EAST CHICAGO | Failure is not an option at East Chicago Central High School.

Beginning this school year, students will not earn anything below a C. Superintendent Michael Harding said the responsibility to earn a good grade will rest with the student. He said if a student does not complete the class or is earning less than a C, there will be a variety of options available to the student to earn a satisfactory grade.

He said those options can include the school's new credit recovery program or instruction through the Internet.

Through new programs under way at Central, Harding said students also are able to reconfigure their school day to something more suitable for them.

"We have raised the expectations for students, but we are also providing them the necessary support to be successful," Harding said. "The child and his or her family has the responsibility to meet the standards, and we will help them facilitate that process. We are focused on learning.

Even if the student is not.