Glossary
APPROVAL OF INSTRUCTOR: This requirement is indicated for particular courses in which prior skills or experiences are needed.
ARTICULATED COURSES: These courses, taken in high school, may be eligible for college credit at a participating institution for students who enroll there after graduation.
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE: This culminating course in a career and technical completer program gives students an opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills developed through the integration of all coursework.
CAREER CLUSTER: MSDE identified ten (10) Career Clusters that represent core business functions across industry areas in Maryland business. Each Maryland Career Cluster encompasses a range of career pathways based on economic activities, similar interests, common skills, and training required by those in the field.
COMPLETER PROGRAM (CTP): This sequence of courses or career pathway, taken together, prepares students for entrance to a four-year college or university, to gain in-depth knowledge of a particular career field, or for direct entry into the workforce.
CONCENTRATOR COURSE (CTC): The concentrator is the designated course in the sequence of courses in a completer program that usually occurs after the student has completed 50 percent of the Career Technical Education (CTE) Program of Study. This course represents the student’s intent to be a CTE program completer.
COURSE SELECTION SHEET (CSS): The CSS is a list of all classes available to students in a particular high school. It is updated annually and used as a guide in selecting courses for the following school year.
DUAL CREDIT: Credit that is awarded for high school graduation requirement and college credit.
DUAL ENROLLMENT: Qualified juniors and seniors have the opportunity to earn college credit at a 50% tuition savings at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) while attending high school.
EARLY COLLEGE: The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) partnership with Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) offers CCPS high school students and their families the CSM Early College Program. Open to rising seniors, this tuition-free program is an opportunity to experience being a full-time college student, save money, and earn a full year’s worth of college credits.
EL/ESOL (English Learners/English for Speakers of Other Languages): These terms refer to students whose native language is other than English and for whom special support services may be available.
Full-time College Waiver: This option allows high school students who have met all other graduation requirements to attend college full time during their senior year of high school and receive English IV credit for two semesters of college English.
HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENT (HSA): The Maryland High School Assessment is a test that measures school and individual student progress toward Maryland's High School Core Learning Goals in Government.
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP): The IEP is the educational program specifically designed for a student with special education needs.
MARYLAND COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (MCAP): Is being developed to replace the PARCC exams that have been used for the past four years to measure progress in areas such as language arts, math, science, and social studies.
MARYLAND INTEGRATED SCIENCE ASSESSMENT (MISA): The Maryland Integrated Science Assessment is an assessment that provides educators, parents, and the public with student progress towards science literacy. This test is given in grades 5, 8, and 10.
MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (MSDE): The governing agency in the state of Maryland that oversees the operation of public schools serving children in Pre-K through grade 12.
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA): The governing body that sets the admissions guidelines and eligibility requirements for students planning to participate in collegiate sports.
Non–trivial algebra (as defined by the University System of Maryland): The level of mathematical concepts discussed and the level of problems that are used in the course would be at least as sophisticated as those that relate to problems appearing in the Achieve ADP Algebra II test. An important feature of any such course is that it utilizes algebra in a substantive way so that the student does not lose the algebraic and numerical skills achieved in earlier courses. In Charles County, the following math courses satisfy the non-trivial algebra requirement: Advanced Algebra with Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, AP Statistics, and AP Calculus.
PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSESSMENT OF READINESS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER (PARCC): The PARCC tests are high quality, computer-based K-12 assessments in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy.
PILOT COURSES: These courses are currently offered on a trial basis and are not available at all high schools.
PREREQUISITE: This term refers to condition(s) that a student must meet in order to enroll in a particular course or program of study.
SECONDARY ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES (SAIL): This program serves as the secondary component of the CCPS ESOL Program. This program supports the social and academic language acquisition necessary for English proficiency.
WEIGHTED COURSES: This term refers to the additional quality points used in the numerical calculation of a student’s grade point average for courses that are of exceptional rigor and/or require significant work beyond the school day.