Graduation Diplomas
As established by the Tennessee State Board of Education and the Sumner County Board of Education and with regard to graduation requirements, a diploma will be awarded as described below:
Types of Diplomas
A. High School Diploma
The graduation requirements and additional courses required for postsecondary/workforce training readiness will be tied to the vision of the high school graduate and to the Tennessee Academic Standards.
To earn a regular high school diploma, students must (1) earn the prescribed credit minimum, (2) complete the ACT or SAT if enrolled in a Tennessee public school during their eleventh (11th) grade year, (3) meet the civics requirements and (4) have a satisfactory record of attendance and discipline.
Schools will minimize tracking of students by ability, eliminate central classes taught below the college preparation level and provide all students a challenging course of study.
Students with disabilities will be included in regular classes to the maximum extent possible and with appropriate support and accommodations. To earn a regular high school diploma, students with disabilities must earn the prescribed credit minimum.
B. Special Education Diploma
A special education diploma may be awarded at the end of their fourth (4th) year of high school to students with disabilities who have (1) not met the requirements for a regular high school diploma, (2) received special education services or supports and made satisfactory progress on an individualized education program (IEP), and (3) have satisfactory records of attendance and conduct. Students who obtain the special education diploma may continue to work toward a regular high school diploma through the end of the school year in which they turn twenty-two (22) years old.
C. Occupational Diploma
An occupational diploma may be awarded to students with disabilities at the end of their fourth year of high school who have (1) not met the requirements for a regular high school diploma, (2) received special education services or supports and made satisfactory progress on an IEP, (3) have satisfactory records of attendance and conduct, (4) have completed the occupational diploma Skills, Knowledge, and Experience Mastery Assessment (SKEMA) created by the Tennessee Department of Education, and (5) have completed two (2) years of paid or non-paid work experience. The determination that an occupational diploma is the goal for a student with a disability will be made at the conclusion of the student’s tenth (10th) grade year or two (2) academic years prior to the expected graduation date. Students who obtain the occupational diploma may continue to work toward a regular high school diploma through the end of the school year in which they turn twenty-two (22) years old.
D. Alternate Academic Diploma
Beginning with students entering the ninth (9th) grade in 2018, an alternate academic diploma may be awarded to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities at the end of their fourth (4th) year of high school who have (1) participated in the high school alternate assessments, (2) earned the prescribed twenty-two (22) credit minimum, (3) received special education services or supports and made satisfactory progress on an IEP, (4) have satisfactory records of attendance and conduct, and (5) have completed a transition assessment(s) that measures, at a minimum, postsecondary education and training, employment, independent living, and community involvement. The required credits may be earned either through the state-approved standards or through alternate academic diploma course requirements defined by the Department of Education. A student who earns an alternate academic diploma shall continue to be eligible for special education services under IDEA until the student receives a regular high school diploma or through the school year in which the student turns twenty-two (22).
Graduation Requirements
The following 26 credits shall be required for graduation.
Ready Core Curriculum Credits
English (English 1, 2, 3, and 4).............................................................4
Mathematics*(Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2..............................4
Science**...................................................................................................3
Social Studies***.....................................................................................3
Wellness....................................................................................................1
Physical Education..............................................................................0.5
Personal Finance.................................................................................0.5
Foreign Language****...........................................................................2
Fine Arts****...........................................................................................1
Elective Focus*****................................................................................3
[Additional Sumner County electives].............................................4
Total...............................................................................................26
*Students must complete four (4) credits of mathematics including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II (or equivalents) plus one additional mathematics course beyond Algebra II. All students must be enrolled in a math class each year. Students with qualifying disabilities as documented in the individualized education program may take Algebra IA, Algebra IB, Geometry A, and Geometry B for their required math classes over four years. The Bridge Math course is recommended for students who have not scored 19 or higher on the ACT mathematics subtest or a 460 on the SAT mathematics subtest by the beginning of the senior year. Other factors like career interest, study habits, etc. can be used to determine twelfth (12th) grade placement.
Students with a qualifying disability who have deficits in mathematics as documented in the IEP shall be required to achieve at least Algebra I and Geometry (or the equivalent Integrated Math I and Integrated Math II). The required number of credits in mathematics will be achieved through strategies such as, but not limited to, increased time, appropriate methodologies, and accommodations as determined by the IEP team.
** Students must complete Biology I and either Chemistry or Physics and a 3rd laboratory science. Students with qualifying disabilities as documented in the individualized education program shall be required to achieve at least Biology I and two other lab science credits or Biology 1A and Biology 1B along with one additional lab credit. The required number of credits in science will be achieved through strategies such as, but not limited to, increased time, appropriate methodologies, and accommodations as determined by the IEP team.
*** Students must complete United States History & Geography, World History & Geography, Economics, and U.S. Government & Civics.
**** Students must complete two (2) credits of the same Foreign Language and one (1) credit in Fine Arts. In exceptional circumstances, to allow students to expand and enhance the elective focus, schools may waive the foreign language and/or fine art requirements for students who are not planning to attend a university.
***** Students must complete three (3) credits in an elective focus. All students will pursue a focused program of study designed to prepare them for the workforce and postsecondary study. The intent of the elective focus is to provide students with an opportunity to explore an academic area in greater depth. The elective focus may be CTE, science and math, humanities, fine arts, AP/IB, or other areas approved by the local board of education. Students completing a CTE elective focus must complete three (3) credits in the same CTE career cluster or stateapproved program of study. Schools should make every effort to ensure that all students complete a state or locally approved elective focus, however schools may waive the elective focus requirement for those students who transfer during the junior or senior year to a Tennessee high school from a school in another state of from a non-public school, if the completion of the elective focus would prevent or delay graduation. Students who begin an elective focus in a Tennessee high school and transfer during the junior or senior year to another Tennessee high school may, with the permission of the Director of Schools, have the elective focus requirement waived if the receiving school does not offer the same elective focus area and is unable to offer related coursework to complete a state or locally approved focus area, or if the completion of the elective focus would prevent or delay graduation.
As established by the Tennessee State Board of Education and the Sumner County Board of Education and with regard to graduation requirements, a diploma will be awarded as described below:
Types of Diplomas
A. High School Diploma
The graduation requirements and additional courses required for postsecondary/workforce training readiness will be tied to the vision of the high school graduate and to the Tennessee Academic Standards.
To earn a regular high school diploma, students must (1) earn the prescribed credit minimum, (2) complete the ACT or SAT if enrolled in a Tennessee public school during their eleventh (11th) grade year, (3) meet the civics requirements and (4) have a satisfactory record of attendance and discipline.
Schools will minimize tracking of students by ability, eliminate central classes taught below the college preparation level and provide all students a challenging course of study.
Students with disabilities will be included in regular classes to the maximum extent possible and with appropriate support and accommodations. To earn a regular high school diploma, students with disabilities must earn the prescribed credit minimum.
B. Special Education Diploma
A special education diploma may be awarded at the end of their fourth (4th) year of high school to students with disabilities who have (1) not met the requirements for a regular high school diploma, (2) received special education services or supports and made satisfactory progress on an individualized education program (IEP), and (3) have satisfactory records of attendance and conduct. Students who obtain the special education diploma may continue to work toward a regular high school diploma through the end of the school year in which they turn twenty-two (22) years old.
C. Occupational Diploma
An occupational diploma may be awarded to students with disabilities at the end of their fourth year of high school who have (1) not met the requirements for a regular high school diploma, (2) received special education services or supports and made satisfactory progress on an IEP, (3) have satisfactory records of attendance and conduct, (4) have completed the occupational diploma Skills, Knowledge, and Experience Mastery Assessment (SKEMA) created by the Tennessee Department of Education, and (5) have completed two (2) years of paid or non-paid work experience. The determination that an occupational diploma is the goal for a student with a disability will be made at the conclusion of the student’s tenth (10th) grade year or two (2) academic years prior to the expected graduation date. Students who obtain the occupational diploma may continue to work toward a regular high school diploma through the end of the school year in which they turn twenty-two (22) years old.
D. Alternate Academic Diploma
Beginning with students entering the ninth (9th) grade in 2018, an alternate academic diploma may be awarded to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities at the end of their fourth (4th) year of high school who have (1) participated in the high school alternate assessments, (2) earned the prescribed twenty-two (22) credit minimum, (3) received special education services or supports and made satisfactory progress on an IEP, (4) have satisfactory records of attendance and conduct, and (5) have completed a transition assessment(s) that measures, at a minimum, postsecondary education and training, employment, independent living, and community involvement. The required credits may be earned either through the state-approved standards or through alternate academic diploma course requirements defined by the Department of Education. A student who earns an alternate academic diploma shall continue to be eligible for special education services under IDEA until the student receives a regular high school diploma or through the school year in which the student turns twenty-two (22).
Graduation Requirements
The following 26 credits shall be required for graduation.
Ready Core Curriculum Credits
English (English 1, 2, 3, and 4).............................................................4
Mathematics*(Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2..............................4
Science**...................................................................................................3
Social Studies***.....................................................................................3
Wellness....................................................................................................1
Physical Education..............................................................................0.5
Personal Finance.................................................................................0.5
Foreign Language****...........................................................................2
Fine Arts****...........................................................................................1
Elective Focus*****................................................................................3
[Additional Sumner County electives].............................................4
Total...............................................................................................26
*Students must complete four (4) credits of mathematics including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II (or equivalents) plus one additional mathematics course beyond Algebra II. All students must be enrolled in a math class each year. Students with qualifying disabilities as documented in the individualized education program may take Algebra IA, Algebra IB, Geometry A, and Geometry B for their required math classes over four years. The Bridge Math course is recommended for students who have not scored 19 or higher on the ACT mathematics subtest or a 460 on the SAT mathematics subtest by the beginning of the senior year. Other factors like career interest, study habits, etc. can be used to determine twelfth (12th) grade placement.
Students with a qualifying disability who have deficits in mathematics as documented in the IEP shall be required to achieve at least Algebra I and Geometry (or the equivalent Integrated Math I and Integrated Math II). The required number of credits in mathematics will be achieved through strategies such as, but not limited to, increased time, appropriate methodologies, and accommodations as determined by the IEP team.
** Students must complete Biology I and either Chemistry or Physics and a 3rd laboratory science. Students with qualifying disabilities as documented in the individualized education program shall be required to achieve at least Biology I and two other lab science credits or Biology 1A and Biology 1B along with one additional lab credit. The required number of credits in science will be achieved through strategies such as, but not limited to, increased time, appropriate methodologies, and accommodations as determined by the IEP team.
*** Students must complete United States History & Geography, World History & Geography, Economics, and U.S. Government & Civics.
**** Students must complete two (2) credits of the same Foreign Language and one (1) credit in Fine Arts. In exceptional circumstances, to allow students to expand and enhance the elective focus, schools may waive the foreign language and/or fine art requirements for students who are not planning to attend a university.
***** Students must complete three (3) credits in an elective focus. All students will pursue a focused program of study designed to prepare them for the workforce and postsecondary study. The intent of the elective focus is to provide students with an opportunity to explore an academic area in greater depth. The elective focus may be CTE, science and math, humanities, fine arts, AP/IB, or other areas approved by the local board of education. Students completing a CTE elective focus must complete three (3) credits in the same CTE career cluster or stateapproved program of study. Schools should make every effort to ensure that all students complete a state or locally approved elective focus, however schools may waive the elective focus requirement for those students who transfer during the junior or senior year to a Tennessee high school from a school in another state of from a non-public school, if the completion of the elective focus would prevent or delay graduation. Students who begin an elective focus in a Tennessee high school and transfer during the junior or senior year to another Tennessee high school may, with the permission of the Director of Schools, have the elective focus requirement waived if the receiving school does not offer the same elective focus area and is unable to offer related coursework to complete a state or locally approved focus area, or if the completion of the elective focus would prevent or delay graduation.