§ 942. Definitions
As used in this title:
(1) “Accredited postsecondary institution” means a postsecondary institution that has
been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges or another
regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
(2) “Approved provider” means an entity approved by the Secretary to provide educational
services that may be awarded credits or used to determine proficiency necessary for
a high school diploma.
(3) “Blended learning” means a formal education program in which content and instruction
are delivered both in a traditional classroom setting and through virtual learning.
(4) “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.
(5) “Carnegie unit” means 125 hours of class or contact time with a teacher over the course
of one year at the secondary level.
(6) “Local adult education and literacy provider” means an entity that is awarded federal
or State grant funds to conduct adult education and literacy activities.
(7) “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:
(A) secondary credit toward graduation from the secondary school in which the student
is enrolled; and
(B) postsecondary credit from the institution that offered the course if the course is
a credit-bearing course at that institution.
(8) “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.
(9) “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.
(10) “Personalized learning plan” and “PLP” mean documentation of an evolving plan developed
on behalf of a student in an ongoing process involving a secondary student, a representative
of the school, and, if the student is a minor, the student’s parents or legal guardian
and updated at least annually by November 30; provided, however, that a home study
student and the student’s parent or guardian shall be solely responsible for developing
a plan. The plan shall be developmentally appropriate and shall reflect the student’s
emerging abilities, aptitude, and disposition. The plan shall define the scope and
rigor of academic and experiential opportunities necessary for a secondary student
to complete secondary school successfully, attain postsecondary readiness, and be
prepared to engage actively in civic life. While often less formalized, personalized
learning and personalized instructional approaches are critical to students in kindergarten
through grade 6 as well.
(11) “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.
(12) “Postsecondary readiness” means the ability to enter the workforce or to pursue postsecondary
education or training without the need for remediation.
(13) “Virtual learning” means an intentionally designed learning environment for online
teaching and learning using online design principles and teachers trained in the delivery
of online instruction. This instruction may take place either in a self-paced environment
or a real-time environment. (Added 2013, No. 77, § 1; amended 2017, No. 49, § 38, eff. May 23, 2017; 2025, No. 72, § 6, eff. June 27, 2025.)