(1)
Purpose. This rule
establishes high school graduation requirements for students enrolling in the
ninth grade in school years 1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89,
1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93, and for students re-entering high school
(grades 9-12) who were enrolled in high school (grades 9-12) prior to the
school year 1993-94.
(2)
Definitions.
(a) Carnegie unit - one unit of
credit awarded for a minimum of 150 clock hours of instruction.
(b) Carnegie unit, summer school - one unit
of credit awarded for a minimum of 120 clock hours of instruction.
(c) Core course (c) for Carnegie unit credit
- a course that may be selected to count as one of the 13 core Carnegie unit
requirements for the general diploma; also, one of the 17 Carnegie unit
requirements for the college preparatory program of study or one of the 17 for
the vocational education program of study.
(d) Early admissions - a program in which a
high school student enrolls as a full-time postsecondary student and pursues a
postsecondary degree in lieu of a high school diploma.
(e) Elective course (e) - a course that a
student may select beyond the core requirements to fulfill the 21 Carnegie unit
requirements for graduation.
(f)
Joint enrollment - an arrangement between a local board of education and a
regionally accredited postsecondary institution wherein a student attends
classes away from a high school and earns Carnegie units of credit that count
toward high school graduation.
(g)
Required course (r) - a specific course that each student in a program of study
(general, college preparatory or vocational education) shall pass to graduate
from high school.
(h) Seal of
endorsement - a seal/stamp issued by the Georgia Department of Education and
affixed to high school diplomas by local school system staff for students who
have satisfied requirements for the college preparatory and/or the vocational
education programs of study.
(i)
Secondary school credentials.
1. The high
school diploma - the document awarded to certify that a student has satisfied
attendance requirements, Carnegie unit requirements and the state assessment
requirements as referenced in Rule
160-3-1-.07 (Testing Programs -
Student Assessment).
(i) General curriculum
(GEN) - a program of study requiring 21 Carnegie units as specified by the
Georgia Board of Education.
(ii)
College preparatory curriculum (CPC) - a program of study requiring 21 Carnegie
units as specified by the Georgia Board of Education. Completion of this
program is signified by a seal of endorsement on the diploma.
(iii) Vocational curriculum (VOC) - a program
of study requiring 21 Carnegie units as specified by the Georgia Board of
Education. Completion of this program is signified by a seal of endorsement on
the diploma.
2. The high
school performance certificate - the document awarded to pupils who do not
complete all of the criteria for a diploma but who meet all requirements for
attendance and Carnegie units.
3.
The special education diploma - the document awarded to students with
disabilities assigned to a special program who have not met the state
assessment requirements referenced in Rule
160-3-1-.07 (Testing Programs -
Student Assessment) or who have not completed all of the requirements for a
high school diploma but who have, nevertheless, completed their individualized
education programs (IEP).
(3) Requirements.
(a) Each local board of education shall
provide secondary school curriculum, instructional delivery and support
services that reflect the high school graduation requirements and assist all
students in developing their unique potential to function in society.
(b) Each local board of education shall base
local graduation requirements on this rule, shall submit a copy of their
locally approved policy to the Georgia Department of Education and shall have
on file a letter from the state superintendent of schools or designee stating
that said policy has been reviewed and meets all state requirements.
(c) Each local board of education shall
develop policies on postsecondary enrollment as referenced in Rule
160-4-2-.34 (Postsecondary Options)
and for joint enrollment and early admission programs not included in
160-4-2-.34 (Postsecondary Options).
The policies shall include the criteria for:
1. Non-vocational courses:
(i) Minimum Scholastic Aptitude Test scores
of 850 combined verbal and mathematics section;
(ii) Minimum cumulative high school grade
point average of 3.0 in academic subjects;
(iii) Written approval of high school
principal;
(iv) Written consent of
parent or guardian (if the student is a minor);
(v) The awarding of six Carnegie units of
credit for each 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours or one Carnegie unit for
each 7.5 quarter hours or 5 semester hours successfully completed by a student
in an approved postsecondary course. Credit for participation in fewer than 7.5
quarter hours or 5 semester hours shall be determined by using the formula
stated above.
(vi) Written
agreement for joint enrollment between the LEA and postsecondary
institution.
2.
Vocational courses:
(i) Vocational courses
offered in area vocational-technical schools or junior colleges;
(ii) Inclusion of vocational-technical school
or junior college courses in which students are participating in the local
systems' vocational education plan;
(iii) Written consent of parent or guardian
(if the student is a minor);
(iv)
Written approval of high school principal;
(v) The awarding of six Carnegie units of
credit for each 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours or one Carnegie unit for
each 7.5 quarter hours or 5 semester hours successfully completed by a student
in an approved postsecondary course. Credit for participation in fewer than 7.5
quarter hours or 5 semester hours shall be determined by using the formula
stated above.
(vi) Written
agreement for joint enrollment between the local school system and
postsecondary institution.
(d) Each local board of education shall
specify minimum attendance, the state assessment requirements as referenced in
Rule
160-3-1-.07
(Testing Programs - Student Assessment) and the required Carnegie units of
credit in its policy defining the requirements for graduation from any Georgia
high school that receives public funds.
1.
Attendance.
(i) Each local board of education
shall establish attendance requirements consistent with state compulsory
attendance laws.
(ii) For students
more than 16 years of age, a local board of education shall adopt policies
allowing for program completion in more or less than 12 years of schooling.
Attendance requirements may be waived considering the age and maturity of the
student, accessibility of alternative learning programs, student achievement
levels and decisions of parents or guardians. Such attendance waivers shall be
consistent with guidelines of the Georgia Board of Education.
2. State Assessment Requirements.
(i) A local board of education shall consider
only those students who have met the state assessment requirements as
referenced in Rule
160-3-1-.07 (Test Programs - Student
Assessment) as eligible for a diploma.
(ii) The local board of education shall not
require a student who has no means of written communication due to a severe
physical disability to take the writing portion of the assessment for
graduation as specified in Rule
160-3-1-.07 (Testing Programs -
Student Assessment).
3.
Carnegie Units.
(i) Each state-supported high
school shall make available to all students the curriculum for the required
minimum general diploma and for endorsements for the college preparatory and
vocational education programs of study.
(ii) Effective the 1984-85 school year,
enrolling ninth graders shall meet the core curriculum requirements.
(iii) Core curriculum: General
(I)
|
REQUIRED AREAS OF
STUDY
|
CARNEGIE
UNITS
|
I.
|
English Language Arts
|
4
|
II.
|
Mathematics
|
2
|
III.
|
Science
|
2
|
IV.
|
Social Studies
|
3
|
A. One of these
units shall be from the American studies area (United States history); one from
citizenship education (government) and the principles of
economics/business/free enterprise (one-half unit for semester programs and
one-third unit for quarter programs); one of the units shall be from the world
studies area (e.g., world history or world geography).
V.
|
Health, Safety and Physical
Education
|
1
|
VI.
|
Computer Technology and/or Fine Arts and/or
Vocational Education and/or Junior ROTC
|
1
|
(II)
|
STATE REQUIRED UNITS
|
13
|
(III)
|
LOCALLY REQUIRED OR ELECTIVE UNITS
|
8
|
(IV)
|
TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED (MINIMUM)
|
21
|
(V) Additional
courses selected from the following areas are also strongly recommended:
I. Mathematics.
II. Science.
III. Foreign Language.
IV. English Language Arts.
V. Social Studies.
VI. Fine Arts (dance, drama, music, visual
arts).
VII. Computer
Technology.
VIII. Vocational
Education.
IX. Traffic Safety
Education.
(iv) Remedial credit. Each local board of
education shall include any remedial unit credits among the elective unit
credits. A local board of education shall award state-required unit credit for
courses that include skills and concepts generally considered to be secondary
school education levels of performance.
(v) College preparatory program. Each local
board of education shall provide a college preparatory program for those
students who elect a rigorous academic experience and shall award a formal seal
of endorsement from the Georgia Board of Education to those students who
successfully complete the endorsed course of study. A local board of education
shall require that all credit awarded for the college preparatory program shall
be at the assigned grade level or above (9-12).
(I)
|
REQUIRED AREAS OF
STUDY
|
CARNEGIE
UNITS
|
INSTRUCTIONAL
EMPHASES
|
I.
|
English Language Arts
|
4
|
Grammar and usage, literature (American, English
and world), advanced composition
|
II.
|
Mathematics
|
3
|
Courses in algebra, geometry or more advanced
courses
|
III.
|
Science
|
3
|
Physical science At least two laboratory courses
from biology, chemistry or physics or at least three
laboratory courses from biology, chemistry or physics
|
IV.
|
Social Studies
|
3
|
One of these units must be from the American
studies area (United States history); one from the areas of citizenship
education (government) and principles of economics/ business/ free enterprise
(one-half unit for semester programs and one-third unit for quarter programs);
one of the units must be world history.
|
V.
|
Foreign Language
|
2
|
Skill building courses: two units in one language
emphasizing speaking, listening, reading and writing.
|
VI.
|
Health, Safety and Physical Education
|
1
|
Comprehensive health course focusing on decision
making for life. Physical education course focusing on physical fitness for
life.
|
VII.
|
Computer Technology and/or Fine Arts and/or
Vocational Education and/or Junior ROTC
|
1
|
Computer literacy; a more advanced course in dance,
drama, music, visual arts; agriculture education; business education, marketing
and distributive education; home economics education; industrial arts
education, trade and industrial education
|
(II)
|
STATE REQUIRED UNITS
|
17
|
(III)
|
LOCALLY REQUIRED OR ELECTIVE UNITS
|
4
|
(IV)
|
TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED (MINIMUM)
|
21
|
(V) Any local
system may require more than 21 units for graduation.
(VI) Additional courses selected from the
following areas of study are also strongly recommended.
I. Advanced Mathematics (trigonometry,
analysis and calculus).
II. An
additional laboratory course in science.
III. A third or fourth course in foreign
language or study in a second foreign language.
IV. English Language Arts.
V. Social Studies.
VI. Fine Arts (dance, drama, music, visual
arts).
VII. Computer
Technology
VIII. Vocational
Education.
IX. Physical
Education.
(vi) A local board of education shall grant
Carnegie unit credit only for work completed in grades 9-12. Students who
graduate from any state-supported Georgia high school shall earn at least 21
Carnegie units of credit, 13 of which shall be earned through the Georgia Core
Curriculum, with the remaining units earned either through local board of
education requirements or elective areas of study.
(vii) Vocational Education Program. Each
local board of education shall prescribe a vocational education program for
those students who elect a vocational preparatory experience and shall award a
formal seal of endorsement from the Georgia Board of Education to those
students who successfully complete the following endorsed course of study for
vocational education.
(I)
|
REQUIRED AREAS OF
STUDY
|
CARNEGIE
UNITS
|
I.
|
English Language Arts
|
4
|
II.
|
Mathematics
|
2
|
III.
|
Science
|
2
|
IV.
|
Social Studies
|
3
|
A. One of these
units shall be from the American studies area (United States history); one from
citizenship education (government) and the principles of
economics/business/free enterprise (one-half unit for semester programs and
one-third unit for quarter programs); one of the units shall be from the world
studies area (e.g., world history or world geography).
V.
|
Health, Safety and Physical
Education
|
1
|
VI.
|
Computer technology and/or Fine Arts and/or
Vocational Education and/or Junior ROTC
|
1
|
(II)
|
STATE REQUIRED UNITS
|
13
|
(III)
|
LOCALLY REQUIRED OR ELECTIVE UNITS
|
4
|
(IV)
|
REQUIRED VOCATIONAL UNITS
|
4
|
(V)
|
TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED (MINIMUM)
|
21
|
(VI) Each local
school system shall make available at least three of the following vocational
program areas for students who wish to receive credit for the vocational
education endorsement.
I. Vocational
Agriculture.
II. Business
Education.
III. Home Economics
(Occupational).
IV. Comprehensive
Home Economics.
V. Health
Occupations.
VI. Marketing
Education.
VII. Industrial
Arts.
VIII. Trade and
Industrial.
(VII)
Students who wish to receive the vocational education endorsement shall earn at
least four vocational units, three of which shall be concentrated in one of the
above occupational or related program areas. One of the four units may include
the Program of Education and Career Exploration (PECE), Coordinated Vocational
Academic Education (CVAE) or Related Vocational Instruction (RVI).
(VIII) A local board of education shall award
a student who completes the college preparatory program and earns at least four
units selected from any of the above areas both the college preparatory and
vocational education program endorsements.
(IX) Each high school shall make available
vocational courses either in the student's high school or via cooperative
arrangement with another high school, magnet high school or vocational high
school center.
(viii) Local school systems shall not
substitute courses and exempt students from the Required Minimum Core
Curriculum in the general, college preparatory and vocational education
programs; however, local systems may develop examinations or other procedures
for placement of students.
(4) Required Procedures for Awarding Carnegie
Units of Credit.
(a) A local board of
education shall award Carnegie units of credit or increments of units of credit
for courses of study based on a minimum of 150 clock hours of instruction
provided by the school.
(b) Each
school with quarter programs shall offer a minimum of 50 clock hours of
instruction for one-third Carnegie unit.
(c) Each school with semester programs shall
offer a minimum of 75 clock hours of instruction for one-half unit of
credit.
(d) Local boards may also
award Carnegie units of credit or increments of units of credit for:
1. Credit in lieu of class enrollment - A
local board of education shall adopt policies, subject to the approval of the
state superintendent of schools or designee, to grant credit for learning that
has occurred outside the school (9-12 learning experience). Local systems shall
develop assessment procedures to award or exempt credits in lieu of class
enrollment.
2. Credit for planned
off-campus experiences - Local boards may adopt policies, subject to the
approval of the state superintendent of schools, to grant credit for planned
off-campus experiences if such experience are a part of the planned studies
program.
3. Credit for joint
enrollment:
(i) As permitted by the provisions
of Rule
160-4-2-.34
(Postsecondary Options), or
(ii) As
permitted by local policies and procedures established for accredited
institutions not included in Rule
160-4-2-.34 (Postsecondary
Options).
(5) Areas of Study.
(a) Effective with ninth graders entering in
school year 1992-93, courses that shall earn Carnegie unit credit in
English/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health/physical
education, foreign languages, military science, music, visual arts, dance,
drama, and vocational education are listed in Rule
160-4-2-.03 (List of State-Funded
Courses).
(6) Secondary
School Credentials.
(a) Each local board of
education shall provide the high school diploma as the official document
certifying completion of attendance, Carnegie units and meeting of state
assessment requirements as referenced in Rule
160-3-1-.07 (Testing Programs -
Student Assessment).
(b) Each local
board of education shall provide the high school performance certificate to
pupils who do not complete all of the criteria for a diploma but who meet all
requirements for attendance and Carnegie units.
(c) Each local board of education shall
provide a special education diploma to students with disabilities assigned to a
special program who have not met the state assessment requirements referenced
in Rule
160-3-1-.07
(Testing Programs - Student Assessment) or who have not completed all of the
requirements for a high school diploma but who have, nevertheless, completed
all of the requirements of their individualized education programs
(IEP).
(7) Local and
Responsibilities.
(a) Local boards of
education shall establish instructional, support and delivery services. These
services shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. An ongoing guidance component beginning
with the ninth grade. The purposes of the guidance component are to familiarize
students with graduation requirements, to help them identify the likely impact
of individual career objectives on the program of work studies they plan to
follow and to provide annual advisement sessions to report progress and offer
alternatives in meeting graduation requirements and career
objectives.
2. Recordkeeping and
reporting services that document student progress toward graduation and include
information for the school, parents and students.
3. Diagnostic and continuous evaluation
services that measure individual student progress in meeting competency
expectations for graduation.
4.
Instructional programs, curriculum and course guides and remedial opportunities
to assist each student in meeting graduation requirements.
5. Appropriate curriculum and assessment
procedures for students who have been identified as having disabilities which
prevent them from meeting the prescribed competency performance
requirements.
Notes
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-4-2-.30
O.C.G.A. Secs.
20-2-131;
20-2-140;
20-2-142;
20-2-150(a);
20-2-151.1;
20-2-151(b);
20-2-154(a);
20-2-161.1;
20-2-161.2;
20-2-163;
20-2-280;
20-2-281(b).
Original Rule entitled
"High School Graduation Requirements" adopted. F. Sept. 27, 1990; eff. Oct. 17, 1990.
Amended: F. Sept. 24,
1992; eff. Oct. 14,
1992.
Amended: F. Jul. 12,
1993; eff. Aug. 1,
1993.