 
NAD Typical Courses of Study
This is a general overview of subjects commonly taught in Seventh-day Adventist schools and is derived from frameworks, curriculum guides, textbooks, and other resources in current use. Additional information and resources can be obtained on the North American Division Office of Education site or CIRCLE. |
| Click below for the course of study for a particular year. |
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Junior Academy
Within the structure of the Adventist educational system is the Junior Academy, a unit operated by the local conference Office of Education. |
| The designation "Junior Academy" shall be reserved for those schools that include a combination of the last two years of the elementary level (grades 7 and 8) and the first one or two years of the secondary level (grades 9 and/or 10). Authorization to operate a Junior Academy is granted by the Lake Union Conference Board of Education K-12 upon recommendation of the local conference Board of Education. |
| Once authorization has been granted, the local conference Office of Education shall oversee the activities of such a school and send progress reports as requested to the Lake Union Conference Office of Education. Contingent upon satisfactory reports, such authorization shall be continuous and as long as approved secondary subjects continue to be offered and taught. The regular evaluation of Junior Academies shall be planned and executed by the Lake Union Conference Office of Education in harmony with North American Division policy. |
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Types of Junior Academy Programs in the Lake Union
The Lake Union has five programs for Junior Academies:
- The 7-9 Minimal Two-Teacher Program
- The 7-9 Multigrade Classroom
- The 9 Grade Program
- The 9-10 Grade Program
- The 9-10 Alternation Program
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Guidelines for Establishing a Junior Academy
Schools making application for Junior Academy status shall meet the following minimum general standards:
- A demonstrated educational need not currently met by presently established Seventh-day Adventist schools.
- An adequate physical plant that has met state and local fire, safety, and health codes and equipment for teaching the approved secondary subjects.
- Demonstrated financial support for secondary education that will not weaken the elementary school program.
- Adequate budget control.
- Secondary subject curricular offerings approved by the Lake Union Conference Board of Education K-12.
- A faculty of sufficient size and training to provide effective instruction.
- Adequate curricular and teaching materials for the proposed offerings, including library/media center holdings.
- A prospective continuing enrollment adequate for the financial, social, and curricular needs of a strong educational program.
- The school must have a minimum of three students to operate a ninth grade or six students to operate a 9/10 grade program.
- The school that has less than three students may make application to operate an APLE program.
- A minimum of the equivalent of one full-time teacher for each year of secondary work, with valid denominational certification.
- A teacher load (teaching, administrative, and extra-curricular duties) in harmony with Lake Union Conference guidelines.
- A curriculum in accordance with policies of the North American Division and the Lake Union Conference Boards of Education.
- Student permanent records kept in accordance with the policies of the Lake Union and local Conference Boards of Education.
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Curriculum and Academic Policies and Procedures
The following guidelines shall be adhered to:
- Each school desiring to teach secondary subjects shall make formal application to teach specific subjects on an annual basis. If approved by the local Conference Board of Education, such applications shall be recommended to the Lake Union Conference Board of Education for authorization.
Application will be made through the conference superintendent no later than May 1. The conference superintendent, after studying and recommending the application, will send it to the Union office for further study no later than June 1. The Union Office of Education personnel will study the application and may make additional recommendations. By September 1, each school will have completed the Application Update which asks for any changes that have been made in regard to classes offered, teaching personnel, or Union office recommendations. In September of each year the Lake Union Conference EXT will study all applications and determine the classification (for each school) that will be recommended to the fall Lake Union Conference K-12 Education Board. The following classifications will be given:
| APPROVED: |
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All facets of the programs are satisfactory. |
| APPROVED/CONDITIONAL: |
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One or more facets of the program do not meet Union policy. The school must show progress in meeting all policies during the current school year. |
| CONDITIONAL: |
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One or more facets of the program do not meet Union policy. The school has not shown sufficient progress in meeting Union policy during the current school year. Any school receiving a CONDITIONAL classification two consecutive years will automatically become an UNAPPROVED school. |
| UNAPPROVED: |
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The program is unacceptable. Classes should not be offered. No credit will be issued. |
- A class which meets for 200 minutes per week (240 minutes for classes with laboratory periods) for a full school year, shall receive one Carnegie unit of credit. Classes which meet for a shorter period of time shall have the amount of credit prorated.
Secondary subjects shall be taught with a minimum class period of 40 minutes (exclusive of the time permitted for changing classes).
Care should be taken that courses (or portions of courses) are offered in proper sequence when the course content requires this, e.g. Mathematics. Prior approval shall be obtained from the Lake Union Conference Office of Education when students are to be registered in courses (or portions of courses) out of proper sequence.
- Schools may request permission to offer electives above the normal five (5) units of "solid" subjects. These electives should follow as closely as possible those offered at the grade level in the local conference academy and be taught by a fully certificated teacher. Authorization for the course/s will be based on:
- Teacher qualification including subject competency/endorsements
- Total teaching/assignment load in elementary grades
- Teacher's duties and responsibilities or total assignments
- School facilities and equipment
- Students' abilities to carry the material
- At the close of the first and second semesters of the school year, teachers in Junior Academies shall report to the local Conference Office of Education (through the principal) the final letter grade of the secondary subjects taught, the length of the class periods, the number of class periods per week and the number of weeks of instruction during the semester. Forms for this purpose are available from the local Conference Superintendent of Schools.
- Conference Offices of Education shall forward all Junior Academy grades to the Lake Union Conference Office of Education by June 30 for processing and permanent storage. Transcripts for Junior Academy students shall be issued by the Lake Union Conference Office of Education.
- In exceptional circumstances when a complete curriculum cannot be offered due to lack of certificated teacher availability, correspondence credit may be taken under teacher supervision in the classroom. Home Study International offers the APLE program (Alternative Programs for Learning Enrichment). Approval of the Lake Union Conference Office of Education must be obtained prior to either of these programs being initiated.
- Teachers shall use the approved textbooks and curriculum guides stipulated by the Lake Union Conference Office of Education. Teaching devices and examinations may be recommended by the local conference academy.
- Students who receive a grade of "Incomplete" at the close of a marking period must remove the condition before the close of the next marking period. Failure to do so will result in that grade being recorded as an "F".
- Participation in the Lake Union Conference school evaluation program will be expected.
- Junior Academies shall participate in the Lake Union Conference Minimum Testing Program. Where desired, an academy may be called upon to assist in implementing this program. Test results are to be recorded on the student's Cumulative Record Folder.
- Requests for the transfer of student records shall be handled in harmony with local Conference policy.
- Since transcripts of credits will be issued by the Lake Union Conference Office of Education, information regarding the withholding of transcripts (for any reason) should be forwarded to the local Conference Superintendent of Schools together with the grades. This information will then be passed on to the Lake Union Conference Director of Education for further action.
Transcripts will be recorded when Junior Academies have:
- Completed procedures for operating a Junior Academy
- Related to the guidelines for establishing a Junior Academy
- Received either a CONDITIONAL, an APPROVED/CONDITIONAL or an APPROVED rating after submitting The Application to Teach Secondary Subjects in the Junior Academy form.
- General policies applicable to the operation and management of Elementary Schools may also apply to Junior Academies.
- All other requirements and procedures for the establishment and operation of Junior Academies shall be met as specified in the Lake Union and local Conference Education Codes.
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