Letter to HMS 8th Grade Parents - Homewood City Schools

April 2, 2013Dear 8 th Grade Parents,The Alabama State Department of Education has made a course requirement change for graduation eligibility.Beginning with the class of 2017 (current 8 th graders), a one‐credit Career Preparedness course will berequired for graduation. The course will prepare students in these three areas: computer literacy, financialliteracy, and career and academic planning. As a district, we will address this new requirement in a uniqueway so that students will not have to use an elective class period at Homewood High School to complete thiscourse. In fact, we have created multiple paths that will allow students to meet this new diplomarequirement.Computer Literacy portion of the course: Many students in Grades 9‐12 are currently opting to takethe computer applications waiver test to demonstrate proficiency in computer literacy. Demonstratingproficiency on the waiver test allows these students to waive the requirement to take a semester‐longComputer Applications course to earn a ½ credit. In the same way, proficiency on this test will allowstudents to waive the computer literacy portion of the year‐long Career Preparedness course. Thewaiver test will be offered at Homewood Middle School every Tuesday and Thursday in June to current8 th Graders. Details are attached regarding how students may prepare for and take the waiver test. Ifstudents do not wish to take the waiver test, they may still opt to register to take the ½ creditComputer Applications course in summer school or as an elective at Homewood High School.Financial Literacy and Career Development portion of the course: The financial literacy and careerplanning portions of this course will be taught in ninth grade during Advisory. Advisory is a dailymeeting time already built into the schedule of every 9 th grader to optimize student success throughsmall group guidance. Through Freshman Advisory, 2/3 of the course content will be taught without aloss of an elective choice in any 9 th grader’s schedule.Below are the multiple paths that students may take to meet the course requirements for CareerPreparedness. Note that two options waive the need to take the Computer Applications course, while theother two options would require students to take the Computer Applications course.Waiver Option I• Pass the Computer Applications Waiver Test prior to entering 9 th grade• Other course requirements will be met during Freshman Advisory• The Career Preparedness credit will be issued at the end of the 9 th grade yearWaiver Option 2• Pass the Computer Applications Waiver Test while in grades 9‐12• Other course requirements will be met during Freshman Advisory• The Career Preparedness credit will be issued when the waiver test has been passed

Course Option 1• Take the semester‐long Computer Applications course as an elective in grades 9‐12• Other course requirements will be met during Freshman Advisory• The Career Preparedness credit will be issued when all required portions of the course havebeen completedCourse Option 2• Take the semester‐long Computer Applications course during summer school in grades 9‐11Note: This is an option for current 8 th graders to take the course as a rising 9 th grader in thesummer of 2013• Other course requirements will be met during Freshman Advisory• The Career Preparedness credit will be issued when all required portions of the course havebeen completedAttached to this letter, you will find detailed information about the Computer Applications Waiver Test –topics that will be assessed, ways to prepare for the test, and guidelines for signing‐up to test. In addition, thisinformation will be available on each of our websites. Please direct any questions you may have regarding thisletter to Dr. Desirée Smith at 870‐3026 or at dsmith@homewood.k12.al.us.Sincerely,Desirée L. Smith, Ed. D.Curriculum/Technology Coordinator