(1) DEFINITIONS.
(a) Area adult teacher- certified Agricultural Education teacher employed to provide technical assistance to teachers of agriculture in teaching short-term adult classes, assist in improving in-school specialized classes, improve teacher skills, and conduct leadership and career development events.
(b) Agribusiness- a business that provides goods and services for the production, harvesting, processing, marketing and distribution of agricultural products.
(c) Short-Term Adult Agribusiness Program- a short-term program for individuals not currently enrolled in secondary agricultural programs but who are engaged or interested in agriculture and who have special needs or concerns not met by other available means which can be addressed in two to twelve hours of class instruction.
(d) Short-term class or course- a two to twelve hour class offered to students who are 21 years of age or are no longer a part of secondary education.
(e) Short-term adult teacher- a certified full-time teacher of agriculture employed to provide instruction in the Short-Term Adult Agribusiness Program
(2) REQUIREMENTS.
(a) The school system with an area adult teacher program shall include plans for its funding in the Local Plan/Application for Technology/Career Preparatory Education.
1. The school system serving as fiscal agent shall receive and distribute state funds for salaries, benefits, travel, supplies and equipment to support the area adult teacher(s).
2. The school system shall receive funds for the employment of area adult teachers on a 12-month basis.
3. Area adult teachers shall be under the direct supervision and control of the regional agriculture coordinator.
4. Area adult teachers shall be headquartered at the regional offices of agricultural education.
5. All employment contracts between area adult teachers and local school systems shall provide at a minimum that:
(i) All performance evaluations shall be performed by the regional agriculture coordinator or designee.
(ii) All duties performed by the area adult teacher shall be approved by the regional agriculture coordinator or designee.
(iii) All absences from assigned duties shall be approved by the regional agriculture coordinator or designee, and
(iv) Standards to be followed by the area adult teacher in performance of assigned duties shall be as designated in the Agricultural Education Standards and Policies Manual.
(b) Local boards of education shall request funds for the Short-Term Adult Agribusiness Program in the Local Plan/Application for Technology/Career Preparatory Education Program.
(c) Standards for operation of the program, reporting and accountability of the Short-Term Adult Agribusiness Program and Area Teacher program shall be according to the requirements in the Agricultural Education Standards and Policies Manual.