Brevard County (Florida)
Administrative Procedures
 

5460 - REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION GRADE 9 BEGINNING 2007-2008

To be awarded a regular high school diploma, a student must have:

 A.Completed all credit requirements as defined below or completed the requirements for an International Baccalaureate diploma or Advanced International Certificate of Education diploma. (Note: There are new graduation requirements beginning in 2007-2008 for entering 9th grade students.)
 B.Been enrolled four (4) years in the 9-12 sequence for the twenty-six (26) credit option or three (3) years for the eighteen (18) credit option.
 C.Met the District attendance requirements.
 D.Passed both the reading and math sections of the 10th grade FCAT, as well as FCAT Writing+.
 E.Demonstrated satisfactory mastery of the performance standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies as documented in accordance with procedures described in administrative procedures.
 F.Earned a minimum cumulative unweighted grade point average for specific high school diploma option. This GPA is computed on all courses taken, except courses forgiven under State and District policies.
 G.Received the principal's approval for graduation.

NOTE: Exceptional education students working towards a standard diploma will follow the same graduation requirements as students without disabilities.

The Four (4) Year Twenty-Six (26) Credit Standard Graduation Option

Beginning 2007-2008 with the Graduation Class of 2011 (Grade 9)
 

Subject Area

Credits
     
 

Language Arts (English)

4 (A)
     
 

Mathematics

4 (B)
     
 

Science

4 (C)
     
 

Social Studies

4 (D)
     
 

Physical Education (including health)

1 (E)
     
 

Life Management Skills*

1/2 (F)
     
 

Fine Arts (Performing or Visual Arts)

1 (G)
     
 

Career Research and Decision Making

1/2 (H)
     
 

Electives

7 (I)
     
 

Total Credits Required

26* (J)(K)
 A.One (1) credit in English III, English III Honors, or Advanced Placement Language and Composition is required.
 B.Mathematics must be taken during the ninth and tenth grade years. One (1) of the four (4) credits in mathematics must be Algebra I, a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a higher-level course.
 C.Three (3) of the science credits must include (a) one (1) credit each in biology, chemistry, and physics; (b) the three (3) credit sequence in Integrated Science I, II, III; or (c) the equivalent approved by the Director of Secondary Programs.
 D.Three (3) of the social studies credits must include one (1) credit each in American History and World History and one-half (1/2) credit each in American Government and Economics.
 E.One (1) credit in the State required physical education is required. There are no waivers to the State requirement.
 F.Life Management Skills must be taken in grades 9-12. (*Note: Deleted pending Board approval. To be replaced with 0.5 elective credit.)
 G.This requirement may be met by earning one (1) full credit in either performing or visual arts.
 H.This course is required of all students.
 I.Electives may include a major area of interest (four (4) credits) and/or a minor area of interest (three (3) credits), and/or other electives; however, a student must declare a major area of interest to be confirmed or updated annually.
 J.Upon successful completion, students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in ESOL/Home Language are awarded credit toward graduation requirements.
 K.Student completion of an International Baccalaureate diploma curriculum or Advanced International Certificate of Education diploma curriculum shall be deemed to meet the curricular requirements of this subsection.

*Any student who completes a four (4) year program in a block scheduled school must complete thirty (30) credits to graduate. Students who transfer to a block schedule school must complete an extra one-half (1/2) credit for each completed semester taken in the block schedule school.

Note #1: Any student in Grade 9 who scored Level 1, Level 2, or failed FCAT Reading the previous year must take Intensive Reading which will be recorded as an elective.

Note #2: Each student is required to complete a program of student which includes a minimum of three (3) credits in at least one (1) of the following areas prior to graduation: Approved Dual Enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), Approved Honors Courses (three (3) credits in any combination) or three (3) or more credits to complete a sequential Career and Technical Education Program of Study resulting in a credential endorsed by a national, State, or local industry.

The Three (3) Year Eighteen (18) Credit Standard College Preparatory Graduation Option - Specific Course and Credit Requirements

(This option must be selected by the end of Grade 9. See your counselor for more information.)
 A.four (4) credits in English (major concentration in composition and literature)
 B.three (3) credits in mathematics (Algebra I level or higher from the list of courses that qualify for State university admission)
 C.three (3) credits in natural sciences (two (2) of which must include a lab component)
 D.three (3) credits in social sciences
 E.two (2) credits in the same second language unless the student is a native speaker of or can otherwise demonstrate competency in a language other than English. If the student demonstrates competency in another language, the student may replace the language requirement with two (2) credits in other academic courses.
 F.three (3) credits in electives.

Additional Requirements:

 A.At least six (6) of the eighteen (18) credits required for this program must be in classes that are - dual enrollment; advanced placement; International Baccalaureate; Advanced International Certificate of Education courses; specifically listed or identified by the Department of Education as rigorous pursuant to F.S. 1009.531(3); or weighted by the Board for class ranking purposes. (Explanatory Note: The DOE identifies rigorous courses as those courses listed at Level 3 in the Florida Course Code Directory and Instructional Personnel Assignments that meet the course distribution requirements for State university admissions.)
 B.A cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the courses required for the college preparatory option.
 C.A weighted or unweighted grade that earns at least 3.0 points, or its equivalent, to earn course credit toward the eighteen (18) credits required for the college preparatory option.

The Three (3) Year Eighteen (18) Credit Career Preparatory Graduation Option - Specific Course and Credit Requirements

(This option must be selected by the end of Grade 9. See your counselor for more information.)
 A.four (4) credits in English (major concentration in composition and literature)
 B.three (3) credits in mathematics (one (1) of which must be Algebra I)
 C.three (3) credits in natural science (two (2) of which must include a lab component)
 D.three (3) credits in social sciences
 E.three (3) credits in a single vocational or career education program and two (2) elective credits, or three (3) credits in career and technical certificate dual enrollment and two (2) elective credits, or five (5) credits in vocational or career technical courses.

Additional Requirements:

 A.A cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the courses required for the career preparatory option.
 B.A weighted or unweighted grade that earns at least 2.0 points, or its equivalent, to earn course credit toward the eighteen (18) credits required for the career preparatory option.

Note for both Eighteen (18) Credit Options:
 A.One (1) of the four (4) credits in language arts must be in English III, English III Honors, or Advanced Placement Language and Composition.
 B.Mathematics must be taken during the ninth and tenth grade years. One (1) of the three (3) credits in mathematics must be Algebra I or a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I; however, there must be two (2) credits other than Algebra I or its equivalent.
 C.Two (2) of the three (3) credits in science must have a laboratory component. Students shall meet the three (3) credit graduation requirement in science by either (a) one (1) credit each in biology, chemistry, and physics; (b) the three (3) credit sequence of Integrated Science I, II, and III; or (c) equivalent approved by the Director of Secondary Programs.
 D.One (1) credit each in American History and World History and one-half (1/2) credit each in American Government and Economics.

Revised 7/30/07