are 16 and 17 years old, are eligible to test with parental consent (include documentation) and a current school withdrawal form signed by a school official. Visit the Ohio Department of Education's Ohio High School Equivalence webpage for complete details.
FAQ for Alternative Education Options
Please view the FAQ here for all Alternative Education Options including Credit Flexibility, PE Waiver and Secondary Summer School.