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4770- Graduation Requirements

Awarding of diplomas and local certificates and participation in graduation ceremony

In order to participate in the graduation ceremony, the Building Principal must certify that the student has met one of the following requirements:

Regents Diploma

The diploma requirements vary depending upon the year a student enters Grade 9. A student who takes more than four years to earn to diploma is subject to the requirements that apply to the year that student first entered Grade 9.

Students first entering Grade 9 in the 2005-06 school year and thereafter shall have earned at least 22 units of credit, including two credits in physical education to receive a Regents Diploma. Such units of credit shall incorporate the commencement level of the State learning standards in: English language arts; social studies; mathematics, science, technology; the arts (including visual arts, music, dance, and theater); languages other than English; health, physical education, family and consumer sciences; and career development and occupation studies.

Regents Examinations

Students must achieve the passing score on the required Regents examinations according to the following schedule in order to receive a diploma:

Entering Grade 9 in 2005 (Freshman Class)

Local Diploma Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 2 required Regents exams and score 55 or above on 3 required Regents exams
Regents Diploma Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 5 required Regents exams and earn 22 units of credit
Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 8 required Regents exams and earn 22 units of credit (7 or 8)

Entering Grade 9 in 2006 (Freshman Class)

Local Diploma Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 3 required Regents exams and score 55 or above on 2 required Regents exams.
Regents Diploma Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 5 required Regents exams and earn 22 units of credit.
Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 8 required Regents exams and earn 22 units of credit. (7 or 8)

Entering Grade 9 in 2007 (Freshman Class)

Local Diploma Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 4 required Regents exams and score 55 or above on 1 required Regents exam.
Regents Diploma Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 5 required Regents exams and earn 22 units of credit.
Regents Diploma with advanced designation requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 8 required Regents exams and earn 22 units of credit. (7, 8 or 9)

Entering Grade 9 in 2008 (Freshman Class)

Regents Diploma Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 5 required Regents exams and earn 22 units of credit.
Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 8 required Regents exams and earn 22 units of credit. (7, 8 or 9)

Entering Grade 9 in 2009 (Freshman Class)

Regents Diploma Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 5 Regents exams and earn 22 units of credit
Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation Requirements
  • Score 65 or above on 8 Regents exams and earn 22 units of credit. (8 or 9)

Note: The Regents Competency Test safety net for students with disabilities will continue to be available for students entering grade 9 prior to September 2010. Students using this safety net will receive a local diploma. The low-pass option of scoring between 55-64 on the required Regents exams to earn a local diploma will continue to be available for students with disabilities, without local option.

Appeals Process

Beginning with students entering grade 9 in 2005, a student who scores within 3 points on two required Regents examinations for graduation and has a 65 course average, may file an appeal to demonstrate that s/he has nevertheless achieved the State Learning Standards necessary for the issuance of a diploma.

The appeal may be filed by the student, student’s parent/guardian, or a teacher, on the student’s behalf.

Students filing an appeal must also meet the following criteria:

  1. Take the Regents examination in question two times.
  2. Have a score on the Regents exam under appeal within 3 points of the 65 passing score on that exam.
  3. Present evidence that they have taken advantage of academic help provided by the school in the subject tested by the Regents examination under appeal.
  4. Have an attendance rate of 95% for the school year (except for excused absences) during which they last took the Regents examination under appeal. Local school districts set their own policy for what is considered an excused or unexcused absence.
  5. Have a course average in the subject under appeal that meets or exceeds the required passing grade by the school. The course average must be based on the student’s official transcript that records grades achieved by the student in each quarter of the school year.
  6. Be recommended for an exemption to the graduation requirement by their teacher or Department chairperson/supervisor in the subject of the Regents examination under appeal.

The appeal must be filed with the school Principal on the required form. The  Principal shall chair a standing committee of three teachers (not including the teacher of the student making the appeal) and two administrators (the Principal and one other) which shall review all appeals.

The committee, in its discretion, may:

  • interview the teacher or department chairperson/supervisor recommending the appeals; and/or
  • interview the student filing the appeal to determine whether the student has demonstrated the knowledge and skills required under the State Learning Standards.

The committee shall make a ruling within 10 days of submission of the appeal.

The school Superintendent shall sign off on all appeals. The school Superintendent may, at his/her discretion, interview the student filing the appeal, to determine whether the student has demonstrated the knowledge and skills required under the State Learning Standards.

A student may be considered for an appeal on up to two required Regents examinations. A student considered for and granted appeals on two exams will receive a local diploma. A student considered for and granted an appeal on one exam, will be determined to have met all graduation requirements, and will be issued a Regents diploma.

The school will make and maintain a record of all appeals received and granted. The information will be reported to the State Education Department as required. All school records relating to appeals of Regents examinations must be available for inspection by the State Education Department.

Additional options for students with disabilities are set forth in District Policy 4773 “Credential Options for Students with Disabilities.”

Ref:

  • 8 NYCRR §§100.1-100.7; 100.9
  • Matter of O’Neill, 29 EDR 297 (1990)

FOOTNOTES FOR DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS CHART (SECTION 100.5 OF NYCRR)

  1. Four credits required in English Language Arts.
  2. Four credits required in Social Studies, including 1 unit in American History and ½ unit each in participation in Government and Economics.
  3. Three credits required in Mathematics (may include Mathematics A and Mathematics B) for students entering Grade 9 in 2005 and 2006. For students entering grade 9 in 2007 and 2008, three credits are required in Mathematics (may include Mathematics A and Mathematics B or Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2/Trigonometry). For students entering Grade 9 in 2009, three credits are required in Mathematics (may include Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2/Trigonometry).
  4. Three credits required in Science (including at least one course in life science, one in physical science, and a third in either life sciences or physical sciences.)
  5. One-half credit required in Health.
  6. Students may meet the learning standards in Technology, either through a course in Technology education or through an integrated course combining Technology with Mathematics and/or Science. A commencement-level course in Technology education may be used as the third unit of credit in Science or Mathematics, but not both.
  7. One credit required in the Arts. The Arts are defined as Dance, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.
  8. Two credits required in physical education.
  9. To earn the advanced designation, the student must complete one of the following:
    1. A Language Other Than English (3 credits).
    2. Career and Technical Education (CTE) (5 credits).
    3. The Arts (5 credits).
  10. Districts may establish a passing score no lower than 55.

Adoption date: May 27, 1997
Revised: September 11, 2000
Revised: November 12, 2002
Revised: January 12, 2004
Revised: August 8, 2005
Revised: May 12, 2008
Revised: February 10, 2014
Reviewed: May 22, 2017