Section 75.220  Program Goals and Minimum Standards

This Section presents the goals and the accompanying minimum standards of each goal that are associated with high-quality agricultural education programs offered in high school settings.

a)         Goal 1:  Teachers are qualified and licensed by the State Board of Education to teach the programs and courses assigned.

Minimum Standards:  Each of the teaching staff is appropriately licensed for the coursework in which he or she is providing instruction under the agricultural education program during the grant year.

b)         Goal 2:  Support services are available to all students in agricultural programs.

                        Minimum Standards:

1)         The agricultural education teacher shall meet at least annually with each student enrolled in the agricultural education program to provide advice and counseling relative to the student's career objectives.

2)         The agricultural education teacher shall meet annually with the school's guidance counselor to review information at http://www. agriculturaleducation.org regarding career opportunities, scholarships, course offerings and other pertinent information that will assist students in meeting postsecondary and career objectives.

c)         Goal 3:  The instructional programs in agriculture are competency-based and include skills, knowledge and attitudes required for gainful employment in the occupations identified in the career pathways and are sequentially structured.

Minimum Standards:

1)         The program shall offer a balance of classroom, laboratory, field-based and industry-based agricultural experiences (also see subsection (d) of this Section).

2)         Written lesson plans shall contain clearly stated goals, objectives, activities and experiences that relate to the school's School Improvement Plan.

d)         Goal 4:  Each agricultural education teacher uses an ongoing supervised agricultural experience program as part of the instructional program.

Minimum Standards:  Each program shall include a supervised agricultural experience program that requires students to apply the lessons presented in the classroom or laboratory instruction to activities and projects beyond the classroom.

e)         Goal 5:  The National FFA Organization is an integral part of the instructional program in agriculture.

Minimum Standards:  The program shall incorporate into the curriculum opportunities to develop leadership skills through local, State and national FFA chapters in the agricultural education program.  

f)         Goal 6:  Each school conducting an agricultural education program provides adequate facilities, learning laboratories, equipment and supplies for effective operation of the program.

Minimum Standards:  The facilities, equipment and supplies available to students shall enable them to have hands-on experiences that replicate up-to-date, realistic situations similar to what is occurring in the agriculture careers for which training is provided. 

g)         Goal 7:  The program of instruction in agricultural education is advised by a committee that is representative of all agricultural interests of the community.

Minimum Standards:  The school shall establish an agricultural advisory committee whose membership shall consist of representatives of the agriculture industries operating in the community.  The committee shall meet at least once a year to advise the school on the program being offered.

h)         Goal 8:  The agricultural education teacher is involved in assessing the areas needed for literacy and agricultural education for the prekindergarten through adult audiences and provides or assists in providing programs to meet the needs identified in the community.

Minimum Standards:  The agricultural education teacher assists in the coordination of agricultural education awareness and agriculture literacy activities for prekindergarten through adult audiences.

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 15932, effective September 27, 2013)