Administrative Rule ADULT EDUCATION Code IHD-R Issued 5/14 Marlboro County School District is committed to assisting adults in obtaining the skills they need to be productive workers, family members, and citizens. Secondary education is necessary for employment and self sufficiency and will assist adults who are parents to become full partners in the educational development of their children. To that end, the district provides the following guidelines for the operation of the adult education program in Marlboro County. Curriculum The adult education program will provide students with a basic education to prepare for the tests of General Educational Development (GED) or to complete the requirements for a state high school diploma. Basic education program The curriculum of the adult basic education program will include organized and systematic instruction in reading, writing and speaking the English language; numeracy; problem solving; English-language acquisition; and other literacy skills. High school diploma program The high school completion component will provide instruction leading to a South Carolina diploma. The number of units will be consistent with the diploma requirements for all students in the district: 24 units in addition to passing the exit examination (see administrative rule IKF-R). A student may transfer credit earned in the adult education program to a secondary school to count toward the units of credit required for a state high school diploma earned through the regular course of study at a high school, if for each unit being transferred, the student has spent a minimum of 120 hours in class time in that subject at that level and the teacher was properly certified to teach the course. No student will graduate from the adult education program prior to the time that he/she would have graduated had he/she remained in a regular high school unless written approval is granted by the high school principal and the state department s office of adult education. For a student to be eligible to receive a state high school diploma, he or she must complete one semester in residence (i.e., through actual attendance in the adult education program). This semester in residence is a prerequisite for the state high school diploma and may not be waived. For the purposes of adult education programs, a semester in residence is defined as follows. a minimum of 60 hours of classroom attendance for a student needing only one unit to graduate a minimum of 30 hours of classroom attendance for a student who needs only one-half unit to graduate Completion of a one-half unit or one unit via the South Carolina Virtual School Program (SCVSP) while enrolled in the adult education program will satisfy the semester-in-residence requirement. The student must complete a study of and pass an examination on the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist papers and American institutions and ideals.
PAGE 2 - IHD-R - ADULT EDUCATION Enrollment Enrollment in the program of adult education for a state high school diploma will be limited to adults who are residents in South Carolina. The maximum student enrollment in the adult education class will be 30 students. Enrollment in the adult education program will be limited to individuals 18 years of age or older who have left the elementary or secondary school, except when the district assigns students under the age of 18 years who are not officially enrolled in a regular school. Students under 18 may be assigned to the adult education program for the following reasons. They exhibit an unusual educational need. They exhibit physical, social or economic problems that can be served more effectively by the adult education program. No student under the age of 16 may be assigned to the adult education program for any reason. Enrollment count Adult students will be counted for enrollment only once during a fiscal year in the same program. Only students who have been instructed a minimum of 12 hours in adult education classes taught by certified adult education instructors or by qualified volunteers will be counted. Credits A student may earn no more than eight units of credit per school year in one or any combination of the following ways. classroom attendance (maximum of six) three units of credit per year while enrolled in adult education and a total of 12 units during his or her high school and/or adult education career via the South Carolina Virtual School Program (SCVSP) passing approved distance learning courses (six units maximum) during high school and/or adult education Approved programs and granting of credit No credit toward a state high school diploma will be granted to any adult education student unless the program has been officially approved in writing by the office of adult education and the office of federal and state accountability. Length of school term The adult education high school diploma program will meet a minimum of 30 weeks and will include a minimum of 60 hours of instruction for each unit of credit (exclusive of registration, exams, issuing materials, etc.). Library/Media center Students enrolled in the high school completion program must be given access to appropriate library facilities or the Internet.
PAGE 3 - IHD-R - ADULT EDUCATION Supervision of instruction Supervision and improvement of the adult education instructional program is the direct responsibility of the adult education director. The director will report to the superintendent in accordance with district policy regarding principals (see policy CFA). The director must either be certified in one of the acceptable areas of certification for an adult education director or hold both an advanced degree in the field of adult education and a South Carolina teaching certificate. Center supervisors or program coordinator must meet the same qualifications for certification as the adult education director, have a master's degree or have a bachelor s degree and five years of adult education experience. Instructors Each adult education teacher must be properly certified and meet the appropriate federal statutory requirements. Each adult education high school subject area teacher must be properly certified and meet appropriate federal statutory requirements to teach the subject area in which he or she is assigned to teach. Each adult learning laboratory teacher must be properly certified in an approved subject area and meet the appropriate federal statutory requirements. Any staff member who is assigned duties in a subject for which he/she is not properly certified must hold a valid teaching credential and must have completed 12 semester hours of credit in the assigned subject. The director of the office of adult education may waive the requirement of properly certified teachers in instances of critical needs. Critical needs may include, but are not limited to, the following. There is no certification available in the particular subject area. There is no certified teacher available because of the location of the class or meeting time of the class. Non-certified teachers must work under the supervision of an on-site, properly certified teacher. Non-certified teachers may not provide instruction in courses awarding Carnegie units of credit. In-service education The program director will develop and implement an organized in-service education program for professional personnel. Staff members should be involved in the planning and evaluation of these activities, which should focus on the problems, needs, purposes, and goals of the adult education program. A copy of the in-service education plan will be made available to the adult education supervisor upon request. Funding The program will be funded in accordance with the district budget on a per pupil basis as determined by the adult student enrollment as of June 30th of each year. The budget will include, but not be limited to, the following allowable expenses. directors salaries teacher salaries instructional materials and supplies employee benefits indirect costs
PAGE 4 - IHD-R - ADULT EDUCATION Nonfundable classes No class or course for adults that is recreational or social will be eligible for funding; therefore, enrollment in such classes will not be counted for funding purposes, and no state or federal adult education funds may be used to support such classes. This standard applies to physical education and physical fitness classes. Program income If the adult education program charges fees for tuition or materials, those funds can only be spent on additional, approved adult education activities. The funds may not go into the district s general fund or be used for any activity other than adult education. Project proposals Project proposals define the plans and methods by which the program will operate and include a needs assessment of the local community served by the program. No reimbursements are made prior to the final approval of a proposal. Applications for innovative-approach programs must be submitted to the office of adult education when a departure from certain established standards is necessary for the implementation of the new program. Requests for prior approval must be made to the office of adult education and must be approved by the office of federal and state accountability. Adult education facilities All facilities will meet the standards of the district in providing educational instruction. All facilities will comply with the safety regulations prescribed by the state fire marshal and with the sanitation and health regulations prescribed by the state board of health. Travel reimbursement When travel expenses are reimbursed through the office of adult education, the district s travel regulations are to be followed but will not exceed the limit of state employee travel regulation. Membership The fees for memberships in professional organizations are disallowed as expenditures from state or federal adult education funds. Health certificates All personnel will be screened for tuberculosis as required by S.C. Code Ann. Sections 4429-150, 160 (1976). Guidelines for screening of school employees for tuberculosis are available in all county health departments. Partnerships The district will partner with other agencies and programs as needed to successfully meet the needs of the adult population. With approval from the office of adult education, the district may contract with another school district for the operation of the adult program. Diploma programs must have written approval from the office of adult education.
PAGE 5 - IHD-R - ADULT EDUCATION Maintenance of records An accurate record of the attendance and achievements of each student must be kept and must be stored in locked, fireproof filing cabinets or vaults or in a secure database with backup copies. Reporting Student enrollment and program expenditure reports will be verified by the director and submitted quarterly to the office of adult education. Issued 5/12/14 *