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The Adult Diploma
Progrom (ADP) is an assessment process that asks adults to demonstrate 64 competencies
and eight standards. The 64 competencies (*PDF) and eight
standards
(*PDF) include skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, observing, critical
thinking, decision making, computation, arts, health, social awareness, consumer
awareness, scientific awareness, and occupational preparedness.
The students
are asked to demonstrate these skills on practical tasks relevant to adult lives.
For example, a student might be asked to:
- Write a letter;
- Compare products
and make a purchase decision;
- Calculate
and compare interest rates on a loan;
- Read a newspaper
article; and
- Locate community
resources.
Completing
the assigned tasks will call on the student to gather information, organize and analyze
information, draw conclusions, and apply findings to real problems and/or projects.
Students complete their tasks at home and meet with an assessor to review it against
the list of skills and performance criteria for satisfactory completion.
The Adult Diploma Program is designed specifically for adults with experience in
meeting family and work responsibilities. ADP works best with adults age 21 or older
who have been out of school for several years. Persons age 18-20 years of age can
enroll with an age waiver from their high school. Students can work at their own
pace and at a location convenient to them, tailor assignments to fit with their own
experiences and needs, and receive individualized feedback and support from the ADP
assessor. ADP works with nearly 600 adults each year. Many choose to enroll in APD
because they prefer to work on practical projects rather than take an exam like the
GED and because it enables them to earn a high school diploma from their local high
school rather than an equivalency certificate.
There are no fees charged to an adult who enrolls in the Adult Diploma Program. ADP
costs are reimbursed from the state education fund on a per student basis. The program
is operated under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education which contracts
with a non-profit organization for delivery of ADP services statewide. ADP is currently
delivered through Vermont Adult Learning, a statewide adult education organization.
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Most students
take 4-9 months to complete the two phases of the ADP assessment process. The length
of time required varies based on individual schedules and different needs for instruction
in conjunction with ADP:
Diagnostic Phase (Phase I)
New students begin
their ADP experience by completing a series of basic skills assessments. The purpose
of this phase is to diagnose if the student has the reading, writing, and math skills
necessary to complete the take home projects. The student meets with an assessor
to complete the written and oral assessments. If the student successfully demonstrates
the required reading, writing, and math skills, he/she advances to phase II. Students
who do not demonstrate the required skills in the diagnostic phase are given a profile
of the skills they need to upgrade and a referral to an adult education organization
that can provide them with instructional services. When they have upgraded their
skills, they return to ADP and complete a new series of diagnostic assessments to
demonstrate their readiness to advance to phase II.
Assessment Phase (Phase II)
In the assessment
phase, adults demonstrate the 64 competencies (*PDF) and eight
standards
(*PDF) by completing five take home projects. Each project asks the student to complete
a series of tasks. They also will be asked to verify occupational skill during this
phase. This can be done through employer evaiuation or a performance demonstration
with a community expert in the specialized field. Completion of advanced education
or training can also be used to demonstrate occupational competency.
As students complete the assigned projects, they build an individual portfolio of
their work. This portfolio will be sent to another trained assessor, the Department
of Education and the diploma granting high school for review and approval. |