In order to meet individual student needs and encourage all students to complete their high school education, the Board of Trustees desires to provide flexibility in the completion of prescribed courses in accordance with law.
(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
(cf. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements)
(cf. 6146.3 - Reciprocity of Academic Credit)
(cf. 6162.52 - High School Exit Examination)
(cf. 6200 - Adult Education)
The Board shall actively involve parents/guardians, administrators, teachers and students in helping the district develop alternative means for students to complete the prescribed course of study required for graduation. (Education Code 51225.3)
As an alternative to completing the course requirements for high school graduation, students may fulfill one or more of the course requirements through:
1. The following students may petition for a waiver of the 240 units requirement:
a. Students transferring during their senior year, who were on line to graduate from their previous school, who cannot meet the District graduation requirements by taking six courses per semester.
b. Special education and other students whose performance or exceptional needs merit consideration
The site principal will establish procedures for the review of petitions
2. In extraordinary cases, the site principal may approve alternative course or program options to meet course and unit requirements in order to earn a District diploma.
3. Coursework will be accepted from accredited institutions (accredited by one of the regional accrediting associations); coursework from non-accredited institutions may be awarded on the basis of demonstrated proficiency to be determined by the principal.
4. Students may apply twenty units of credit in work experience, school services, teacher aide, or tutor (or any combination thereof) as elective credit for the graduation requirement. In exceptional cases, the site principal may authorize additional credits in the area.
5. Students may transfer semester units earned from other institutions including the continuation school. The comprehensive high school will not accept variable credits from continuation schools.
6. Students may transfer up to 40 high school credits from a community college to meet graduation requirements (three units of community college credit equal 10 units of high school credit), and, in exceptional cases, the principal may approve additional credits in this area.
7. Under certain conditions, students may be granted permission by the principal to attempt completion of a required course outside of the regular school setting.
8. Students enrolled in special education programs with diagnosed learning disabilities or handicaps shall be provided with alternate means and modes necessary to complete the District prescribed course of study.
9. Students may be exempt from the "community service" requirement for religious reasons. Requests for such an exemption shall be made in writing to the Superintendent or Superintendent's designee.
10. Minimum Grade Point Average
Students must complete coursework with a cumulative 1.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (based on an average of all courses where grades are given) in order to receive a diploma from the District.
11. Differential standards of proficiency and assessment will be developed on an individual basis for students who are or have been enrolled in a special education program if it is determined by the individual educational program (IEP) team that they cannot meet the District proficiency standards. Such differential standards, when developed, shall be made part of the individualized educational program (IEP) for each student who is or has been enrolled in a special education program.
12. Foreign language studies successfully completed in a private school in accordance with 5 CCR 1632
13. Military service and training in accordance with 5 CCR 1634 (Education Code 51440)
The satisfactory completion of these studies may be used for credit toward the district's foreign language requirement.
Upon receiving advance, written application by the student or his/her parent/guardian, the Superintendent or designee shall determine whether completion of the proposed alternative means would satisfy course requirements for graduation and what documentation shall be
required, if any, to verify the student's successful completion. The Superintendent or designee shall make the final determination as to whether the student's completion of an alternative means is sufficient to satisfy the District's graduation requirements.
As appropriate, the Superintendent or designee shall determine the grade to be assigned to students for the completion of any of the above alternative means. When a grade is assigned by a private school, postsecondary institution, or other educational institution for completion of coursework, that same grade shall be awarded by the District provided that the Superintendent or designee has determined the alternative course to be substantially equivalent to a District course.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
35160 Authority of governing boards
35160.1 Broad authority of school districts
48412 Certificate of proficiency
48645.5 Course credit, juvenile court schools
48800-48802 Attendance at community college; advanced education
51220 Areas of study; grades 7-12
51225.3 Requirements for graduation
51240-51246 Exemptions from requirements
51420-51427 General Educational Development test
51440 Veterans' education, evaluation and credit toward high school graduation
51740-51741 Authority to provide instruction by correspondence
51745-51749.3 Independent study
51760-51769.5 Work experience education
52300-52499.66 Career technical education
VEHICLE CODE
12814.6 Teen driver's act
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
10070-10075 Work experience education
11500-11508 Regional occupational centers and programs
11520-11523 Proficiency examination and certificate
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
2301-2414 Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006
Management Resources:
WEB SITES
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
Policy CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: July 26, 2006 Carlsbad, California
revised: December 10, 2008
revised: January 14, 2015