Transition to Secondary School Credit

In order to effectively serve learners who have goals for further education and training in Adult Secondary School Credit Programs (ACP), LBS programs work to ensure that learners at the point of transition are well-prepared to be successful in the more formal academic environment of the credit system. Training for this destination pathway has a traditional academic focus in both approach and content. Authentic materials include workbooks, computers, textbooks and other formal curriculum-based materials that mirror those used in credit courses. Approaches to learning include lecture style presentations, group work and individual assignments that focus on developing and practising academic skills for various purposes at increasing levels of difficulty.

Performance assessments by way of written tests and exams, assignments, projects and class participation are used to identify success at various levels and, over time, measure gains in acquired knowledge and skill. The ACP endorses transition into adult credit at the point of readiness, and, typically, learners enter a credit program admissions process on predetermined intake dates at the beginning of each semester. LBS programs that provide training for the ACP support a holistic approach in education, so despite the strong academic focus, they also incorporate into the program materials and activities related to everyday life at work at home and in the community.

Transition to College Postsecondary

The goal of the postsecondary path is to ensure that students who transition to postsecondary programming have made appropriate program selections and are well prepared both academically and personally to succeed. Academic Upgrading therefore has a strong academic and self-management focus, and sets high standards through a mastery learning approach. It also addresses the applied, functional nature of learning at colleges by

1. integrating Essential Skills into instructional content
2. using authentic documents and learning materials
3. using competency and performance based assessments so that students have an opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in the career path that interests them

Students transitioning to postsecondary will be able to read accurately and independently at a pace that prepares them for the kinds of texts and documents they will encounter at the postsecondary level. They will have strong math skills related to their postsecondary program of choice. Furthermore, they will be able to apply their skills in the performance of authentic tasks to prepare them for the kinds of tasks they will encounter at their nextsteps destination.