HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

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1 Page No. 1 of 7 Date Adopted: BOARD OF DIRECTORS Supersedes: 5218 Issued: , , , , , , , , , , PROCEDURE: PUBLICATION OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS Prior to registering in high school, and each year thereafter, each student and his/her parents or guardians will be provided with a copy of the graduation requirements in effect for that student (those in effect when the student enrolled in ninth grade unless ten years have elapsed). Graduation requirements will also be included in the high school course description guide. HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION Each student is to develop, have on file, and update as necessary a high school completion plan approved by a parent/guardian. Counselors will provide assistance to incoming ninth graders and their families in developing educational plans. Changes in plans should normally reflect parent/guardian consent and should be submitted to the appropriate counselor. At the conclusion of each year, the school will provide the student and his/her parent/guardian with a report which reflects the progress that has been made toward satisfying the graduation requirements. If progress is not adequate, the school will identify alternative courses that can be taken to correct the deficiencies. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 1. The minimum number of credits needed for graduation is Beginning with the class of 2019 and beyond, the minimum number of credits needed for graduation is 24. a. Each course has a.34 credit value under the existing trimester system. For the class of 2016 and beyond, the school year will be divided into two semesters of 18 weeks each, and each course will have a.5 credit value. b. Students must earn a given number of credits each year to maintain progress toward graduation.

2 Page No. 2 of 7 2. Credit may be granted for on-line, vocational-technical institute, college or university, or other accredited institution course work the District has agreed to accept for high school credit in accordance with state law. Tenth and eleventh grade students and their parents will be notified annually of the Running Start Program. Credit may be granted for work experience, competence testing in lieu of enrollment, or 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. Equivalency credits will be determined through the presentation of equivalency credit information by the pertinent department to the high school principal for approval. 3. Students who earn a diploma will be eligible to participate in Cheney High School's graduation ceremony upon completion of the twelfth grade. COURSES/CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION The following courses are approved for satisfying the subject area requirements as established by the State Board of Education: Class of Class of Class of and Beyond Academic Area Credits Credits Credits Mathematics (Grade 9-12) Min. (Students must complete Algebra II or equivalent) Language Arts (Grades 9-12) Min. Social Studies 3 Min. World History (Grade 10) U.S. History (Grade 11) Economics (Grade 12) Civics Current World Issues (Grade 12) Soc. St. Elective Government (Grade 12) Science... Physical Science (Grade 9) Biology (Grade 10) Min. (2 Lab)

3 Page No. 3 of 7 Career & Technical Education (Grades 9-12) Min. Health and Fitness** Health (Grade 9) Health.5 Min. Basic P.E. (Grades 9-12) Fitn. 1.5 Min. Physical Education (Grades 9-12) Fitness Visual & Performing Arts (Grades 9-12) Min. (1 can be PPR) Elective Credits (Grades 9-12) Min. World Language or PPR*... 2 Min. *PPR Personalized Pathway Requirement ** Per Chapter 28A.230, RCW, beginning with the school year, each school district must offer instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in at least one health class required for graduation. The instruction must have been developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross or be nationally recognized based on the most current national guidelines for CPR. The instruction must include use of automated external defibrillators (AED) which may be taught by video. The District may provide the CPR instruction directly or arrange it through community-based providers such as the local fire department. Students are not required to earn CPR certification to successfully complete the instruction. A High School and Beyond Plan and culminating project are also required. Beginning with the graduating class of 2016, the culminating project is no longer required for graduation. In assisting students with developing a High School and Beyond Plan, the District should: 1. Provide internal and external resources to ensure successful development and implementation of the High School and Beyond Plan; 2. Provide the opportunity for student choice, voice and ownership of the High School and Beyond Plan; 3. Teach students a planning process that provides a capacity to create, review and revise the High School and Beyond Plan; 4. Prepare all students for post-secondary options; 5. Align the High School and Beyond Plan with the Essential Academic Learning Requirements, State Learning Goals and District goals and link to District high school graduation requirements;

4 Page No. 4 of 7 6. Collect and analyze data to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the High School and Beyond Plan; and 7. Assure parental involvement in the planning process, including the student s development of the High School and Beyond Plan. In assisting students with developing the culminating project, the District should: 1. Advise the student and parent/guardian of the requirement to complete a culminating project as a graduation requirement; 2. Provide the student assistance and guidance annually on completing the project; 3. The culminating project may include: a. A demonstration of the student s ability to communicate in writing by completing an analytical, argumentative and/or reflective letter; b. A demonstration of the student s ability to communicate orally through a presentation to peers, teachers and/or community members; c. Completion of a self-directed student project that demonstrates the student s academic and management skills; and d. The opportunity for the student to complete a community service project or a project working with a community member; 4. Review each student s progress annually; 5. Provide opportunities within the curriculum for students to work on projects; and 6. Ensure projects align with state goals for improved student learning. CREDITS Students will be expected to earn a total of credits in order to complete graduation requirements. Beginning with the class of 2019 and beyond, a total of 24 credits will be required. High school credit will be awarded for successful completion of a specified unit of study. In this District, successful completion of a specified unit of study means: 1. Earning a passing grade according to the District s grading policy; and/or 2. Demonstrating proficiency/mastery of content standards as determined by the District; and/or

5 Page No. 5 of 7 3. Successfully completing an established number of hours of planned instructional activities to be determined by the District. The District will establish a process for determining proficiency/mastery for credit-bearing courses of study. These procedures are followed in accepting high school credit to count toward graduation from Cheney High School. 1. All school credit completed while enrolled at Cheney High School, with the exception of any class work where failure was recorded, will be accepted toward graduation. 2. The principal or designee is responsible for determining which credits will be recognized by the District for students enrolling from another state-approved learning program (public school, approved private school or home school), or from out-of-state, or out-of-country. Credits from another Washington public school or accredited state private school or accredited out-of-state public or private school will be accepted to the extent the credit matches a District graduation requirement, or may be counted as an elective credit. Credits from unaccredited programs or home schools will be evaluated as described below for home school students. Decisions of the principal or designee may be appealed to the Superintendent/designee within fifteen school days of the initial decision. 3. High school credit completed at a state accredited summer school, night school, university or community college may be accepted toward meeting graduation requirements. However, prior approval by the high school principal or his/her designee is required. 4. Correspondence high school credit from an accredited program which meets the State of Washington requirements may count toward high school graduation. However, prior approval by the high school principal or his/her designee is required. It is understood that such approval will not be granted unless the course in question is not available in the school curriculum or it is not possible for the student to take the course as a regular school enrollee. 5. A student who is considered at least a sophomore on track for graduation may qualify for a substitution of a required class (which was taken and failed) in ninth and tenth grade language arts, math and/or science upon completing and passing the Washington state-wide assessment. The test is administered according to state

6 Page No. 6 of 7 guidelines. required. Prior approval by the high school principal or his/her designee is WAIVER OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS All state requirements must be satisfied except that Washington history and government may be waived for students who have completed and passed a state history and government course in another state during grades seven through twelve and who have fulfilled study of the Washington state constitution through an alternative learning experience approved by the principal or his/her designee. Additionally, physical education, pursuant to RCW 28A , may be waived upon written request of a parent or guardian on account of physical disability, employment or religious belief or because of participation in directed athletics or military science and tactics. This will not alter the credit requirements established by the Board. Waiver of high school requirements is determined by the principal or his/her designee. The following procedure will be followed in graduation waiver requests: The principal or his/her designee is responsible for evaluating the educational experiences of individual students and recommending graduation to the Superintendent when requirements have been met. An individual student may be granted an exemption from any requirement in this policy if such requirement impedes the progress toward graduation provided there is a direct relationship between the failure to meet the requirement and the student s ability. When a 12th grade student transfers from a high school outside of Washington State, the student may be permitted to graduate with a lesser number of credits, provided that minimum state course and credit requirements are satisfied and the student successfully passes a full schedule of classes during his/her 12th year of school. Waiver of graduation requirements is determined by the principal or his/her designee. The procedure for processing requests for waiver will be as follows: 1. A Request for Waiver of Graduation Requirement will be initiated by a parent or guardian of the student or by the eligible student who has attained the age of eighteen (18). The request is to be submitted to the high school principal in advance of the anticipated graduation date.

7 Page No. 7 of 7 2. The high school principal or his/her designee will investigate the Request for Waiver of Graduation Requirement. 3. The high school principal will make a determination in writing based upon appropriate data and upon conclusions of the investigation. 4. A copy of the high school principal s decision will be placed in the student s cumulative record folder. 5. An appropriate record-keeping procedure for storage of all pertinent data relating to each waiver request will be developed. 6. Transfer students will have all credits evaluated by the principal upon receipt of the transcript. Under special circumstances, a student may be granted a subject or an attendance waiver by the principal/designee. 7. The parent or eligible student will be notified that an appeal to the decision on waiver requests may be made in writing to the Superintendent or his/her designee no later than 30 days prior to the anticipated graduation date. GRADUATION CEREMONIES If students fulfill graduation requirements by the end of the last term of their senior year, they may participate in graduation ceremonies. Each student will be awarded a diploma after satisfactorily completing local and state requirements. Upon request, each graduating student will receive a final transcript. Each student will be notified of this opportunity at least one month prior to the close of the school term.

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