Procedure 2410 - High School Graduation Requirements

I. Publication of Graduation Requirements 

Prior to registering in high school, and each year thereafter, each student and their parents or guardians shall be provided a copy of the graduation requirements (those in effect when the student enrolled in ninth grade). Graduation requirements may be included in the course catalog. 

II. Credit Requirements 

Period of Eligibility to Earn Credits 

Credit towards high school graduation will be earned in grades nine through twelve. The student and student’s family may request the district to award high school credit towards fulfilling graduation requirements to a student who has completed high school courses in seventh or eighth grade if one of the following applies: 

Students who have taken and successfully completed high school courses under the above circumstances shall not be required to take an additional mastery/competency examination or perform any other additional assignment to receive credit. 

At the request of the student and the student’s parent or guardian, high school credit earned before high school may be transcribed with a nonnumerical grade, such as “pass” or “credit.” A nonnumerical grade will not be included in the student’s high school grade point average calculations. High school credit earned prior to high school and transcribed with a nonnumerical grade will apply to fulfilling high school graduation requirements. 

Before the end of eleventh grade, a student and the student’s parent or guardian must inform the school if they do not want credit for the course or courses taken before attending high school or if they want the credit to be transcribed with a nonnumerical grade. 

Awarding of High School Credit 

High school credit will be awarded for successful completion of a specific unit of study. Successful completion of a specific unit of study means: 

1. Earning a passing grade according to the district’s grading policy; 
2. Demonstrating proficiency/mastery of content standards as determined by the district; 
3. Successful completion of an established number of hours of planned instructional activities to be determined by the district. 

The district shall establish a process for determining proficiency/mastery for credit-bearing courses of study. 

Credits From Other Programs 

The principal or designee is responsible for determining which credits will be recognized by the district for students enrolling from another state approved learning program (public school, approved private school or home school) or from an out-of-state or out-of-country program. The district will accept credits from another Washington public school or accredited state private school or accredited out-of-state public or private school to the extent the credit matches a district graduation requirement – or the credits may be counted as elective credits. The district will evaluate credits from unaccredited programs or home schools as described below for home school students. Decisions of the principal or designee may be appealed to the superintendent or designee within fifteen school days of the initial decision. 

Subject and Credit Requirements for Graduation 

The following conditions shall be met by each candidate for graduation: 

Alternative Programs 

The Richland School District will consider accepting credits toward high school graduation for learning experiences conducted away from school or by persons not employed by the school district. Consideration will be granted only upon evidence that the petitioners have satisfied requirements outlined in these rules and regulations. 

A proposal for approval of out-of-school learning activities is expected to be submitted prior to the experience, shall be at no additional cost to the district, and shall include at least the following information: 

1. Name of program; 
2. Length of time for which approval is desired; 
3. Objectives of the program; 
4. The state learning goals, and related state learning standards are part of the program/planned learning experience; 
5. Description of how credits shall be determined in accord with WAC 180-51-050(1); 
6. Content outline of the program and/or major learning activities and instructional materials to be used; 
7. Description of how student performance will be assessed; 
8. Qualifications of instructional personnel; 
9. Plans for evaluation of the program; 
10. How and by whom the student will be supervised. 

The district will keep a list of approved programs on file. The superintendent or designee will communicate the reasons for approval or disapproval to those making the request. 

Running Start 

The Running Start program allows high school juniors and seniors to attend community college classes (100 level or above) for part or all their schedule. Students must be of junior standing or above to be eligible for the program. Rising juniors, those who have completed their sophomore year and have yet to begin their junior year, may enroll for up to ten quarter credits, or the semester equivalent, during the summer academic term. 

Students earn college credit, which is also converted and applied to their high school transcript. 

The district will provide general information about the Running Start program to students in grades ten, eleven, and twelve and the parents and guardians of those students. The information will include information about the opportunity to enroll in the program through online courses available at community and technical colleges and other state institutions of higher education, enrollment opportunities during the summer academic term, and the college high school diploma options under RCW 28B.50.535. 

In order to enroll in the Running Start program, students need to do the following: 

III. High School and Beyond Plan Requirement 

The district will follow all requirements in WAC 180-51-220 to satisfy the High School and Beyond Plan Requirements. 

IV. Graduation Pathway Options 

A student may choose to pursue one or more of the pathway options described below to demonstrate career and college readiness if the option chosen is in alignment with the student’s high school and beyond plan. 

The district will provide annual notice, in a way that conforms with Board Policy 4218 – Language Access to students in grades eight through twelve and their parents or legal guardians with comprehensive information about the graduation pathway options offered by the district. 

At least annually, the district will examine data on student groups participating in and completing each graduation pathway option that the district offers. At a minimum, the data on graduation pathway participation and completion will be disaggregated by the student groups described in RCW 28A.300.042 (1) and (3), and by: 

• Gender; 
• Students who are the subject of a dependency proceeding pursuant to chapter 13.34 RCW; 
• Students who are experiencing homelessness as defined in RCW 28A.300.542 (4); and 
• Multilingual/English Learners 

If the results of the analysis required under the statute show disproportionate participation and completion rates by student groups, then the school district will identify reasons for the observed disproportionality and implement strategies as appropriate to ensure the graduation pathway options are equitably available to all students in the school district. 

Statewide High School Assessment 

A student may demonstrate career and college readiness by meeting or exceeding the graduation standard established by the State Board of Education on the statewide high school assessments in English language arts and mathematics. 

Dual Credit Courses 

A student may demonstrate career and college readiness by completing and qualifying for college credit in dual credit courses. 

“Dual credit course” means a course in which a student is eligible for both high school credit and college credit at the level of 100 or higher upon successfully completing the course. Examples of such courses include running starts, college in the high school courses, and career and technical education dual credit courses. 

Before course scheduling or course registration for the next school term, the district will provide the following information to students in grades nine through twelve and their parents: information about each available dual credit program and any financial assistance available to reduce dual credit course and exam costs for students and their families. The information will be provided by email and other communication methods. To the extent feasible, the information will be translated into the primary language of each parent or legal guardian. 

High School Transition Courses 

A student may demonstrate career and college readiness by earning high school credit in a high school transition course in English language arts and mathematics. A high school transition course is a course offered in high school where successful completion by a high school student ensures the student college-level placement at participating institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016. High school transition courses must satisfy core or elective credit graduation requirements established by the State Board of Education. 

AP/International Baccalaureate Programs 

A student may demonstrate career and college readiness by meeting the requirement of A or B below in the AP, international baccalaureate, and Cambridge international courses in English language arts or mathematics that the state board of education designates as eligible to be used to meet this standard: 

SAT or ACT Scores 

A student may demonstrate career and college readiness by meeting or exceeding the scores established by the state board of education for the mathematics portion and the reading, English, or writing portion of the SAT or ACT. 

Performance-based Learning Experience 

Complete a performance-based learning experience through which the student demonstrates knowledge and skills in a real-world context, providing evidence that the student meets or exceeds state learning standards in English language arts and mathematics as detailed in Policy and Procedures 2415. 

Combination of Options 

A student may demonstrate career and college readiness by meeting any combination of at least one English language arts option and at least one mathematics option described above. 

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery 

A student may demonstrate career and college readiness by meeting standard in the armed services vocational aptitude battery by scoring at least the minimum established by the military for eligibility to serve in a branch of the armed services at the time the student takes the assessment. The state board of education will post eligibility scores on its website at least annually by September 1st. 

Career and Technical Education Courses 

A student may demonstrate career and college readiness by completing a sequence of career and technical education courses that are relevant to a student’s postsecondary pathway that meet the minimum criteria identified in WAC 180-51-230(h) and RCW 28A.700.030. 

V. Student’s With an Individualized Education Program (IEP) 

A student’s IEP team must determine whether the graduation pathway options described above are appropriate for the student. 

The following process will be followed to help a student with an IEP graduate: 

VI. Seal of Biliteracy 

To be awarded the Washington Seal of Biliteracy, graduating high school students must meet the following criteria: 

VII. Graduation Ceremonies 

If students fulfill graduation requirements by the end of the last term of their senior year, they may participate in graduation ceremonies. Each student will be awarded a diploma after satisfactorily completing local and state requirements. Upon request, each graduating student will receive a final transcript. Students will be notified of this opportunity at least one month prior to the close of the school term. Participation in graduation ceremonies may be revoked by the school principal as a form of discipline. The graduation ceremony will not last longer than 90 minutes, with 15 minutes allotted for student speeches. 

Any student receiving services under an IEP who will continue to receive such services between the ages of 18 and 22 will be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremonies and activities after four years of high school attendance with his or her age-appropriate peers. 

The District will allow students who are members of a federally recognized tribe to wear traditional tribal regalia or objects of Native American cultural significance along with or attached to a gown at the graduation ceremony or related school event. Additionally, the District will not require such students to wear a cap if it is incompatible with the regalia or significant object they have chosen to wear. Otherwise, the district has discretion to determine the conduct for graduation ceremonies as described below. 

Students transferring from a Richland School District high school to another Richland School District high school must take a minimum of four classes the final semester of their senior year at the new school to be eligible to receive the diploma of that school. Exceptions to this may be granted by the principal. 

VIII. Awarding Diplomas Posthumously 

See RSD Policy 2405 Memorials and Commemorations for acknowledgement of deceased students at graduation. 

IX. Withholding of a Diploma 

The district may withhold a student's diploma based on the student’s damage to property in accordance with Board Policy 3520 – Student Fees, Fines, or Charges. 

Any student discipline will be in accordance with Board Policy 3200 - Student Conduct Expectations and Reasonable Sanctions. Student discipline may include denying the student’s participation in graduation ceremonies. Such exclusion from graduation ceremonies is regarded as a school suspension. In such instances, the district will grant the diploma. 

Opt-Out of Graduation Credit for High School Course Completed in Middle School Form

REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF MINIMUM LOAD REQUIREMENT Form

Adoption: