Course Designations

Courses are designated in various ways to meet the skills and interests of students and are offered as Academic and PreAP^®/AP^®, and dual credit. A student’s course of study may be a combination of courses with different designations. The student, parent, and school will work together to determine the best combination for each learner.

COURSE FEES

Some elective courses require additional fees for consumable supplies and materials, and course fees may be waived in certain circumstances by contacting the teacher, counselor, or administrator.

ACADEMIC COURSES

These core courses and electives prepare students for college and post-secondary instruction using a variety of teaching strategies, student activities, and assessments. The curriculum requires students to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as master core content.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CONTINUUM OF SERVICES AND COURSES

Special Education provides a continuum of services for students with disabilities who qualify, as determined in a student’s Annual Review Dismissal Meeting (ARD). The least-to-most restrictive continuum of services follows:

• General Education classes no support: Student graduates with the Foundation High School Plan with endorsement.
• General Education class with inclusion support with accommodations: Student graduates with the Foundation High School Plan with endorsement.
• General Education class with basic support with modified content: Student can graduate with the Foundation High School Plan with selected endorsements.
• Resource class taught by a Special Education teacher with modified content: Student can graduate with the Foundation High School Plan with selected endorsements.
• Life Skills program taught by a Special Education teacher working on prerequisite skills with modified content: The student graduates with the Foundation High School Plan without an endorsement.

ADVANCED ACADEMICS

HONORS/AP^® COURSES

HONORS/AP^® core and elective courses challenge motivated students and prepare them for success in college-level coursework in high school and beyond. The advanced or above grade-level courses move at a faster pace, are more academically challenging and require more independent learning than academic courses.

Boerne ISD recognizes the value of advanced academic coursework and encourages all students to graduate high school with at least one advanced academic course, such as Advanced Placement^® (AP^®), Dual Credit, or a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Practicum. To this end, the district has developed an inclusive enrollment model for HONORS/AP^® courses. Students are encouraged to access the most rigorous coursework in which they can be successful, generally defined as earning a “C” or better for the semester average.

While Boerne ISD offers inclusive HONORS/AP^® enrollment, parents and students should carefully weigh the decision to enroll in advanced coursework. Students who experience success in HONORS/AP^® courses typically exhibit the following personal and academic characteristics:

Personal Characteristics:

• Reads on or above grade level
• Strong study skills and self-motivation
• Proficient oral and written communication skills
• Self-discipline to plan, organize, and carry out tasks to completion
• Interest and self-directedness in a particular subject
• Time management skills Academic Characteristics:
• Successful completion of prerequisite coursework
• Grade of 90 or higher in the previous content-related course
• Grade of 80 or higher in the previous HONORS content-related course
• “Mastered” on most recent course-related STAAR assessments A few important factors to keep in mind are:
• Boerne ISD’s on-level academic curriculum is a college-bound curriculum.
• While HONORS courses prepare students for Advanced Placement^®, HONORS courses are not a requirement for enrolling in AP^® courses. .
• The HONORS/AP^® program is not “all or nothing.” Students may take from one to all of their core classes as HONORS/AP^®.

AP^® COURSES

Advanced Placement^® courses are extremely rigorous as they are college level courses, which follow a college curriculum approved by the College Board. Students taking these courses take the AP^® tests offered in the spring, and the AP^® tests have additional fees paid by the students. The district may provide a reduced fee for these tests when funding is available through the state. Students scoring 3, 4, or 5 on one or more of these tests may gain some college credit. Students should consult specific colleges/universities to verify accepted AP^® scores and tests. The district offers the following AP^® courses:

AP Capstone™

AP Capstone is a diploma program from the College Board. It’s based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Rather than teaching subject-specific content, these courses develop students’ skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. Students who complete the two-year program can earn one of two different AP Capstone awards, which are valued by colleges across the United States and around the world.

Capstone Program

• Seminar
• Research

HONORS/AP^® ENTRY GUIDELINES

Students who opt to participate in HONORS/AP^®:

• Successfully complete prerequisite courses as specified in the course catalog.
• Demonstrate mastery (“Mastered” Performance) on the most recent course-related STAAR assessments.
• Recognize the long-term benefits of participation, seek assistance when needed, and commit to staying in the course for a minimum of one semester.

Students enrolled in HONORS English I, HONORS English II, AP^® English III, and AP^®/DC English IV courses have required summer reading assignments. Other HONORS/AP^® courses may have summer assignments.

HONORS/AP^® EXIT GUIDELINES

Exit processes are in place to assist students in making sound course selection decisions.

• A student who petitions to exit a HONORS/AP^® course must meet the following criteria: conference with the teacher and completion of course assignments and/or attendance at recommended tutorials.
• The campus may/may not grant the request to exit the HONORS/AP^® course based on the following factors: teacher input, student performance, availability of space in other courses, and the timing of the request. A student experiencing success, typically defined as the ability to maintain a “C” or better semester average, should remain in the course for the semester.
• A recommended change from a HONORS/AP^® course may occur between the 4^th-6^th weeks of school, or at the end of the 1^st semester.
• Grades earned in the original class transfer without alteration when a student transfers from a HONORS/AP^® to an Academic course. Grades earned in the first three weeks of a dropped class can affect UIL eligibility.
• A student whose average is less than 70 at the end of the semester may be removed from the class unless otherwise recommended by the teacher and administrator.

ACADEMIC DUAL CREDIT COURSES

Academic Dual Credit courses allow students to earn college credit while in high school. These courses fulfill high school course requirements, appear on the high school transcript, and apply in calculating grade point averages. BISD partners with Northwest Vista College, St. Phillips College, Angelo State University and the University of Texas – Austin (UT OnRamps) to provide. Courses offered include Dual Credit only and AP/Dual Credit, the latter allows students to pursue both options for earning college credit.

The college/universities, not BISD, awards college credit; therefore, the STUDENT must request that a college transcript be sent to the college/university that the student will attend for the college credit to be evaluated and the college credit(s) awarded. Students must:

• Apply to appropriate college(s)
• Take and submit qualifying entrance scores to the college
• Present the required documents by the advertised deadline
• Must verify registration with high school ******

The college/university reserves the right to assess dual credit students an Instructional Materials (IM) fee or textbook fee. In the event the college/university charges an IM fee, the high school will collect applicable fees from students and forward payment to college/university.

The following courses are proposed courses for 2021-2022. Student enrollment and credentialed Boerne ISD adjunct teachers determine the location of each course. Students must maintain a “C” or better average during the first semester in order to continue in the course the second semester. BISD reserves the right to limit dual credit enrollment to upper classmen based upon the availability of approved BISD adjunct faculty, or cancel a dual credit course for additional reasons, such as lack of agreement with colleges/universities or curriculum alignment.

GIFTED & TALENTED COURSES & PROGRAM SERVICES

The Gifted and Talented Program’s structure addresses the needs and abilities of students identified as gifted in the areas of Language Arts/Social Studies and/or Math/Science. Program services at the high school include differentiated curriculum and instruction in the HONORS/AP^® classes in math, science, social studies, reading, and English. Options for G/T high school students include selected HONORS Geometry G/T, Academic Decathlon, Independent Study Mentorship, DestiNation Imagination, foreign language, fine arts, journalism, and CTE electives. See BISD Gifted and Talented Program website for more information.

CORRESPONDENCE COURSES

Prior to enrollment in a correspondence or distance-learning course, a student must make a written request to his/her counselor for approval to enroll in the course. Prior approval determines whether the earned correspondence credit applies toward graduation. If the correspondence course fulfills a graduation requirement, the student submits his/her grades at the scheduled grading periods. Unless the course qualifies as an advanced class exemption, failing grades impact the student’s eligibility under the UIL “No Pass, No Play” academic criteria. The reported grade can be a Pass/Fail indication of the student’s progress at the time.

CREDIT-BY-EXAMINATION (CBE) WITHOUT PRIOR INSTRUCTION

A secondary student may take a credit-by-exam to accelerate instruction through a district-developed, The University of Texas, or Texas Tech University assessment. The student must have no prior instruction in the course and complete a written application by the announced deadline. CBE tests are available quarterly and are scheduled with the campus counseling department.

A minimum score of 80 on the CBE is required to satisfy semester course requirement. To satisfy course requirements for a two semester course, the average of semester CBE exam grades must be 80% or above.

The student’s Academic Achievement Record (AAR) reflects the actual CBE semester score, and the CBE score is included in the student’s GPA calculation. Contact your student’s school counselor for more information or to receive an application.

NCAA REQUIREMENTS: THINKING AHEAD TO COLLEGE

The NCAA requires students who are interested in pursuing opportunities in college athletic programs to have specific core courses for Division I and II schools. The core course requirements for the Foundation High School Plan (FHSP) are aligned with the NCAA required core courses; however, interested students must consult the NCAA website for current information as they create/revise their high school four year plans. Visit http://www.ncaa.org, click on “Rules Compliance” and then “Eligibility”. Please read “Becoming Eligible” for more information. For example: Statistics (onlevel or AP) are NCAA approved but College Prep Math is not. English IV, English IV AP, English IV DC are NCAA approved, but College Prep English is not.

TEXAS VIRTUAL SCHOOL NETWORK AND ONLINE COURSES

The Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN) is one method of distance learning. A student has the option, with certain limitations, to enroll in a course offered through the TxVSN to earn course credit for graduation.

TxVSN high school courses align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) as well as the National Standards of Quality for Online Courses (iNACOL). Public school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, institutions of higher education, or education service centers provide all courses offered through the TxVSN. Texascertified instructors teach all high school courses, and instructors complete TxVSN-approved professional development on effective online instruction.

For successful performance in an online learning environment, a student must have:

• A strong academic record and the need to advance into course work to meet the requirements of the Texas Foundation Graduation Plan with Endorsement.
• Demonstrated mastery of the any prerequisite Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for the desired TxVSN course.
• Demonstrated readiness for the online environment and ready access to a computer, the internet, and Gmail.

BISD students may not enroll in a TxVSN course if the school:

• determines that the course does not meet state standards or district standards that are of equivalent rigor for the same course provided in a traditional classroom setting;
• anticipates the course is expected to negatively affect the student’s performance on a statewide assessment; decides that the course is inconsistent with the student’s high school graduation plan; or
• receives a request to enroll at a time that is not consistent with the established registration period.

Additional BISD TxVSN local policy parameters are as follows:

• The student must take the applicable STAAR/STAAR EOC assessment for the corresponding TxVSN course.
• The student will be subject to UIL “No Pass, No Play” eligibility rules depending on the enrolled TxVSN course.
• The student is responsible for TxVSN course fees if the school:
  • offers a substantially similar course;
  • determines the course exceeds the traditional seven-period instructional load; and
  • receives a request for summer TxVSN enrollment.
• The student is also responsible for a non-refundable registration fee of $25/semester. If a student enrolls in a full-year course, such as French I A & B, the non-refundable registration fee is $50.

If a student wishes to enroll in a correspondence course or a distance-learning course that is not provided through the TxVSN in order to earn credit in a course or subject, the student must receive permission from the principal prior to enrolling in the course or subject. If the student does not receive prior approval, the district may not recognize and apply the course or subject toward graduation requirements or subject mastery.

If you have questions or wish to make a request that your student enrolls in a TxVSN or other online course, please contact the school counselor. Students interested in learning more about online course offerings through TxVSN should visit the following web site prior to contacting the school counselor: www.txvsn.org.