NEPN/NSBA Code: IHD-R

MSAD #37 POLICY

ADULT/COMMUNITY EDUCATION--PROCEDURES

Board Approved Diploma Program Philosophy:

The Board of Directors of MSAD #37 believes that education is a life-long process and that all men and women should have the opportunity to participate in a high school diploma program.

 

Total number of Carnegie units required for graduation:

The course of study for adult students leading to a high school diploma will include a minimum of sixteen (16) credits.

 

Such credits to include the following requirements:

English: Four (4) credits in English to include reading comprehension; appreciation of literature; writing; listening and oral communication skills; the structure and uses of English language; and research and reporting skills.

 

Social Studies: Two (2) credits in social studies, one (l) credit of which will be a comprehensive course in American History that includes instruction in government, the importance of voting, the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, the Constitution of the United States, and the Declaration of Independence; and one (1) credit which may include instruction in economics, geography. political science, history, government, sociology, anthropology, psychology, or career exploration/personal development.  Students who are applying for a M.S.A.D. #37 High School Diploma will be enrolled in and successfully complete at least one diploma level course.

 

Mathematics: Two (2) credits in mathematics that shall include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers; fractions; decimals; percents; simple equations and formulas; measurement; ratios and proportions; graphing; and basic geometry concepts. Students demonstrating proficiency in these basic math skills may substitute Record-keeping/Accounting for one math credit;

 

Science: One (1) credit in science instruction shall be required with a laboratory study.

 

Students may have experiences in the areas of Fine Arts, Computer, Health, Consumer Economics, and Career Education.

 

Name appearing on diploma offered:

M.S.A.D. #37 High School Diploma

 

Eligibility criteria for entrance into the Diploma Program:

Students are to be 17 years of age and their class should have already graduated from high school.

 

Under special circumstances undergraduate students may be allowed to take courses.  These students must have permission from the Adult Education Director and the High School Principal with final approval from the Superintendent of Schools.

 

Persons enrolled in a Maine Adult Education Diploma Program prior to July l, 1988, may graduate under the subject requirements in that Adult Education Diploma Program, as they existed immediately prior to July 1, 1988.  All students who first enroll in a Maine Adult Education Diploma Program after July 1, 1988 must meet the subject requirements of this subsection. Persons transferring from a Maine Adult Education Diploma Program in which they were enrolled prior to July 1, 1988, to another Adult Education Diploma Program within Maine shall maintain their "previously enrolled status."

 

Process used to determine the competency of diploma teachers:

Teachers are deemed qualified to teach adults either by holding current State of Maine teaching certificates or by demonstrated competency as determined by MSAD #37 criteria.  This subsection may be superseded by rules adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to 20-A MRSA Chapter 502, Certification of Education Personnel.

 

The efforts to provide diploma students with other experiences in the following areas include:

·         Fine Arts:  A diploma level class is available.

·         Computer:  Various competency-level courses are available.

·         Health:  Health-related topics will be addressed in the diploma level science classes.

·         Consumer Economics:  Various competency-level courses are available.

·         Career Exploration/Personal development:  Various competency-level courses are available.

 

Courses offered or approaches used to enable students to earn the nine required credits may include, but are not limited to: 

English: reading comprehension; appreciation of literature; writing; listening and oral communication skills; the structure and uses of English language: and research and reporting skills;

 

Social Studies: a comprehensive course in American History that includes instruction in government, the importance of voting, the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence; and one may include instruction in economics, geography, political science, history, government, sociology, anthropology, psychology, or career exploration/personal development;

 

Mathematics: include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers; fractions; decimals; percents; simple equations and formulas; measurement; ratios and proportions; graphing; and basic geometry concepts.

 

External Credit Option:

Of these sixteen (16) credits, a maximum of six (6) may be awarded for out-of-school experiences.  No person will be awarded a high school diploma unless he/she has earned a minimum of one (1) credit through participation in a classroom or ECO learning experience offered by a Maine adult education program. 

 

Guidance Services to Diploma Students:

The director or the director's designee must plan the adult student's individual program. Each person in a High School Diploma Program will have counseling services available.  Student records will be maintained and will include the following:

 

1.     a written description of the students goals and objectives and the procedure by which the student plans to attain his/her goals;

 

2.     academic records including any previous transcript;

 

3.     documentation for credits received through work experience, testing out of courses, apprenticeship programs, volunteer programs, and any other information pertaining to the awarding of credits for competency-level courses are available.

 

Out of School Experience:

Students may be allowed to test out in a maximum of four (4) required and/or elective courses in which they feel competent.

 

Provided the adult education student has been enrolled in and successfully completed a diploma course, a maximum of six (6) credits may be awarded from the following out-of-school experiences:

 

1.     a maximum of two (2) credits from Correspondence Schools;

 

2.     completion of a Maine State Apprenticeship Council approved apprenticeship program, the maximum number of credits to be established locally;

 

3.     one (1) credit may be awarded for military service of not less than two (2) successive years resulting in an honorable discharge or separation; the military experience criterion also covers candidates who have spent a minimum of six (6) years in the National Guard or in the Reserves and who hold an honorable discharge;

 

4.     one (1) credit may be awarded for three (3) consecutive years of work experience in no more than one occupation and two (2) credits for work experience of five (5) years or more in length in no more than two (2) occupations; military experience in excess of the criterion established in number three (3) above may be considered as work experience and may pertain to persons currently on active duty who are in good standing; homemaking experience based on independent living skills may be substituted for paid work experience using the work experience criterion; the maximum number of credits will be established locally;

 

5.     one (1) credit may be awarded a person participating In a forty-five (45) hour volunteer work activity planned and supervised by the director or the director's designee; maximum number of credits will be established locally:

 

6.     credits may be earned by a student through independent study; a maximum number of four (4) credits will be established locally:

 

7.     career exploration is a concept which allows diploma candidates to earn one (1) credit based on forty-five hours of observation/practicum experience in business, industry, institutions or agencies, maximum number of credits will be established locally.

 

 

Approved:  October 31, 2001

 

 

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