Resources and Allocation; Vocational and Adult Standard and Criteria.

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RA-v 19	RA-v 20	RA-v 21	RA-v 22	RA-v 23	RA-v 24	RA-v 30	RA-v 31
RA-v 32	RA-v 33	RA-v 40	RA-v 41	RA-v 42	RA-v 43	RA-v 44	RA-v 45
RA-v 46	RA-v 47	RA-v 48	RA-v 49	RA-v 50	RA-v 51	RA-v 52	RA-v 53
RA-v 54	RA-v 60	RA-v 61	RA-v 62	RA-v 63	RA-v 64	RA-v 65	RA-v 66
RA-v 67	RA-v 70	RA-v 71	RA-v 72	RA-v 73	RA-v 74	RA-v 75	RA-v 76
RA-v 77	RA-v 78	RA-v 79	RA-v 80	RA-v 81

Resources and Allocation

The space, facilities, and environment of the school are safe for students and of a size, configuration, and condition to properly serve the attainment of the goals of the school. Those people serving students are qualified to do so through documented training and experience. Sufficient time is organized so that the school community's mission, goals, and current improvement initiatives can be fulfilled. A coordinated system designed to increase students' access to information and expand their knowledge base is available. Sufficient financial resources are available to provide space, people, time, materials, and instructional programs to maximize the potential for all students to make successful life transitions.

Time

RA-v 1	Interruptions to instructional time are kept to a minimum, and the amount of time devoted to student learning is maximized.

RA-v 2	Planning/conference time is used appropriately so that staff may effectively meet the needs of students.

RA-v 3	Within the basic school day, each classroom teacher's schedule includes one period daily or not less than 200 minutes per week for conferences and instructional planning. The preparation period must be included within the framework of the total school day. The standard does not apply to people involved in special services such as administrators, counselors, librarians, and to people in certain vocational and special education areas as approved by the NCA State Committee and under the state plan nor does it apply to teachers teaching fewer than 25 hours per week.

RA-v 4	A member school organizes its schedule of classes in a pattern most appropriate to achieving the objectives of the program and may provide varying time periods as need arises. Time periods must conform to state requirements.

RA-v 5	The length of the regular school year for vocational school students is at least 180 days, with classes actually in session for at least 175 days. The length of the school year for adult schools is a minimum of 30 weeks.

RA-v 6	A school day for vocational students must be at least six clock hours. Students may be assigned for all or any portion of this time. Adult schools must offer classes a minimum of three hours per day for four days each week during the 30 weeks. However, alternate plans may be presented to the State Committee for consideration and approval. The sharing of the student's time between an area vocational center and a sending high school is endorsed.

RA-v 7	The adult instructional program recognizes the wide diversity of student interests and experiences, providing for independent instruction and continu-ous study in addition to formal classes based on daily, weekly, semester, or quarterly schedules.

Space

RA-v 10	All space and facilities utilized by the school are of appropriate size, configuration, and condition to enhance the achievement of the goals of the school.

RA-v 11	The site and facilities provide a safe and healthful environment with proper provisions taken to prevent injuries. Power and electrical equipment meet state and federal standards. Personal safety equipment is provided and its use enforced.

RA-v 12	Fire, police, health, or other designated officials conduct regular safety inspections. All legal safety requirements are observed.

RA-v 13	Inspections of the site, building, and equipment and evaluation of the safety and emergency procedures are conducted regularly. Identified hazards and deficiencies are dealt with promptly.

RA-v 14	Provision is made for security and safety of students in terms of both in-school disorder and external intrusion.

RA-v 15	The site is readily accessible to the school population; as free as possible from traffic, other hazards, and distracting noise; and of sufficient size.

RA-v 16	The building is clean, attractive, in good repair, and (where required) barrier free to serve the needs of all students.

RA-v 17	Recognized standards and legal requirements for heating, ventilation, and illumination are met.

RA-v 18	School facilities and equipment are appropriate in size, type, and quantity for the students attending the school including students with special needs. Appropriate space is provided for storage, materials preparation, and consultation.

RA-v 19	The buildings and grounds are maintained with consideration for functional and aesthetic values.

RA-v 20	Permanent records of students and staff are protected from theft, fire, or other damage.

RA-v 21	School facilities are open, as necessary to accomplish the mission and goals of the school, for extended hours and days for student and public use.

RA-v 22	In cases in which a secondary program and an adult program share facilities but are separately administered, the proper school authority clarifies each administrator's area of responsibility.

RA-v 23	The facilities used in the vocational-adult education program are adequately supplied with equipment sufficiently modern and usable to effect sound instructional/learning programs.

RA-v 24	An appropriate schedule for the replacement of equipment is established and maintained.

Personnel

RA-v 30	The school staff is of sufficient quality and number and appropriately assigned so that the school can achieve the goals of the school.

RA-v 31	Schools enrolling fewer than 250 students (full-time equivalency) employ an administrative head who devotes at least half time to the administration and supervision of the school. Schools enrolling 250 or more students (full-time equivalency) employ a full-time administrative head. The school system designates (by whatever title it chooses) a head who has the authority and responsibility for organizing and directing the vocational and/or adult education program within the district.

RA-v 32	In order to permit the school administrator to have sufficient time to engage in improvement of instruction, assistance is provided as follows: When on a full-time equivalency basis enrollment exceeds 500, at least one half-time assistant; when enrollment exceeds 1,000 students, at least one full-time assistant. Therefore, for each additional 1,000 students or major fraction thereof, at least one full-time assistant is provided. Schools may vary their approaches to administrative staffing and submit their plan to the State Committee for approval. In districts in which the superintendent also serves as the building administrator, at least one half-time assistant is to be added to these requirements.

RA-v 33	The school is in compliance with state and federal laws regarding equal employment opportunities.

Preparation and Qualifications

RA-v 40	All professional personnel hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, meet the regular certification standards of the state or the equivalent, and are assigned to teach in areas for which they are prepared.

RA-v 41	All teachers in vocational/adult schools meet the requirements for instructors as established by the appropriate state governing body. All baccalaureate degrees have been earned from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association.

RA-v 42	Teachers in diploma-completion programs, GED programs, and subjects for which NCA CASI requirements have been established must meet those standards (generally 24 semester hours in the field).

RA-v 43	Teaching Fields: Vocational teachers in the following fields have the minimum number of semester hours of credit hereinafter prescribed in order to qualify for teaching assignments in their respective fields.
	Agriculture: 24 semester hours in agriculture. Business: 24 semester hours in business with at least one college course in each high school subject assigned (with the exception of vocational business courses not routinely taught in a comprehensive high school; these teachers must meet the requirements set forth in the state plan). Drafting, General Drawing, Mechanical Drawing (Non-Vocational): 18 semester hours in drawing or 20 semester hours in industrial arts including at least 5 hours in drawing. The teacher may also qualify by combining art and/or industrial arts to total 20 semester hours. Electronics (Non-Vocational): These teachers must be qualified in either science or industrial arts with appropriate coursework in the general area of electronics. Family and Consumer Science: 24 semester hours in the field (with the exception of vocational home economics courses; these teachers must meet the requirements set forth in the state plan). Industrial Technology: 20 semester hours in industrial technology including at least one course in each subject taught. Driver Education, Industrial Education (Vocational), Remedial Teachers, Special Education, and others: Teachers of these subjects, and of all other subjects for which NCA requirements have not been established, will be approved by the Commission if they hold a certificate for the respective field issued by the state in which they are teaching. In the absence of such state certification, approval is left to the judgment of the State Committee. Teachers of Other Subjects: These teachers must meet the requirements noted in the state plan or requirements of the appropriate state governing body.

RA-v 44	Counselor: Professional staff members employed as guidance counselors have at least 18 semester hours of graduate preparation in guidance and counseling.

RA-v 45	Media Specialists: Media specialists in adult schools meet state teacher certification requirements and have earned a minimum of 18 semester hours of library/media coursework. Persons employed principally as audio-visual specialists have at least 12 semester hours of credit in this field. In vocational schools, media specialists have specific educational preparation appropriate to the needs of the media program in each school.

RA-v 46	Health Personnel: Members of the noninstructional professional staff providing health services meet the health certification requirements of the state in which the school is located.

RA-v 47	The administrative head of the school has earned at least 45 hours of graduate credit, inclusive of the master's degree, or has met the requirements established by the state plan for vocational, technical, and adult education and was serving as the head of a vocational/adult school prior to December 1, 1971. Not less than 20 semester hours of graduate credit has been in administration, curriculum, supervision and related fields. The administrative head has a minimum of two years of successful teaching experience. It is desirable that the administrative head be acquainted with the field of vocational education through preparation or work experience. In addition, she/he must hold an appropriate supervisory (administrative) certificate when such is required by state statute or by the state plan.

RA-v 48	Assistants in charge of curriculum, instruction, and general administration have at least the master's degree including training in secondary-level school administration, supervision, curriculum, and guidance. Other administrative assistants have preparation or experience appropriate to their responsibilities. It is desirable that all assistants be acquainted with the field of vocational education through preparation or work experience.

RA-v 49	In adult high schools scheduling 25 or fewer hours per week, the administrative head has at least the master's degree, including work in such areas as adult education, administration, supervision, and curriculum.

RA-v 50	Secondary Teaching Staff. Teachers have 24 semester hours in the field (agriculture, art, business, English, each foreign language, health, family and consumer sciences, industrial technology, mathematics, music, physical education, science, social studies). Coursework is appropriately distributed for each subject taught.

RA-v 51	Special education. Teachers hold a valid certificate for the respective field in which they are teaching.

RA-v 52	All other subjects. Teachers of other subjects for which NCA requirements have not been established are approved if they hold state certification or have a minimum of 9 semester hours in the subject.

RA-v 53	Class size is adapted to the requirements of the specific course.

RA-v 54	The teaching load is such that teachers have adequate time to perform their duties. Except in certain activity-type classes such as typewriting, physical education, and music, the average pupil load for a teacher does not exceed 160 pupils daily.

Finances

RA-v 60	Sufficient financial resources are available to accomplish the mission and goals of the school.

RA-v 61	All income and expenditures are safeguarded through proper budgetary procedures and are audited annually or as required by law.

RA-v 62	The budget is based upon an assessment of resources needed to accomplish the mission and goals of the school.

RA-v 63	The principal and faculty are involved in developing the budget, in establishing expenditure allocations, and in setting priorities with the budget.

RA-v 64	In analyzing the resources needed, the school makes appropriate use of community resources and community advisory groups.

RA-v 65	In order to become a member school and to continue to qualify for accreditation, the school enrolls a sufficient number of students and employs an adequate number of qualified staff. The minimum program in breadth of curriculum offerings, student activities, and student personnel services is stipulated elsewhere in these standards.

RA-v 66	All coursework required in the diploma completion program is provided, even though board funds may have to be used in cases where student fees are not sufficient to make the course self-supporting.

RA-v 67	The budget includes adequate funds for the necessary amortization of equipment purchases over a reasonable period of time.

Instructional Resources

Students have access to a broad range of information through an organized media and technology program that makes maximum use of local, state, national, and international resources.

RA-v 70	Member schools employ a professionally prepared individual as learning center coordinator. Schools exceeding 500 full-time students (full-time equivalency) have a full-time professionally prepared coordinator. The professional staff provides such services as instructing students in the use of the center, assisting teachers in locating and utilizing resources, and overseeing the production of graphic and other materials. Upon approval of the State Committee, the school may use an alternative staffing pattern if the school schedule or relationship with sending schools warrants such a variation.

RA-v 71	A sufficient collection of books exclusive of the adopted texts and appropriate for the school's instructional needs is provided.

RA-v 72	Educational materials may be stored in a central library/resource center and/or decentralized print resource area. Other library resources in the community may be considered in determining the sufficiency of the print material collection, provided they are readily accessible to the students.

RA-v 73	The annual expenditures for all media are adequate to meet the instructional needs of the vocational/adult school.

RA-v 74	Ongoing instruction is provided for staff and students to ensure effective and appropriate use of all materials available through the center.

RA-v 75	Provision is made for equipment, basic materials, space, and instruction for the staff and students in designing and producing instructional/ learning materials. Provision is made for the replacement and updating of all materials.

RA-v 76	Media and technology materials and equipment are available to staff and students throughout the school day and throughout the school year. If the library/instructional materials center is being shared with a day/evening school, the vocational/adult students have full borrowing privileges.

Information Technology

RA-v 77	The school has an ongoing instructional technology plan that addresses utilization, staff development, effectiveness, and the needs of all students and staff.

RA-v 78	The instructional technology plan includes a budget that is realistic for the needs of students and prepares them for living and learning in the 21st century.

RA-v 79	The school has access to current technology to continually expand its information base.

RA-v 80	All technology resources are conveniently accessible to all students, faculty, and staff and are integrated across the curriculum.

RA-v 81	Personnel with appropriate expertise are available to assist students and staff in making effective use of all technology resources.