Articulation agreements provide the framework for secondary career and technical education (CTE) schools and programs to link to similar postsecondary programs at one of Maine's community colleges. The articulation connects a student's career pathway to one of Maine's Career Clusters. These agreements allow students to earn dual college or escrow credits at the secondary and/or postsecondary level. Additionally, CTE students who participate may complete a significant portion of a national industry-recognized skill credential.

CONCURRENT/DUAL ENROLLMENT and ARTICULATED PROGRAMS OF STUDY

A statewide Articulation Agreement is a signed commitment that is agreed upon at the State level or approved annually by the lead administrators of the partnering institutions (secondary to postsecondary or sub-baccalaureate to baccalaureate) designed to provide students with a nonduplicative sequence of progressive achievement leading to technical skill proficiency, a credential, a certificate, or a degree; and is linked through credit transfer agreements between the 2 institutions. A local Articulation Agreement is a signed written commitment that is agreed upon at the Local level and signed annually by the lead administrators of the partnering institutions.

A Dual and Concurrent enrollment program is a program offered by a partnership between at least one institution of higher education and at least one local educational agency through which a secondary school student, who has not graduated from high school with a regular high school diploma, is able to enroll in one or more postsecondary courses and earn postsecondary credit that is transferable to the institutions of higher education in the partnership; and applies toward completion of a postsecondary degree or recognized credential.

A Program of Study is a coordinated, nonduplicative sequence of academic and technical content at the secondary and postsecondary level that—

  • incorporates challenging State academic standards, including those adopted by a State under section ESEA;
  • addresses both academic and technical knowledge and skills, including employability skills;
  • is aligned with the needs of industries in the economy of the State, region, Tribal community, or local area;
  • progresses in specificity (beginning with all aspects of an industry or career cluster and leading to more occupation-specific instruction);
  • has multiple entry and exit points that incorporate credentialing;
  • provides opportunity for secondary students to earn postsecondary credit; and
  • culminates in the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential.

NOTE – Based on Maine’s CTE graduation pathway, and the Perkins V definitions above, all State approved secondary CTE programs that offer nonduplicative, technical concurrent/dual enrollment or articulated credit options with a postsecondary program in the relevant career and technical education career pathway are defined as a Program of Study.

SEC. 122(d)(4)(A) requires State level programs of study that are made available for adoption by eligible recipients. Maine currently has 2 State level programs of study aligned with the Maine Community College System. 

SEC. 134(b)(2) requires eligible recipients of Perkins funding have not less than 1 program of study approved by the State.