North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 16 - EDUCATION › Chapter 06 - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION › Subchapter D - INSTRUCTION › Section .0500 - DEFINITIONS › Section 06D .0503 - STATE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
(a) In
				  order to graduate and receive a high school diploma, public school students
				  shall meet the requirements of Paragraph (e) of this Rule and shall attain
				  passing scores on competency tests adopted by the SBE and administered by the
				  LEA. The passing score for the competency test, which is the same as
				  grade-level proficiency as set forth in Rule .0502 of this Subchapter, shall be
				  level III or higher.
(b) Students
				  who satisfy all state and local graduation requirements but who fail the
				  competency tests shall receive a certificate of achievement and transcript and
				  shall be allowed by the LEA to participate in graduation exercises.
(c) Special education students, other than
				  students who are following the occupational course of study in Paragraph
				  (e)(1)(D) of this Rule, may apply in writing to be exempted from taking the
				  competency tests. Before it approves the request, the LEA must assure that the
				  parents, or the child if aged 18 or older, understand that each student must
				  pass the competency tests to receive a high school diploma.
(d) Any student who has failed to pass the
				  competency tests by the end of the last school month of the year in which the
				  student's class graduates may receive additional remedial instruction and
				  continue to take the competency tests during regularly scheduled testing until
				  the student reaches maximum school age. Special education students who are
				  following the occupational course of study in Paragraph (e)(1)(D) of this Rule
				  shall not be required to pass the competency test or the exit exam referred to
				  in 16
				  NCAC 06D .0502(d)(2) in
				  order to graduate and receive a diploma.
(e) In addition to the requirements of
				  Paragraph (a) of this Rule, students must successfully complete 20 course units
				  in grades 9-12 as specified below.
(1)
				  Effective with the class entering ninth grade for the first time in the
				  2000-2001 school year, students shall select one of the following four courses
				  of study:
NOTE: All students are encouraged, but not required, to
					 include at least one elective course in arts education. Unless included as
					 career/technical education credits in the career preparation course of study,
					 courses in R.O.T.C. qualify for credit as electives in any of the courses of
					 study.
(A) career preparation, which
				  shall include:
(i) four credits in English
				  language arts, which shall be English I, II, III, and IV;
(ii) three credits in mathematics, one of
				  which shall be algebra I (except as limited by
				  G.S.
				  115C-81(b));
(iii) three credits in science, which shall
				  include biology, a physical science, and earth/environmental science;
(iv) three credits in social studies, which
				  shall be Civics and Economics, U.S. history, and World history:
(v) one credit in health and physical
				  education;
(vi) four credits in
				  career/technical education, which shall be in a career concentration or pathway
				  that leads to a specific career field and which shall include a second-level
				  (advanced) course; or four credits in one of the four disciplines in arts
				  education: theatre, music, visual arts, or dance; or four credits in
				  R.O.T.C.;
(vii) two elective
				  credits; and
(viii) other credits
				  designated by the LEA.