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The proposed rules will also establish a State High School diploma that will may be provided to
the Districts nontraditional students such as adult students, students attending alternative
schools, state-run schools, and the Districts home-schooled students who do not currently have
access to a diploma but have demonstrated competency through alternative graduation
requirements.
This notice therefore proposes: (1) amendment of Section 2201 of Title 5-EDCMR to amend and
replace the term Carnegie Unit with the term credit; (2) amendment of Title 5-A by adding a
new Chapter 22, to implement multiple methods of earning credit toward graduation; and (3)
amendment of Title 5-E to delete Sections 2202 (Graduation: General Policy), 2203 (Graduation:
Academic Requirements), 2204 (Graduation Status of Students), 2205 (Official List of
Graduates), 2206 (Diplomas and Graduation Exercises), 2207 (Class Fees), and 2208 (Class
Gifts). This notice is being circulated throughout the District for a thirty (30) day period,
including an opportunity to submit written comments on these proposals, as is set forth in detail
below.
Amend Title 5, EDUCATION, Subtitle E, ORIGINAL TITLE 5, Chapter 22, GRADES,
PROMOTION, AND GRADUATION, Section 2201, PROMOTION, to read as follows:
2201
PROMOTION
2201.1
This chapter shall apply to publicly funded schools operating within the district.
Promotion shall be defined as the movement of students to higher grade levels
or/course levels and to graduation from high school in accordance with D.C.
School Board Policy.
2201.2
Promotions shall be made at the end of the school year. Special promotions may
be made at any time with the documented assessment conducted and certified by
the Chief Academic Officer and the written approval of the Regional
Superintendent whose jurisdiction encompasses the school that the student
attends.
2201.3
2201.4
A student cannot be retained more than once during his enrollment in the
District of Columbia Public Schools unless there is a comprehensive
review by multiple school personnel and approval from the Regional
2
If a student does not meet all requirements for promotion, but moves on to
middle or high school because s/he has been previously retained, the
principal must submit a report to the receiving school detailing all unmet
requirements. This report must be received by June 30 and updated at the
close of summer school. For students who move prior to the end of the
school year, the report must be provided to the receiving school within
thirty (30) calendar days of the student's enrollment in the school. Students
in this situation will be enrolled in support services in the receiving
school.
2201.5
[REPEALED].
2201.6
Reading/language arts;
(2)
Mathematics;
(3)
Science; and
(4)
Social studies.
(b)
(c)
(d)
2201.7
[REPEALED].
2201.8
Students may complete the high school graduation requirements over a three (3),
four (4), or five (5) year period, depending upon the time and support they need
to complete graduation requirements as stated in their individualized graduation
plan signed and verified by the counselor. The following guidelines shall apply for
testing purposes where a grade definition is required:
(a)
Any student who earns six (6) credits by completing content standards of
the required courses including units in ninth (9th) grade English and
Algebra I, shall be eligible to be classified as a tenth (10th) grade student.
(b)
(c)
GRADUATION
2200
2200.1
The following rules are issued pursuant to authority set forth in Sections 7 and 11
of the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, as amended, effective
October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code 38-2602(b)(7) and
(11) (2012 Repl.)); Section 403 of the Public Education Reform Amendment Act
of 2007, as amended, effective June 12, 2007 (D.C. Law 17-9; D.C. Official Code
38-2652(a)(3) (2012 Repl.)); Articles I and II of An Act to provide for
compulsory school attendance, for the taking of school census in the District of
Columbia, and for other purposes, as amended, approved February 4, 1925 (43
Stat. 806; D.C. Official Code 38-201 et seq. (2012 Repl.)); and Section 402 of
the Healthy Schools Act of 2010, as amended, effective July 27, 2010 (D.C. Law
18-209; D.C. Official Code 38-824.02(c) (2012 Repl.)).
2200.2
Public Schools, public charter schools, state-run schools, private instruction, and
home schooling. Further, this chapter establishes the requirements governing
acceptable credits to be granted for studies leading to graduation and issuance of a
diploma by the State Superintendent of Education.
2201
GENERAL POLICY
2201.1
This chapter shall apply to any publicly funded educational institution as defined
in this chapter to include any elementary or secondary educational program
operating in the District of Columbia.
2201.2
2201.3
At the beginning of each school year, educational institutions shall notify parents
and guardians of enrolled students of the educational institutions graduation
policies and procedures and any course credit flexibility options an educational
institution will provide to students, in accordance with this chapter.
2201.4
Educational institutions shall have the flexibility to design and implement their
own curricula and instructional methods so long as curricula meet and exceed
state approved standards.
2202
2202.1
At the beginning of the ninth (9th) grade, students shall develop a graduation plan
pacing the courses they will take to complete high school. This shall be done with
the assistance and signed approval of the school counselor.
2202.2
CREDITS(S)
4.0
5
2202.3
4.0
4.0
4.0
2.0
0.5
0.5
1.5
3.5
24.0
(b)
At least two (2) of the twenty four (24) credits for graduation shall include
a College Level or Career Preparatory (CLCP) course approved by the
educational institution and successfully completed by the student. The
course may fulfill subject matter or elective unit requirements as deemed
appropriate by the educational institution. CLCP courses approved by the
educational institution may include courses at other institutions.
(c)
All students shall enroll in Algebra no later than ninth (9 th) grade
commencing with the 2007-2008 School Year.
(d)
For all students entering the ninth (9th) grade beginning School Year 20092010, one (1) of the three (3) lab science units, required by paragraph (a)
of this subsection, shall be a course in Biology.
(e)
(f)
One and one half (1.5) credits in health and physical education shall not be
required for the evening program high school diploma.
(3)
(4)
(b)
(2)
The reports required under this section shall, to the extent practicable,
conform to the format requested by OSSE.
2202.4
2202.5
2202.6
Each student who completes the requirements for specialized courses of study
shall receive appropriate recognition on the student's diploma.
2202.7
(b)
UNIT(S)
8
English
Mathematics; must include Algebra 1, Geometry, and
Algebra II at a minimum
Science; must include three (3) lab sciences
Social Studies; must include World History 1 and 2,
United States History; United States Government, and
District of Columbia History
World Language
Art
Music
Physical Education/Health
Electives
Total
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
2.0
0.5
0.5
1.5
3.5
24.0
(c)
At least two (2) of the twenty four (24) Carnegie Units for graduation
must include a College Level or Career Preparatory (CLCP) course
approved by the LEA and successfully completed by the student. The
course may fulfill subject matter or elective unit requirements as deemed
appropriate by the LEA. CLCP courses approved by the LEA may include
courses at other institutions.
(d)
All students must enroll in Algebra no later than ninth (9th) grade
commencing with the 2007-2008 School Year.
(e)
For all students entering the ninth (9th) grade beginning School Year
2009-2010, one (1) of the three (3) lab science units, required by
paragraph (a) of this subsection, shall be a course in Biology.
(e)
(f)
One and one half (1.5) Carnegie Units in health and physical education
shall not be required for the evening program high school diploma.
2203
SPECIAL POPULATIONS
2203.1
For students eligible for special education services under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or protected by section 504 of the federal
Rehabilitation Act, the student shall meet the same graduation requirements as
non-disabled peers in an accommodated and/or modified manner. These
modifications will be documented in each students Individualized Education
Program (IEP).
2203.2
A student with special needs who does not achieve a diploma, as set forth in
2202 et seq. shall be eligible to receive a Certificate of Individual Educational
Program Completion. The decision to pursue a program leading to a Certificate of
Individual Educational Program Completion shall be made by the IEP team
including the parent(s) and where possible, the student. The decision shall be
made no earlier than the ninth (9th) grade and shall be attached to the student's
IEP. Educational institutions shall comply with IDEA as addressed in Title 5-E
DCMR Chapter 30 (Special Education Policy) with regards to appropriate
transition assessments.
2203.3
For students who transfer to the District from another state, country, school,
program, or home-schooling situation, the educational institution shall evaluate the
value of the students prior educational experiences and determine to what degree
the student has met the schools graduation requirements. The course work credits
received by the student prior to transfer into an educational institution may be
used to meet the graduation requirement set forth in 2202 et seq. upon the
educational institutions verification of successful completion of this comparable
course work. After enrolling in the educational institution, these students will need
to satisfy all assessment, proficiency, and graduation requirements in the
appropriate subject areas, as determined by the educational institution.
2204
DIPLOMAS
2204.1
2204.2
2204.3
A student may receive a high school diploma only if such student has been
certified as eligible to graduate pursuant to 2202 et seq.
2204.4
Each diploma shall bear the signature of the head of the educational institution
and the seal of the educational institution in which the student is enrolled. The
diploma of a student eligible under 2204.2, shall bear the signature of the State
Superintendent of Education and the seal of the Office of the State Superintendent
of Education.
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2204.5
If the student is receiving a diploma from another school system but is unable to
attend graduation exercises held by the school system, the student may be allowed
to participate in the graduation exercises of the educational institution being
attended upon the approval of the head of the educational institution.
2204.6
2205
2205.1
Each adult student, or the parent or guardian of a minor student, shall be informed
in writing not later than ten (10) days after the close of the third (3rd) advisory
period of the students graduation status.
2205.2
The notice required by this section shall include a warning that the student may
not be eligible for graduation in June, if applicable.
2206
GRADUATION EXERCISES
2206.1
Graduation exercises shall be held only to confer the high school diploma.
2206.2
2207
CLASS FEES
2207.1
2207.2
The maximum amount of the class fee shall be uniformly established by the
educational institution.
2207.3
2207.4
The expense of caps and gowns, yearbook subscriptions, proms, class gifts, and
other activities that may be associated with graduation shall not be included in the
class fee.
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2207.5
2207.6
The decisions whether to wear cap and gown, and whether to utilize rental
facilities for graduation exercises, shall involve school staff, students, and parents
or guardians.
2207.7
2208
CLASS GIFTS
2208.1
The decision whether to present a class gift shall involve school staff, students,
and parents or guardians.
2208.2
Class gifts to the school, if any, shall consist of or be paid for only by donations,
including the creative work of students.
2208.3
2299
DEFINITIONS
2299.1
When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the ascribed meanings:
(a)
Carnegie Unit means one hundred and twenty (120) hours of classroom
instruction or one hundred and fifty (150) hours of laboratory instruction
over the course of an academic year.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
any legal entity with the authority to act on behalf of the educational
institution in an official manner. In the case of private instruction where a
student is home-schooled, the head of the educational institution would
be the State Superintendent of Education.
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
Public high school means a public school or public charter school that
provides instruction for students in the ninth (9th) through twelfth (12th)
grades.
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(m)
(n)
All persons desiring to comment on the subject matter of this proposed rulemaking should file
comments in writing not later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice in
the D.C. Register via email addressed to: ossecomments.proposedregulations@dc.gov; or by
mail or hand delivery to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Attn: Jamai
Deuberry re: Graduation Requirements and Diplomas, 810 First Street, NE 9 th Floor,
Washington, DC 20002. Additional copies of this rule are available from the above address and
on the Office of the State Superintendent of Education website at www.osse.dc.gov.
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