Instruction
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS |
|
Policy
No. 2410 A.
Each student who has successfully completed an
instructional program appropriate to his/her interests and needs shall be awarded
a diploma at graduation ceremonies. The board shall award a regular high
school diploma to every student enrolled in the district who meets the
requirements of graduation established by the district. Only one diploma
shall be awarded with no distinctions being made between the various programs
of instruction which may have been pursued. The board shall establish graduation requirements which,
as a minimum, satisfy those established by the state board of education: English 3.5
credits Mathematics 2
or 3 credits* Social Studies (civics,
history and geography)
3 credits
Science (1
credit in laboratory science)
2 credits Occupational
Education
1 credit Physical Education
2 credits Health
0.5 credit Fine
Arts
1
credit Electives
6 credits TOTAL:
…………………………………………………….22
credits PLUS a high school education plan and a culminating
project. ·
*NOTE:
3rd math credit pertains to students entering ninth grade
on or after July 1, 2009 (Class of 2013 and beyond). ·
Physical Education credits may be
waived for students who are enrolled in four years of Fine Arts. This
will be done on an individual basis and will be documented in the
student’s cumulative file. A credit is defined as 180 hours of planned instructional
activities excluding passing time. A Carnegie unit (180 50-minute hours) is
required unless a waiver process has occurred. No student may earn more than
one credit/year to satisfy the state board requirements in English,
Mathematics and Science except as provided in RCW 28A.230.100. The board
shall approve additional graduation requirements as recommended by the
superintendent. The superintendent shall develop procedures for
implementing this policy which include: A.
Recommending course and credit requirements
which satisfy the state board of education requirements and recognize the
expectations of the citizens of the district. B.
Determining which courses satisfy particular
subject area requirements and whether a particular course may satisfy more
than one subject area requirement including a process for determining the
credits the district will recognize for courses taken through another program
recognized by the state (another public school district, an approved private
school) or those courses taken by students moving into the state from another
state or country. Decisions regarding the recognition of credits earned
before enrolling in the district will be based on the professional judgment
of the high school principal or designee based on an evaluation of the
student’s former program and demonstrated knowledge and skills in the
discipline for which credit is sought. The decision of the principal may be
appealed to the superintendent within fifteen school days. C.
Making graduation requirements available in
writing to students, parents and members of the public. D.
Providing a waiver of graduation requirements
for an individual student when permitted. E. Granting credit for learning
experiences conducted away from school including
National Guard high school career training. F. Granting credit for correspondence,
vocational-technical institutes and/or college courses for college or
university course work the district has agreed to accept for high school
credit, state law requires that the district award one high school credit for
every five quarter hour credit or three semester hour credit successfully
earned through a college or university, except for community college high
school completion programs where the State awards the diploma; Tenth and
eleventh grade students and their parents shall be notified annually of the
Running Start Program. G. Granting credit for work experience. H. Granting
credit based upon competence testing, in lieu of enrollment. I.
Granting credit for high school courses
completed before a student attended high school, to the extent that the
course work exceeded the requirements for seventh or eighth grade. J.
Preparing a list of all graduating students
for the information of the board and released to the public. K.
A Culminating Project: During
the course of their high school career, each student shall complete a
culminating project. L.
Preparing suitable diplomas and final
transcripts for graduating seniors. M. Planning
and executing graduation ceremonies. In the event minimum test requirements are adopted by
the board, a student who possesses a disability shall satisfy those
competency requirements which are incorporated into the Individualized
Education Program (IEP). Satisfactory completion of the objectives
incorporated into the IEP shall serve as the basis for determining completion
of a course. A student shall be issued a diploma after completing the
district's requirements for graduation. Graduation requirements in effect when a student first
enrolls in high school shall be in effect until that student graduates unless
such period is in excess of ten years. A student’s diploma or transcript may be withheld
until the student pays for any school property that has been lost or
willfully damaged. Upon payment for damages, the diploma or transcript will
be released. When the damages or fines do not exceed $100, the student or
his/her parents shall have the right to an appeal using the same process as
used for short-term suspension as defined in Policy 3241, Classroom
Management, Corrective Actions or Punishments. When damages are in excess of
$100, the appeal process for long term suspension as defined in Policy 3241,
Classroom Management, Corrective Actions or Punishments shall apply. In the event that other forms of corrective actions are
imposed for violations of school rules, the student may be denied
participation in graduation ceremonies. Such exclusion shall be regarded as a
school suspension. In such instances, the diploma will be granted. Cross References: Board
Policy 3110 Qualifications
of Attendance and Placement Board
Policy 3241 Classroom
Management, Corrective Actions or Punishment Board
Policy 3520 Student
Fees, Fines and Charges Legal References RCW
28A.230.090 High
school graduation requirements or equivalencies
— Reevaluation and re port
by state board of education — Credit
for courses taken before attend- ing
high school — Postsecondary credit equivalencies RCW
28A.230.097 Career
and technical high school course equivalencies RCW
28A.230.120 Option
to receive final transcripts — Notice RCW
28A.600.300-400 Running
Start RCW
28A.635.060 Defacing
or injuring school property — Liability of parent or guardian Chapter
180-50 WAC Courses
of studies and equivalencies Chapter
180-51 WAC High
school graduation requirements Chapter
180-57 WAC Secondary
Education — Standardized high school transcript Chapter
392-169 WAC Running
Start Management Resources: Policy News, April 1999 Variations
complicate college credit equivalencies Policy News, December 2000 2004
High School Graduation Requirements Adopted Policy News, February 2004 High
School Graduation Requirements Policy
News, October 2004 Graduation Requirements: High School and
Beyond Plans Revised: 4-27-09, 4-23-09, 11-24-08 Adopted:
April 28, 2003 |