Glenbard Township High School District 87
Policy 6:300
Instruction
Graduation Requirements
Each student must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully complete the following courses in order to graduate from high school:
1. Language Arts – Eight Semesters. These studies must include 7 semesters of English and 1semester of Speech.
- For students entering the 9th grade in 2006-2007 and all students entering in succeeding school years, four semesters of writing intensive courses are required. Two semesters of this requirement must be met in an English course; the remaining semesters may be taken in other areas and may be counted towards other graduation requirements.
- For students entering the 9th grade in the 2008-2009 school year, eight semesters of language arts shall be required.
2. Social Studies – Four Semesters. These studies must include 2 semesters of United States History and instruction in state and local government. The student must pass an examination on the Constitution of the United States and the State of Illinois, the Flag Code, and the Declaration of Independence.
For students entering 9th grade in 2009-2010 and for all students in succeeding school years, six semesters of Social Studies will be required. These studies must include 2 semesters of United States History and one of an American Government (Civics) course.
3. Mathematics – Six Semesters.
- For students entering the 9th grade in the 2005-2006 school year and all students entering in succeeding school years, six semesters are required. Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, two of the semesters must constitute Algebra I and two of the semesters must include geometry content.
4. Science – Four Semesters of laboratory science.
For students entering the 9th grade in 2009-2010 and for all students in succeeding school years six semesters of Science will be required.
5. Cultural Education – One Semester. These studies include courses in Art, Music, Speech Arts, or Foreign Language.
6. Applied Arts – One Semester. These studies include courses in Family and Consumer Sciences or Industrial Technology or Business Education or the Technology Center of DuPage (TCD) or Cooperative Education.
7. Health Education – One Semester.
8. Driver Education – Classroom instruction. A student must have passed 8 semester courses during the 2 semesters immediately preceding enrollment in Driver Education.
9. Consumer Education - One Semester of instruction.
10. Physical Education - Six Semesters.
In addition, to be eligible for a certificate of graduation, students must take the Prairie State Achievement Examination, unless the student is exempt in accordance with the provisions of 105 ILCS 5/2-3.64.
No student shall receive a certificate of graduation without passing a satisfactory examination on patriotism and principles of representative government, proper use of the flag, methods of voting, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Superintendent or designee is responsible for:
1. Maintaining a description of all course offerings that comply with the above graduation requirements;
2. Notifying students and their parents/guardians of graduation requirements;
3. Developing the criteria for determining when a student has met the Illinois State Board of Education’s requirement that all students take the Prairie State Achievement Exam and a method for recording that fact in the student’s school record;
4. Complying with State law requirements for students who transfer during their senior year because their parent(s)/guardian(s) are on active military duty. This includes making reasonable adjustments to ensure graduation if possible, or efforts to ensure that the original (transferor) school district issues the student a diploma.
5. Taking all actions necessary for the implementation of this policy.
These requirements shall not apply to students whose course of study is determined by an individualized education plan.
Participation in Graduation Ceremonies by Special Education Students
A student eligible to receive special education services pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C 1400 et seq., who will have completed four (4) years of high school at the end of the school year must be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony and other graduation activities with his/her graduating class, at the discretion of the student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s).
If the student’s individualized education program (IEP) prescribes that the student is entitled to continue to receive special education and/or related services beyond the student’s four years of high school, he/she may receive a certificate of completion in lieu of a diploma during the graduation ceremony. The Superintendent or designee is responsible for providing students receiving services under IDEA and their parent(s)/guardian(s) with timely and meaningful notice of this policy.
Early Graduation
The Superintendent or designee shall implement procedures for students to graduate early, provided they finish 7 semesters of high school and meet all graduation requirements.
Veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam Conflict
Upon application, an honorably discharged veteran of World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam Conflict will be awarded a diploma, provided that he or she:
1. Resided within an area currently within the District at the time he or she left high school;
2. Left high school before graduating in order to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces; and
3. Has not received a high school diploma or GED (high school equivalency).
LEGAL REF.:
105 ILCS 5/2-3.64, 5/22-27, 5/27-3, and 5/27-22.10, and 70/..
23 Ill. Admin. Code § 1.440.
CROSS REF.:
6:30 (Organization of Instruction),
6:300-E (Application for a Diploma for Veterans of WW II or the Korean Conflict),
6:320 (Credit for Proficiency),
7:50 (School Admissions and Student Transfers to and from Non-District Schools)
ADOPTED: December 8, 1997
REVISED: October 14, 2008
REVIEWED: January 12, 2009
REVISED: February 23, 2009
REVIEWED: May 10, 2010
REVISED: June 28, 2010
REVIEWED: July 12, 2010
REVISED: September 27, 2010
REVIEWED: February 7, 2011
REVISED: March 21, 2011
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