The student is the driving force of the ELO; without the motivation, inspiration, and desire to do the work the ELO will not reach completion. We feel it's incredibly important for students to understand that they are responsible for their learning. For many, this can feel overwhelming and uncomfortable at first, because it may be the first time they've taken on this kind of responsibility. They are the center of the work, and this is their role in the process.

The role of the ELO Coordinator, Lead Teacher, and Community Partner/Mentor is to support, guide, and coach the student. The student must recognize and understand, early in the process, that they will need to be comfortable meeting with ALL and ANY members of their ELO team in order to advocate for their learning in respectful ways, share their learning (highlights and challenges) honestly, and take responsibility for their outside of the classroom experience.

We know that understanding the process is important, but understanding the role of the student comes first. 

Head over to Resources for more on the topic of Roles and Responsibilities!

Learn about the ELO Program. Talk with peers who have completed an ELO and schedule a discovery meeting with your school counselor. If you're more of an independent/solo learner, explore this website! 

ELO's at WRHS...

• Must have supervision and oversight from certified school personnel.

• Must meet rigorous standards including the minimum standard established by the State Board of Education and all other applicable District standards.

• Must be applied for at a MINIMUM of 30 days prior to program starting, but a full semester ahead of time is recommended.

• Are included in the 5 total alternative credits a student can apply towards graduation (alternative credits include online courses, Dual Enrollment, etc.)

• Are only approved for elective credit.

• Require a student to secure their own funding or transportation as needed to carry out the ELO.

• Require a Memorandom of Understanding between all involved parties (HQT, community partner, school counselor, student, parent, principal).

• Generally require 120 hours of documented ELO work plus all components completed to equal 1 credit. 

• Will be recorded on the high school transcript on a Pass/Fail basis. 

Come up with some ideas for your project. What type of ELO are you interested in? What topic are you interested in studying? Once you have some initial ideas for your project, apply to the ELO Program through the application on the left. 

In considering whether or not to do an ELO, students may ask themselves:

1. Do I need the credit for graduation or could I complete the desired experience on my own without needing it to appear on my transcript?

2. Can I do this experience outside the regular school day, or do I require the school to approve my experience as a class because I plan to do it during regular school hours?  

3. Am I okay with ELO credit taking up some of my alternative credits I would like to apply towards graduation?  Only 5 total credits are allowed so if I plan to take advantage of online courses or Dual Enrollment, will it be worth it to do an ELO as well? 

4. Do I have the level of independence needed to develop and carry out this ELO to its completion? 

Once your application has been reviewed, your ELO Coordinator will email you to schedule your first ELO Meeting. During this meeting they will review the following: 

• Paperwork for the school and the State Dept of Labor and State Dept of Education 

• Roles and Responsibilities of your ELO Team Members 

• The ELO Program Code of Conduct and Ethics 

Following the review, we will fill the roles of your team which will include finding a Lead Teacher in the building that you'd like to work with and possibly a Community Partner/Mentor. If your ELO requires a Community Partner/Mentor that connection will need to be made before moving forward to Step 4. Making a partnership with a business can take time.  The Department of Labor has a pre-approved list of partners here.

Once your partnership has been made with a local business, you and the ELO Coordinator, together, will create or begin working on your ELO Agreement Form. This includes the creation of your Essential Questions and Learning Objectives/Goals. Once the Agreement Form is completed (which will need to be reviewed with your Lead Teacher as well), you will need to get signatures from a number of staff members as well as your at-home adult. 

Once your Agreement Form has received ALL needed signatures. The rest of your paperwork will need to be completed. This will include (if applicable) meeting with your Community Partner/Mentor. If your ELO is in the medical field you may have additional paperwork from the Hospital or Medical Practice you'll be working with, including Confidentiality forms. 

Your final form is called an Implementation Form. This form will be completed in a meeting with your in-school team which includes your Lead Teacher and your ELO Coordinator and potentially your Guidance Counselor, Case Manager, etc. This form outlines and drafts your project and creates your curriculum/learning journey from start to finish. 

Your paperwork is complete, the State Departments have approved your forms, and you are up and running! During this time you will be actively participating in the following: 

• Weekly Reflections assigned to you.

• Bi-Weekly meetings with coordinator if requested and/or deemed needed 

• Continuing to pass all of your classes and follow the WRHS Student Handbook rules and expectations 

• Arriving on time to your job shadow(s) and/or internship

• Behaving respectfully, honestly, and professionally while on your job/work/community site 

• Conducting additional research and keeping a journal of your work in order to answer your Essential Questions and meet your Learning Objectives/Goals 

• Participating in a Mid-Point Evaluation and Check-in. This will include meeting with your in-school ELO Team and having a conversation about your progress. 

It's time to begin creating your 3-Part Final. Work with your ELO Coordinator to make sure you have the following documents:

• Final Reflection: 

  • Expectations 

  • Rubric

• Final Product Creation: 

  • Expectations 

  • Rubric

• Final Presentation of Learning: 

  • Expectations 

  • Rubric

You will also be able to schedule a meeting with your ELO Coordinator to review any of the expectations and rubrics for the 3 Parts of your Final. In order to get your ELO credit YOU MUST complete all 3 parts of your final. There are no exceptions, but accommodations can be applied. 

You've done it! You're at the final step. Your final step includes your presentation of learning to a small panel of staff, a peer of your choice, and any additional members of support in your ELO journey. Upon successfully completing your presentation and passing all of your competencies, you will be awarded credit. 

This credit will be reflected on the transcript of the school year you present your learning in. It does not matter if you started your ELO in your Junior year and finished in your Senior year. Your ELO will be reflected ONLY in your Senior year on your transcript. 

You will be asked to complete a final self-assessment of your work, and then you will be finished!

Celebrate all of your hard work!