The Colfax-Mingo Opportunity Program is an alternative setting that is an extension of Colfax-Mingo High School.  The goal is to assist students in obtaining a high school diploma.  These students will be on a modified school day and complete credit recovery courses to obtain a Colfax-Mingo Opportunity Diploma. 

Local At-Risk Programming

The Colfax-Mingo Community School District maintains, adjusts, and audits the programming options and monitoring protocols for identified at-risk students and closely adheres to the Department of Education Standard for At-Risk Education. The following components serve as a framework for PreK-12 local programming options.

Strategies for Identification of At-Risk Students

Colfax-Mingo uses the following criteria, as established by Iowa Code Section 257.39, for the identification of at-risk students. Students must meet two of the following criteria to be eligible and receive services.

  • High rate of absenteeism, truancy, or frequent tardiness
  • Limited connectivity or lack of identification with school, including but not limited to, expressed feelings of not belonging
  • Poor grades, including but not limited to, failing in one or more school subjects or grade levels
  • Low achievement scores in reading or mathematics reflect achievement at least two years or more below grade level

Involvement of All School Personnel

At-risk personnel collaborates and utilizes the district’s professional learning communities format to ensure that all identified students are receiving services to promote their academic success. Plans for providing and improving services for at-risk students reflect efforts by all staff in a comprehensive effort. At-risk personnel are active participants and leaders in the professional development at the building level.

Compliance with Federal and State Non-Discrimination Legislation

Federal and state nondiscrimination legislation supports place attention on at least four strategic areas related to the education of At-Risk students.

  • Identification and placement processes
  • Educational programming and support services
  • Data based decision-making
  • Employment and personnel practices

At-Risk Education

As defined by 281 Iowa Administrative Code 12.2(256), an ‘at-risk student’ means any identified student who needs additional support and who is not meeting or not expected to meet the established goals for the educational program (academic, personal/social, career/vocational). At-risk students include but are not limited to students in the following groups: homeless children and youth, dropouts, returning dropouts, and potential dropouts.

The Colfax-Mingo Community School District will include in its comprehensive school improvement plan the following provisions for meeting the needs of at-risk students 281 Iowa Administrative Code 12.5(13).

  • Valid and systematic procedures and criteria to identify at-risk students throughout the school district’s school-age population,
  • Determination of appropriate ongoing educational strategies for alternative options education programs as required in Iowa Code of section 280.19A, and
  • Review and evaluation of the effectiveness of provisions for at-risk students.

Credit Recovery

Credit Recovery is a secondary intervention option available for all 9th – 12th-grade students who have failed a core course. Students work with an at-risk teacher to ensure the integrity of instruction and credit completion. Credits are traditionally earned through the Edgenuity learning environment. The counselors and at-risk teachers work collaboratively to determine credits that need to be recovered. Credit recovery options are available during the course of the school year, as well as during the summer.

Component Recovery

GUIDING PRACTICES 

An Incomplete or Component Recovery format is intended for students who are lacking evidence of essential learnings from a course but could pass. The content teacher will work collaboratively with the student and parent/guardian to ensure student learning and credit completion. 

Colfax-Mingo Jr/Sr High School Incomplete/Component Recovery Plan