Option II Information

Overview of Option II for Graduation Requirements

The 120 credit requirement set forth may be met in whole or in part through program completion (commonly referred to as "Option II"). 

The January 2004 amendment to N.J.A.C 6A:8-5.1(a)1 clarifies that the Board of Education, in developing their graduation requirements may use a combination of Option I and Option II rather than limiting themselves to only one of the Options. Under Option II, the Board of Education may utilize performance or competency assessment to approve student completion of programs aimed at meeting or exceeding the Core Curriculum Content Standards at the secondary level, including those occurring all or in part prior to a student’s high school enrollment.  

Courses may be taken for credit through Option II only under one of three scenarios: 

1.  The student failed the course and must remediate. 

2.  The course/experience is not offered at Ridge High School. 

3.  Students participating in Ridge Athletics or an approved off-site activity may apply for Option II for Physical Education.

All academic courses that will count toward graduation, including health, must be taken at Ridge. Exceptions may be made for those students who are enrolled in the Shared-Time program with Somerset County Vocational-Technical High School. 

The name of the course/experience, Pass/Fail grade, and appropriate credits will be recorded on the RHS transcript for students approved for said alternative course work upon completion of the course. Students will be responsible for sending an official transcript confirming the successful completion of the course to the Counseling Office. The grade will be recorded as Pass/Fail, and no adjustment will be made to the student’s GPA. The expectation is that the courses will be completed during the time specified on the approval form. The transcript will denote coursework as per the protocol described in the RHS Program of Studies under "Grade Reporting." 

All courses must be approved prior to enrolling; students may not apply for Option II after they have completed a course. Courses taken prior to the official start of a student’s freshman year (September 1st) will not appear on the Ridge transcript under any circumstances.  Courses/experiences must be paid for by the student's parent(s) or guardian(s).

Any student interested in Option II opportunities should read the descriptions of qualifying activities carefully before beginning an application.  

District Approved Providers for Academic Option II Courses include the following: 

• Educere

  • Code for Registration: Our school’s code is F6CBIDHQ, however, you can also use the registration link copied below.  Please make sure you have completed the applications linked below and received Supervisor Approval BEFORE registering for courses. 

    • Credit Recovery – https://www.educere.net/myCourses.asp?pageID=2513.2013

    • Original Credit – https://www.educere.net/myCourses.asp?pageID=2513.26233

• NJ Virtual School

• Apex Learning Virtual School

Remediation

• Information:  Students who fail a course, lose credit, or fail to meet the requisite grade for moving on to the next level can choose to remediate the course during the summer instead of taking it during the following school year. The application must be completed and approved prior to enrollment into the course. Course credits must be earned through an approved provider.  Grades are recorded on the student's transcript and do not replace any grade already earned.  Remediation grades are not included in the calculation of GPA if they are completed via an approved provider outside of Ridge High School.  Credit for courses passed through remediation, that were formerly failed, can count towards graduation. If you retake the course at Ridge, you are awarded credit and the new grade would factor into the GPA.

• Deadline:  June 23, 2025

• Notes:  The course must meet for a minimum of 60 hours to qualify.

• Supervisor(s):  Curriculum Area Supervisors

• Application linked HERE

Courses Not Offered at Ridge

• Information  Students may choose to take courses related to an area of interest, elective courses and/or courses that are not offered at Ridge.  The Class of 2029 should not register for courses over Summer 2025, as any course taken prior to the start of freshman year will not be in the official high school transcript. 

• Deadline:  The deadline is June 23, 2025 for Summer and Fall 2025 courses, and for Full-Year 2025-26 courses.  The deadline is November 14, 2025 for Spring 2026 courses.

• Notes:  Examples = Marine Biology or Astronomy. Applications must be completed prior to enrollment in the course.  No credit will be given without prior approval.

• Supervisor(s):  Curriculum Area Supervisors

• Application linked HERE

Independent Studies

Independent study can be an academically enriching experience for both the student and the teacher, but it is not meant to replace an existing course in the Program of Studies. The student will have the opportunity to master an academic area through his/her own initiative, self-discipline, and self-reliance, while learning at the same time to what extent and in what ways he/she is in need of a teacher. Independent study for credit is available to any student who has a sound reason for this option providing:

• The student has completed 60 credits towards graduation;

• The student has achieved a grade of C or better in all available courses in the subject requested;

• The student has obtained written approval of his/her parent/guardian, the teacher, the counselor, the department supervisor, and the building principal prior to beginning the independent study arrangement via the Academic Option II form;

• The student must carry at least 6 courses plus Physical Education/Health/Option II  each semester before an independent study may be considered during the regular academic school year.

• The nature of the course makes independent study feasible;

• The course must be scheduled during a period of the student’s day with the approved teacher assigned

• An independent study course will receive a Pass/Fail grade, which will be recorded on the student’s grade transcript for no credit and will not be calculated in the GPA.

• Deadline:  The deadline is June 23, 2025 for Full Year 2025-26 and Fall 2025 independent studies.  The deadline is November 14, 2025 for Spring 2026 independent studies.

• Notes:  Grades 11 or 12 only.  Examples:  Portfolio Development (with a member of the Art Department), Astrophysics (with a member of the Science department), International Relations (with a member of the Social Studies Department).

• Supervisor(s):  Curriculum Area Supervisors

• Application linked HERE

Deadlines are firm and no exceptions will be made for applications not submitted on or before the due date.

Applications must be completed using a bernardsboe account.

Please read the following before applying for onsite Option II (Ridge Sport)

• Students may need to apply for Option II prior to try-outs.  Please see below:

  • Students who are cut from a Ridge Sport after they apply  or who quit a Ridge Sports team/decide not to try out must contact Ms. Howarth and Ms. Eckel.  Failure to do so may result in a failing grade.

• Students who sign up for Option II Sports and do not complete the tryout process must inform the Option II Coordinator, Ms. Howarth, within the first week of the marking period of the student will fail Option II for the marking period

• Option II is a pass/fail course.  Students must meet the minimum program requirements in order to earn a passing grade.  A pass will be reflected as a P on their report card/transcript, and a failure will be recorded as an E.

• Participation in a Option II is available for 10th, 11th and 12th graders.  Approval will allow students to take study hall in lieu of PE for marking period they qualify.  All students must be enrolled and complete Health and Driver's Education

• Students are not eligible for Option II if they have previously failed a marking period of Physical Education and/or Option II.

• Students will be required to complete and hand in an end of marking period self-assessment/ reflection along with the evaluation form.  Failure to turn in this self-assessment will result in a failing grade

• Students at Ridge High School are required to earn a minimum of 3.75 credits of PE/Health each school year. If a student fails to earn a minimum of 3.75 credits of PE/Health for whatever reason, the student will need to be scheduled for a makeup class(es).  Makeup PE must be taken at Ridge; Option II will not fulfill this requirement.

• Communication regarding Option II takes place via email.  Students should be accessing their @bernardsboe.com email accounts regularly for current Option II information.

• RHS Dance Team/Collective qualifies for RHS on-site Option II.  Students must participate in both in order to qualify.  

• Ridge Marching Band qualifies for RHS on-site Option II for Fall.

• Ridge Rugby is considered Off-Site experience, as it is not coordinated through the Athletics Department.

• Any change in status on a team-- cut, quit, injury, etc.-- must be reported to the Option II Coordinator, Mrs. Howarth, immediately.  Injuries must also be reported to the Ridge Health Office immediately.  Failure to do so may result in a failing grade for the marking period and/or the need to make up a quarter of PE.

In addition to the above, the following rules also apply for Ridge Athletics:

Fall Athletes

• Students who apply will be eligible for Option II for Marking Period 1 only

• Students playing Option II Fall Sports will be awarded 1.25 credits through Option II at the conclusion of MP1 if complete their season

• The student’s schedule/transcript will read “Option II Fall Sport” with the  P (for pass) or E (for fail) grade issued for Marking Period 1 upon receipt of successful participation of the season and completion of the self-assessment

Winter Athletes

• Students who apply will be eligible for Option II for Marking Period 2 (10 and 11 grade) or Marking Period 3 (12 grade)

• Students playing Option II Winter Sports will be eligible to earn 1.25 credits through Option II after successful completion of the season.

• The student’s schedule/transcript will read “Option II Winter Sport” with the  P (for pass) or E (for fail) grade issued for Marking Period 2 or 3 upon receipt of successful participation of the season and completion of the self-assessment

Spring Athletes

• Students who apply will be eligible for Option II for Marking Period 4 only

• Students playing Option II Spring Sports will be eligible to earn 1.25 credits through Option II after successful completion of the season.

• The student’s schedule/transcript will read “Option II Spring Sport” with the  P (for pass) or E (for fail) grade issued for Marking Period 4 upon receipt of successful participation of the season and completion of the self-assessment

Option II Offsite Physical Education Application & Criteria

All applications will be reviewed by an Option II Offsite Physical Education committee for approval. 

Applications that are not completed correctly will not be reviewed.  Reach out to Ms. Howarth with any questions BEFORE the due date.

Deadlines are firm and no exceptions will be made for applications not submitted on or before the set date.

Applications must be completed using a bernardsboe account.

Please read the criteria and expectations below before applying for Offsite Option II.

• Communication regarding Option II takes place via email.  Students should be accessing their @bernardsboe.com email accounts regularly for current Option II information.

• Participation in Option II will allow students to take study hall in lieu of PE for the Marking Period in which they are approved.  All students must be enrolled and take Health and Project Adventure 

• Student in offsite Option II are required to join a Google Classroom to submit activity logs and a final project.  If a student has not been asked to join the Google Classroom within a week of the start of a marking period, they must reach out to Ms. Howarth.

The following criteria must be adhered to when applying for Option II Offsite Physical Education:

• The student is in grades 10, 11, or 12 and is enrolled in Physical Education for the respective marking period (student must enroll in Health)

• The student has not failed a marking period of Physical Education and/or Option II previously.

• Students may fill out one application for multiple marking periods as long as their offsite activity is the same for all

• The student must submit an application to the Option II Physical Education Committee for approval of the proposed activity.  The activity should meet the following guidelines:

  • The activity must make progress towards meeting the NJ Physical Education Core Standards: 

    • Movement Skills & Concepts: How to effectively and safely move our bodies 

    • Physical Fitness: How strength & conditioning and fitness principles are applied to movement

    • Lifelong Fitness: The importance of engaging in activities throughout the lifespan

  • The activity requires a commitment of time and energy that significantly limits the student’s ability to meet academic demands, such that the student would benefit from additional time during the school day to maintain academic progress AND must include the following:

    • continuous high-level training/practice and must include competition in an athletic or physical activity;

    • prepare student-athletes for an end-goal or culminating event and/or competition

    • meet a minimum of four days a week  and for a minimum of 300 minutes per week;

    • All 300 minutes but be overseen by the coach for which you are approved.

    • meet throughout the duration of the marking period applied for

    •  overseen by an adult (not a parent of the student) who is a trained professional in a field related to wellness/physical fitness.

If you feel your activity meets this requirement within a different structure, please apply and it will be reviewed.

• Any change in status of your Option II Offsite activity-- cut, quit, injury, etc.-- must be reported to the Option II Coordinator, Mrs. Howarth, immediately.  Injuries must also be reported to the Ridge Health Office immediately.  Failure to do so may result in a failing grade for the marking period and/or the need to make up a quarter of PE.

Off-Site Application Guidelines

• Student Written Portion (Click here for example)

• Coach's letter (must be on the organization's letterhead)

• Parent signature and permission (Click here for an example) Must have actual parent signature and not an E-signature

ONSITE DUE DATES:

Please read all the information under your chosen form of Option II before applying.  Any application that is not filled out correctly will not be reviewed and will be denied.  If you have ANY questions, reach out to Ms. Howarth BEFORE the due date.

• Fall Sport Application: DUE Monday, July 28th, 2025 @3pm 

• Winter Sports Application (10th and 11th grades):  DUE Monday, October 13th, 2025 @3pm 

• Winter Sports Application (12th grade): DUE Monday, January 5th, 2026 @3pm 

• Spring Sports Application: DUE Monday, March 2nd, 2026 @3pm  

OFF-SITE DUE DATES: (You may apply for more than one marking period with one application)

• MP1: Monday, July 28th, 2025 @3pm

• MP2: Monday, October 13th, 2025 @3pm

• MP3: Monday, January 5th, 2026 @3pm

• MP4: Monday, March 2nd, 2026 @3pm

OFFSITE APPLICATION