Graduation RuleGraduation Rule

New Graduation RuleNew Graduation Rule• Effective with incoming freshmen in 2008

• Eliminate tiered diploma options

• Common set of diploma requirements

• All graduates prepared for college-entry courses without remediation and the workplace

Areas of Study:Units Required

English/Language Arts * 4Mathematics* 4Science* 4Social Studies* 3CTAE and/or Fine Arts and/or Foreign Lang. 3Health and Physical Education* 1Electives 4

Total Units (Minimum) 23

* Required Courses and/or Core Courses

New Graduation RuleNew Graduation Rule

Math ChangesMath Changes

• 4 units of Mathematics required, including:– 1 unit of Mathematics I or Accelerated Mathematics I– 1 unit of Mathematics II or Accelerated Mathematics II– 1 unit of Mathematics III or Accelerated Mathematics III or

any higher level mathematics course, including AP/IB– 1 additional math unit

• New courses for 4th year will be added• Support classes, interventions for struggling

students

English/Language Arts ChangesEnglish/Language Arts Changes

• 4 units of English/Language Arts required, including:– 1 unit of 9th Grade Literature and Composition– 1 unit of American Literature and Composition– 2 additional units

Science ChangesScience Changes

• 4 units of Science required, including:– 1 unit of Biology (can be AP/IB)– 1 unit of Physical Science or Physics (AP/IB) – 1 unit of Chemistry, Earth Systems, Environmental Science,

or an AP/IB course– 1 unit of a 4th science, including any AP/IB, academic

science, or career tech science (ex: Agricultural Science)

• 4th science unit may be used to meet both the science and elective requirements.

Social Studies ChangesSocial Studies Changes

• 3 units of Social Studies required, including:– 1 unit of World History– 1 unit of United States History– ½ unit of American Government/Civics– ½ unit of Economics

Graduation RuleGraduation Rule

Requirements for Health/PE• All students must complete 1 unit • 3 units of JROTC may substitute for the

Health/PE requirement

Elective ChangesElective Changes• 7 units required, including:

– A total of 3 units required from: CTAE and/or Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts for all students (students planning to enter or transfer into a University System of Georgia institution must take two units of the same foreign language)

– 4 additional elective units for all students

Changes for Students With DisabilitiesChanges for Students With Disabilities

• Students with disabilities who take and pass Mathematics I with a support class, and Mathematics II with a support class, may meet diploma requirements by completing 1 additional math course (Math III) for a total of 3 math units.

• Completion of 3 units of math may not meet math admission requirements for entrance into a University System of Georgia institution.

Requirements for Students with Requirements for Students with Severe Cognitive DisabilitiesSevere Cognitive Disabilities

May graduate and receive a regular high school diploma when the student’s IEP team determines that the student has:

• Completed an integrated curriculum based on the GPS that includes instruction in Mathematics, English/Language Arts, Science and Social Studies as well as career preparation, self-determination, independent living and personal care to equal a minimum of 23 units of instruction, and

• Participated in the GAA in middle school and high school and earned a proficient score on the high school test, and

• Reached the 22nd birthday OR transitioned to employment/training in which the supports needed are provided by an entity other than the local school system

Why Do We Need a New Graduation Why Do We Need a New Graduation Rule? Rule?

• Under the current graduation rule, students complete different requirements depending on which “tiered” diploma option they select

• Skills needed for college and the workplace are no longer different (American Diploma Project)

• All students need to complete rigorous coursework requirements no matter what their postsecondary plans might be

Why Do We Need to Improve?Why Do We Need to Improve?

• Gates Research on Drop-outs– Almost one-third of all public high school students fail

to graduate with their class– 47%: classes were boring, not engaging– 69%: not motivated to work hard– 66%: would have worked harder if more was demanded

(Gates Foundation, 2006)

Why Do We Need to Improve?Why Do We Need to Improve?

• A college and workplace readiness curriculum should be a graduation requirement, not an option, for all high school students. (American Diploma Project, 2004)

• A diploma should prepare its holder for both postsecondary education AND the demands of the workplace.(Barth,2003)

Why are we increasing math and Why are we increasing math and science requirements to four years? science requirements to four years? • Georgia students must be prepared to work in a

competitive global economy• Scientific inquiry and mathematical thinking are

critical skills all students need• With appropriate third and fourth year options,

more students will be prepared to succeed in occupations that require math and science

• Support classes help them meet requirements

Are we eliminating Fine Arts?Are we eliminating Fine Arts?• Fine Arts options are NOT being eliminated• The current rule does not require Fine Arts• The new rule requires ALL students to take at

least THREE CREDITS in CTAE and/or Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts

• New rule allows greater flexibility and choice regarding electives, including Fine Arts courses

Why not require two years of foreign Why not require two years of foreign language for all students?language for all students?

• There is strong support for a 2-year requirement– Math, Science, Foreign Language requirements are

important for economic development

• There is concern about the state’s current capacity to implement a 2-year requirement – Availability of teachers, variety of courses

• Sub-committee developing implementation plan– Requirement could be met in elementary, middle

Why change the requirements for Why change the requirements for Special Education students?Special Education students?

• All students need access to a regular education diploma to provide postsecondary opportunities

• With appropriate support, students with disabilities can complete the diploma requirements

• Providing access does not water down the meaning of the diploma

How do these changes affect the How do these changes affect the advanced students?advanced students?

• Advanced courses will continue to be available• Advanced Placement (AP), International

Baccalaureate (IB), dual enrollment, joint enrollment, industry certification courses will continue to be offered

• More students will be prepared to do advanced coursework

• Transcripts show the level of rigor – “enriched”

Are we cutting Career, Technical & Are we cutting Career, Technical & Agricultural Education programs?Agricultural Education programs?

• CTAE courses and programs are NOT being cut• Pathway options will be expanded to include

not only CTAE courses, but also Fine Arts, Humanities and other academic concentrations

• Industry certification pathways will be expanded• Dual enrollment opportunities and

postsecondary credit will be available

What additional support will be What additional support will be provided to implement the rule?provided to implement the rule?

• Guidance documents• Training for counselors, graduation coaches, and

administrators• List of 4th year course options for math, science• Additional online, dual enrollment, and joint

enrollment course opportunities• Testing information• Parent information

Current Rule New Rule

4 tiers, each with different requirements: College Preparatory (CP) and College Preparatory with Distinction (CP+), Technology/Career (TC) and Technology/Career with Distinction (TC+)

1 common set of requirements for all students

22 total units required for CP and TC 24 total units required for CP+ and TC+

23 total units required for all students

4 units of English Language Arts required for all students

4 units of English Language Arts required for all students

4 units of Mathematics required for CP and CP+; 3 units required for TC and TC+

4 units of Mathematics required for all students

3 units of Science required for all students 4 units of Science required for all students (the 4th science unit may be used to meet both the science and elective requirements)

3 units of Social Studies required for all students

3 units of Social Studies required for all students, all courses are specifically identified

1 unit of Health and Physical Education required for all students

1 unit of Health and Physical Education required for all students; 3 units of JROTC may be used to meet the requirement

1 unit of Computer Technology and/or Fine Arts and/or Technology Career Preparatory and/or Foreign Language required for all students 2 units of Foreign Language required for CP and CP+ students

A total of 3 units required from: CTAE and/or Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts for all students (students planning to enter or transfer into a University System of Georgia institution or other post-secondary institution must take two units of the same foreign language).

5 – 6 additional elective units depending on tier (CP, CP+, TC, TC+)

4 additional elective units for all students

Graduation RuleGraduation Rule