1. The board of trustees of a school district may, subject to the approval of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, operate an alternative program for the education of pupils at risk of dropping out of school, including pupils who are enrolled in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

2. The board of trustees of a school district may submit to the Department, in the form prescribed by the Department, a plan to operate an alternative program.

3. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall review each plan to operate an alternative program submitted to the Department and approve or deny the plan. Approval by the Superintendent constitutes approval of each component of the plan for the alternative program.

4. If a plan for an alternative program is denied by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the board of trustees of a school district may appeal the decision of the Superintendent to the State Board. The State Board may approve or deny the plan for the alternative program upon appeal.

5. An alternative program may include:

(a) A shorter school day or an opportunity for pupils to attend a longer school day than that regularly provided in the school district. The alternative program must provide for a number of minutes of instruction that is equal to or greater than that which would be provided under a program consisting of 180 school days.

(b) An opportunity for pupils to attend classes of instruction during any part of the calendar year.

(c) A comprehensive curriculum that includes elective classes of instruction and career and technical education.

(d) An opportunity for pupils to obtain academic credit through experience gained at work or while engaged in other activities.

(e) An opportunity for pupils to satisfy either:

(1) The requirements for a regular high school diploma; or

(2) The requirements for an adult standard diploma.

(f) The provision of child care for the children of pupils.

(g) The transportation of pupils to and from classes of instruction.

(h) The placement of pupils for independent study pursuant to NRS 389.155, if the board of trustees of the school district determines that the pupil would benefit from such placement.

6. The board of trustees of a school district may operate an alternative program pursuant to this section through a program of distance education pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive.

(Added to NRS by 1993, 458; A 2001, 3156; 2005, 1050; 2007, 1991)