IKF: Graduation Requirements**
Code: IKF
Adopted: 4/08/10
Revised/Readopted: 12/08/10; 5/09/12; 2/12/14; 1/13/16; 4/13/16; 6/08/16; 6/11/18
Orig. Code(s): IKF
The board has established graduation requirements for achievement of a standard high school diploma which meet or exceed state standards. The board has also established minimum credit requirements for the achievement of the honors, modified, and extended diplomas. Additionally, an alternative certificate is available. In order to earn a standard high school diploma, students must complete a minimum of 24 credits. In order to earn an honors diploma, students must complete a minimum of 27 credits, maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 through eight semesters and pass all of the following state assessments: reading, writing, mathematics and science.
If the district requires diploma requirements beyond the state requirements, the district shall grant a waiver for those requirements to any student who, at any time from grade 9 to 12, was:
- A foster child[1];
- Homeless;
- A runaway;
- A child in a military family covered by the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children;
- A child of a migrant worker; or
- Enrolled in the Youth Corrections Education Program or the Juvenile Detention Education Program.
For any student identified above, the district shall accept any credits earned by the student in another district or public charter school, applying those credits toward the state requirements for a diploma if the credits satisfied those requirements in that district or public charter school[2].
Honors Diploma
Students pursuing a high school diploma in the district will have the option to earn an honors diploma. In order to qualify for the honors diploma, in addition to meeting the district’s standard diploma requirements, students will be required to:
- Pass all of the following state assessments: science, mathematics, reading and writing. Maintain an cumulative, unweighted grade point average of 3.50 for all high school coursework through eight semesters.
- Complete all graded courses on a letter grade scale (when available).
- Complete 27 high school credits.
- Earn four credits in advanced courses (those courses with the opportunity to earn college credit) during the junior and senior years.
- Two of the World Language, CTE and Arts credits must be sequential.
Diploma
A high school diploma will be awarded to students in grades 9 through 12 who complete a minimum of 24 credits which include at least:
- Three credits of mathematics (shall include one unit at the Algebra I level and two units that are at a level higher than Algebra I);
- Four credits of English (shall include the equivalent of one unit in written composition);
- Three credits of science;
- Three credits of social sciences (including history, civics, geography and economics (including personal finance));
- One credit in health education;
- One credit in physical education; and
- Three credits in career and technical education, the arts or world language (units shall be earned in any one or a combination)[3].
The district shall offer students credit options provided the method for obtaining such credits is described in the student’s personal education plan and the credit is earned by meeting requirements described in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 581-022-2025.
To receive a diploma, in addition to credit requirements as outlined in OAR 581-022-2000, a student must:
- Demonstrate proficiency in the Essential Skills of Reading, Writing and Apply Mathematics;
- Develop an education plan and build an education profile;
- Demonstrate extended application through a collection of evidence;
- Participate in career-related learning experiences.
Modified Diploma
A modified diploma shall be awarded to students who have met specific requirements established by the State Board of Education and have demonstrated an inability to meet the full set of academic standards even with reasonable modifications and accommodations.
To receive a modified diploma, a student must earn 24 units of credit between grade 9 and the end of their high school career. A student shall be eligible for a modified diploma under the following circumstances:
- They have a documented history of an inability to maintain grade level achievement due to significant learning and instructional barriers inherent in the student; or
- They have a documented history of a medical condition that creates a barrier to achievement. (OAR 581-022-2010
Per OAR 581-022-2010, a student pursuing a modified diploma:
- May earn units of credit through regular education, with or without accommodations or modifications, and through modified courses.
- Will have the option to earn credit for demonstrating proficiency.
- Shall have access to needed courses, modifications and supports to pursue a modified diploma and to progress in the general education curriculum.
Beginning in grade five when a student is taking an alternate assessment, the district shall annually provide to the parents or guardians of the student, information about the availability and requirements of a modified diploma.
The district shall grant credit toward a modified diploma only for courses that contain substantial academic content. The district will grant credit for a modified diploma through a continuum of instruction beginning at the level of basic skills and progressing through higher level skills. The district shall award a modified diploma under OAR 581-022-2010 if all requirements are met. Completion of one or more modified courses shall not prohibit a student from earning a standard diploma.
The district shall grant credit toward a modified diploma according to individual student needs across academic content areas including applied, consumer, academic or knowledge and skill development.
A modified diploma may be awarded to a student only upon the consent of the parent or guardian. The district must receive the consent in writing during the school year in which the extended diploma is awarded. The requirement for obtaining the consent of a student’s parents or guardian does not apply to a student who is emancipated or has reached the age of majority of 18 years of age or older at the time the extended diploma is awarded.
Additional Requirements for a Modified Diploma
The district requires every student, including those pursuing a modified diploma, to:
- Develop an education plan and build an education profile (as provided under OAR 581-022-2000).
- Be aware of the option to earn credit for proficiency.
- Build a collection of evidence (or include evidence in an existing collection) to demonstrate extended application of the standards (as defined in OAR 581-022-0102).
A student’s school team shall decide that a student should work toward a modified diploma no earlier than the end of grade six and no later than two years before the student’s anticipated exit from high school. A student’s school team may decide to revise a modified diplomas decision.
A student’s school team may decide that a student who was not previously working towards a modified diploma should work towards one when the student is less than two years from anticipated exit from high school if the documented history has changed.
The district shall inform the student and/or parent or guardian if the courses in grades 9-12 have been modified for an individual student.
The district shall provide transcripts which clearly identify modified courses that do not count toward the regular diploma, but do count toward a modified diploma.
The district shall allow each student receiving a modified diploma to participate in the Reynolds High School graduation ceremony with the members of their class who are receiving a regular high school diploma.
Ineligibility for a modified diploma shall result if the student meets any of the following criteria according to OAR 581-022-2010:
- The student is currently engaging in the use of illegal drugs, and the significant learning and instructional barriers are a result of this drug use.
- The student is currently engaging in illegal use of alcohol, and the significant learning and instructional barriers are a result of this alcohol use, regardless of whether the student is disabled under Section 504 on the basis of alcoholism.
The district may choose to grant eligibility for a modified diploma for a student who has engaged in such activities as described in (a) and (b) above, provided the student is no longer engaged in the illegal use of drugs or alcohol and has:
- Successfully completed a supervised drug or alcohol rehabilitation program; or
- Has been rehabilitated successfully; or
- Is participating in a supervised rehabilitation program.
Extended Diploma
An extended diploma shall be awarded only to students who have demonstrated the inability to meet the full set of academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education for a standard diploma with reasonable modifications and accommodations. An extended diploma may be awarded to a student only upon the consent of the parent or guardian. The district must receive the consent in writing during the school year in which the extended diploma is awarded. The requirement for obtaining the consent of a student’s parents or guardian does not apply to a student who is emancipated or has reached the age of majority of 18 years of age or older at the time the extended diploma is awarded.
The district will provide an extended diploma per OAR 581-022-2015. The following are the minimal requirements for the Oregon Extended Diploma:
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While in grade nine through completion of high school, complete 12 credit requirements, which may include more than six credits in a self-contained special education classroom, as listed below:
- Two credits of mathematics;
- Two credits of English;
- Two credits of science;
- Three credits of history, geography, economics or civics;
- One credit of health;
- One credit of physical education; and
- One credit of the arts or a world language.
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Eligibility: Demonstrate the inability to meet the full set of academic content standards of a regular or modified diploma even with reasonable accommodations and modifications and:
- Have a documented history of an inability to maintain grade level achievement due to significant learning and instructional barriers; or
- Have a documented history of a medical condition that creates a barrier to achievement; and
- Participate in an alternate assessment (Extended Assessment or Scaffolded Administration of the Extended Assessment) no later than grade six and lasting for two or more assessment cycles (years); or
- Have a serious illness or injury that occurs after grade eight, which changes the student’s ability to participate in grade level activities that results in the student participating in alternate assessments.
Beginning in grade five when in a student is taking an alternate assessment, the district shall annually provide to the parents or guardians of the student, information about the availability and requirements of an extended diploma.
Essential Skills Assessments for English Language Learner (ELL) Students as per OAR 581-022-2120
Apply Mathematics
