In order for a student to qualify for a diploma in this District, s/he must have satisfactorily completed the following courses and earned at least twenty-four (24) credits in grades nine through twelve including requirements listed below.

Effective through graduating class of 2010

Graduation must be earned by passing all mandated subjects, a major sequence, and earning total units required for a diploma.

Students in special education shall receive (a diploma) (a certificate of completion) if certified they have properly completed the requirements of their IEP. They shall participate in all graduation activities.

*A student under an IEP may receive a diploma if s/he meets the requirements of his/her IEP and receives the recommendation of the I.E.P.C.

A high school student who wishes to test-out of a course in which s/he is not enrolled may do so by taking the final examination for the course and receiving a grade of at least C+ or by demonstrating mastery of the subject matter as determined by the District assessment used in lieu of a final examination. Credit for a course earned by a student through this process may be used to fulfill a course or course-sequence requirement and shall be counted toward the required number of credits needed for graduation but may not be used to determine the student’s GPA.

A student may be granted credit by earning a qualifying score, as determined by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) on assessments developed or selected for the subject area by the MDE or the student earns a qualifying score, as determined by the District on one (1) or more assessments developed or selected by the District that measure a student’s understanding of the subject area content expectations or guidelines that apply to the credit.

The student may not receive credit for a course in the same area but lower in the course sequence.

A student may receive credit in any foreign language not offered by the school upon passing a competency test approved by the principal.

Special education students who properly complete the program specified in their I.E.P., or in a personal curriculum, and meet the requirements for a high school diploma, and have received the recommendation of the I.E.P.C. may participate in graduation activities as recommended by the student’s I.E.P.C. Reasonable accommodation shall be made for students with disabilities, as defined under State or Federal law, to assist them in taking any required tests or assessments for graduation.

The Michigan Merit Curriculum requires sixteen (16) credits for graduation, which could be acquired through subject and integrated (mixed subject) classes, as well as, career and technical education programs. The Board has designated listed Curriculum as required for graduation.

Credits include:

4 Credits - Mathematics including algebra I; geometry, algebra II, including one (1) credit in senior year.

4 Credits - English Language Arts aligned with subject area content expectations developed by MDE.

3 Credits - Science including biology; physics or chemistry; one (1) additional science credit.

3 Credits - Social studies including .5 credit in civics; .5 credit in economics; U.S. history and geography; world history and geography.

1 Credit - Physical education/health credit guidelines to be developed by MDE

1 Credit - Visual, performing, applied arts credit guidelines to be developed by MDE.

8 Credits - In addition to the credits outlined above, credit hours in electives, or career and technical education programs must be completed and awarded.

The above list of credit totals what is needed for graduation from the District's high school(s).

A parent or legal guardian of a student may request a personal curriculum for the student that modifies certain of Michigan Merit Standard requirements. If all of the requirements for a personal curriculum are met, then the Board may award a high school diploma to a student who successfully completes his/her personal curriculum even if it does not meet the requirements of the Michigan Merit Standard. All of the following apply to a personal curriculum:

If the parent or legal guardian of a student requests, as part of the student's personal curriculum, a modification of the Michigan Merit Standard requirements that would not otherwise be allowed and demonstrates that the modification is necessary because the student is a child with a disability, the District may allow that additional modification to the extent necessary because of the student's disability if the group determines that the modification is consistent with both the student's educational development plan and the student's individualized education program. If the Superintendent of Public Instruction has reason to believe that a District is allowing modifications inconsistent with the requirements of the State school code, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall monitor the District to ensure that the District's policies, procedures, and practices are in compliance with the requirements for additional modifications, under this subdivision. As used in the school code "child with a disability" is defined in 20 U.S.C. 1401.

If a student transfers to the District from out-of-state or from a nonpublic school, the student's parent or legal guardian may request, as part of the student's personal curriculum, a modification of the Michigan Merit Standard requirements that would not otherwise be allowed under this section. The District may allow this additional modification for a transfer student if all of the following requirements are met:

Students must take an on-line course or learning experience; OR have the on-line learning experience incorporated into each of the required credits of the Michigan Merit Curriculum.

Beginning with the Class of 2016 (third graders in Fall 2006), students will need to complete two (2) credits of a world language in grades 9-12; OR have an equivalent learning experience in grades K-12.

A special education student must pass the required High School Test in each of the above areas to receive credit for that subject.

Each principal is to determine, based on results on the required tests, which students are in need of special assistance in order to have a fair opportunity to achieve credit toward graduation.

A student who wishes to repeat a test may do so without charge either in the next school year or after graduation. The test is to be taken at the time the District administers the test or conducts a retesting session. A student who has graduated from the District after 1996 and has not taken the required High School Tests may take the Test free of charge anytime it is offered by the District and have his/her scaled score added to his/her transcript if the scaled score(s) meets the State standard.

Upon payment of the required fee, any high-school graduate may take the Michigan Merit Exam and American College Test (ACT)-PLAN or PSAT Test.

M.C.L.A. 380.1166, 380.1278a, 380.1278b, 380.1279
20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq., 20 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.
29 U.S.C. 794 (Section 504 of Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.

Revised 10/06
Revised 6/08