§ 4.3. Definitions.

 The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   AVTS—Area vocational-technical school—A public school that provides vocational-technical education to secondary school students, out-of-school youth and adults in a geographical area comprised and operated by one or more school districts and established under sections 1840—1853 of the School Code (24 P. S. § §  18-1840—18-1853).

   Academic standard—What a student should know and be able to do at a specified grade level.

   Apprenticeship program—A competency-based program that coordinates and integrates classroom instruction with a structured work-based employment experience designed for students.

   Assessment—A valid and reliable measurement of student performance on a set of academic standards in a subject area that captures student understanding of the set as a whole and the central concepts, knowledge and skills of each content area.

   Board—The State Board of Education established by sections 2601-B—2606-B of the School Code (24 P. S. § §  26-2601-B—26-2606-B).

   Cooperative vocational-technical education—A planned method of instruction developed through a signed cooperative arrangement among school representatives, students, parents and employers in the community to provide students with an opportunity to alternate in-school academic and vocational-technical instruction in entry-level paid employment in an occupational field, in which the student’s total occupational work experience is planned, coordinated and supervised by the school in close cooperation with the employer.

   Curriculum—A series of planned instruction aligned with the academic standards in each subject that is coordinated and articulated and implemented in a manner designed to result in the achievement at the proficient level by all students.

   Department—The Department of Education of the Commonwealth.

   ESOL—English to speakers of other languages.

   Employment area—A geographic area where vocational-technical education program completers are most likely to be employed.

   Individuals with Disabilities Education Act—20 U.S.C.A. § §  1400—1482.

   Intermediate unit—A regional educational service agency established under sections 951—974 of the School Code (24 P. S. § §  9-951—9-974), which provides educational services to participating school districts as part of the public school system of this Commonwealth.

   PSSA—Pennsylvania System of School Assessment.

   Parent or guardian—A person legally responsible for a student’s care.

   Planned instruction—Instruction offered by a school entity based upon a written plan to enable students to achieve the academic standards under §  4.12 (relating to academic standards) and additional academic standards determined in strategic plans under §  4.13 (relating to strategic plans).

   Prekindergarten—A program operated by a school district or by a community agency under contract from a school district that is open to children who are at least 3 years of age and completed prior to the school district’s entry age for kindergarten.

   School Code—The Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. § §  1-101—27-2702).

   School entity—A local public education provider (for example, public school district, charter school, cyber charter school, AVTS or intermediate unit).

   School organization—The organization of a school district’s programs into kindergarten, primary, intermediate level, middle level and high school programs, including programs operated at AVTSs.

   Secretary—The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.

   Strategic plan—A comprehensive plan for education developed under §  4.13.

   Tech-prep program—A combined secondary and postsecondary program which leads to an associate degree or certificate and employment by providing technical preparation in engineering technology, applied science, mechanical, industrial or practical art or trade, agriculture, health or business, including development of competence in mathematics, science and communications through a sequential course of study.

   Vocational-technical education—Programs under public supervision and control which provide an organized process of learning experiences designed to develop integrated academic and occupational skills, knowledge, attitudes, work habits and leadership ability for entry into and advancement within various levels of employment in occupational areas of agriculture, business, marketing and distribution, health, home economics and trade and industry and for participation in postsecondary education and training.

   The provisions of this §  4.3 amended under section 2603-B of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. §  26-2603-B).

   The provisions of this §  4.3 amended December 15, 2006, effective December 16, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 7542; amended February 15, 2008, effective February 16, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 872. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (332005) and (332006).

   This section cited in 22 Pa. Code §  4.23 (relating to high school education); 22 Pa. Code §  4.28 (relating to special education); and 22 Pa. Code §  338.2 (relating to definitions).