Definitions

A semester period is one period of 40 to 60 minutes of instructional time per week throughout one semester of at least 17 weeks, or a minimum of 12 clock hours of instructional time provided during the academic year or in summer school. While the content to be covered is planned within these time frames, a student may be granted one semester period of credit even though the student spends less than the aforementioned amount of time in completing the necessary work. (5 CCR 1600)

Students (Grades 9-12) may take a maximum of 80 units per school year (June to June). Up to 40 units of pre-approved classes from outside accredited educational institutions may be added to the transcript. Institutions that have only Supplemental accreditation do not qualify (e.g., Art of Problem Solving, John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, Language Bird, etc.). These course grades will be marked as Credit (Cr) or No Credit (NC) and will not be included in the GPA on the PAUSD transcript. Prior approval from the principal or designee is required for any non-PAUSD course to be added to the PAUSD transcript.  The purpose of prior approval is to make sure the course is coming from an accredited institution and generates an official transcript. Specific course graduation requirements must be taken on campus.

Dual Enrollment Courses

Dual Enrollment courses refer to high school courses that have gone through curricular alignment with a community college and whose students are enrolled in two institutions concurrently, therefore earning high school credits and college credits simultaneously. There are two categories: College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) and non-CCAP.

1. CCAP authorizes California Community College districts to enter into formal partnership agreements with local school districts to expand access to concurrent enrollment opportunities for high school students (AB 288). These courses are taught during the school day by Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) teachers, who are authorized by the Foothill DeAnza Community College District to teach specific dual enrollment courses. Grading for CCAP dual enrollment courses is as follows:
   1. Students in dual enrollment courses will get regular credit per course. For example, if a high school level course earns five credits, the dual enrollment version of that course will earn five credits.
   2. Grades, upon completion of the course, will be weighted similarly to AP or Honors classes in weighted GPA calculations as they are rigorous courses that have gone through an alignment process with the Community College.
2. All other community college courses are non-CCAP courses.  These courses are taught by community college instructors after school hours. 
   1. Prior approval is needed, and the official community college transcript is provided to the high school for the course to be added.
   2. These courses receive double credit (e.g., five unit class receives 10 units)
   3. Courses taken off-campus with prior approval will be listed as Credit or No Credit on the PAUSD transcript and will not be included in the GPA.
   4. Students are expected to send their official community college transcript with their college applications.

Private Instruction

A student who is regularly enrolled and in attendance at a high school shall receive credit toward high school graduation for private instruction under the following conditions: (5 CCR 1631)

1. The instruction entails fields and subjects included in the high school's courses of study and curricula.
2. The institution offering the instruction is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) or other accreditation associations.
3. Prior approval is needed and the student must submit an official transcript from the private school showing successful completion of the course.
4. Courses taken off-campus with prior approval will be listed as Credit or No Credit on the PAUSD transcript and will not be included in the GPA. Students are expected to submit the outside transcripts with their college applications.

Online Instruction

Prior to registering for an online course, the student or the student’s parent/guardian shall obtain verification from the Superintendent or designee that the course is equivalent to the PAUSD high school curriculum. The number of semester credits assigned to the course shall be determined before the student begins coursework.

The district shall grant credit toward graduation for online instruction if all of the following conditions are met: (Education Code 51740, 51741; 5 CCR 1633)

1. The online instruction is provided by a WASC or other accredited educational institution.
2. The Superintendent or designee determines the number of semester periods to be credited for the online course.
3. A request for prior approval has been submitted and confirmation has been granted before registering for the course.
4. The student must submit an official transcript to the registrar upon completion of the course .
5. Courses taken off-campus with prior approval will be listed as Credit or No Credit on the PAUSD transcript and will not be included in the GPA. Students are expected to submit the outside transcripts on any college applications.

Private World Language Instruction

The district shall grant credit for world language studies successfully completed in a private school and shall apply the credit toward meeting any world language requirement prescribed for grades 9-12, provided that all of the following conditions are met: (Education Code 51243-51245; 5 CCR 1632)

1. The courses are in languages designated in Education Code 51244 and not offered in PAUSD.
2. The institution offering the instruction is accredited by WASC or other accreditation institution. For California institutions, the course must be UC approved.
3. Prior approval is needed and the student must submit an official transcript from the private school showing successful completion of the course.
4. Courses taken off-campus with prior approval will be listed with the grade and credit received on the PAUSD transcript and will be included in the GPA.
5. The amount of credit sought equals at least one semester's work.