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: 

1)         Objective:  The agricultural education teacher is licensed by the State Board of Education for agricultural education.

2)         Minimum Standards: 

A)        The teacher has a Professional Educator License with a content endorsement for high school agricultural education; or

B)        The teacher has an Educator License with Stipulations with an endorsement as a Career and Technical Educator or a Provisional Career and Technical Educator in high school agricultural education.

b)         Goal 2: 

1)         Objective:  Support services are available to all students in agricultural programs.

2)         Minimum Standards:

A)        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.

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

c)         Goal 3: 

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

2)         Minimum Standards:

A)        The program shall offer a balance of classroom, laboratory, field-based and industry-based experiences in AFNR (also see subsection (d)).

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

d)         Goal 4: 

1)         Objective:  Each agricultural education teacher incorporates an ongoing Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Program as part of the instructional program.  SAE experiences are incorporated into agricultural education courses or awarded as a separate SAE Workplace Experience course for credit.

2)         Minimum Standards:

A)        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.

B)        A minimum of 50% of students enrolled in agricultural education participate in a Foundational or Immersion SAE Program.

e)         Goal 5: 

1)         Objective:  The National FFA Organization is an integral part of the instructional program in AFNR.

2)         Minimum Standards:

A)        The program shall incorporate into the curriculum opportunities to develop leadership skills through local, State and national FFA activities as planned in an annually documented Program of Activities (POA).

B)        The program has submitted a Chapter Strategic Plan to the Illinois FFA Center no later than the published annual deadline (November 30).

C)        The FFA Chapter must submit the online membership roster to the Illinois FFA Center by the published annual deadline (October 1). Membership dues payment and administrator approval must be submitted to the Illinois FFA Center or payment must be mailed to the Illinois FFA Center, postmarked no later than November 1.

f)         Goal 6: 

1)         Objective:  Each school conducting an agricultural education program provides adequate and safe classroom facilities, learning laboratories, equipment storage; and supplies for effective operation of the program.

2)         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 AFNR careers for which training is provided. 

g)         Goal 7: 

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

2)         Minimum Standards:

A)        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.

B)        Meeting minutes and a list of advisory council members are kept on file by the local entity, school, or area career center.

h)         Goal 8: 

1)         Objective:  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.

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

i)          Goal 9:  

1)         Objective:  The agricultural education program is actively developing the engagement of middle school students in AFNR coursework, SAE Programs, and the National FFA Organization.

2)         Minimum Standard:  The agricultural education program of instruction offered includes courses for middle school students equal to at least ten percent of the local full-time equivalent work load.

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 16012, effective December 1, 2021)