Elective Course Credit Program 

The goal of the Peer to Peer Elective Course is to ensure students with disabilities have access to inclusive environments in the general education setting while providing the peer partners access to a quality, engaging, and age-appropriate curriculum. This course curriculum includes lesson plans, assignments, activities, and assessments in alignment with Michigan Department of Education’s Pupil Accounting Manual requirements. 

Review MDE’s Pupil Accounting Guidelines 

• 6-B: Peer to Peer Elective Course Credit Program (page 159)

Designate a Teacher of Record

• A certified teacher (or an individual working under a valid substitute permit, authorization, or approval issued by the Department) must be assigned to an elective Peer to Peer course credit program.

• The teacher may be in special education or general education programs and is responsible for creation of the syllabus, daily attendance, assessment of LINK students through formative and summative content and performance measures (e.g., journals, papers, portfolios, teacher observation, quizzes or tests, and grading).

• We strongly encourage you to review the 6-B: Peer to Peer Elective Course Credit Program (page 159) document with your administrator to identify the teacher of record for your Peer to Peer program. Potential candidates for this role include general education teachers, special education teachers, speech-language pathologists with teaching certificates, school counselors, administrators, etc. Collaborating on this decision ensures that the program is supported by the right expertise and aligns with your school’s goals. 

Establish Critical Course Elements 

• Each program should complete an Elective Course Proposal to your district’s administration, Board of Education and/or Curriculum Council.

  • Elective Course Proposal

• Create a description of the Peer to Peer support program and include it in the building course catalog. “LINKS” is a common name used for Peer to Peer course accredited programs.

  • Course Description Examples/Options

• Create a course syllabus.

  • Course Syllabus - Semester One Example

• Establish a Curriculum. The purpose of the Curriculum is to provide comprehensive and engaging content about autism and other disabilities. It should increase knowledge about a variety of disabilities promoting understanding of neurodiversity. Additional information for the curriculum can be found under the “Curriculum” section in this Playbook.