爱荷华州获25万美元拨款建全州先前学习评估系统：工作与服役经历可折算学分
爱荷华州教育厅11月12日宣布，该厅获得中西部高等教育协约（MHEC）的25万美元「战略影响与创新拨款」，将用来建立一套全州统一的「先前学习评估」（Prior Learning Assessment，简称 PLA）系统，把成年学习者在工作、服役与职业证书中积累的经验折算成大学学分。
教育厅厅长 McKenzie Snow 表示，成年学生带着丰富的工作与生活经验回到课堂，这套系统要让这些经验得到正式认定，帮助他们更快、花费更少地完成学位或证书。该厅官员 Rachel Boon 与 MHEC 主席 Susan G. Heegaard 也在公告中表示，统一的评估标准将减少各校各自为政造成的重复评定，让学分在院校之间更顺畅地流动。
中西部高等教育协约是美国四个区域性高等教育协约之一，成员包括爱荷华在内的12个州；这一轮拨款中，每个成员州最高可申请25万美元。爱荷华的计划将先统一评估规则与工具，再向全州公立高等院校推广。
（来源：爱荷华州教育厅）
Iowa Wins $250,000 Grant to Build Statewide Prior Learning Assessment System
The Iowa Department of Education announced on November 12 that it has received a $250,000 Strategic Impact and Innovation Grant from the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) to build a statewide Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) system, which awards college credit for what adult learners have gained through work, military service and professional certifications.
Department Director McKenzie Snow said adult students return to the classroom with substantial work and life experience, and the system is meant to formally recognize that learning so students can finish degrees or certificates faster and at lower cost. Department official Rachel Boon and MHEC President Susan G. Heegaard said in the announcement that common assessment standards will cut duplicative reviews and let credits move more smoothly between institutions.
MHEC is one of four U.S. regional higher education compacts, with 12 member states including Iowa; in this funding round each member state could apply for up to $250,000. Iowa's plan will first unify assessment rules and tools, then extend the system to public colleges and universities statewide.
(Source: Iowa Department of Education)
来源：爱荷华州教育厅
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：Wikimedia Commons：File:Capitol Building of Des moines, Iowa entrance.jpg（开放授权）
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