Professional Documents
Culture Documents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Purpose: To bring to the School Board the above policies/regulations for second reading.
In an effort to keep the School Board policies updated, members of the administration
and the Policy Review Committee will continually review the policies and regulations for
items that need to be added, deleted, revised, or in some cases, to update the language.
The referenced policies/regulations have been reviewed by administration and the Policy
Review Committee.
The policies/regulations have been posted for public review on the School District
website. No comments have been received.
health integration**
1
2 Indicates a student has career experience in a concentrated area, based on academic and/or
3 workplace experience and related credential.
4
Four units of Language Arts Three units of Science Two units of the following or a
a. 1 unit of Writing a. 1 unit Biology combination of the two:
b. .5 unit of Speech or a. Approved CTE units
Debate from the same career
c. 1 unit of Literature cluster OR
(including .5 Am. Lit.) b. Capstone Experience
Three units of Social Studies AND
Three units of Mathematics a. 1 unit U.S. History Attainment of an industry-
a. 1 unit Algebra I b. .5 unit U.S. Government recognized credential OR
National Career Readiness
Certificate of Silver or higher.
1 waive both. A student is still required to take three units of Math. If a student waives
2 Chemistry or Physics, the student must still take three units of Lab Sciences.
3
4 ** Students will be required to take .5 unit of health at any time grades 6-12. Students completing at
5 least .5 units of health in middle school will have met the high school graduation requirement, a
6 notation will be made on the transcript and high school credit will not be awarded.
7
8
9
10
11
12 Students will be required to take one credit from a menu of courses that includes career and
13 technical education, world language and a capstone experience or service learning.
14
15 Core content credit may be earned through an approved Career and Technical Education course.
16
17 A student identified as limited English proficient may be excused from taking required units of credit
18 if the student’s parent or legal guardian and school counselor or administrator agree and the waiver
19 is documented.
20
21 Additional requirements for the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship are noted in the High School
22 Course Selection Guide.
23
24
25 Definitions:
26 Personal learning plan - a plan based on a student’s skills and interests that identifies the
27 specific coursework a student needs to reach the student’s academic and career goals.
28
29 Service learning - Service learning is a meaningful and relevant activity that addresses needs
30 important to the community being served. Students explore the context of societal issues
31 relevant to the service.
32
33 Capstone experience - a culminating high school experience designed to integrate
34 knowledge, skills, and concepts gained from a student’s program of study. Capstone
35 experiences include:
36 a. Senior experience that requires students to complete a research
37 project, design and develop a product, assemble a portfolio, and
38 complete an oral presentation before a panel;
39 b. Entrepreneurship experience that requires students to research a new
40 business opportunity, develop a business plan, assemble a portfolio,
41 and complete an oral presentation before a panel;
42 c. Youth internship that allows students to gain hands-on experience at a
43 business, develop employability skills, learn technical skills, and
44 complete a portfolio; and
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8 Tests will be developed around course standards and the student must pass the exam with at
9 least 85 % proficiency on the first attempt for credit to be issued. Credit may be included on
10 the student transcript as a "pass" grade only upon achieving 85% proficiency or above and
11 may not be calculated as a part of a student's cumulative grade point average. Failed
12 attempts on the course equivalency exam may not be included on a student's transcript and
13 may not be calculated as a part of a student's cumulative grade point average. If a student
14 wishes to have a letter grade for the test out included on the student's transcript as a means
15 of scholarship eligibility or entrance into a postsecondary institution, a formal request may be
16 made to the school to have a course grade included. The course grade is a letter grade
17 assigned by the District that corresponds to the student's test score on the course
18 equivalency exam. The course grade may not be calculated as a part of the student's
19 cumulative grade point average. A roster of participants, including the students' name, grade
20 in school, district attendance center, and percentage on the completed exam before the start
21 of the next school year will be reported to the Department of Education. The District will
22 proctor and score the exam.
23
24 All credits received by exam will apply toward the 22 credit requirement.
25
26
27 C. Transfer Credits
28
29 Transfers from Accredited Schools
30 A student transferring into the District will be awarded credit for any courses taken from any
31 school accredited by the South Dakota Department of Education or by the regional
32 accrediting agencies. The credit will be accepted towards a specific graduation requirement
33 if the state code matches, or if a course content analysis is completed and the content of the
34 course taken matches the District’s adopted curriculum standards. The curriculum standards
35 are available on the District’s website.
36
37 One or more graduation requirements may be waived for senior students transferring from
38 another state, who have met the standards in that state, and who are unable to meet the
39 graduation requirements set by the South Dakota because of time and scheduling constraints
40 but not due to course failure.
41
42 Dual Credit Opportunities
43
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1 Students seeking dual credit to apply towards both high school graduation and credit to an
2 institution of higher education or a post-secondary technical institute must first obtain
3 permission from the Building Principal/Program Administrator prior to enrolling in the
4 course(s). If approved, the course will be recorded on the student’s transcript and the course
5 score shall be used to calculate academic standing. The credit will be accepted towards a
6 specific graduation requirement if a course content analysis is completed and the content of
7 the course taken matches the District’s adopted curriculum standards, otherwise the credit
8 shall be accepted as an elective.
9
10 Transfers from Unaccredited Schools or Alternative Instruction
11 Placement and awarding of credit will be as determined by Policy JG – “Transfers from Non-
12 Accredited Schools.”
13
14 Credits received outside the school term
15 Credits earned by a student for courses taken from another school and outside the regular
16 school term will be accepted if the outside school is accredited by the South Dakota
17 Department of Education, or the regional accrediting agencies, and the student notifies a
18 school counselor of the credits sought prior to taking the course.
19
20 The credit will be accepted towards a specific graduation requirement if the state code
21 matches or if a course content analysis is completed and the content of the course taken
22 matches the District’s adopted curriculum standards. The curriculum standards are available
23 on the District’s website. Otherwise, the credits earned by the student for the transfer courses
24 will count as elective credits. The school shall notify the student in writing to explain the
25 reason the credits will not count towards a specific graduation requirement and provide the
26 student a copy of this policy and the applicable curriculum standards.
27
28 Credits received from certified treatment centers
29 Credits earned by a student while participating in a certified treatment center, if not accredited
30 by the South Dakota Department of Education, or by the regional accrediting agencies, shall
31 be reviewed by the Director of Curriculum and Instructional Services, or designee, to
32 determine whether the credits can be accepted, or whether the student should follow the
33 procedure for transfers from non-accredited school.
34
35
36 Credits received from institutions outside the United States
37
38 Student transcripts received from institutions outside the United States will be translated if
39 necessary. A course content analysis will be completed and credits will be awarded
40 accordingly.
41
42 D. Advanced Placement Scholar Diploma
43 The Sioux Falls School District will award an Advanced Placement Scholar Diploma to all
44 students meeting the following criteria:
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1 • earned an overall grade point average of 3.5 at the end of the first semester of their
2 senior year.
3 • passed advanced placement classes in three out of four disciplines offering
4 advanced placement courses.
5 • attempted at least three advanced placement examinations.
6
7 If high school students take an advanced placement exam and receive a score of three or
8 higher, it counts as one of the three exams needed, even if they were not enrolled in the
9 advanced placement course.
10
11 Students will be recognized at graduation and will have the distinction noted on their
12 diplomas and transcripts.
13
14 E. Courses for High School Credit Prior to Ninth Grade
15 Students who take high school courses prior to ninth grade will receive high school credit
16 within the subject area if the course is taught by a teacher with applicable certification, it
17 meets the seat time requirements., and the student passes the semester tests with at least
18 80% proficiency prior to the start of the following school year. The exam may be
19 administered up to two times. Upon successful passage of the coursesemester tests, the
20 letter grade will be posted on the student’s transcript and the course will be calculated as part
21 of the student’s cumulative grade point average. The semester tests must be approved by
22 the State and the District will proctor and score the semester tests. A roster of participants,
23 including the students’ name, grade in school district attendance center , and percentage on
24 the best attempt of the completed semester tests will be reported to the Department of
25 Education before the start of the following school year.
26
27 F. Graduation – Special Education Students
28 The School Board recognizes that special curricula are necessary for the special
29 education student and further recognizes that School Board approval of such curricula
30 meets the high school graduation requirements of the State upon the student’s
31 completion of said curricula.
32
33 This may be accomplished by adapting the prerequisite high school coursework to the
34 special needs and abilities of the students in special education.
35 The School Board is committed to all students taking courses that challenge their individual
36 skills. It also recognizes the District’s responsibility to provide a free appropriate public
37 education to each student with disabilities based on their individual needs. The Individual
38 Education Plan (IEP) teams will develop a course of study for each student with an IEP to be
39 reviewed a minimum of annually. The course of study will outline the student’s coursework
40 toward the South Dakota High School Diploma Requirements and inform decisions based on
41 the individual student’s needs including measurable postsecondary goals. The IEP team will
42 determine, document, and ensure parent is informed at least one year in advance that the
43 student will graduate with a regular diploma or continue eligibility for special education
44 services until the earlier of when the student completes his/her secondary school program or
45 the 30th of June following the student’s 21st birthday. The Individuals with Disabilities
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1 Education Act (IDEA) does not guarantee that every student with a disability will receive a
2 regular high school diploma.
3
4 G. Graduation Ceremony and Diploma
5 The School District is committed to acknowledging academic achievement and to awarding a
6 high school diploma to those students who have completed the required coursework for high
7 school graduation.
8
9 High school students with sixteen credits at the end of the first semester of their senior year
10 may participate in the graduation ceremony.
11
12
13 Extenuating circumstances may be appealed to the Superintendent according to Policy KE
14 Public Concerns and Complaints.
15
16 Each school will be responsible for setting dress and decorum standards for graduates
17 participating in the graduation ceremony. Students are permitted to wear traditional tribal
18 regalia or objects of cultural significance, to be limited to an eagle feather or eagle plume.
19
20
21 Other Related Policies/Regulations:
22 IKA/IKA-R – Grading/Recovery Systems
23 JG – Transfers from Non-Accredited Schools
24
25 Legal References:
26 SDCL
27 13-27-3 Child excused if provided alternative instruction
28 13-33-19 Recommended high school program and basic high school
29 program
30 13-33-30 Accredited schools required to accept transfer credits for courses
31 taken from other accredited schools outside regular school term--
32 —Conditions
33 13-55-31.1 High school course requirements for opportunity scholarship
34 eligibility
35 ARSD
36 24;05:27:12 Graduation requirements
37 24:43:08:12 Adding waived course credits to high school transcripts
38 24:43:11:01 Number of required credits for graduation from high school –
39 personal learning plan required
40 24:43:11:02 Specific units of credit required for high school graduation
41 24:43:11:04 Specific units of credit required for high school graduation --
42 Standard high school program
43 24:43:11:07 Required high school unit offerings
44 24:43:11:09 Course equivalency exam
45
46
47
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