January 2020

To: Parents/Guardians of MHS Students

From: Brian Crook

RE: COCC Expanded Options

For the 2020-2021 school year, students will continue to have an opportunity to participate in the Expanded Options Program through Jefferson County School District 509J and Central Oregon Community College (COCC). This program allows high school students to take 100-level or higher college courses onsite at COCC on a seat-available basis. As a COCC student, you can begin earning college credits while still in high school and apply college coursework to high school graduation requirements.

To participate in the Expanded Options Program through Jefferson County School District 509J, you must:

▪ Be enrolled in Madras High School with junior or senior standing (during the 2020-21 school year) or be at least 16 years old at the time of enrollment in the program;
▪ Have an educational learning plan based on post-secondary and career goals;
▪ Have not successfully completed four years of high school, nor received a high school diploma;
▪ Not be a foreign exchange student; and
▪ Apply to COCC and meet prerequisites for any college course in which you want to enroll.

You may enroll in the Expanded Options Program full- or part-time during the regular school year (summer participation is excluded). However, you may not attend classes full-time at your high school and also participate in this program. Enrollment priority is given to high school dropouts and low-income students. Juniors may participate for no more than two academic years; seniors, for one academic year. To maintain participation eligibility, you must earn at least a C grade in each class you take. It is important to note colleges cannot release information about grades, attendance, and classroom behavior to anyone other than the student without a Release of Information.

COCC courses which duplicate a course offered at Madras High School may not be taken at the College. An appeal process is in place through the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Office to decide disputes about duplicate courses. Enrollment costs, tuition, some course fees, and textbooks are paid by Jefferson County School District 509J and, where applicable, become property of the District upon completion of coursework. Students must return textbooks to Student Services at MHS at the end of each term. School district transportation to COCC is not provided. Special Education services identified on an Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be supported by the District.

The number of COCC credits available under this program is limited depending on the number of students participating. In the event student requests exceed the total number of credits available for the school year, participants will be selected through a lottery process established by the School Board with priority given to high school dropouts and low-income students.

To participate in the Expanded Options Program, complete the following steps:

1. Prior to May 1, meet with your high school counselor and complete the Expanded Options Program Intent Form. You must notify Jefferson County School District 509J of your intent to participate and at what level by May 1 in order to enroll in the program for the upcoming school year.
2. Submit an application for admissions to COCC along with the completed Expanded Options Form. Take the Placement Test at COCC. Also, check announcements at MHS as sometimes the COCC Placement test if offered at the MHS campus. To help you prepare for the test, go to https://www.cocc.edu/departments/cap/testing/taking-the-placement-test.aspx
3. When you are admitted to COCC, return to your high school counselor to complete your Expanded Options Authorization form prior to enrolling in a COCC course each term. Only COCC courses authorized through this process are available through Expanded Options and will be paid for.
4. Each quarter, register for COCC classes on your assigned registration day and time.

Be advised that Expanded Options is not an on-demand program; your participation in the program requires the steps outlined above be followed.

For more information or to get your questions about Expanded Options answered, contact your high school counselor.

How do I enroll?

1. Prior to May 1, meet with your high school counselor and complete the Expanded Options Program Intent Form. 

2. Submit an application for admissions to COCC along with the completed Expanded Options Form. Take the Placement Test at COCC.

3. When you are admitted to COCC, return to your high school counselor to complete your Expanded Options Authorization form prior to enrolling in a COCC course each term. 

4. Each quarter, register for COCC classes on your assigned registration day and time.

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