Vermont Statutes Title 16 Sec. 941
Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 16 Sec. 941
- Blended learning: means a formal education program in which content and instruction are delivered both in a traditional classroom setting and through virtual learning. See
- Career development: means the identification of student interests and aptitudes and the ability to link these to potential career paths and the training and education necessary to succeed on these paths. See
- Dual enrollment: means enrollment by a secondary student in a course offered by an accredited postsecondary institution and for which, upon successful completion of the course, the student will receive:
- Early college: means full-time enrollment, pursuant to subsection 4011(e) of this title, by a 12th grade Vermont student for one academic year in a program offered by a postsecondary institution in which the credits earned apply to secondary school graduation requirements. See
- Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
- Flexible pathways to graduation: means any combination of high-quality academic and experiential components leading to secondary school completion and postsecondary readiness, which may include assessments that allow the student to apply his or her knowledge and skills to tasks that are of interest to that student. See
- Postsecondary planning: means the identification of education and training programs after high school that meet a student's academic, vocational, financial, and social needs and the identification of financial assistance available for those programs. See
- Postsecondary readiness: means the ability to enter the workforce or to pursue postsecondary education or training without the need for remediation. See
- School district: means town school districts, union school districts, interstate school districts, city school districts, unified union districts, and incorporated school districts, each of which is governed by a publicly elected board. See
- Secretary: means the Secretary of Education. See
- Virtual learning: means learning in which the teacher and student communicate concurrently through real-time telecommunication. See
§ 941. Flexible Pathways Initiative
(a) There is created within the Agency a Flexible Pathways Initiative:
(1) to encourage and support the creativity of school districts as they develop and expand high-quality educational experiences that are an integral part of secondary education in the evolving 21st Century classroom;
(2) to promote opportunities for Vermont students to achieve postsecondary readiness through high-quality educational experiences that acknowledge individual goals, learning styles, and abilities; and
(3) to increase the rates of secondary school completion and postsecondary continuation in Vermont.
(b) The Secretary shall develop, publish, and regularly update guidance, in the form of technical assistance, sharing of best practices and model documents, legal interpretations, and other support designed to assist school districts:
(1) to identify and support secondary students who require additional assistance to succeed in school and to identify ways in which individual students would benefit from flexible pathways to graduation;
(2) to work with every student in grade 7 through grade 12 in an ongoing personalized learning planning process that:
(A) identifies the student’s emerging abilities, aptitude, and disposition;
(B) includes participation by families and other engaged adults;
(C) guides decisions regarding course offerings and other high-quality educational experiences; and
(D) is documented by a personalized learning plan;
(3) to create opportunities for secondary students to pursue flexible pathways to graduation that:
(A) increase aspiration and encourage postsecondary continuation of training and education;
(B) are an integral component of a student’s personalized learning plan; and
(C) include:
(i) applied or work-based learning opportunities, including career and career technical education and internships;
(ii) virtual learning and blended learning;
(iii) dual enrollment opportunities as set forth in section 944 of this title;
(iv) early college programs as set forth in subsection 4011(e) of this title;
(v) the High School Completion Program as set forth in section 943 of this title; and
(vi) the Adult Diploma Program and General Educational Development Program as set forth in section 945 of this title; and
(4) to provide students, beginning no later than in grade 7, with career development and postsecondary planning resources to ensure that they are able to take full advantage of the opportunities available within the flexible pathways to graduation and to achieve their career and postsecondary education and training goals.
(c) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed as discouraging or limiting the authority of any school district to develop or continue to provide educational opportunities for its students that are otherwise permitted, including the provision of Advanced Placement courses.
(d) An individual entitlement or private right of action shall not arise from creation of a personalized learning plan. (Added 2013, No. 77, § 1.)