(2) To participate in the A+ Schools Program,
the chief administrator and school board of a public school district or charter
school with secondary schools or a nonpublic secondary school must-
(A) Demonstrate a commitment to the
established program goals. These goals are to ensure that all students:
1. Graduate from high school;
2. Complete a selection of high school
studies that is challenging and has identified learning expectations;
and
3. Proceed from high school
graduation to a community college, postsecondary career-technical school, or
high wage job with work place skill development opportunities;
(B) Provide assurance that the
eligible secondary school will:
1. Establish
measurable performance standards for the program;
2. Specify the knowledge, skills, and
competencies in measurable terms, that students must demonstrate to
successfully complete any individual course offered by the school, and any
course of studies which will qualify students for graduation from the
school;
3. Establish student
performance standards, that lead to or qualify students for graduation, and
meet or exceed the performance standards adopted by the State Board of
Education (board);
4. Require
rigorous coursework with standards of competency in basic academic subjects for
students pursuing career-technical education or employment; and
5. Develop a partnership plan in cooperation
and with the advice of local business persons, labor leaders, teachers, senior
citizens, parents, and representatives of colleges and postsecondary
career-technical schools, with the plan then approved by the local board of
education. The plan shall specify:
A. A
mechanism to receive updated information on an annual basis from those who
developed the plan in order to best meet the goals of the program;
B. Procedures used in the school to identify
students that may drop out of school and the intervention services to be used
to meet the needs of such students;
C. Counseling and mentoring services provided
to students who will enter the work force upon graduation from high school,
address apprenticeship, and intern programs; and
D. Procedures for the recruitment of
volunteers from the community to serve in the school;
(C) Designate a certificated
employee to serve as the A+ Schools Program coordinator. Nonpublic schools will
designate a qualified employee to serve as the A+ Schools Program
coordinator.
