High School Course Catalog
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High School Course Catalog 2019-2020 1 Worcester County Public Sc hools WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NEWARK, MARYLAND William L. Gordy, President Eric W. Cropper, Sr., Vice-President Barry Q. Brittingham, Sr. William E. Buchanan Todd A. Ferrante Elena J. McComas Sara D. Thompson Louis H. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools Worcester County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non- discrimination policies: Supervisor of Human Resources Worcester County Board of Education 6270 Worcester Highway Newark, MD 21841 410-632-5000 2019 – 2020 2 Introduction 4 Graduation Requirements 5 Credit Requirements 5 Assessment Requirements 6 Courses Meeting the Fine Arts Requirements 9 Courses Meeting the Technology Education Requirements 9 Courses Meeting the Advanced Technology Education Requirements 9 Program Choices 10 Service Learning Requirements 11 Maryland State Diplomas & Certificates 11 Grading Standards & Procedures 12 Additional Means of Earning Credit 15 Alternatives to Four-Year Enrollment 18 Academic Recognition 20 General Information 22 Course Descriptions 24 Business 25 English 26 Family & Consumer Science 32 Health & Family Life 33 Mathematics 34 Media Arts 42 Military Science 43 Music 46 Physical Education 48 Science 49 Social Studies 53 Technology Education 57 Theatre Arts 59 Visual Arts 60 World Language 63 Work-Based Learning 65 Career & Technology Education Programs of Study 67 Appendix A: WCPS Field Courses 104 Attachment 2A: Local School Systems’ Options for Implementing the CCR & CC Act of 2013 105 MSDE English Language Arts (ELA) Credit, Enrollment and Assessment Requirements 106 MSDE Mathematics Credit, Enrollment and Assessment Requirements. 107 Approved Wor-Wic Community College Course List 108 Approved UMES Course List 118 NCAA Eligibility Requirements 120 Course Index 124 3 Introduction The purpose of the high school program in Worcester County is to help students gain the knowledge and skills needed to follow academic pursuits in post-secondary education, to prepare students for careers in the world of work, and to help develop those citizenship qualities needed to maintain and improve our democratic way of life. If the schools are to achieve the purposes for which they function, an attempt must be made to provide a program of instruction that is meaningful and valuable to each individual eligible for a high school education. School counselors, teachers, and parents need to encourage all students to participate in the most rigorous program for which they may be capable. The awarding of a high school diploma should indicate the student's successful completion of the minimum requirements set forth by the Maryland State Board of Education and the Worcester County Board of Education. The diploma shall be interpreted to mean that the student has complied with the academic, social, and attendance regulations of the school and has successfully completed courses that are commensurate with his/her ability. Students graduating from a Worcester County High School will be required to satisfy all the requirements of the State of Maryland plus those additional requirements of the Worcester County Board of Education. Eligible graduates of the Worcester County Public Schools may be awarded the Worcester County Certificate of Merit 1 and/or a Career and Technology Program Certificate. These certificates provide graduates with documented evidence of the type of high school program completed. The Career and Technology Program also describes the skills obtained while enrolled in a technology program. This certificate should help students understand the skills they possess when seeking employment and help employers assess the proficiencies attained by graduates seeking employment. A Maryland High School Certificate is available only for students with disabilities receiving special education services who are not able to meet the requirements described above. 1 See page 11. 4 Credit Requirements To be awarded a diploma, a student shall be enrolled in a Maryland Public school system and have earned a minimum of 21 credits in the following areas: CORE REQUIREMENTS OTHER REQUIREMENTS State Required Current Specific Credit Subject Area Current Specific Credit Requirements Subject Area Assessed Requirements Course2 1 credit 4 credits Fine Arts English 9 See course list on page 8. PARCC English English 10 English 10 English 11 – American Literature Physical 0.5 credit English 12 – British Literature3 Education 3 credits, including: Health 0.5 credit 1 credit in Algebra concepts PARCC 4 1 credit in Geometry concepts Mathematics Algebra I 1 other Math credit (not Math Technology 1 credit elective credit) Education See course list on page 8. 3 credits, including: 1 credit in U.S. History Government 1-3 credits to include courses beyond Social Studies 1 credit in Local, State and National Electives HSA requirements. Government 1 credit in World History Students entering 9th Grade prior to 2019-20 3 credits, including: 1 credit in Environmental Science 1 credit in Biology Biology 1 additional credit including laboratory HSA/MISA experience, in any or all of the following 2 credits in World Language areas: OR Earth Science, Life Sciences, Physical 2 credits in an approved Advanced Sciences, Chemistry, Physics Technology Program Science Program Choice Students Entering 9th Grade 2019-20 OR 3 credits, including: 4 credits in a State-approved Career 1 credit in Biology & Technology Education Completer 1 credit in Physical Science or Chemistry Program5 1 additional Maryland NGSS science High School course credit including laboratory MISA experience, in any or all of the following areas: Earth, Space, and Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences 2 During transitions from HSA-related assessments to MDCCRS based assessments, graduation requirements for assessments will vary by year of enrollment in the course. Please consult pages 6-7 for more detailed information. 3 Upon teacher recommendation, students may substitute AP English Literature & Composition, College Writing, World Literature, Fundamentals of English I or Fundamentals of English II as their fourth year English credit. 4 While only three credits in mathematics are required for graduation, a student must enroll in a minimum of one course in mathematics each year of high school regardless of the number of high school math credit(s) earned in middle school. Unless a mathematics credit is needed to meet a graduation requirement, a 5th or 6th year student does not need to enroll in a mathematics course. 5 Some programs require more than 4 credits for completion. 5 Assessment Requirements Maryland High School Assessments The assessed courses are English 10, Algebra I, Course 2 of the Maryland NGSS Science Course Sequence, and American Government. The requirements for these assessments vary as a result of the transition from The Maryland High School Assessments to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and the MD Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP). Students should check with the high school counselor to determine the requirements that will affect them. The most current high school graduation requirements from The Maryland Department of Education (MSDE) are as follows: Course Tester Status Assessment Requirement Enrolled in Algebra I for the first time beginning in Participate in PARCC Algebra I Algebra I Fall 2015 Receive a score for Algebra I PARCC Completed Algebra I prior to the Fall of 2015 or Algebra I HSA Enrolled in Algebra I after the 2015-16 school year Pass Algebra I PARCC/MCAP English 10 Enrolled in English 10 after the 2015-16 school year Pass English 10 PARCC/MCAP Enrolled in Biology for the first time during 2016- Participate in Biology HSA 2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019 school years Biology/ Science Entered 9th grade in or after the 2019-20 school year Pass MISA (New Maryland and have completed Course 2 of the required high Integrated Science Assessment – school NGSS science course sequence formerly Biology HSA) American Government Entered 9th Grade after the 2013-14 school year Pass Government HSA Transition Course Information All students shall be assessed using acceptable college placement cut scores no later than 11th grade in both Mathematics and English. If they do not achieve a score that indicates college and career readiness, they will be enrolled in transition course(s) or other instructional opportunities during their 12th grade year. 6 It is important to understand that student performance on the PARCC Algebra I and PARCC English 10 will be a good indicator for how they will perform on the college placement assessments that will evaluate college & career readiness and inform the need for transition courses. Bridge Plan for Academic Validation The Bridge Plan for Academic Validation provides eligible students an additional opportunity to meet the testing requirement that will lead to a Maryland High School Diploma. Students must demonstrate defined knowledge and skills to graduate, either through the traditional testing program, which includes passing or earning the required combined score, or the Bridge Plan program. A WCPS student who thinks (s)he qualifies 6 College and Career Readiness and College Completion Act of 2013 6 for this option is encouraged