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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
High School Graduation Requirements The Board of Education of the Morris School District has established high school graduation requirements, which are consistent with State and District goals, objectives and pupil proficiency standards in reading, writing and mathematics skills. More specifically, in order to graduate from Morristown High School and receive a state endorsed Board of Education diploma, a pupil must:
Credit for course work shall be awarded based on the pupil’s satisfactory participation in classroom instruction, compliance with the district’s attendance policy, and demonstrated achievement of the specific course proficiencies. Students may demonstrate mastery of established course proficiencies through successful completion of course activities, independent study, and/or performance-based assessment. Course credits may also be granted for college courses, equivalent courses, independent study, internships, work-based learning experiences and/or other alternate educational programs. (See policies 4141.4 and 6172). Pupils completing requirements under these options shall have individually written plans which detail program objectives, project activities, and the course proficiencies which must be met. These plans shall be in accordance with state regulations governing alternate educational programs and must be approved in advance. Transfer pupils must meet all state and local requirements in order to receive a Morristown High School diploma. The principal shall establish guidelines for evaluating the transcripts of transfer students entering the high school to determine their status with respect to district course and credit requirements. The result of this review shall be communicated to the pupils and parents/guardians, in writing. A waiver of any of the above mentioned requirements must be recommended by the high school principal and Superintendent of schools and approved by the Board of Education. Assessment of Student Proficiencies in Basic Skills The Superintendent shall put into effect the procedures necessary to assess each pupil upon entry into the system, and annually thereafter, to identify those pupils not meeting the state or district proficiency requirements in reading, writing and mathematics. He/she shall develop the appropriate academic support programs necessary to remedy these deficiencies at the lowest possible grade level. The Morris School District shall provide students who have not demonstrated proficiency on one or more sections of the HSPA following the 11 th grade with the opportunity to demonstrate such competence through both repeated administrations of the HSPA and SRA process (unless explicitly exempted by an IEP). The applicable sections of the HSPA or SRA process shall follow the schedule provided by the Department pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7A:8-4.1(a) for the implementation of New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standards. Students who enter an adult high school and make continuous progress toward completion are held accountable of the Statewide assessment in effect at the time they meet all other graduation requirements. Core Curriculum Content Standards and Course Proficiencies The New Jersey State Department of Education has established core curriculum content standards shall be incorporated in high school course proficiencies and school activities so that all students successfully completing Morristown High School graduation requirements will meet the established standards for a state-endorsed diploma. In consultation with appropriate professional staff, the Superintendent shall develop and present to the Board of Education for adoption indicators of achievement and standards of proficiency and attendance demonstrating successful completion of each course offered at every level of the high school. The subject matter and standards of proficiency shall be articulated wit the district’s elementary schools and with the sending elementary district. At the beginning of each course, the teacher shall distribute a list of proficiencies required for successful completion of that course to all pupils and their parent(s) or guardian(s). Early Graduation Pupils who have clearly demonstrated scholastic aptitude, an unusual readiness for employment, a financial need, or a serious health or family concern may be considered for early graduation. State and local graduation requirements must be completed. Approval shall be obtained from the parents/guardians and the administration. Pupils with Limited English Proficiency All pupils of limited English proficiency must satisfy requirements for high school graduation in accordance with provisions of N.J.A.C. 6:8-7.1 except that any students of limited English proficiency may demonstrate that they have attained State minimum levels of proficiency through:
Students with Disabilities Educationally handicapped youngster shall meet all state and local high school graduation requirements unless exempted in the individualized education program (IEP). The Morris School District, through the IEP process and pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.12, Graduation, may, for individual students with disabilities as defined in N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.1.3, specify alternate requirements for a State-endorsed diploma which may include the APA. By January 30 of the pupil’s last year in the elementary special education program, the elementary and high school child study teams shall meet to review the individualized education program for transition from one level to another, including any exemptions from the high school graduation requirements. An exemption from the HSPT and demonstration of mastery of the curriculum proficiencies shall be granted if it can be demonstrated that the pupil’s individualized education program is characterized by goals and objectives which do not include the full range of HSPT skills and curriculum proficiencies or if a pupil would be adversely affected by taking the test. The Child Study Team shall specifically address any alternate requirements for graduation in a student’s IEP, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.12. The IEP must state a rationale for any exemptions and reasons why the goals and objectives do not include the HSPA skills or curriculum proficiencies. The individualized education plan shall include a statement of which alternate proficiencies must be achieved to qualify for the standard state endorsed high school diploma. Students with disabilities as defined in N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.1.3, or eligible under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act may demonstrate that they have obtained State minimum levels of proficiency through the SRA process if specified in the student’s IEP or Section 504 accommodation plan. The Superintendent shall establish procedures for implementing the special review assessment requirement for handicapped students. If an educationally handicapped pupil attends a school other than that of the local school district, the pupil shall have a choice of the diploma from the district of residence or from the school which the pupil attends if the school is empowered to grant a diploma. Educationally handicapped pupils shall have the opportunity to participate in graduation exercises and related activities on a non-discriminatory basis. Parent and Student Notification The Morris School District Board of Education shall provide, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:7C-5, each student entering Morristown High School and his/her parents/guardians with a copy of the Morris School District Board of Education’s requirements for a state-endorsed diploma and those programs available to assist students in attaining a State-endorsed diploma A copy of this policy and yearly grogram of studies shall be distributed to each pupil in Morristown High School and, except in the case of 18-year old students, mailed to the parent/guardian prior to program planning. At the beginning of the school year, all students and their parents/guardians shall be informed as to the attendance requirements, code of conduct, eligibility requirements, examination schedule, graduation requirements, academic support programs and services, and any other state and local policies an procedures that may affect student promotion and/or graduation. Proficiency requirements for each course shall be distributed to students upon entering the course. Throughout the school year, pupils and parents/guardians shall receive regular notification of student progress in meeting course proficiencies and high school graduation requirements. The high school administration shall ensure that the parents or guardians of senior students, who are deficient in meeting these requirements, are immediately notified and a conference with the guidance counselor is scheduled as soon as possible. High School Diploma The Morris School District Board of Education shall award a State-endorsed high school diploma to prospective graduates who have met all of the requirements adopted in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A8-5. The Board of Education shall not issue a high school diploma to any student not meeting the criteria specified in the rule provisions referenced above. The Morris School District Board of Education shall provide students exiting grade 12 without a diploma the opportunity for continued high school enrollment to age 20, or until the requirements for a State-endorsed diploma have been met, whichever comes first. The Morris School District Board of Education shall allow any out-of-school individual to age 20 who has otherwise met all state and local graduation requirements but has failed to pass the HSPA to return to school at scheduled times for the purpose of taking the necessary test. Upon certification of passing the test applicable to the student’s class in concordance with students with N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.1-2, starting in the 2002-2003 academic year, the Morris School District Board of Education shall award a State-endorsed high school diploma to an individual who:
Reporting and Monitoring The Superintendent in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:7C-7 and 18A:7E-3, shall report annually at a public meeting, not later than September 30, to the Morris School District Board of Education and to the commissioner of education:
The Morris School District Board of Education shall review this policy annually and shall adopt all regulations required by law. The Board of Education shall provide a copy of graduation requirements for the Morris School District to the Commissioner and update as there is revised. Date: April 14, 1986 October 23, 1989 Revised October 19, 1992 Revised December 13, 1993 Revised April 10, 1995 Revised May 8 1995 Approved June 29, 1998 Revised March 8. 1999 January 22, 2001 Legal References: N.J.S.A. 18A:4-25 Prescribing minimum courses of study for public schools; approval of courses of study N.J.S.A. 18A:7C-1 Commissioner of education to develop a program of standards and guidelines N.J.S.A. 18A:7C-2 Boards of education; establishment of standards N.J.S.A. 18A:7C-5.1 Boards of education prohibited from excluding students from graduation ceremony or from obtaining yearbook for inability to pay fees N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-4 Periodic review of curriculum content standard by state board; establishment of thoroughness and efficiency standards and cost per pupil N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-29 Academic achievement reward program N.J.S.A. 18A:35-1 et seq. Curriculum and courses N.J.S.A. 18A:36-17 Credit of seniors in active military and naval service, etc. N.J.A.C. 6:8-1.1 et seq. Thorough and Efficient System of Free Public Schools N.J.A.C. 6:19-2.3 Commissioner to ensure achievement of the Core Curriculum Content Standards N.J.A.C. 6:30-3.7 Graduation N.J.A.C. 6A:8-1.1 et seq. Standards and Assessment See particularly: N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1, -4.1, -4.2, -4.3, -5.1, -5.2 N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7 Individualized education program N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.12 Graduation N.J.A.C. 6A:15-1.11 Graduation requirements for limited English proficient students N.J.A.C. 6A:30-1.1 et seq. Evaluation of the Performance of School Districts New Jersey State Board of Education Resolution, March 3, 1984, strengthens graduation requirements for pupils with limited English proficiency. Manual for the Evaluation of Local School Districts (August 2000) Cross References: 1120 Board of education meetings 5113 Absences and excuses 5120 Assessment of individual needs 5127 Commencement activities 6010 Goals and objectives 6122 Articulation 6140 Curriculum adoption 6141.4 Independent study 6142 Subject fields 6142.2 English as a second language; bilingual/bicultural 6142.6 Basic skills 6145 Extracurricular activities 6147 Standards of proficiency 6154 Homework/makeup work 6171.4 Special education 6200 Adult/community education Keywords: Graduation Requirements |
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