During the spring of 2024, the Vermont Legislature passed a bill which ended the High School Completion Program (HSCP) and replaced it with the Adult Diploma Program. Through the new Adult Diploma Program (ADP), “any Vermont resident who is at least 16 years of age; who has not received a high school diploma; and who is not enrolled in a public or approved independent school, postsecondary institution, or home study program can receive a local high school diploma granted by one of the Program’s participating high schools”.
The ADP is administered by the Agency of Education (AoE). With the repeal of the High School Completion Program on July 1, 2024, the AoE has begun developing the policies and procedures for the new ADP. In August, the AoE convened a meeting of representatives from high schools, Adult Education and Literacy providers, and the AOE to review some preliminary ideas.
While the details of the new program are still under development, we know the graduation requirements will include the essential skills that adults need to be productive members of their families, workplaces, and communities. These include knowledge and skills in areas such as:
- Reading and Writing
- Math and Science
- Communication
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Global Citizenship
- Financial Literacy
- Health Literacy
- Digital Literacy
- Career Readiness and more.
Any eligible Vermonter can enroll at Vermont Adult Learning and begin working on these skills now. We will work with students to identify their goals, assess their strengths and areas for growth, and develop a preliminary plan based on that information. We have new courses starting every 8 weeks, both in-person and online, so students can get started working on their plans soon after they are written. Once we receive more guidance from the AoE, we will revisit and update each student’s preliminary plan to ensure it aligns with the new policies. While we can begin working with students, diplomas cannot be issued until the policies and procedures for the new program are in place.
While the high school diploma program is particularly popular, we also offer another option for earning a high school credential through GED prep classes and testing. For those who already have a diploma, we offer workforce training programs and skill development in the areas listed above. We also offer English for speakers of other languages. All of these services are free to eligible Vermonters.