Policy

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Code IKF Issued 12/09

Purpose: To establish the basic structure for high school graduation.

A student must earn 24 units of credit in state-approved courses for graduation.

The unit requirements are distributed as follows.

Subject	Credit Units
English/language arts	4
Mathematics	4
Science	3
U.S. History and Constitution	1
Economics	½
US Government	½
Other social studies	1
PE or junior ROTC	1
*Computer science (including keyboarding)	1
Foreign language or Career and technology education	1
Electives	7
Total	24

The student must complete a study of and pass a final examination on the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist papers and American institutions and ideals. This instruction must be given for a period of at least one year or its equivalent, either within the required course U.S. History and Constitution or within another course.

Beginning with the graduating class of 2010, the student must pass a high school credit course in science and a course in United States history in which an end-of-course examination is administered.

The student must be enrolled for a minimum of one semester immediately preceding his/her graduation except in case of a bona fide change of residence. Units earned in a summer school program do not satisfy this requirement.

The student must pass both parts of the South Carolina high school exit examination in addition to earning the required number of prescribed units.

Awarding of high school credit

A school also may award and accept credit towards a high school diploma for the following.

· in units of one-fourth, one-half and a whole; for example, an academic-standards based course that requires a minimum of 120 hours of instruction (one unit), 60 hours of instruction (one-half unit) and 30 hours of instruction (one-fourth unit)

· a course that has been approved by the state department of education in a proficiency-based system

· gateway courses that are a part of the end-of-course examination program only if the student takes the course approved by the school in which he/she is enrolled and meets all the stipulated requirements of the program

· courses in summer programs that meet all the regulatory requirements for courses offered for students in grades 9-12

· a course that is approved by the district – whether the school offers the particular course or not – if the student receives prior approval

· a course that the student takes in an approved adult education program if the course is approved by the superintendent or his/her designee

· locally designed subject-area courses, elective courses and CATE courses under conditions as outlined in state board regulation

· the PE credit if the PE course meets all statutory requirements including the personal fitness and wellness component and the lifetime fitness component

· the one-half unit of credit carried by the keyboarding course for half the required computer science unit

· the American sign language course as the required unit a foreign language

· a college course that a student in grades 9-12 takes under the district’s dual credit arrangement

Adult Education

For adult education students receiving a diploma, the unit requirements are distributed as follows.

Subject	Credit Units
English/language arts	4
Mathematics	4
Science	3
U.S. History and Constitution	1
Economics	½
US Government	½
Other social studies	1
Computer science (including keyboarding)	1
Electives	9
Total	24

Exit examination

For purposes of state testing requirements, Passage of the exit examination is a condition for the receipt of a state high school diploma. This requirement also applies to students in an adult education program who are seeking a diploma.

Students who do not pass the exit examination must receive academic assistance in the area(s) not passed.

A student who is enrolled in the public school for the entire tenth-grade, eleventh-grade and twelfth-grade years and remains actively enrolled and in good standing until graduation will have a minimum of five opportunities to pass the examination.

Any student who fails to pass the exit examination and who is actively enrolled in school take an equivalent form of only the parts on which he/she did not meet the minimum performance standard(s) at the next designated administration. Students will have two opportunities per year (spring and fall) to take the failed part or parts.

An administration of the exit examination may be available during the summer after the twelfth grade for students who have met all other requirements for graduation and who were actively enrolled in school.

The district will award an appropriate state certificate to those students who must pass the exit examination to receive a diploma, but fail to do so. The certificate will indicate the number of credits earned and grades completed. A student who has earned the required number of units but who fails to pass the exit exam may enroll in adult education to continue with academic assistance and to re-take the exit exam. If the student is under the age of 21, he/she may continue in school until he/she passes the exit exam and receives a diploma or until he/she reaches 21, whichever occurs first.

The district will do the following.

Ÿ Implement administration and security measures established by the state board of education for the purpose of the exit examination.

Ÿ Establish a procedure for written notification of students and parents/legal guardians by the seventh grade or upon entry into the district schools, whichever comes first.

Ÿ Publicize the exit examination schedules.

Ÿ Recommend for a South Carolina State High School Diploma only those students who pass all parts of the exit examination.

Ÿ Provide academic assistance related to the parts not passed.

Ÿ Advise students who have met all other requirements for graduation but have not passed the exit examination of other alternatives.

Districts will identify students who meet the participation criteria for alternative assessment. Students with an IEP may take the exit exam with accommodations and/or modifications determined to be appropriate by the IEP team and allowable by state and federal statutes and regulations.

High school credit for college work

Students in grades nine through twelve and/or adult education programs can earn credits for college course work that can be applied to the required number of units for a state high school diploma. The following conditions must apply:

Ÿ Courses may be offered through distance learning and cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education. One quality point will be added to the CP weighting for dual credit courses that are applicable.

Ÿ Only courses applicable to baccalaureate degrees or to associate degrees offered by institutions accredited by the board of education of that state or the appropriate regional accrediting agency (the New England Association of Colleges and Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Western Association of Colleges and Schools or Northwest Association of Colleges and Schools) qualify.

Ÿ Tuition costs and any other fees will be the responsibility of the student or his/her parent/legal guardian.

Commencement exercises

Ÿ

In order to participate in commencement exercises, a student will be eligible for one of the following.

Ÿ South Carolina high school diploma

Ÿ South Carolina high school certificate

Ÿ certificate of attendance presented to special education students

Adopted 9/86; Revised 4/17/90, 6/9/98, 9/15/98, 3/16/04, 11/21/06, 12/18/07, 12/15/09

Legal references:

A. S.C. Code, 1976, as amended:

1. Section 59-10-10 - Exit examination.

2. Section 59-26-70 - No commission or agency to require foreign language as a prerequisite to receive a regular high school diploma.

3. Section 59-39-100 - Diplomas to be uniform in every respect; units required to earn a diploma.

4. Section 50-29-110 - Accelerated program of study.

5. Section 59-29-80 - Courses in physical education; ROTC program.

6. Section 59-29-190 - Advanced placement courses for academically talented students.

B. State Board of Education Regulations:

1. R-43-259 - Graduation requirements.