File: IKF (Beg 2021) (pdf)
Adopted:
Revised: June 13, 1991, December 19, 1996, January 8, 1998, October 23, 2001, April 30, 2002, April 26, 2005, June 26, 2007, January 10, 2017
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
(Applicable Beginning with the Class of 2021)
In pursuit of its mission to ensure all students reach their learning potential and are prepared for postsecondary and career opportunities, the Board of Education has established the following graduation requirements for students entering the ninth grade in the 2017-18 school year and each ninth grade class thereafter.
To receive a high school diploma from the district, students must meet or exceed the district's academic standards and measures required by this policy or complete the requirements listed in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) Summary of Performance.
COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
The Colorado State Board of Education has adopted state graduation guidelines that identify college and career readiness measures in English and Math. The Board has selected its own measures from these state graduation guidelines.
Students must complete at least one of the measures and meet or exceed the measure's corresponding cut score or criteria to demonstrate college and career readiness in English and one in Math.
UNITS OF CREDIT REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION
Graduation from high school in the Boulder Valley School District is achieved through the earning of credits as specified in this policy. Credits for all high school courses (grades 9-12) and for graduation requirements will be awarded on a "unit of credit" basis.
One "unit of credit" will be equal to a minimum of 12 clock hours of scheduled instruction time. Conversion from the Carnegie unit to the "unit of credit" basis will be on a 1 to 10 ratio.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
Minimum requirements for graduation from high school in the Boulder Valley School District include the following:
1. Two hundred twenty units of credit in grades 9-12, including completion of specific subject area requirements, and
2. Eight semesters of attendance beyond the eighth grade, unless the student qualifies for early graduation (see below.)
A minimum of 25 credits (five classes) per semester must be taken from grades 9 through 12. A maximum of 40 credits per semester will be allowed. Extenuating circumstances as determined by the building principal or designated administrator will permit exemptions to these course load requirements and limitations.
Early graduation is allowed at the end of the seventh semester, provided all requirements for graduation have been met. Early graduation before the end of the seventh semester must be reviewed and approved by the principal and by the Assistant Superintendent of School Leadership. Students who complete their work at midyear and are eligible to graduate shall receive their diploma at the end of the school year and may return to take part in the graduation exercises at that time.
Students who fail to meet graduation requirements at the end of eight semesters of attendance will be encouraged to continue in school until they meet graduation requirements or through the semester that they turn 21, as permitted by state law. Such students will be subject to the graduation requirements which were in effect for their class when they entered or would have entered the 9th grade in Boulder Valley.
Transfer students will be held responsible for District requirements as Boulder Valley students. Course work completed outside the District will be evaluated and approved for credit and for fulfillment of graduation requirements by the principal or designee. In addition, Boulder Valley requires enrollment during the two semesters immediately prior to graduation and earning at least 50 credits in Boulder Valley School District to meet district graduation requirements unless an exemption is granted by the building principal.
SUBJECT AREA REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for a high school diploma, a student must have met the following minimum requirements in grades 9 through 12, and must also have received the recommendation of the high school principal for graduation. The graduation requirements for a student who graduates outside the typical four-year time frame will be the requirements identified at the time the student entered or would have entered 9th grade.
I. LANGUAGE ARTS: 40 CREDITS IN GRADES 9-12
10 credits 9th Language Arts 9 in grade 9
10 credits 10th Grade Language Arts World Literature and Composition, grade 10
10 credits 11th Grade Language Arts American Literature and Composition, grade 11
5 credits communication, grades 9-12
5 credits additional Language Arts elective, grades 9-12
II. SOCIAL STUDIES: 30 CREDITS IN GRADES 9-12
5 credits in U.S. Government at grade 9-12
5 credits in Geography at grade 9 or 10
10 credits in World History at grade 10
10 credits in U.S. History at grade 11
III. MATHEMATICS: 20 CREDITS IN GRADES 9-10
- 20 credits in Mathematics which must include at least 10 credits in Algebra I or higher level Mathematics.
IV. SCIENCE: 20 CREDITS IN GRADES 9-10.
20 credits of lab based science.
- 10 credits in courses designated as Life Sciences
- 10 credits in courses designated as Physical Sciences
V. PHYSICAL EDUCATION: 15 CREDITS IN GRADES 9-12
- 5 credits in Comprehensive Physical Education.
- A minimum of 5 credits earned in grade 9, the remaining 10 credits to be earned in grades 9-12.
- A maximum of 10 of the 15 physical education credits may be waived* based on participation in comparable school activities (i.e., two credits may be waived* for each CHSAA approved sport successfully completed, or two credits may be waived* for each season of Marching Band successfully completed) or comparable activities outside the school program (i.e., one credit may be waived* for each supervised activity that is at a sophisticated and competitive skill level as determined by the building principal).
*Credit will not be granted for school or outside activities when they are used for waiving of physical education credits. Students are required to take 220 units to fulfill the graduation requirements.
VI. HEALTH EDUCATION: 5 CREDITS IN GRADES 10-12
- Health Education: 5 credits in grades 9-10
VII. FINE ARTS: 5 CREDITS IN GRADES 9-12
- Includes Music or Art
VIII. SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
10 credits in World Language, level II or above, or, for English Language Learners, achievement of approved level of English language acquisition.
IX. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES: 5 CREDITS IN GRADES 9-12.
Includes Computer, Business, Consumer and Family Studies, Industrial Technology, and Technical Education.
- 5 credits in Computer Science or Applied Technology unless fulfilled in middle level; if Computer/Technology requirement fulfilled in middle level, 5 credits Business, Consumer and Family Studies, or other career and technical education course; and
- Evidence of completion of a 12 hour course in Money Management and Personal Finance unless fulfilled in middle level or through another district course.
X. ADDITIONAL CREDITS IN COURSES APPROVED FOR GRADES 9-12: 70 credits.
Community Service: A maximum of 5 credits of community service may be earned as an elective. Recommended: 75 or more hours of volunteer work equals 5 credits.
Credit for Independent Study: Independent study contracts, not to exceed a total of 30 units of credit, will be allowed for graduation credit. All contracts must be submitted in writing with prior approval by the teacher(s) and building administrator. The sponsoring teacher will monitor the project and determine grade and credit upon completion of work.
Total Credits: 220 in grades 9-12, 100 of which must be earned in grades 11-12.
Exceptions to these credit requirements may be made by the building principal when such action is deemed in the best interest of the student and the school.
When specific requirements are waived, the student must still complete the total of at least 220 credits for graduation.
CREDIT FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND HOME-BASED PROGRAMS
Students entering from outside the district must meet the district's course requirements. The principal or principal's designee shall determine whether credit toward course requirements shall be granted for courses taken outside the district.
Only those online courses facilitated by BVSD are considered the equivalent of a BVSD course. Online courses completed outside the District will be evaluated by the Office of Online Learning and approved for credit and for fulfillment of graduation requirements by the principal or designee.
REQUIREMENTS AS APPLIED TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
To eligible for a high school diploma from the district, students must meet or exceed the district's academic standards and measures required by this policy or complete the requirements listed in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) Summary of Performance.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL)
English as a Second Language classes are an alternative English program for students who are limited English proficient according to District criteria. Language Arts graduation requirements may be fulfilled through ESL courses as deemed appropriate.
NON-IMMIGRANT FOREIGN STUDENTS (F-1)
A non-immigrant foreign student on a valid F-1 visa may be granted a diploma from the Boulder Valley School District if all graduation requirements and transfer student expectations of the District have been fulfilled.
NON-IMMIGRANT FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS (J-1)
The non-immigrant foreign exchange program student (J-1) will not graduate from a Boulder Valley School District high school and will not participate in graduation ceremonies.
LEGAL REFS.:
C.R.S. 22-1-104 (teaching history, culture and civil government)
C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(kk) (board to establish graduation requirements that "meet or exceed" state graduation guidelines)
C.R.S. 22-32-132 (discretion to award diploma to honorably discharged veterans)
C.R.S. 22-33-104.5 (home-based education law)
C.R.S. 22-35-101 et seq. (Concurrent Enrollment Programs Act)
CROSS REFS.:
AE, Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment
IGADB*, Postsecondary Occupational Program
IGBA, Programs for Handicapped Students (Special Education)
IGCD, Postsecondary Enrollment Options
IKA-IKAA-IKAB, Grading Systems/Final Examinations/Student Progress Reports to Parents
IKE, Promotion, Nonpromotion, and Acceleration of Students
JECBA, Admission of F-1 Visa, J-1 Foreign Exchange Students, Immigrant Students and Dependent of Non-Immigrant Visa Holders
JECD, Assignment of Transfer Students to Classes and Grade Levels
JEG, Exclusions and Exemptions from School Attendance (Home-Based Education)
End of File: IKF