1. (1) ALSDE shall provide each local board of education with the necessary forms and program guidelines of the Move On When Ready Program in reasonable time to ensure that the local board of education shares such documents with all middle school, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students in the district no later than April 1 of each year.

2. (2) ALSDE shall ensure that each local board of education provides counseling services in accordance with the counseling guidelines to its students and their parents or guardians prior to each student's enrollment in the Move On When Ready Program and that the students and parents or guardians understand the responsibilities that shall be assumed in participating in the program.

   1. (a) The counseling guidelines shall specify which courses offered through the Move On When Ready Program by a participating eligible institution are postsecondary-level courses that are acceptable undergraduate college credit to be recorded on an official college transcript.
   2. (b) Students and their parents or guardians shall be advised that participation in this program may involve exposure to, and engagement in, discussions of mature subject matter. Course curricula shall not be altered or modified for purposes of participation in the program.
3. (3) The local board of education shall require the student and the student's parent or guardian to sign a form that states they have each received the counseling specified in (2) of this section and that they understand the responsibilities that shall be assumed in participating in the program.

4. (4) Eligibility criteria for program participation, including applicable state and federal testing requirements for eligible students participating in the program, are as follows:

   1. (c) Students seeking enrollment in the Move On When Ready Program for postsecondary courses to be applicable for secondary credit must have a minimum cumulative (unweighted) high school grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale.
   2. (d) Students must have written approval of the appropriate principal or career and technical education program representative (if applicable) and counselor. Approval from secondary school officials indicates that the student has demonstrated academic readiness.

   (a)Students entering the 11th or l2th grade.

   (b)Student who spent the prior school year in attendance at a public high school in Alabama.

5. (5) Each local board of education shall grant academic credit to an eligible student enrolled in a course at an eligible institution if that course has been approved pursuant to paragraph (6) of this section and if the participating student successfully completes that course.

6. (6) The state board and representatives of each participating eligible institution shall collaborate to approve courses for inclusion in the program. Any course that is substantially comparable to a high school course approved by the state board, other than a remedial or summer school course, shall be approved.

   1. (a) Co-requisite courses may be approved for inclusion in the program, provided that a student may only receive one secondary credit for the completion of both the co-requisite course and the companion college-level course.
7. (7) The secondary credit granted shall be for the comparable high school course.
8. (8) Secondary school credits granted for eligible institution courses shall be counted toward graduation requirements and subject area requirements of the local board of education. Evidence of successful completion of each course and secondary credits granted shall be included in the eligible student's high school transcript. Secondary credit for postsecondary courses shall be awarded in the same manner as credits for dual enrollment courses.
9. (9) Students who successfully complete a course that is not approved under paragraph (6) of this section may receive secondary credit for purposes of satisfying an elective credit.
10. (10) The state board shall establish rules to require local boards of education to award a high school diploma to any eligible student who has completed the program at an eligible institution, provided that the credit earned at the institution satisfies course requirements needed for the eligible student to complete high school graduation.

11. (11) To enroll in the Move On When Ready Program at a participating institution, an eligible student shall submit copies of all duly executed program documents, as provided by the student's local board of education, to the eligible institution as part of the admission process along with all other standard institutional admission requirements.

    1. (a) An eligible institution that accepts an eligible student for the Move On When Ready Program may not receive any state funds for that participating student unless the institution complies with the requirements of this chapter.
    2. (b) An eligible student enrolled in an eligible institution for secondary credit shall not be eligible for any other state student financial aid for courses taken under the program.
12. (12) To maintain eligibility for this program, the participating student must maintain full-time enrollment status at the participating institution.

13. (13) If accepted at an eligible institution, an eligible student may take any approved course at that institution, whether or not the course is taught during the regular public school day, and receive secondary credit. While taking courses at an eligible institution, the participating student shall be considered a student of that participating institution and may not take any courses at his or her high school or participate in any school activities, including extra-curricular activities, except as provided as follows:

    1. (a) A participating student who successfully completes the Move On When Ready Program at an eligible institution and satisfies the requirements for a high school diploma may participate in his or her official high school graduation ceremony pending approval of the local board of education.
14. (14) Participating students who fail to complete the requirements for a high school diploma while enrolled in the program shall not be reported as high school dropouts on the state report card.
15. (15) A participating student who voluntarily withdraws from a
    participating institution, or is dismissed from enrollment due to a violation of institutional rules or policies, shall be permitted to re-enroll in the high school previously attended in Alabama in accordance with guidelines established by ALSDE.

Author: Stephanie C. Dolan

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §16-5-1; Alabama Act 2025-412.

History: New Rule: Published March 31, 2026; effective May 15, 2026.