2011 Graduation Rule
High School Requirements (Effective for Graduating Students Beginning with the 2010-2011 School Year). R277-700-7
A. The Board shall establish a Core Curriculum for students in grades 9-12.
B. Beginning with the graduating class of 2011, students in grades 9-12 shall earn a minimum of 18 Board-specified units of credit through course completion or through competency assessment consistent with R277-705.
C. Grades 9-12 Core Curriculum, as specified:
(1) Language Arts (4.0 units of credit):
(a) Ninth grade level (1.0 unit of credit);
(b) Tenth grade level (1.0 unit of credit);
(c) Eleventh grade level (1.0 unit of credit); and
(d) Applied or advanced language arts credit (1.0 unit of credit) from the list of courses, determined by the local board and approved by USOE, using the following criteria and consistent with the student's SEOP:(i) courses are within the field/discipline of language arts with a significant portion of instruction aligned to language arts content, principles, knowledge, and skills; and
(ii) courses provide instruction that leads to student understanding of the nature and disposition of language arts; and
(iii) courses apply the fundamental concepts and skills of language arts; and
(iv) courses provide developmentally appropriate content; and
(v) courses develop skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, and presentation;(2) Mathematics (3.0 units of credit) met minimally through successful completion of three units of credit of mathematics including Elementary Algebra or Applied Mathematics I and Geometry or Applied Mathematics II; and mathematics in grades 9-12 selected from the Core courses or applied or supplemental courses from the list of courses determined by the local board and approved by USOE using the following criteria and consistent with the student's SEOP:
(i) courses are within the field/discipline of mathematics with a significant portion of instruction aligned to mathematics content, principles, knowledge, and skills; and
(ii) courses provide instruction that leads to student understanding of the nature and disposition of mathematics; and
(iii) courses apply the fundamental concepts and skills of mathematics; and
(iv) courses provide developmentally appropriate content; and
(v) courses include the five process skills of mathematics: problem solving, reasoning, communication, connections, and representation.(3) Science (3.0 units of credit):
(a) at a minimum, two courses from the four science foundation areas:
(i) Earth Systems Science (1.0 units of credit);
(ii) Biological Science (1.0 units of credit);
(iii) Chemistry (1.0 units of credit);
(iv) Physics (1.0 units of credit); and(b) one additional unit of credit from the foundation courses or the applied or advanced science list determined by the local board and approved by USOE using the following criteria and consistent with the student's SEOP:
(i) courses are within the field/discipline of science with a significant portion of instruction aligned to science content, principles, knowledge, and skills; and
(ii) courses provide instruction that leads to student understanding of the nature and disposition of science; and
(iii) courses apply the fundamental concepts and skills of science; and
(iv) courses provide developmentally appropriate content; and
(v) courses include the areas of physical, natural, or applied sciences; and
(vi) courses develop students' skills in scientific inquiry.(4) Social Studies (2.5 units of credit):
(a) Geography for Life (0.5 units of credit);
(b) World Civilizations (0.5 units of credit);
(c) U.S. History (1.0 units of credit);
(d) U.S. Government and Citizenship (0.5 units of credit).(5) The Arts (1.5 units of credit from any of the following performance areas):
(a) Visual Arts;
(b) Music;
(c) Dance;
(d) Theatre;(6) Physical and Health Education (2.0 units of credit):
(a) Health (0.5 units of credit);
(b) Participation Skills (0.5 units of credit);
(c) Fitness for Life (0.5 units of credit);
(d) Individualized Lifetime Activities (0.5 units of credit) or team sport/athletic participation (maximum of 0.5 units of credit with school approval).(7) Career and Technical Education (1.0 units of credit):
(a) Agriculture;
(b) Business;
(c) Family and Consumer Sciences;
(d) Health Science and Technology;
(e) Information Technology;
(f) Marketing;
(g) Technology and Engineering Education;
(h) Trade and Technical Education.(8) Educational Technology (0.5 units of credit):
(a) Computer Technology (0.5 units of credit for the class by this specific name only); or
(b) successful completion of Board-approved competency examination (credit may be awarded at the discretion of the school or school district).(9) General Financial Literacy (0.5 units of credit).
(10) Library Media Skills (integrated into the subject areas).
D. Board-approved CRT's shall be used to assess student mastery of the following subjects:
(1) reading;
(2) language arts through grade 11;
(3) mathematics as defined under R277-700-6D(2);
(4) science as defined under R277-700-6D(3); and
(5) effectiveness of written expression in grade 9.
E. Local boards shall require students to earn a minimum of 24 units of credit in grades 9-12 for high school graduation.
F. Local boards may require students to earn credits for graduation that exceed minimum Board requirements.
G. Elective courses offerings may be established and offered at the discretion of the local board.
H. Students with disabilities served by special education programs may have changes made to graduation requirements through individual IEPs to meet unique educational needs. A student's IEP shall document the nature and extent of modifications, substitutions or exemptions made to accommodate a student with disabilities.
I. The Board and USOE may review local boards' lists of approved courses for compliance with this rule.
J. Graduation requirements may be modified for individual students to achieve an appropriate route to student success when such modifications:
(1) are consistent with the student's IEP or SEOP or both;
(2) are maintained in the student's file and include the parent's/guardian's signature; and
(3) maintain the integrity and rigor expected for high school graduation, as determined by the Board.
