ELO Overview for Students

What is an ELO?

• A learning experience for credit, based on your interest(s), that takes place outside of the classroom
• You earn credit based on mastering your competencies, not on how much time it takes you.
• Created by a team that includes:
  • the student
  • a teacher
  • a community partner (a mentor either outside or inside the school who is an expert in your area of interest)
  • a parent or guardian
  • and other key players as determined by your school

ELO examples

Our ELO Examples portfolio can give you an idea of the great range and variety of possible ELOs.

ELOs allow you to:

• Be hands on – work with somebody who is doing this for a job
• Explore something you’re interested in that’s not offered at school
• Get credit recovery, if you need it
• Design a class to fit your learning style
• Get credit for a hobby or extracurricular activity (sport, music, art, etc.)

Students who do ELOs might:

• plan to go to college after high school
• plan to go into a job after high school
• be on the honor roll
• be working with an IEP or Section 504 plan
• enjoy classroom work but want to expand
• prefer “real life” experience to the classroom
• want variety in learning
• have interests that are not part of the traditional curriculum
• and more…

In other words… ANYONE!

ELOs can happen:

• At a job site (e.g., business, agency, studio, police or fire department, etc.)
• Within your school, but in a different role (e.g., lab assistant, food service, information technology, etc.)
• At a combination of places (e.g., home, school and with a community mentor, etc.)

Get started by asking:

• your school’s ELO coordinator
• a teacher
• a guidance counselor
• a principal
• a parent

New Hampshire schools are required to have a policy about ELOs, even if they do not yet offer them. If your school is new to ELOs, this website can help a teacher to get you started.