GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To ensure that all students graduate from our schools with the knowledge, skills, and work habits they will need in adult life, the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District has adopted a proficiency-based system of teaching, learning, promotion, and graduation.

Beginning with the Boothbay Region High School Class of 2021, all students will need to demonstrate achievement of all state mandated cross-curricular and content-area graduation standards before receiving a high school diploma. These new graduation requirements will ensure that each student provides evidence that they have achieved expected learning standards, and acquired the knowledge, skills, and work habits that will prepare them for postsecondary education and modern careers. The district’s proficiency-based diploma system also requires our schools and educators to provide those interventions, support systems, and personalized-learning pathways that each student needs to meet expected standards and graduate college and career ready.

A. Communicating Graduation Requirements

To ensure that every student and family has the information and resources they need to appropriately plan and sequence the student’s educational decisions, our schools, educators, and staff will clearly and consistently communicate—prior to entering high school and throughout the student’s educational career—the graduation standards and diploma requirements that must be met to earn a high school diploma. The Superintendent, through the high school principal or other designee, shall be responsible for ensuring that accurate, up-to-date information concerning all graduation standards and diploma requirements are

(1) readily available to all incoming students and their families, and

(2) published on the district and high school websites. A detailed guide to graduation standards, academic expectations, and diploma requirements will be disseminated to all incoming ninthgrade students at the time of course selection. This policy will also be referenced in each edition of the high school student handbook and on the district and high school websites. As soon as it is practical and feasible, the Board expects the Superintendent or designee to inform all students and their families of any modifications made to the district’s graduation requirements, which extends to all applicable changes in relevant state law, rules, or regulations.

The Board has approved the following schedule of minimum requirements for graduation, which encompasses minimum graduation requirements specified by the state and described in relevant laws, rules, and regulations. The Board is aware that current law and regulations are subject to change.

B. Academic Requirements for Graduation For the Boothbay Region High School classes of 2018–2021, the following graduation requirements remain in effect: The following are basic requirements for graduation from Boothbay Region High School. In addition to these requirements, the various courses of study have specific requirements which must be met.

A student must accumulate credits to graduate from Boothbay Region High School as follows:

Through the class of 1996 and all thereafter--72 credits (each course is considered to be 3 credits)

A student must have successfully passed the basic required courses as follows:

English 4 courses (12 credits)

Social Studies 3 courses (9 credits) --one of which must be U.S. History

Mathematics 3 courses (9 credits)

Science 3 courses (9 credits)

Physical Education 1 course (3 credits) Fine Arts 1 course (3 credits)

Health 1 course (3 credits) Community Service 5 hours each year for a total of 20 hours These 48 credits must be passed with no substitute course selection allowed.

Also, commencing with the Class of 2021, all students attending Boothbay Region High School must also meet the following graduation requirements:

B1. All students will demonstrate that they have achieved proficiency in the content-area graduation standards of the Maine Learning Results according to the schedule outlined below.

Meeting the standard entails demonstrating proficiency in each of the following content areas prior to graduation:

For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2020-2021, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology and social studies;

For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2021-2022, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and at least one additional content area of the student’s choice;

For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2022-2023, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and at least two additional content areas of the student’s choice;

For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2023-2024, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science and technology, social studies and at least three additional content areas of the student’s choice; and

For a student graduating in the graduating class of 2024-2025 and for each subsequent graduating class, certify that the student has demonstrated proficiency in meeting the state standards in all content areas.

For the purposes of this paragraph, "content areas" refers to the content areas of the system of learning results established by the Maine Department of Education. The Boothbay Region High School administration, faculty, and staff will develop and apply a set of graduation standards and performance indicators that align with the content-area standards of the Maine Learning Results. To satisfy graduation requirements, all students must be engaged in proficiency-based educational experiences in the content areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science and Technology in each year of their secondary school program. The standards of Career and Education Development will be embedded and addressed in other content-area learning experiences.

B2. All students will demonstrate that they have achieved proficiency in the cross-curricular Guiding Principles of the Maine Learning Results.

The Boothbay Region High School administration, faculty, and staff will develop and apply a set of graduation standards and performance indicators that align with the cross-curricular standards of the Guiding Principles of the Maine Learning Results.

B3. While most students will satisfy graduation requirements over the course of a four-year academic program, students may also satisfy Boothbay Region High School’s graduation requirements during a period of time that is either accelerated or lengthened, based on their distinct learning needs. All students are expected to develop a Personal Learning Plan with assistance from counselors, teachers, and/or administrators that allows them to meet expected standards at the pace and with the support they need.

C. Multiple Pathways Boothbay Region High School offers all students multiple learning options that allow students to demonstrate proficiency on expected learning standards, earn academic credit, and satisfy graduation requirements. Boothbay Region High School also encourages its students to explore a broad range of learning experiences, including outside-of-school options. To pursue outside-of-school learning options, students must describe their learning experiences in a Personal Learning Plan, including how the experience satisfies both graduation requirements and expected cross-curricular and content-area standards. Learning options may include, but are not limited to, the following: Academic courses offered by the school Dual enrollment or early college courses Career and technical education programming Online or blended learning options Alternative or at-risk programming Apprenticeships, internships, field work, or exchange experiences Independent studies or long-term projects Adult education

D. Transfer Students For students who transfer to Boothbay Region High School from another state, country, school, program, or home-schooling situation, including educational programs that are not aligned with Boothbay Region High School’s cross-curricular and content-area graduation standards, the Principal shall evaluate the value of the student’s prior educational experiences and determine to what degree the student has met the school’s graduation requirements. After enrolling in Boothbay Region High School, these students will need to satisfy all assessment, proficiency, and graduation requirements in the appropriate subject areas, as determined by the Principal. The Superintendent will ultimately determine whether these students are eligible to receive a diploma.

E. Home-Schooled Students For home-schooled students wishing to receive a diploma from Boothbay Region High School, the Principal shall evaluate the value of the student’s prior educational experiences and determine to what degree the student has met the school’s graduation requirements. After enrolling in Boothbay Region High School, these students will need to satisfy all assessment, proficiency, and graduation requirements in the appropriate subject areas, as determined by the Principal. A home-schooled student must have attended Boothbay Region High School for a minimum of two (2) years or four (4) semesters to be eligible for a diploma.

F. Students Receiving Special-Education Services Students who successfully meet Boothbay Region High School’s cross-curricular and content area graduation standards, as specified in the goals and objectives of their Individualized Education Plans (IEP), will be awarded diplomas.

G. Delayed Awarding of Diplomas If a student leaves high school to attend an accredited, degree-granting institution of higher education, the student may, upon satisfactory completion of the freshman year, be awarded a high school diploma, provided that the student has notified the Principal at the time of the early admission.

H. Extended Study Students are eligible for extended years of study to complete the school’s graduation requirements if they have not reached the age of 20. Students eligible for extended years of study may be referred to adult education or other programs and resources.

I. Participation in Graduation Ceremony A student must complete all Board requirements for a high school diploma to participate in graduation exercises.

Legal References 20-A M.R.S.A. Ch. 207-A § 4511, sub-§3 Accreditation Requirements (as revised 4/19/2016) 20-A M.R.S.A. Ch. 207-A § 4722-A Proficiency-Based Diploma Standards and Transcripts (as revised 4/19/2016) 20-A M.R.S.A. Ch. 207-A § 6209, sub-§3-A Transcripts (as revised 4/19/2016) Ch. 127 § 7 (Me. Dept. of Ed. Rule) (as revised)

Cross References

IK: Assessment of Student Learning

IKC: Transcripts

IHCDA: Dual Enrollment and Early College

IKFF: Multiple Pathways

Adopted: 11-9-88

Revised: 3-25-92, 8-17-94, 6-14-17