The board will 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 will be awarded with no distinctions being made between the various programs of instruction which may have been pursued. Credit Requirements The board has established the following graduation requirements which, satisfy and exceed those established by the State Board of Education: Subject Areas Classes of 2015 to 2018 Credit Requirements Class of 2019 English 4** 4 Mathematics 3 3 Science (1 lab) 2 (2 labs) 3 Social Studies 3.5* 3.5* Health and Fitness (one class must including training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of automatic external defibrillators (AED)) 2.5* 0.5 credit health 2.0 credit fitness* 2 0.5 credit health 1.5 credit fitness Arts (1 credit may be a Personalized Pathway Requirement)*** 1 2 Career and Technical Education 1 1 Electives (any course that is not required may satisfy elective credit) World Language (or) Personalized Pathway Requirement *** 6.5 3.5 0 2 Total Credit Requirements 23.5* 24 * Exceeds state requirements. ** Exceeds state requirements for classes prior to class of 2016. ***Personalized Pathway Requirements are courses determined by the District that prepare students for a particular career and education goal chosen by the student and specified in their High School and Beyond Plan. For students who transfer into the district after the beginning of the second semester of their freshman year, the student will be permitted to graduate with lesser credits than those indicated above for the classes of 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, provided that state requirements are satisfied. Beginning with the class of 2019, students must earn 24 credits. Students, however, may apply for a credit waiver up to two (2.0) credits based on unusual circumstances. Page 1 of 5
The Board may consider additional graduation requirements as recommended by the Superintendent. Additional Requirements In addition to the minimum credit requirements, to earn a diploma each student must: A. Pass the reading and writing portions of the statewide assessment or a state-approved alternative. 1. Students in the classes of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 must pass one of the following comprehensive English Language Arts (ELA) exit exams: reading and writing portions of the statewide assessment or new ELA exit exam (administered beginning spring 2015) or new 11 th Grade Smarter Balanced Comprehensive ELA Test (administered beginning spring 2015). 2. Students in the class of 2019 and beyond must pass the 11 th Grade Smarter Balanced Comprehensive ELA Test B. Complete a High School and Beyond Plan C. Complete math requirements: 1. Students in the classes of 2013 and 2014 must pass one end of course assessment (either Algebra 1 or Geometry or state-approved alternative). 2. Students in the classes of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 must pass one end of course assessment (Algebra I or Geometry or beginning spring 2015, New 3. Algebra/Integrated Math 1 EOC Exit Exam or New Geometry/Integrated Math 2 EOC Exit Exam or New 11 th Grade Smarter Balanced Comprehensive Math Test; or a state-approved alternative. 4. Students in the class of 2019 and beyond must pass the 11 th Grade Smarter Balanced Comprehensive Math Test. D. Complete science requirements: Students in the classes of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 must pass the biology end-of-course assessment or a state-approved alternative. E. Earn a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average. F. Earn a minimum of forty (40) hours of Community Service. A student will receive a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA, or Washington State s name for a regular high school diploma) if he or she earns the appropriate number of credits required by the district, completes the high school and beyond plan, and meets the reading, writing and math standards on the high school statewide assessment or an appropriate alternative assessment, earns a minimum 2.0 grade point average, and completes forty (40) hours of community service. Students qualifying for special education services who are not appropriately assessed by the high school Washington assessment system, even with accommodations, may earn a Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA) as determined by their Individual Education Plan (IEP). Procedures The superintendent will develop procedures for implementing this policy which include: A. Establishing the process for completion of the High School and Beyond Plan. B. Establishing the process for completion of required Community Service Hours. C. Establishing the process for the completion of Personal Pathway Requirements. Page 2 of 5
D. Determining which courses satisfy particular subject area requirements and whether a particular course may satisfy more than one subject area requirement. E. Determining which credit toward high school graduation may be granted for learning experiences conducted away from school facilities (Outside Learning Credits) from an accredited institution, online courses approved by the Washington State Department of Digital Learning, or by individuals not employed by the school district. F. Determining procedures under which individual students may be excused from the fitness requirement on account of physical disability, employment, or religious belief, or because of participation in directed athletics or military science and tactics or for other good cause. Such excused students shall be required to demonstrate proficiency/competency in the knowledge portion of the fitness requirement. G. Determining directed athletics credit. 1. Effective with the Class of 2015, directed athletics credit will include, but not necessarily be limited to, approved activities, including approved community based activities, up to a maximum of 0.5 credits if a 0.5 credit waiver has been granted, or up to a maximum of 1.0 credits if no waiver has been granted. 2. Effective with the Class of 2019, the Health and Fitness credit requirement will be reduced from 2.5 to 2 credits therefore, directed athletics credit will include, but not necessarily be limited to, approved activities, including approved community based activities, up to a maximum of 0.5 credits. H. Publishing graduation requirements and distributing to students, parents and members of the public. I. Granting credit for correspondence, technical institutes and/or college courses for college or university course work the district has agreed to accept for high school credit. J. Notifying tenth and eleventh grade students and their parents annually of the Running Start Program. K. Granting credit for work experience when permitted; L. Granting credit based upon competence testing, in lieu of enrollment when permitted; M. Providing for a waiver of graduation requirements for an individual student when permitted. All state graduation requirements must be satisfied unless a waiver is permitted by law. Graduation requirements in effect when a student first enrolls in high school will be in effect until that student graduates. Cross References: Board Policy 2161 Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students 3110 Qualifications of Attendance and Placement 3241 Classroom Management, Corrective Actions or Punishment 3412 Automated External Defibrillators (AED) 3520 Student Fees, Fines and Charges Page 3 of 5
Legal References RCW 28A.155.045 RCW 28A.230.090 RCW 28A.230.120 RCW 28A.230.050 Certificate of individual achievement High school graduation requirements or equivalencies Reevaluation of graduation requirements Review and authorization of proposed changes Credit for courses taken before attending high school Postsecondary credit equivalencies High school diplomas Issuance Option to receive final transcripts Notice Physical Education in High Schools RCW 28A.600.300-400 Running start program RCW 28A.635.060 RCW 28A.655.061 WAC 180-51 WAC 392-121-182 WAC 392-169 WAC 392-348 WAC 392-410 Defacing or injuring school property Liability of pupil, parent or guardian Withholding grades, diploma, or transcripts Suspension and restitution Voluntary work program as alternative Rights protected High school assessment system Certificate of academic achievement requirements Exemptions Options to retake high school assessment Objective alternative assessment Student learning plans High school graduation requirements Alternative Learning Experience Requirements Special service programs running start program Secondary Education Courses of studies and equivalencies Management Resources: Policy and Legal News September 2013 One health class required for graduation must now include instruction in CPR and use of AED Policy News April 2012 October 2011 June 2010 State Board of Education revises credit requirements for graduation Policy manual revisions High school proficiency examination April 2009 High school graduation requirements (Class of 2009) February 2009 Page 4 of 5
August 2007 October 2004 February 2004 December 2000 April 1999 Graduation Requirements Modified by Legislature Graduation Requirements: High School and Beyond Plans 2004 Adopted Variations Complicate College Credit Equivalencies Adoption Date: 3/19/2013 Bellevue School District Revised: 3/5/2014, 12/16/2014 Page 5 of 5