Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
The purpose of the Adult High School Diploma program is to
provide an opportunity for persons with an exemption from compulsory attendance
to earn an Oregon diploma.
(1)
Definitions. As used in this rule:
(a) "Adult
High School Diploma" or "AHSD" means a diploma that fulfills all state
requirements as provided in OAR 581-022-2000 and the community college program
requirements as defined in the approved program plan, and is issued by a
community college with an approved program plan on file at the Office of
Community College and Workforce Development.
(b) "Adult high school diploma credit" means
credit earned by the student prior to enrolling in or earned outside of the
AHSD program for academic coursework, as well as credit awarded by the
community college for proficiency and life experience, but does not include
credit awarded for challenge tests.
(c) "Adult high school diploma academic
credit" means credit earned by the student at the community college for
academic coursework, from either secondary level or community college
courses.
(2) The
Commission shall oversee the AHSD as provided in ORS 351.768 and ORS
339.505(1)
and approve AHSD programs of the community colleges. The Commission delegates
administrative responsibilities to the Director to review and make a
recommendation to the Commission regarding program approval.
(3) The Office shall administer the statewide
AHSD program and establish policies and procedures for the approval and
monitoring of AHSD programs.
(4)
Community colleges are authorized to award the AHSD subject to Commission
approval of the community college AHSD plan, consistent with these rules, and
consistent with administrative policies and procedures of the Office.
(5) To be eligible to receive an AHSD, a
student shall:
(a) Have an exemption from
compulsory attendance as provided in OAR 581-021-0076 and ORS
339.030(2),
or otherwise not be required to attend as provided in ORS
339.010;
(b) Fulfill all state requirements as
provided in OAR 581-022-2000 or other rules establishing minimum requirements
for an Oregon diploma;
(c) Earn at
least one adult high school diploma academic credit from a community college
with an approved program; and
(d)
Fulfill all program requirements as described in the approved community college
AHSD program plan.
(6) A
community college shall adopt policies and procedures for the approval of the
AHSD program plan. These policies and procedures shall provide that:
(a) Before the community college may award an
AHSD, the college shall have an approved program plan on file at the Office.
The plan shall be approved by the local community college board of education
prior to being filed for review with the Office and recommendation for approval
by the Director. The community college shall submit the plan to the Office on a
date and in a format described in guidance documents provided by the
Office.
(b) The filing process
shall be complete when the Commission has approved the plan and the community
college has received a letter of authorization from the Office.
(c) The plan must include but is not limited
to:
(A) The statement of assurances described
in guidance documents provided by the Office; and
(B) A description of the following:
(i) Program mission and goals;
(ii) Admission requirements;
(iii) Student orientation and
advising;
(iv) Maintenance of
student records;
(v) Services for
students with disabilities;
(vi)
Student assessment and completion criteria;
(vii) Course offerings;
(viii) Personalized learning;
(ix) Awarding adult high school diploma
credit;
(x) Minimum credit
requirement;
(xi) Other community
college or program requirements; and
(xii) Recognition of student
achievement.
(7) Once a plan is approved by the
Commission, monitoring and evaluation of the approved plan is by the Office
through the Director, pursuant to standards and rules of the Commission.
Monitoring and evaluation shall include annual reporting by the community
college with such information as the Office may require.
(8) A community college shall adopt policies
and procedures for the annual update of the AHSD program plan. These policies
and procedures shall provide that:
(a) The
program shall submit annually the signed statement of assurances as required by
the Office.
(b) The program shall
submit annually a plan update and statistical reports as required by the
Office.
(c) The program shall
participate in ongoing program monitoring and evaluation as required by the
Office.
(9) All
community colleges are presumed to maintain an approved AHSD program unless the
college has been found to be deficient by the Director, pursuant to the AHSD
plan requirements.
(10) If any
deficiency is not corrected before the beginning of the program year following
the date of the finding of deficiency and if an extension has not been granted
under section (11), the Director may recommend to the Commission that AHSD
program approval be rescinded until any such deficiency is corrected unless the
recommendation would create an undue hardship, as determined pursuant to rules
of the Commission.
(11) The
Director must submit notification to a community college regarding a deficiency
that will require the community college to submit a corrective action plan and
a staff member of the Office staff shall contact the community college and
offer technical assistance.
(a) Within 90 days
of the finding of deficiency, a community college shall submit a corrective
action plan acceptable to the Commissioner for meeting AHSD plan
requirements.
(b) When an
acceptable plan for meeting AHSD plan requirements has been submitted, the
Director may allow an extension of time before recommending program approval be
rescinded, not to exceed 12 months, if the Director determines that any such
deficiency cannot be corrected or removed before the beginning of the next
program year.
(12)
Pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission, the Director may extend the time
specified for submitting a corrective action plan if the Director determines
that a human-created disaster or a natural disaster affects the ability of the
community college to comply with the date requirement.
(13) The Commission may suspend, revoke, or
refuse to renew its approval of an AHSD program if:
(a) The community college fails to maintain
the requirements in OAR 581-022-2000;
(b) The community college fails to maintain
the requirements in OAR 589-007-0600; or
(c) The community college refuses to
implement corrective actions before the beginning of the next program year or
by the end of the granted extension period.
(14) A community college may request to
terminate its AHSD program by submitting a letter of termination from the
community college board.
(15)
Program suspension or termination begins on the date that:
(a) The Commission suspends, revokes, or
refuses to renew its approval of an AHSD program; or
(b) The college designates as the final
operating date in its letter of termination.
(16) Suspended or terminated programs
requesting re-approval are required to utilize the AHSD Program Approval
Procedure identified by the Office.
Statutory/Other Authority: ORS
339.030
Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS
339.505
