Weighted-curriculum education
Weighted-curriculum education refers to intensified and advanced instruction in a subject. A separate teaching group can be formed with the pupils in weighted-curriculum education in the school. Weighted-curriculum education is included in optional subjects for grades 8 and 9, and its reduces other options in these grades.
Weighted-curriculum education can be specific to a municipality or a school. School-specific weighted-curriculum education is instruction with a certain emphasis intended for the school’s own pupils in subjects or multidisciplinary modules selected by the school. Admission to municipality-specific instruction with a certain emphasis, on the other hand, is through separate application process and admission test.
Guardians are informed separately of the time and content of admission tests to municipality-specific instruction with a certain emphasis. A pupil may apply for a place in at most two different types of instruction with a special emphasis. Pupils who demonstrate sufficient skills in a separate admission test or advance assignment are admitted to instruction with a special emphasis. Applications to instruction with a special emphasis and the order of preferences indicated in the application are binding. This applies to studying in instruction with a special emphasis until the end of grade 6. If the pupil applies for a place in two types of instruction with a special emphasis and is admitted to both options, their school place is determined by their first preference. If there are more applicants who fulfil the criteria than places, the pupils are selected by drawing lots. The applicants are informed of the admissions in writing.
If the school is not the pupil’s local one, the guardian is responsible for any costs incurred from transporting and escorting the pupil. School transport may also be granted to a school other than the local school, however, if the transport costs are the same or less expensive than those incurred from the pupil’s transport to their local school. In this case, the prerequisite is that travel to school takes place by public transport. The guardian must always apply for transport using the school transport application form. The guardian is also responsible for the costs of school transport when the pupil needs transport to school due to an illness or leisure time accident. Temporary school transport required because of an accident that occurred at school is arranged by the school if necessary.
A pupil who has announced their intention to move to Kuopio in the application stage may be admitted to instruction with a special emphasis if their municipality of residence is Kuopio at the beginning of the school year (1 August) and they have taken the admission test or completed the advance assignment acceptably. Pupils not living in the municipality may be admitted to instruction with a special emphasis if the applicant has taken the admission test or completed the advance assignment acceptably and there are free places in the school after applications from pupils living in the municipality have been processed.
