Mt. Diablo USD
Board Policy
Graduation Requirements

BP 6146 
Instruction

The Governing Board desires to prepare each student to obtain a diploma of high school graduation in order to provide students with opportunities to become college and career ready. for postsecondary education and/or employment

(cf. 0420.3 - School-Based Student Motivation and Maintenance Program)
(cf. 5123 - Promotion/Acceleration/Retention)
(cf. 5127 - Graduation Ceremonies and Activities)
(cf. 5147 - Dropout Prevention)
(cf. 5149 - At-Risk Students)
(cf. 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services)
(cf. 6146.5 - Elementary/Middle School Graduation Requirements)

Graduation Requirements for Comprehensive High School Students

1.  	The required program for graduation will be 220 semester credits.

2.  	The 220 credit requirement will commence for graduating class of 2016 and 200 for continuation/alternative education schools and Adult Education. For the class of 2015, the requirement will be 210 credits with the additional 10 credits coming from either a mathematics or elective course.

3.  	All candidates for graduation shall pass the following basic courses:

	Credits	Years
English	40	4
Science	20*	2
World History	10	1
U.S. History	10	1
U.S. Government/Economics	10	1
P.E.	20**  	2
Mathematics	30	3
Visual and Performing Arts, and/or World Language and/or
Career Technical Education	20***
	160

Electives	60	

Total	220

* To include one year of Biological (10 credits) and one year of Physical Sciences (10 credits).
**No PE req. for Continuation/Alt. Ed.
*** Students pass 10 credits each in two of the three areas

State statute governs the minimum requirements for earning a high school diploma. A course in Algebra 1 (or its equivalent) is one of the state's requirements. All students (Education Code 51224.5), including students with disabilities must pass an Algebra 1 (or its equivalent) course that meets the content standards adopted by the State Board of Education in order to receive a high school diploma. If any student completes coursework in grades 7 through 12 that meets or exceeds state academic content standards for algebra, those courses shall apply toward satisfying this algebra requirement. (Education Code 51224.5 and 51225.3)

In addition to the basic course of study, every student shall have passed the California High School Exit Exam. .   Students, including English learners, who have not passed one or both parts of the high school exit examination by the end of grade 12 are to be provided the opportunity to receive intensive instruction and services for up to two consecutive academic years after the completion of grade 12. Supplemental instruction shall be made available to any student who does not demonstrate "sufficient progress," as defined in Board policy, toward passing the exit examination. (Education Code 37252, 60851)

(cf. 6176 - Weekend/Saturday Classes)
(cf. 6177 - Summer School)
(cf. 6179 - Supplemental Instruction)

4.	The district will comply with Education Code 51225.1 regarding graduation requirements for foster youth.

5.	Students entering a district high school with 10th, 11th, or 12th grade standing from schools where course and semester period requirements differ from those of the district, will not be required to make up courses and semester periods included in the program at earlier levels.  For the balance of the time that such students are enrolled in one of the high schools of the district, they will be expected to meet the district's graduation requirements.

6.	When the prescribed course of study does not accommodate the needs of a student, the Board shall provide alternative means for the completion of prescribed courses in accordance with law.

	Students wanting to concurrently enroll in courses offered at public two and four year accredited (WASC in California and the equivalent outside of California) institutions must have site principal approval prior to enrollment if the credits and/or grade(s) are to be accepted for graduation by the district.

	Courses offered at the high school where a student is enrolled are expected to be taken at that school.  Exceptions are made with the principal's pre-approval if the student's schedule is impacted, or if a course needs to be made up. The principal's decision is subject to review by the Superintendent or designee.

(cf. 6146.11 - Alternative Credits toward Graduation)
(cf. 6146.2 - Certificate of Proficiency/High School Equivalency)

7.	The maximum number of credits to be earned for graduation during the four years of high school in the areas stipulated below is:

a.	Exploratory Work Experience Education
General Work Experience Education	40 credits
Vocational Work Experience Education

Credits may be earned in any one area of a combination of any of the three areas.

b.	Teaching Assistants of any kind
Student Aides of any kind
Student Assistants of any kind	20 credits

Credits may be earned in any one area or a combination of any of the three areas.

c.	Physical Education (See #8)	40 credits

8.	Students may enroll (who transfer from outside MDUSD and are on track for graduation) in a high school in the district up to the last day of any semester of school.  Based on information provided by the previous school of attendance, semester credits  (not to exceed a total of 40 credits for any given semester) shall be granted, at the discretion of the principal, to any students who enter from another school district jurisdiction.

9.	Students are to be enrolled in physical education for two years, unless exempt in accordance with Education Code 51241. For the deferral, they must take 9th grade PE and pass the Physical Performance Test by meeting any 5 of the 6 standards.

Students may apply to have the second year of PE deferred to the 11th or 12th grade year, with the approval of the site principal. Application for a deferral must be made by April 15 of the school year along with evidence that 5 of the 6 standards on the Physical Performance Test have been successfully mastered. The 9th grade Physical Performance Test may be given to students in any grade 10 to 12 inclusive.

(cf. 6142.7 - Physical Education)
(cf. 5125 - Student Records)
(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
(cf. 6146.3 - Reciprocity of Academic Credit)

The maximum credits which may be earned for graduation in physical education is 40 credits.

10.	Students in a continuation/alternative high school will be exempt from completing the physical education requirement, but must still complete the overall number of credits in order to graduate from the continuation/alternative high school. (Education Code 51241c)

Graduation Requirements:

Comprehensive High Schools
220 credits

Subjects:

English	40 credits
Social Studies	30 credits
Mathematics	30 credits
Science	20 credits
Visual and Performing Arts	20 credits*
and/or World Language
and/or Career Technical Education
Physical Ed.	20 credits
Electives	60 credits

*Students pass 10 credits in two of the three areas

Alternative Education High Schools
200 credits

Olympic Continuation High School
Nueva Vista/ Summit
Prospect
Gateway
Crossroads

Horizons Center for Independent Study and Home Study
Diablo Community Day

Subjects:

English	40 credits
Social Studies	30 credits
Mathematics	30 credits
Science	20 credits

Visual and Performing Arts	20 credits
and/or World Language
and/or Career Technical Education
Electives	60  credits

Adult School
200 credits
Subjects:

English	40 credits
Social Studies	30 credits
Mathematics	30 credits
Science	20 credits
Visual and Performing Arts	20 credits*
and/or World Language
and/or Career Technical Education
Physical Ed.	No transfer credits  for P.E.
Electives	60 credits

*Students pass 10 credits in two of the three areas

Policy	MT. DIABLO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted:  February 8, 2011	Concord, California
revised: June 4, 2014