Number: 115
Section: Programs
Title: Vocational Education
Date Adopted: October 9, 1978
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2003

Purpose
The Board shall provide programs of vocational education:

  1. to prepare students for gainful employment as semi-skilled workers or technicians or semi-professionals in recognized occupations and in new or emerging occupations.
  2. to prepare students for enrollment in advanced or skilled vocational and technical education programs.
  3. to assist students in making informed and meaningful occupation choices. 

Definition 
For purposes of this policy, "vocational education" shall be defined as programs under public supervision and control which provide an organized process of learning experiences designed to develop integrated academic and occupational skills, knowledge, attitudes, work habits and leadership ability for entry into and advancement within various levels of employment in occupational areas of agriculture, business, marketing and distribution, health, home economics, and trade and industry for participation in postsecondary education and training. 

Authority 
The Board will support a program of vocational education that shall include:

  1. vocational planned courses of study as part of the regular curriculum of the school.
  2. a work-study program for the employment of qualified students in public agencies and institutions.
  3. a work release program to offer students experience in private employment.
  4. attendance at the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (ECAT) and participation in a cooperative program of vocational development.
  5. a transition program developed through an Individualized Education Plan of an eligible special education student. 
Responsibility 
In order to maintain these programs, the Board shall apply the same level of supervision as for all other courses in the high school and, in cooperation with the ECAT, establish the number of credits to be awarded towards graduation for vocational education courses of study and for cooperative education programs. 

Delegation of Responsibility 
The Superintendent shall be responsible for developing procedures which shall insure that all in-school programs shall be operated in conformity with the current State Plan for vocational education and shall work cooperatively with the Superintendent's Advisory Council and the Joint Committee of the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology.

  1. All teachers shall be properly certified for their specific teaching assignments.
  2. Admission to vocational education programs is open to such regularly enrolled students as are qualified by their interest, motivation, potential for achieving occupational or other goals of the program. These will be open to eleventh and twelfth grade students who meet state credit requirements.
  3. Upon recommendation, special education students may apply for vocational education programs consistent with the admissions policy of the ECAT.  Eligible students may enter the ECAT in the year that they would be chronologically eleventh graders and shall be registered in the ECAT as "ungraded" students.  The IEP for these students shall be developed in consultation with an appropriate ECAT staff member.
  4. All students participating in approved vocational education programs supervised by the Board or in shared-time programs are considered to be regularly enrolled in the schools of this district, subject to the policies and rules of this Board, and jointly established policies and rules of this district and the ECAT, including rules regarding attendance and discipline for those periods when they are not assigned to outside work projects.