Middle Level Credit / Idaho Department of Education

Middle Level Credit

The State of Idaho has middle level requirements for Idaho public schools with the purpose of improving rigor, relevance, and relationships in the middle grades; ensuring every Idaho student is prepared to be successful in high school and beyond.

Learn more about middle level requirements such as the middle level credit system, career pathway plans, instruction requirements and more.

Career Pathway Plan

No later than the end of grade eight (8) each student shall develop a parent-approved student career pathway plan for their high school and post-high school options. The career pathway plan shall be developed by students with the assistance of parents or guardians, and with advice and recommendation from school personnel. It shall be reviewed annually. The plan should include, at minimum, a list of courses and learning activities in which the student will engage while working toward graduation standards.

NextSteps.idaho.gov has prepared helpful resources for the career pathway plan.

Middle Level Credit System

Each LEA's middle level credit system must include the following minimum requirements no later than 7th grade. The local educational agency may establish requirements beyond these minimums:

A school district must implement a credit system no later than grade seven (7) that includes components that address the credit requirements, credit recovery, alternate mechanisms and attendance. The school district may establish credit requirements beyond the state minimum. The credit system shall require a student to attain a portion of the total credits attempted in each area in which credits are attempted except for areas in which instruction is less than a school year before the student will be eligible for promotion to the next grade level.
A student who does not meet the minim requirements of the credit system shall be given an opportunity to recover credits or complete an alternate mechanism in order to become eligible for promotion to next grade level.
A school district may establish an alternate mechanism to determine eligibility for grade level promotion. The alternate mechanism shall require a student to demonstrate proficiency of the appropriate content standards. All locally established mechanisms used to demonstrate proficiency will be forwarded to the Idaho Department of Education. Alternate mechanisms must be re-submitted to the Department when changes are made to the mechanism.
Attendance shall be an element included in the credit system, alternate mechanism or both.

For consideration a student must have met the grade eight (8) mathematics standards before the student shall be permitted to enter grade nine (9).

*Students using an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may establish alternate requirement or accommodations in accordance with the Disabilities Education Improvement Act and be eligible for promotion to the next grade level.

*Limited English Proficient (LEP) students may have alternate requirements or accommodations to credit requirements as deemed necessary for the student to become eligible for promotion to the next grade level.

Instruction Requirements

Course instruction requirements for Middle Schools and Junior Highs include:

Career exploration (grade 7 or 8 student must complete one course)
Health (wellness)
Physical Education (fitness)
Computational thinking and digital literacy

School required offerings include:

Fine and Performing Arts
Career Technical Education
An Advisory Period (middle school only, encouraged in junior high school)

Middle School to High School Credit

Students can potentially earn high school credit while in middle school or junior high.

A student will have met high school content and credit area requirements for any high school course if the requirements below are met:

The student completes such course with a grade of C or higher before entering grade nine (9).
The course meets the same content standards that are required in high school for the same course.
The course is taught by a teacher properly certified to each high school content and who meets the federal definition of highly qualified for the course being taught.

The student shall be given a grade for the successful completion of that course and such grade and the number of credit hours assigned to the course shall be transferred to the student's high school transcript. Notwithstanding this requirement, the student's parent or guardian shall be notified in advance when credits are going to be transcribed and may elect to not have the credits and grade transferred to the student's high school transcript. Courses taken in middle school appearing in the student's high school transcript, shall count for the purpose of high school graduation.

*Students using Advanced Opportunities funding for middle school courses need to meet the above consideration as they are required be transcribed to the high school transcript. Electing to use Advanced Opportunities funds is agreeing to high school transcription requirements.

**Student must complete the required number of credits in all high school core subjects as identified in Idaho Administrative Rule 08.02.03.105.01.c. through 105.01.h. except as provided in 105.01.d.iii.

Resource Files

Rule Language

08.02.03.107 — Middle Level Credit System

Student Accountability Sample Policies

Frequently Asked Questions

Student Accountability

The formula for credit is determined by the local educational agency.

A local education agency (LEA) must allow a student an opportunity to recover credits or complete an alternate mechanism to become eligible for promotion to the next grade level. There is no prescribed form for credit recovery and an LEA may utilize multiple methods and strategies. Credit recovery does not have to be uniform for all students and can be customized to fit an individual student's learning style and environment.

A LEA may implement an alternate mechanism for grade level promotion for a student who may not meet the requirements of the credit system. The alternate mechanism allows a student to demonstrate proficiency in the appropriate content standards. This can apply to all courses of study or to specific subject areas in which a student may not be earning credits. Credit recovery is a narrower focus on a particular course or actions that caused or is leading to credit loss. An alternate mechanism or credit recovery does not have to wait to be implemented until credit loss has already occurred. Schools are encouraged to intervene early and often when it starts to appear that a student may not meet their credit requirements.

Meaningful advisory programs recognize the use of instructional time and financial investment. Evidence suggests that effective advisory programs can help students:
- Achieve academic goals
- Build student-to-student relationship and belonging
- Reflect and recalibrate on topics
- Establish advisor-advisee relationships
- Communicate and develop social skills
- Energize and engage in school

Student advisory programs provide an opportunity for middle level student schools to introduce an adult advocate into the life of every student in the school. Many young adolescents suffer from feelings of isolation and loneliness, and advisory activities allow them to connect with caring adults and other students. A review of the research and a compilation of countless accounts of successful advisories provide the following organization hallmarks of effective programs (from the Association for Middle Level Education):
- Advisory meets for 20-30 minutes daily but no less than three times a week
- All teachers serve as advisors
- Advisory meets in the morning rather than the end of the day
- Advisory groups are composed of 10-18 students
- Advisory groups have a space to meet in that is their own
- Each advisory has its own name and identity
- Activities used are varied and student centered
- Advisory groups occasionally meet apart from the school for a special activity
- Advisors know well the unique needs and characteristics of each advisee

Training Resources

Resource Links

Next Steps Idaho