Proposed Text
8VAC20-30-20. Minimum requirements for adult high school programs.
Adult high school programs are not part of the 9 through 12 high school program and shall meet the following minimum requirements:
1. Age. An adult student shall be at least 18 years of age.
Under circumstances which local school authorities consider justifiable,
students of school age may enroll in courses offered by the adult high school.
Only in exceptional circumstances should school officials permit a school-aged
individual enrolled in grades 9 through 12 to earn credits toward high school
graduation in adult classes. All educational alternatives must have been
considered prior to placing an enrolled student in an adult class. Such students
would be able to earn a diploma, as provided in 8VAC20-131-50, but would not be
eligible to earn an adult high school diploma. Only those students not
subject to the compulsory attendance requirements of § 22.1-254 of the
Code of Virginia shall be enrolled in an adult high school program.
2. Credit.
a. Satisfactory completion of 108 hours of classroom instruction in a subject shall constitute sufficient evidence for one unit of credit toward a high school diploma.
b. When, in the judgment of the principal or the superintendent, an adult not regularly enrolled in the grades 9 through 12 high school program is able to demonstrate by examination or other objective evidence, satisfactory completion of the work, he may receive credit in accordance with policies adopted by the local school board. It is the responsibility of the school issuing the credit to document the types of examinations employed or other objective evidence used, the testing or assessment procedures, and the extent of progress in each case.
c. Credits earned in adult high school programs shall be transferable as prescribed in the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia within the sponsoring school division and shall be transferable to public secondary schools outside of the sponsoring school division.
3. Diplomas.
a. A diploma, as provided in 8VAC20-131-50, shall be awarded to an adult student who completes all requirements of the diploma regulated by the Board of Education, with the exception of health and physical education requirements, in effect at the time he will graduate.
b. An adult high school diploma shall be awarded to an adult student who completes the course credit requirements in effect for any Board of Education diploma, with the exception of health and physical education course requirements, at the time he first entered the ninth grade. The requirement for specific assessments may be waived if the assessments are no longer administered to students in Virginia public schools.
c. An adult high school diploma shall be awarded to an adult
student who demonstrates through applied performance assessment full mastery of
the National External Diploma Program Generalized Competencies Correlated
with CASAS Competencies, 1996, version 5.0, January 2013, a CASAS
program, as promulgated by the American Council on Education and validated
and endorsed by the United States U.S. Department of Education.
d. A General Achievement Diploma, as provided in
8VAC20-680, shall be awarded to an adult student who completes all requirements
of the diploma. A general achievement adult high school diploma shall be
awarded to a student who is not subject to the compulsory attendance
requirements of § 22.1-254 of the Code of Virginia and who:
(1) Successfully completes the general educational development (GED) program that meets the requirements of the Board of Education's Regulations Governing General Educational Development Certificates (8VAC20-360) and earns a GED certificate;
(2) Earns a Board of Education-approved career and technical education credential, such as the successful completion of an industry certification, a state licensure examination, a national occupational competency assessment, or the Virginia Workplace Readiness Skills Assessment; and
(3) Successfully completes the following courses that incorporate or exceed the applicable Standards of Learning:
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Discipline Area |
Standard Units of Credit Required |
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English |
4 |
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Mathematics |
3 |
|
Science |
2 |
|
History and Social Sciences |
2 |
|
Electives |
9 |
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TOTAL |
20 |
Courses completed to satisfy the requirements in mathematics and science shall include content in courses that incorporate or exceed the content of courses approved by the Board of Education to satisfy any other board-recognized diploma.
Courses completed to satisfy the history and social sciences requirements shall include one unit of credit in Virginia and U.S. history and one unit of credit in Virginia and U.S. government in courses that incorporate or exceed the content of courses approved by the Board of Education to satisfy any other board-recognized diploma.
Courses completed to satisfy the electives requirement shall include at least two sequential electives in an area of concentration or specialization, which may include career and technical education and training.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (8VAC20-30)
National External Diploma Program Generalized Competencies
Correlated with CASAS Competencies, Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment
System EDP/CASAS, 1996.
CHAPTER 680
REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE GENERAL ACHIEVEMENT DIPLOMA (REPEALED)
8VAC20-680-10. Eligibility requirements for the General
Achievement Diploma. (Repealed.)
The General Achievement Diploma is intended to provide a
diploma option for individuals who exit high school without a diploma. It should
not be a first option for high school students.
Individuals who meet one of the following criteria shall be
eligible to earn the General Achievement Diploma:
1. Individuals who are at least 18 years of age and not
enrolled in public school; or
2. Individuals who are not otherwise subject to the
compulsory school attendance requirements set forth in § 22.1-254 of the Code
of Virginia.
8VAC20-680-20. Course, credit, and assessment requirements.
(Repealed.)
A. Credit and assessment requirements for graduation with a
General Achievement Diploma are as follows:
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Assessment required: Achieve a passing score on the GED
examination
B. Courses completed to satisfy the requirements in
mathematics and science shall include content in courses that incorporate or
exceed the content of courses approved by the Board of Education (board) to
satisfy any other board-recognized diploma.
C. Courses completed to satisfy the history/social science
requirements shall include one unit of credit in Virginia and U.S. History and
one unit of credit in Virginia and U.S. Government in courses that incorporate
or exceed the content of courses approved by the board to satisfy any other
board-recognized diploma.
D. Courses completed to satisfy the electives requirement
shall include at least two sequential electives in an area of concentration or
specialization, which may include career and technical education and training.
E. The required number of standard units of credit may be
earned by enrolling in:
1. A public school if the individual meets the age
requirements;
2. A community college or other institution of higher
education;
3. An adult high school program; or
4. Correspondence, distance learning, and online courses.
F. Diploma candidates shall participate in GED preparation.