Lane Change Request

A Lane Change is based on 15 quarter credits (10 semester credits) beyond the last earned degree and must be in accordance with the terms and conditions listed in the Elk River Education Association Master Agreement, Section 7.8 -  Compensation for Additional Preparation.

Processing and School Board approval require receipt of the Salary Schedule Lane Change Request Form and official transcripts.  Official Transcripts can be either hard copy via US Mail or electronic.

If submitting an electronic transcript: It must be received directly from the institution via email through a secured site to your building Human Resource Specialist.  Transcripts emailed to the Teacher from the institution and then delivered to Human Resources in any form are not official for the purpose of Lane Changes.

• For a Lane Change to be effective the first contract day, the lane change request form and official transcripts must be received in Human Resources by November 15.
• For a Lane Change to be effective as of January 1, the lane change request form and official transcripts must be received in Human Resources by March 1. 
• The employee is responsible to file in a timely manner, submit all paperwork required, and to complete all follow-ups.
• Credits for television viewing, correspondence work, self-study or undergraduate work must have prior approval from the Credit Evaluation Committee.

Self Study Coursework**

Effective March 25, 2026, the Credit Evaluation Committee has not approved graduate credits from the following institutions or organizations for self - study courses. 

• American College of Education

• Bureau of Education & Research (BER)

• Fresno Pacific University

• Grand Canyon University

• Idaho State University

• Larry Siedow

• Lindenwood University

• Midwest Teachers Institute

• Professional Development Institute (PDI)

• The Teaching Channel

• University of North Dakota (Professional Development for Educators)

• University of Phoenix

• University of San Diego (Professional Development)

Reasons for Non-Approval: Credit requests from these providers typically do not meet our standards due to one or more of the following factors:

Course Design: The courses were originally designed for continuing education clock hours or professional development rather than graduate-level academic credit.

Academic Rigor: The curriculum, assignments, and assessment requirements do not meet the level of rigor required for graduate-level equivalency (e.g., assignments are limited to short discussion posts, brief 2-3 paragraph responses, or personal reflections).

Instructional Materials: Course materials and reading lists lack the necessary depth and academic focus required for approval.

Course Duration: The courses do not meet the minimum requirements for designated instructional time or instructor contact hours.

Limited Instructor Interaction: Opportunities for meaningful contact and substantive feedback from the instructor are limited.

**All self study coursework must be approved by the credit evaluation committee in order to be considered for lane changes.