Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 7 - Education K-12 › Part 24 - Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards 2023 › ACCREDITATION POLICIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION › Appendix 7-24-A-11

Current through June 25, 2024
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS STANDARD 14
Certificate of Completion
Note: This option shall be offered by districts for
				  incoming freshmen beginning in school year 2018-2019 and
				  thereafter.
A Certificate of Completion is not a high school diploma or
				  an Alternate Diploma, but rather an acknowledgement of the student's
				  participation in and completion of his/her Individualized Education Program
				  (IEP). Students eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion should fall
				  into one (1) of the following categories:
1. Students without a Significant Cognitive Disability at the
				  end of 8th grade who:
* Are 16 years old or older; AND
* At least three (3) or more grade levels below their peers
				  in reading and math; AND
* Have a signed statement from the parent acknowledging the
				  Certificate of Completion is not a traditional high school diploma and will not
				  meet the requirements for entry into careers or post-secondary opportunities
				  requiring a diploma.
2. Students without a Significant Cognitive Disability who
				  have not yet turned sixteen (16) by the end of the eighth grade should
				  transition to the ninth grade on a diploma path.
3. Students with a Significant Cognitive Disability at the
				  end of 8th grade who:
* Have extremely limited or no receptive and expressive
				  communication skills AND
* Have a signed statement from the parent acknowledging the
				  Certificate of Completion is not a traditional high school diploma and will not
				  meet the requirements for entry into careers or post-secondary opportunities
				  requiring a diploma.
4. Students with or without a Significant Cognitive
				  Disability at the end of their third year of high school (6 semesters)
				  who:
* Have not earned at minimum of 3 English units, 3 math
				  units, 2 science units, 2 social studies units, and 5 electives; AND
* Have a signed statement from the parent acknowledging the
				  Certificate of Completion is not a traditional high school diploma and will not
				  meet the requirements for entry into careers or post-secondary opportunities
				  requiring a diploma; AND
* Have evidence of 3 or more years of intensive intervention
				  implemented in middle and/or high school to earn Carnegie units. Evidence may
				  include, but is not limited to:
* Progress monitoring data from reading intervention programs
				  or math intervention programs
* Documentation of accommodations and modifications provided
				  in the general education courses and assessments
* Course schedules outlining dedicated time for
				  intervention.
The student's IEP committee determines the course of study
				  for the Certificate of Completion. Areas of instruction should be developed
				  based on the unique needs of the individual student. Course work shall be
				  appropriate for the student and may include:
* Intensive remediation in deficit area skills
* Career preparation courses
* Life skills courses
Students earning the Certificate of Completion should have
				  completed at least four (4) years of high school and/or be at least 19 years of
				  age at the time of graduation.
Students pursuing a Certificate of Completion are required to
				  participate in the Mississippi statewide assessment program deemed appropriate
				  by their Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) Committee.
Students working toward the Certificate of Completion who
				  meet the criteria for a Significant Cognitive Disability are required to
				  participate in the high school end-of-course alternate assessment during the
				  school year the student is enrolled in the corresponding alternate course
				  (Alternate Biology, Alternate English II, Alternate Algebra).
Students working toward the Certificate of Completion who do
				  not meet the criteria for a Significant Cognitive Disability are required to
				  participate in the regular high school end-of course subject area test(s)
				  during the school year the student is enrolled in the corresponding
				  course(s).
It is ultimately the responsibility and decision of the IEP
				  Committee to determine the appropriate exit option for a student with
				  disabilities based on the appropriate data.