The distributive education program or DE is designed to give the job‑oriented student an opportunity to get on‑the‑job training in various fields during the afternoon while still attending morning classes.

The DE courses offered are for the purpose of preparing students for work in the various types of distribution: marketing, selling, and merchandising of goods and services to the customer.

In the DE program, students take their normal morning period classes, including one course in distributive education, and fifth period they leave for where ever their on‑the‑job training is. This training deals with whatever their field of work after graduation will be. Students receive one credit and a grade for their afternoon at work. They are evaluated at work by either their supervisor or training sponsor. Jobs are also chosen, if necessary, by Mr. Elwood Hughes, sponsor of distributive education at Maine West.

To be a part of the distributive education program, a student must have the approval of his counselor and Mr. Hughes.

Starting during the 1966‑67 school season, students planning to enroll in the distributive education program should be either juniors or senior. Seniors will have to take a course in marketing, but juniors will not have to take this course if they wish to stay in the DE program for two years.

Students on the DE program should maintain grades of at least "C", but this is not compulsory. The only thing necessary for the program is a hearty interest in retailing, wholesaling, or manufacturing.

Mr. Hughes visits the student learner and his supervisor every two or three weeks to review the student's training and progress on the program.

Mr. Hughes started the DE program five years ago at Maine East, but this "new" trend in teaching has been established in Illinois for about 26 years.