Code: IKF-AR
Adopted: 4/26/04
Revised: 9/11/06
Orig. Code(s): R722
Graduation Requirements
To implement the policy on graduation requirements, to satisfy the options allowed by Oregon Department of Education administrative rules, the following rules and procedures are in force:
Requirements for Graduation:
1. Attendance: Four years of actual full-time enrollment and attendance is required for students in grades 9 through 12, except in cases approved by the high school principal under local option decisions adopted by the Board.
2. Credits: A student must have earned a minimum of 25 total credits as indicated.
3. Satisfactory attainment of the Oregon Common Curriculum Goals is expected of students
completing a standard diploma
4. Course requirements for graduation:
Required Courses:
Language Arts – 4.0 credits
Social Science – 3.0 credits
Mathematics – 3.0 credits
Science – 2.0 credits
Health Education – 1.0 credit
Physical Education – 1.0 credit
Word Processing I – .5 credit
Applied Arts, Fine Arts, or Second Language – 1.0 credit
Electives – 9.5 credits
Total credits for graduation – 25.0 credits
Required Courses Conditions
Language Arts – shall include the equivalent of one credit in written composition
Social Science – shall include history, geography, civics and economics (economics may include personal finance).
Mathematics – courses lower than pre-algebra are elective credit only unless approved by the principal.
Health Education – shall include drug and alcohol prevention (OAR 581-022-0413) and AIDS/HIV/Hepatitis
Transfer Credits
Graduation requirements may be met upon the principal’s or his designee’s approval of the courses from the high school from which the student transferred. All Oregon and district requirements must be met. The principal has the option of waiving the district requirement, but cannot waive the requirements of the State of Oregon.
1. Credit will not be granted for home schooling;
2. Transfer credits will only be accepted from a regional, public accrediting institution.
Students transferring to Madras High School from out-of-state schools, up to and including the beginning of trimester three of their senior year, must take a full schedule of courses for that trimester. In addition, they must complete all required courses to earn a Madras High School Diploma. If the student has permission of the school from which he/she transferred, and if it is not possible to complete those requirements, the student may have the credits transferred back to the school from which he/she transferred in order to qualify for a diploma from that school.
Foreign exchange students will not be granted a diploma. They may be issued a complimentary souvenir diploma.
Credit for Courses Retaken
Upon application, a student may retake any course they wish for either an improved grade, or to enhance their knowledge of the subject matter. Any course retaken will not negate the previous grade assigned since the transcript must reflect the historical academic progress a student makes toward graduation.
Local Options Decisions
The district may allow enrollment and/or high school credit for any of the following educational alternatives:
Off-campus Experience
The student petitions directly to their counselor. The counselor will confer with faculty member(s) that teach similar subjects to determine the nature of the experience. The teacher and counselor will make a recommendation to the principal for type and amount of credit. Advance approval is required.
Restrictions: No more than two trimester’s work in one subject for one period (1.0 credit) will be allowed for any single experience. No more than two credits will be allowed toward the credits required for a diploma.
College Experiences
The student petitions with parental consent to the principal through the high school counselor for the specific substitution or concurrent enrollment desired. Upon tentative approval of the counselor and principal, the student contacts the college officials concerned and explores the college requirements.
The student presents the precise schedule desired to the principal for consideration. After the conference with the student and counselors and the department chairperson or teacher concerned, the principal decides to approve, disapprove, or modify and approve the student’s request.
Restrictions: This alternative to regular school attendance and work is intended for students who have demonstrated a need for such an arrangement for academic or career progress. If approved, a three or four credit quarter/semester hour college course will normally count for .5 high school credit; exceptions can be made upon principal’s approval.
Independent Study
The student petitions to the principal who may consult with appropriate staff members regarding the area of interest.
The student and the designated teacher confer to arrive at a specific project that meets the individual needs of the student and is adequate in organization and content to recommend granting ½ credit upon successful completion.
The petition is forwarded to the principal for approval or disapproval. Upon approval , the petition is forwarded to a counselor for integration into the student’s overall schedule.
Restrictions: A student will normally be expected to have completed the ninth grade in order to take part in independent study. No more than three credits of independent study can apply toward the credits required for graduation.
Work Experience, School to Work and Peer Tutor
All work experience and peer tutoring programs must have the prior approval of the Work Experience Coordinator or other staff as assigned by the principal.
Work experience is on-site actual work by the student in a job that the student receives payment for his or her efforts. The work should be related to the student’s career goal. The work is directly supervised by the Work Experience Coordinator or designated staff member.
Summer work experience is on-site actual work by the student in a job that the student receives payment for his or her efforts. The work should be related to the student’s career goal. The work is indirectly supervised by the Work Experience Coordinator or designated staff member.
School to work is on-site work by the student in a job that the student does not receive cash or other forms of reimbursement for his/her efforts. The work should be related to the student’s career goal. The School to Work coordinator supervises the work.
Peer tutor is an on-site school experience working under the direction of a certified teacher. The experience should be related to the student’s career goal. The peer tutor coordinator supervises the experience.
Credit for Work Experience, School to Work and Peer Tutor. All work experience must have the prior approval of the Work Experience of School to Work Coordinator or other staff as assigned by the principal.
1. Work experience credit. A half-credit (.5) will be granted upon completion of 120 hours certified on-the-job time per trimester and all course requirements.
2. Summer work experience credit. A half-credit (.5) will be granted upon completion of 320 hours certified on-the-job time per trimester and all course requirements.
3. School to work credit. A half-credit (.5) will be granted upon completion of 60 hours certified on-the-job contact per trimester and all course requirements.
4. Peer tutor credit. A half-credit (.5) will be granted upon completion of 60 hours of in-the-classroom contact per trimester and all course requirements.
5. A student may earn up to 1.5 credits per year in grades 11 and/or 12 of approved work experience and work experience/summer credit.
6. A student may earn up to 3.0 credits maximum of work experience, work experience/summer credit, school to work or peer tutor. The building principal may approve exceptions.
Credit by Examination
(Option 1) The student shall petition the teacher of the course. The department School Curriculum Leader (SCL) and one other departmental member shall make a recommendation to the principal after evaluating the student by oral and/or written examinations which will reflect the standards assessed in the normally taught course.
(Option 2) The student may arrange to take established "challenge tests" at the regularly scheduled time at the beginning of each trimester. Upon satisfactory completion of the challenge test, a student may be granted credit for that course.
Restriction: A students can receive credit by challenge testing for only two courses per year. Exceptions may be granted by the high school principal.
Off Campus Alternative Educational Settings
Off Campus Alternative Education placements should be carefully selected to match the individual student’s needs. These settings are usually temporary for students who are struggling in the efforts to attain a high school diploma. The credits gained in these setting s should be restricted to "credit-makeup". A student can transfer in a maximum of six credits towards graduation. Exceptions can be granted by the building principal for unusual circumstances.
Credit is not available for home-schooling (see Board IGBG - Homebound Instruction).
Delayed Graduation
Students who do not receive a diploma after four years of attendance may return for further work toward a diploma so long as they pursue a course of study aimed at a diploma approved by the principal.
Any student who is 19 or older at the start of a school year must have principal approval to attend Madras High School unless they are on an IEP in which case they can attend until the end of the year during which they turned age 21.
Early Graduation
Students may petition the principal for a program that will allow them to earn a diploma in less than four years. The student must have written parent request at the time of petition. The principal and a counselor shall review the student’s petition and proposed program of studies. If the program and the student’s reasons for a shortened high school experience are considered sufficient, the principal may approve the petition.
Modified Graduation Requirements
Students completing modified courses shall be eligible to receive a modified diploma.
All determinations regarding modifications or accommodations for students with disabilities must be made individually by the IEP team.
1. The determination of those students who will participate in modified courses will be made by IEP teams. When considering modifications leading to a modified diploma, the team will include parents, the high school special education teacher, a high school counselor and others as appropriate.
2. The IEP team will normally meet during the student’s eighth grade year for initial entry into a plan of modified requirements. Entry into a modified diploma plan may occur at any time up to graduation.
3. Individual IEP’s will indicate modifications in the learning environment for each high school teacher to accommodate. Teachers of modified classes will provide increased flexibility in order to meet the individual needs of disabled students. This may include instructional conditions for learning, specific modifications in course requirements and adjustments in expected levels of performance.
4. Participating students will be expected to earn the same number of credits as established by the district Board.
5. Participating students will be expected to maintain the same level of standards concerning attendance unless a modification has been approved based on a disability.
All determinations regarding modifications or accommodations for students without disabilities (i.e. Section 504) must be directed by the administration.
Restrictions: Completion of modified courses may preclude eligibility for a standard high school diploma. Modified course credit will not meet standard diploma requirements unless waived by the high school principal.
Certificate of Attendance
Students who have met the attendance requirement may receive a Certificate of Attendance if they do not meet all qualifications for a diploma.
Commencement
Participation in the annual commencement exercise is an earned privilege. Students eligible to receive a standard diploma, or modified diploma, or a foreign exchange student receiving an honorary diploma may be allowed to take part in commencement exercises as approved by the principal. Students that receive a Certificate of Attendance may not participate in the graduation ceremony.
Deportment of seniors shall correspond to school standards through commencement exercises.
1. Those seniors not meeting school standards of behavior may not be allowed to participate in commencement exercises. Such determination shall be made by the administration.
2. The high school principal reserves the right to review severe breaches of discipline up to and including commencement, and to take appropriate action, up to and including suspension.
All graduating seniors are highly encouraged to take part in the commencement exercises. No diploma will be given out before the commencement ceremony.
Selection of Commencement Speakers. The senior class officers shall make recommendations to the principal regarding selection of graduation speakers. Responsibility for the final selection rests with the principal. The district will pay for speakers, honor cords and academic awards.
Announcement of Scholarships and Awards. A list of winners of awards and scholarships shall be included in the commencement program.
Students who complete a minimum of three years of attendance at Madras High School who move to another high school for all or part of their senior year may be allowed to return and take part in commencement exercises at Madras High School on approval by the principal. The principal shall insure through communication with the resident high school that the former Madras High School student has met Oregon graduation requirements in order to receive a Madras High School diploma.
Students who move out of state or who otherwise do not meet Madras High School diploma requirements may receive a diploma from their resident high school at Madras High School ceremonies upon approval by the principal.
Honors Recognition at Commencement
The requirement for graduating "With Honors" is a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher.
The requirement for graduating "With Highest Honors" are:
1. Completion of seven advanced courses including at least four from the Core list as printed in the published course description guide representing at least three areas within the Core list.
2. Advanced courses taken for pass/no pass will not count toward requirements.
3. Attainment of a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher.
4. Successful attainment of the Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) beginning with the Class of 2006.