It shall be the policy of the Council Bluffs Community School District that students must meet the following requirements for senior high school graduation. A. Completion of 48 credits grades 9-12 B. Completion of the following required credits beginning in ninth grade year: Social Studies: 5 credits required (6 credits required, beginning with Entering Freshmen, Fall 2005) English: 8 credits required Math: 4 credits required (6 credites required, beginning with Entering Freshmen, Fall 2004) Science: 4 credits required (6 credits required, beginning with Entering Freshmen, Fall 2005) Physical Education: Must be enrolled in a minimum of one class per semester and successfully complete a minimum of four credits, unless excused per Policy 606. The courses which can be used to meet these requirements will be determined through Board of Directors' approval. C. Completion of 21 Validations (rat a rubric level 3 and above) on the following District Graduate Standards: Knowledgeable Person 7 Validations required (1 in Algebra/Personal Finance, 4 others after achieving junior status) Complex Thinker 7 Validations required Effective Communicator 4 Validations required (1 through a designated Reading task and 1 through a designated Senior Writing task) Quality Producer 1 Validation required Self-Directed Learner 1 Validation required (Earned through the successful completion and exhibition of a high school/career plan completed in grades 9-12 and presented in 12th grade) Collaborative Participant 1 Validation required Students will achieve Validations on the above District Graduate Standards through classroom performance-based assessment tasks embedded within the curriculum and through District Common Assessment Tasks. Failure to successfully complete the above listed credit/and or validation requirements may require summer school, night school, (On-line High School), work under a private tutor, or other activity approved by the principal to earn the required credits and/or validations. After school and District requirements for graduation have been met, graduating seniors may be excused from instruction for up to five days. If additional days are added to the regular school calendar because of inclement weather, a graduating senior who has met the District’s requirements for graduation may be excused from attendance during the extended school calendar. Graduation requirements for special education students will be in accordance with the prescribed course of study as described in their individualized education program (IEP). Prior to the student's graduation, the IEP team shall determine that the graduation requirements have been met. With the exception of special education students in one of two circumstances, no student is allowed to participate in commencement ceremonies unless all graduation requirements have been completed. There will be no issuing of blank diplomas pending completion of summer school work. Cross References: 606 Legal References: Iowa Code 256.11 Approved: March 21 1994 Reviewed: May 21, 1991 Revised: May 24, 2005 Students may graduate prior to the completion of grade twelve if all requirements for graduation under Board policy "Graduation Requirements" have been fulfilled. In such cases, the student must have the approval of the Board of Directors based upon the recommendation by the Superintendent and the principal. Students who are approved for early graduation will be allowed to participate in the commencement exercises as regularly scheduled. It shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy. Cross References: Legal References: Policy 625 - Senior High Graduation Iowa Code, Chapter 256.11, I.A.C. 12.5 Requirements _____________________________ Approved: March 21, 1989 Reviewed: May 31, 2001 Revised: February 28, 2006