Madison Metropolitan School District
Board of Education Policies and Procedures

POLICY	GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS	3540 Instruction

Graduation Requirements

It is the policy of the BOARD to establish minimum requirements for graduation from the Madison Metropolitan School District. These minimum requirements provide consistent standards for graduation for all Madison high school students and, at the same time, allow a variety of options through which students may meet the requirements.

The BOARD will not grant a high school diploma to any pupil unless, during the high school grades, the pupil has been enrolled in a class or has participated in an activity approved by the BOARD during each class period of each school day, or the pupil has been enrolled in an alternative education program, as defined in s. 115.28 (7) (e). Approved activity includes any course or activity under the responsibility of the school, with the school having flexibility in defining an accountability system which shows whether students are where they are supposed to be.

Credit requirements are designed to provide 9th and 10th grade students with additional elective choices. The requirements are also intended to move critical curricular decisions to the individual teaching staff. For example, although three credits of social studies and two credits of science are required, an individual school may choose to require four credits of social studies or may specify biology to fulfill one of the science requirements.

1. 1. A student will have earned a minimum of twenty-two (22) credits as one criterion for graduation from a Madison high school unless a Madison high school has implemented a program that has a four-block schedule. If a Madison high school has implemented a four-block schedule, a student who is enrolled in such a school for at least three consecutive school years shall be required to have a minimum of 26 credits as one criterion for graduation and a student who is enrolled in such program for at least two consecutive school years shall be required to have a minimum of 24 credits as one criterion for graduation.
      1. A student and the staff of the high school the student is attending may develop a mutually acceptable program leading to early attainment of credits.
      2. A student and the staff of the high school the student is attending may develop a mutually acceptable program leading to early enrollment in a college program.
   2. The following credits shall be requirements for graduation from a Madison high school.
      1. One and a half (1 1/2) credits of physical education, which incorporate instruction in the effects of exercise on the human body, health?related physical fitness, and activities for lifetime use;
      2. Earned in grades 7 to 12, at least .5 credit of health education which incorporates instruction in personal, family, community, and environmental health;
      3. Four (4) credits of English, which incorporate instruction in written communication, oral communication, grammar, and usage of the English language, and literature;
      4. Three (3) credits of social studies, including instruction in state and local government;
      5. Two (2) credits of mathematics, one in Algebra and one in Geometry or two in Integrated Mathematics which interweave strands of algebra and functions, statistics and probability, geometry, trigonometry and discrete mathematics;
      6. Two (2) credits of science, which incorporate instruction in the biological and physical sciences.
   3. The required credits of social studies shall include one (1) credit of U. S. history at grade 9 and one?half (1/2) credit of contemporary U. S. history at grades 10, 11 or 12.
   4. Failure of a required course by a student can be made up through the selection of another course within the same academic discipline.
   5. Failure of an elective course by a student can be made up through the selection of another course within or outside of the academic discipline in which the student failed.
   6. Seniors are required to carry at least four (4) credits during the entire senior year.
   7. Physical education credit may be earned through semester work or via an independent study program determined by the administrative team at each high school.
   8. One?half (1/2) credit is granted for successful completion of a semester of band, orchestra, and chorus meeting the equivalent of five traditional class periods per week.
   9. One?half (1/2) credit is granted for successful completion of a semester of health education unless a student is enrolled in a four-block schedule program. If a student is enrolled in a four-block schedule program, s/he is granted a one-half (1/2) credit for successful completion of a quarter of a school year of health education.
   10. One?quarter (1/4) credit is granted for successful completion of the classroom phase of driver education.

       Regular Schedule

       Required Credits	Elective Credits
       4 in English	9
       3 in Social Studies
       2 in Mathematics
       2 in Science
       1 1/2 in Phy Ed.
       1/2 in Health
       Subtotals: 13	9
       TOTAL CREDIT REQUIREMENT: 22 Credits for a Regular program (13 required credits + 9 elective credits = 22 credits)

       4-Block Schedule

       Required Credits	Elective Credits
       4 in English	12.5
       3 in Social Studies
       2 in Mathematics
       2 in Science
       1 1/2 in Phy Ed.
       1/2 in Health
       1/2 in Computer Ed.
       Subtotals: 13.5	12.5
       TOTAL CREDIT REQUIREMENT: 26 Credits for a Regular program (13.5 required credits + 12.5 elective credits = 26 credits)

2. 1. In addition to successfully completing the credit requirements in paragraph number 1 above, a student must also have a 1.67 or higher cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) in each of the four core content areas (English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies) in any 2 credits earned in classes aligned to the 12th Grade Wisconsin Model Academic Standards (WMAS). A diploma will be granted to a student who meets the credit requirements and has at least a 1.67 cumulative GPA as set forth above.
   2. Beginning September 1, 1988, the BOARD will not grant a high school diploma to any pupil unless, during the high school grades, the pupil has been enrolled in a class or has participated in an activity approved by the BOARD during each class period of each school day. Approved activity includes any course or activity under the responsibility of the school, with the school having flexibility in defining an accountability system which shows whether students are where they are supposed to be.
3. If a student has met the credit requirements for graduation but does not have a 1.67 GPA or higher cumulative GPA as set forth in paragraph number 2 above, the student must pass the High School Graduation Test (HSGT) in each of the four content areas in which the student's GPA is less than 1.67. Students will be given four opportunities to pass the test, twice during both their Junior and Senior years on testing dates determined by the Department of Public Instruction. A diploma will be granted to a student who meets the credit requirements and, for each of the four core content areas either has a 1.67 cumulative GPA as set forth in paragraph number 2 above, or passes the HSGT in each of the four core content areas in which the student's GPA is less than 1.67 in any two credits earned in each content area in classes aligned to the 12th grade WMAS.
4. If a student has met the credit requirements but does not meet the academic performance criteria as set forth in paragraph number 2 above and does not pass the HSGT as set forth in paragraph number 3 above, the student may obtain a teacher recommendation by completing a district-defined portfolio of academic work that provides evidence the student has met WMAS for 12th grade in the content area(s) in which the student has neither a 1.67 GPA as set forth in number 2 above nor a "pass" on the HSGT as set forth in paragraph 3 above. A student may use a portfolio to provide evidence of meeting 12th Grade WMAS in one non-assessed content area (e.g. Fine Arts, Foreign Language) in lieu of one of the assessed content areas of the HSGT. A non-assessed content area includes all academic and non-academic subject areas except the four assessed content areas of the HSGT. A diploma will be granted to a student who meets all of the portfolio requirements as set forth above.
5. The general student graduation requirements apply to a student with disabilities who is eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) unless modified or alternative graduation criteria are designated in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) by the appropriate team members. A student with a disability who meets the requirements for graduation in the IEP as determined by the student's individualized education program team will be granted a diploma.
6. Pursuant to § 118.33(1)(d) (1 and 2), credit and distribution of credit requirements may be waived by the BOARD for pupils enrolled in an alternative education program, as defined in s. 115.28 (7) (e), and who the BOARD determines have demonstrated a level of proficiency in the four core content areas and in physical education equivalent to that which the student would have attained had the student satisfied credit requirements.
7. If a decision is made to deny graduation, over the objections of the student or parent/guardian, the student or parent/guardian may appeal the school's decision to the Assistant Superintendent responsible for that level, whose decision shall be final.
8. Paragraphs 2A, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this policy become effective on the date that Wisconsin state law mandates that school districts (1) administer the HSGT and (2) implement other provisions related thereto.

s. 118.30
s. 118.33
4/1/02

Last Updated: Wed Jul 19 14:07:54 2006
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