Policies_Procedures05

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

ALTERNATIVE COURSE OFFERINGS
(With written approval of administration)

DUAL ENROLLMENT
The Dual Enrollment Program was authorized by the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993. Qualified public high school juniors and seniors can earn both high school and college credit while taking courses at Massachusetts public colleges or community colleges. Lunenburg High School juniors and seniors who meet state and LHS qualifying criteria should see their guidance counselors for further information. Only students with a minimum of a 3.0 average are eligible to apply. Interested students must meet with their guidance counselor during the semester before they plan to enroll.

MAKE UP CREDIT
Summer School: In order to receive full credit for courses taken elsewhere as a result of failing a regular Lunenburg High School course, the student must satisfy the following criteria:
�The student must have originally passed two (2) of the four terms in a full year course (1 out of 2 in a semester course).
�The student must have achieved a final grade of at least 50% in the failed course.

Correspondence Courses: To be used for credit at Lunenburg High School, all correspondence courses must be approved by the school principal. If the course is to be used for graduation in the current year, all work, tests, and examinations must be certified by May 1 in order for the student to take part in graduation. If the course is used for grade promotion, the course must by certified before the opening of the next school year. Course applications and individual completion forms are available in the Guidance Office.

TECH PREP PROGRAM
Tech prep is a two-year sequence of courses that enables junior and seniors to gain experience in a chosen career area. Students must register for the program at the beginning of their junior year and commit to taking at least 2 credits in their career area.

Benefits of the program include:
     - Advance credit at partner colleges, like Mount Wachusctt Community College, New England Institute of
      Technology, and Quinsigamond Community College. We are continually seeking new colleges to join us
       as partners.
     - Participation in career-related field trips, workshops, and seminars.
     - Participation in Leadership Workshop for selected Tech Prep juniors.
     - Tuition-free course at Mount Wachusett Community College for seniors during spring semester.
     - Application fee waiver and early course selection for seniors who choose to attend Mount Wachusett
       Community College.

Students may change career areas if they can commit to completing 2 credits in the new career area prior to graduation. Students may also choose to withdraw from the program at any time without any penalty.

Lunenburg High School is a proud member of the North Central Tech Prep Consortium. This group enables area high schools to share career resources, participate in regional activities, and exchange ideas. Fitchburg State College and Mount Wachusett Community College are also members of the Consortium.

Students may select one of the career areas below and must complete two credits from the courses listed within the career area by the end of their senior year to be eligible for the Tech Prep Certificate:

Engineering Technology
Computer Assisted Design (1/2 credit)
Manufacturing Technology (1 Credit)
Construction Technology (1/2 Credit)
Energy Technology (1/2 credit)
Power Technology (1 credit)

Environmental Science
Horticulture I (1/2 credit)
Horticulture II (1/2 credit)
Terrestrial Ecosystems (1/2 credit)
Aquatic Ecosystems (1/2 credit)

Business Management
Business Law (1/2 credit)
Business Management (1/2 credit)
Marketing (1/2 credit)
PC Applications (1/2 credit)
Microsoft Certification (1/2 credit)

Computer Systems
PC Applications I (1/2 credit)
Microsoft Certification (1/2 credit)
Computer Assisted Design (1/2 Credit)
Intro to Computer Illustration and Graphic Design (1 credit)

NOTE: A STEP Program career internship may be substituted for courses with the approval of the Tech Prep Coordinator. The internship must be directly related to the student�s chosen career area.

For further information, please contact Mr. Smith or Mr. O�Malley.

SENIOR TRANSITIONAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (STEP)

The STEP program will enable seniors to participate in community-based experiences that challenge them to test and refine their future goals. STEP experiences will engage students in one of the following strands:
- Career Experience: Unpaid internships in business or professional placements
- Community Service: Activity that contributes to the local community
- College Transition: Enrollment in courses at local colleges and universities.

Eligibility: Seniors who have earned 16.50 credits are eligible for the program. In addition, students are expected to meet the following criteria for the semester that precedes their participation in a STEP experience:
- 90% school attendance
- Positive school discipline record (no suspensions)
- Successful academic transcript (no course failures)

Credit: Students may choose to participate in a one credit or half credit semester experience.
- A one credit experience requires the student to be enrolled in at least four academic classes and participate for ten hours per week in a STEP placement.
- A half credit experience requires the student to be enrolled in at least five academic classes and participate for five hours per week in a STEP placement.

Schedule: Seniors will schedule STEP experiences in cooperation with their sponsors. The new daily schedule will allow for late arrival and early release, which will facilitate STEP experiences during the traditional work/school day.

STEP experiences will take place during either the fall or spring semester. Students will be notified of proposal approval by the last day of the school year for the fall semester and the Thanksgiving break for the spring semester.

Student Responsibilities: Participating seniors are responsible for the following:
- Locate their own STEP placements and sponsors. (Guidance and administration may assist with information or referrals).
- Prepare a STEP program proposal, which will include:
     o Description of post high school plans
     o Description of proposed experience
     o Schedule
     o Number of credits requested
     o Evaluation plan
     o Expected outcomes (what will you know and be able to do?)
     o Approval by sponsor & parents
- Present the proposal to the faculty committee
- Maintain a daily journal of all activities
- Prepare a weekly reflection paper
- Meet regularly with faculty advisor
- Deliver a final presentation

Advisor Responsibilities: Faculty Advisors will conduct the following activities:
- Mentor, advise and coach STEP program participants
- Hold face-to-face initial meetings with all sponsors
- Meet with program participants on a weekly basis
- Evaluate student performance and provide timely feedback
- Conduct at least one on-site visit
- Assign final grades

INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR CREDIT
Students who have demonstrated great interest in an area through completion of electives, and show a high level of personal responsibility may pursue Independent Study. The student interested in an independent study project must have a teacher-sponsor and a contract proposal outlining work to be accomplished. The Administration grants final approval. The proposal must be presented at least 2 weeks before the intended starting date for the course.

STUDENT TEACHING ASSISTANTS
There are a certain number of opportunities within the school system for students to help other students in the elementary, middle and high schools. Such work usually involves helping a teacher or specialist prepare materials or tutor an individual student. Credit toward graduation may be earned, depending on the amount of time spent and responsibility assumed.

SPECIAL SERVICES
Some students require courses that are not available through the regular curriculum. Alternate courses, taught by special education teachers, are arranged when called for in a student's individual education plan.