WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NEWARK, MARYLAND Eric W. Cropper, Sr., President Dr. Jon M. Andes William E. Buchanan Todd A. Ferrante William L. Gordy Elena J. McComas Donald C. Smack Sr. 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 2021 – 2022 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 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 23 Business 24 English 24 Family & Consumer Science 31 Health & Family Life 32 Mathematics 33 Media Arts 42 Military Science 43 Music 44 Physical Education 45 Science 47 Social Studies 53 Technology Education 58 Theatre Arts 60 Visual Arts 61 World Language 64 Work-Based Learning 67 3 Career & Technology Education Programs of Study 70 Appendix A: WCPS Field Courses 109 Attachment 2A: Local School Systems’ Options for Implementing the CCR & CC Act of 2013 110 MSDE English Language Arts (ELA) Credit, Enrollment and Assessment Requirements 111 MSDE Mathematics Credit, Enrollment and Assessment Requirements. 112 Approved Wor-Wic Community College Course List 113 Approved UMES Course List 123 NCAA Eligibility Requirements 125 Course Index 129 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. See page 11. 4 Graduation Requirements Gr Credit Requirements To be awarded a diploma, a student shall be enrolled in a Maryland Public school system and have earned a minimum of 22 credits in the following areas: CORE REQUIREMENTS OTHER REQUIREMENTS State Required Current Specific Credit Subject Area Current Specific Credit Requirements Subject Area Assessed Requirements Course1 1 credit 4 credits Fine Arts • English 9 See course list on page 8. MCAP English • English 10 English 10 Physical • English 11 – American Literature 0.5 credit Education • English 12 – British Literature3 4 credits, including: Health 0.5 credit • 1 credit in Algebra concepts Mathematics MCAP • 1 credit in Geometry concepts Algebra I Technology 1 credit • 1 other Math credit (not Math Education See course list on page 8. elective credit) 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 HSA/MISA 1 additional credit including laboratory experience, in any or all of the following areas: 2 credits in World Language Earth Science, Life Sciences, Physical OR Sciences, Chemistry, Physics 3-4 credits to complete a State-approved Students Entering 9th Grade 2019-20 Career & Technology Education Completer Science Program Choice 3 credits, including: Program5 1 credit in Biology OR 1 credit in Physical Science or Chemistry 1 3 credits in a State-Approved ROTC additional Maryland NGSS science course credit High School Program including laboratory experience, in any or all of MISA the following areas: Earth, Space, and Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences 1 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. 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 Fall Participation Required 2015 Completed Algebra I prior to the Fall of 2015 Participation Required Algebra I Enrolled in Algebra I after the 2015-16 school year Participation Required English 10 Enrolled in English 10 after the 2015-16 school year Participation Required Enrolled in Biology for the first time during 2016- 2017, Participation Required 2017-2018, 2018-2019 school years Entered 9th grade in the 2020-21 school year and have Participation Required completed Biology in the 2019-20 school year and Chemistry or Physical Science in the 2020-21 school year as part of the required high school NGSS science course sequence. Biology/ Science Entered 9th grade in the 2021-22 school year and have Participation Required completed Biology as part of the required high school NGSS science course sequence. Entered 9th grade in or after the 2022-23 school year and Participation Required have completed Biology as part of the required high school NGSS science course sequence. American Entered 9th Grade after the 2013-14 school year Participation Required Government 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/MCAP Algebra I and PARCC/MCAP 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. College and Career Readiness and College Completion Act of 2013 Add link to toolkit? 6 College and Career Readiness Assessment Requirements As a result of the College and Career Readiness and College Completion Act of 2013, students must also meet certain assessment requirement in addition to the above graduation requirements. The chart below explains the assessment requirements students must meet by Grade 11. Also, please refer to the MSDE English Language Arts and Mathematics assessment requirements located in the Addendum of this catalog. 11th Grade Assessment Senior Coursework Re-Assessment GPA MCAP/PARCC SAT ACT AP Next Gen Dual Enrollment by If a student is not college • The verified, ACCUPLACER Local Agreement and/or career determined cumulative, at the end of 11th grade, unweighted high (Wor-Wic) he/she will: school GPA of3.0 or better be used to English Lang. English 10 score of Score of 480 or Score of 21 or greater