IKF Policy
Policy: IKF
Effective Date: 06/5/23
Reviewed by Policy Committee: 10/17/18,04/12/23
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
REGISTRATION: Students must complete course selections prior to the opening of school in the fall. Changes in the schedule will be allowed if recommended by the school officials and approved by a parent.
GRADUATION: All graduates will receive the same type of diploma.
REQUIREMENTS:
I. Credits
A.) All students will be required to have earned twenty-four (24) credits to participate in the graduation exercises. These credits include:
English 4 credits
Sciences 3 credits (1 lab Science)
Social Studies 3 ½ credits (U.S. History and Personal Economics)
Math 4 credits
Physical Education/Health 2 credits
Fine Arts 1 credit
Other Electives 6 ½ credits
*** The increase in the number of credits required for graduation (24) will mandatory beginning with the Class of 2027. The increase in the requirements for the number of credits in Social Studies (3 ½) and the increase in Mathematics (4) will be mandatory beginning with the Class of 2027. The Board encourages all graduates 2024, 2025, and 2026 to meet these future course requirements.***
B.) Each student will be required to take six (6) courses per year except by permission of administration and guidance counselor.
C.) Seniors who do not have the twenty-four (24) credits required for graduation will not be allowed to participate in graduation exercises.
D.) Outside-of-class credits, approved by the guidance director and high school principal may be earned in any of the following ways:
1.) a. Alternative courses for graduation (summer school, correspondence, online, college courses, etc.) approved by guidance director and the high school principal. (Limit of 4 credits.)
b. College credits count at the rate of one credit per three college hours passed. (Unlimited credits).
2.) Make-up credits for courses failed. (Unlimited credits).
3.) Enrichment credits, such as summer Upward Bound, University of Maine at Farmington (1 per year with a limit of 3 credits); private driver education (Limit of 1/2 credit).
4.) Vocational education credits, such as Summer Youth Employment and Training Program (1/2 per year with a limit of 1 credit); Co-op Work Study or Skowhegan Vocational School (3 per year with a limit of 6 credits).
5.) Adult education courses as approved by the principal and adult education director.
6.) Approved alternative education program courses.
E.) A student, while enrolled in middle school, who enrolls and completes a high school course taught by a teacher with a 7-12 certification in the content area will be awarded high school credit.
II. MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO THE AWARDING OF A DIPLOMA
Carrabec High School’s educational program is designed to enable students to satisfy graduation requirements in four years through a sequence of educational experiences/courses providing opportunities to gain and demonstrate proficiency in all of the content areas of the Maine Learning Results.
Students following a traditional pathway:
A. Students will at a minimum acquire twenty-four (24) credits by passing the course with a seventy (70) or higher.
B. Students may also opt to pursue a high school diploma through multiple additional pathways including but not limited to:
1.) Early college/dual enrollment courses
2.) Career and technical education programming
3.) Online/virtual learning
4.) Apprenticeships, internships and/or field work
5.) Community service
6.) Exchange programs
7.) Independent study
8.) Alternative education/“At Risk” programming
9.) Adult education
C. Each pathway must provide a quality learning experience comparable in rigor to
the RSU #74’s own educational experience (course) offerings
D. In order to pursue one or more of the multiple/alternative pathways, a student
must have a Personal Learning Plan detailing how the pathway will provide exposure to the content standards of the Learning Results and how the student will demonstrate proficiency in meeting the standards. The Personal Learning Plan must be approved by the Guidance Counselor, Principal
III. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THE
AWARDING OF A DIPLOMA FROM CARRABEC HIGH SCHOOL
This section applies to all students, in all graduation classes.
A. Transfer Students
For students who transfer to Carrabec High School from another state or
from an educational program that is not required to be aligned with the
content standards of the system of Maine Learning Results, the Carrabec High
School Principal shall determine the value of the student’s prior educational
experience towards meeting graduation requirements.
B. Home-schooled Students
For home-schooled students wishing to receive a diploma from Carrabec
High School, the Carrabec High School Principal shall determine the
value of the student’s prior educational experience toward meeting
graduation credit requirements or earn a three (3) or better on any and all
assessments of the content areas. A home-schooled student must have
attended Carrabec High School for a minimum of three (3) semesters.
C. Early Awarding of Diplomas
A student who has met the State’s and the Board’s diploma requirements in
fewer than four (4) years of high school may be awarded a diploma.
D. Extended Study
Students are eligible for extended years of study to complete the
requirements of a diploma if they have not reached the age of twenty (20) at the start of the school year. Students eligible for extended years of study may be referred to adult education or other resources suitable to young learners. Extended study for students with disabilities shall be specified in the student’s Individualized Education Plan.
E. Participation in Graduation Ceremony
A student must complete all Board requirements for a high school diploma
in order to participate in graduation exercises.
F. Honors and Awards at Graduation
In order to be eligible for honors or awards based wholly or in part on
academic achievement (e.g., valedictorian, salutatorian, class speaker, “Top
10”), a student must have been enrolled full time at Carrabec High School
during the year for at least one (1) year preceding graduation. Students who do not meet this enrollment requirement will not be “ranked” for the purpose of determining eligibility for graduation honors, awards, or scholarships.
[NOTE: “Honors” at graduation is a different issue than “honor roll”
or “class rank,” which may have different eligibility requirements and
may be addressed in other board policies.]
Legal Reference: 20-A M.R.S.A. § 4722
Ch. 127 § 7 (Me. Dept. of Ed. Rule)
MAINE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
NEPN/NSBA Code: IKF LD 1666
Cross Reference: IHCDA – Post-Secondary Enrollment Options
IK – Student Achievement
IKFA - Early Graduation