Option Pathway

Option Pathway

Option Pathway is an alternative pathway to graduation. It is designed for students who are significantly deficient in core credits or have extenuating life circumstances that require an alternative pathway to graduation. Students must be at least 16 years of age to be in Option Pathway. 

To be considered for Option Pathway, the student must:

• be recommended to the Option Pathway program by their school counselor on the basis of credit deficiency or other considerable circumstances,
• have met the minimum TABE test requirements in math and reading,
• have a signed parent and/or student Option Pathway contract.

Once enrolled in Option Pathway, students will earn a high school diploma and be counted as a graduate if they:

• complete and pass a WVDE-approved CTE program (or the CIEL program),
• pass all 4 parts of a High School Equivalency (HSE) exam. Currently, the GED is the WVDE-approved HSE exam,
• take any grade-level assessments required by the state (e.g. the state Civics exam that is administered to all seniors).

More Details about the Option Pathway Enrollment Process

The Option Pathway is a blend of Career Technical Education (CTE) courses and the GED Tests. Option Pathway allows approved students to participate in the GED testing program at approved locations without being withdrawn from an accredited high school. The Option Pathway student may receive a high school diploma according to the completion level of the program, per Policy 2444.4. If you are 16, 17, or 18 years old, you may be a candidate for Option Pathway.

Note: This program is voluntary and requires both parent/guardian and student signatures on the Student/Parent Application and Contract.

A preliminary Option Pathway Team meeting is held before a student is selected to begin the Option Program to determine if this is an appropriate placement for the student. Option team members may include but are not limited to:

• Career Tech Ed Principal
• School counselor
• CTE staff member
• School principal
• Option Pathway teacher
• Special Education director/teacher if the candidate has an IEP  The School-Based Assistance Team may be used to comprise the Option Pathway as long as the Option Pathway teacher and a designee from CTE are present when decisions are being made for the Option students.

Screening Process for the Option 1 Pathway Student

• Counselor/instructor identifies student to the Option Pathway:
  • One (1) year or more behind ninth-grade cohort, or
  • At-risk of dropping out of school, or
  • Age inappropriate according to grade level
• With approval from parent/guardian, the student takes the TABE and scores the following minimum scores:
  • 538 in reading
  • 518 in math
• The Option Team meets to discuss placement of the student into the Option Pathway. If they are placed, a meeting is held with the student and the parent/guardian to discuss the expectations, limitations, and requirements of the Option Pathway program. In this meeting:
  • Academic, attendance, and behavioral expectations are discussed.
  • Parent/Student Contract is signed.