§2319. High School Graduation Requirements

A. Standard Diploma

1. The 23 units required for graduation shall include 15 required units and 8 elective units; the elective units can be earned at technical colleges as provided in §2389.

B. In addition to completing a minimum of 23 Carnegie credits, students must pass the English language arts and mathematics components of the GEE and either the science or social studies portions of the GEE to earn a standard high school diploma. For students with disabilities who have passed two of the three required components of the GEE and have exhausted all opportunities available through the end of the 12th grade to pass the remaining required GEE component, that GEE component may be waived by the Superintendent of Education if the Department of Education determines the student's disability significantly impacts their ability to pass the final required GEE component

1. The English language arts and mathematics components of GEE 21 shall first be administered to students in the 10th grade.

2. The science and social studies components of the graduation test shall first be administered to students in the 11th grade.

3. Remediation and retake opportunities will be provided for students that do not pass the test. Students shall be offered 50 hours of remediation each year in each content area they do not pass. Refer to Bulletin 1566―Guidelines for Pupil Progression, and the addendum to Bulletin 1566―Regulations for the Implementation of Remedial Education Programs Related to the LEAP/CRT Program, Regular School Year.

4. Students may apply a maximum of two Carnegie units of elective credit toward high school graduation by successfully completing specially designed courses for remediation.

a. A maximum of one Carnegie unit of elective credit may be applied toward meeting high school graduation requirements by an eighth grade student who has scored at the Unsatisfactory achievement level on either the English language arts and/or the mathematics component(s) of the eighth grade LEAP 21 provided the student:

i. successfully completed specially designed elective(s) for LEAP 21 remediation;

ii. scored at or above the basic achievement level on those component(s) of the eighth grade LEAP 21 for which the student previously scored at the Unsatisfactory achievement level.

C. Prior to or upon the student's entering the tenth grade, all LEAs shall notify each student and his/her parents or guardians of the requirement of passing GEE 21.

1. Upon their entering a school system, students transferring to any high school of an LEA shall be notified by that system of the requirement of passing GEE 21.

D. The Certificate of Achievement is an exit document issued to a student with a disability after he or she has achieved certain competencies and has met certain conditions. Refer to Bulletin 1706―Regulations for the Implementation of the Children with Exceptionalities Act.

E. Minimum Course Requirements for High School Graduation

English	4 units
Shall be English I, II, and III, in consecutive order; and English IV or Business English.
Mathematics	3 units
(Effective for incoming freshmen 2005-2006 and beyond.) All students must complete one of the following: · Algebra I (1 unit) or · Algebra I-Pt. 1 and Algebra I-Pt. 2 (2 units) or · Integrated Mathematics I (1 unit) The remaining unit(s) shall come from the following: Integrated Mathematics II, Integrated Mathematics III, Geometry, Algebra II, Financial Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics I, Advanced Mathematics II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, and Discrete Mathematics. (Effective for incoming freshmen 1997-98 through 2004-2005) Shall be selected from the following courses and may include a maximum of 2 entry level courses (designated by E): Introductory Algebra/Geometry (E), Algebra I-Part 1 (E), Algebra I-Part 2, Integrated Mathematics I (E), Integrated Mathematics II, Integrated Mathematics III, Applied Mathematics I (E), Applied Mathematics II, Applied Mathematics III, Algebra I (E), Geometry, Algebra II, Financial Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics I, Advanced Mathematics II, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, and Discrete Mathematics
Science	3 units
Shall be the following: 1 unit of Biology 1 unit from the following physical science cluster: Physical Science, Integrated Science, Chemistry I, Physics I, Physics of Technology I 1 unit from the following courses: Aerospace Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Physics II, Physics of Technology II, Agriscience II, an additional course from the physical science cluster, or a locally initiated science elective. · Students may not take both Integrated Science and Physical Science · Agriscience I is a prerequisite for Agriscience II and is an elective course.
Social Studies	3 units
Shall be American History, one-half unit of Civics or one unit of AP American Government, one-half unit of Free Enterprise; and one of the following: World History, World Geography, Western Civilization, or AP European History
Health Education	1/2 unit
Physical Education	1 1/2 units
Shall be Physical Education I and Physical Education II, or Adapted Physical Education for eligible special education students. A maximum of four units of Physical Education may be used toward graduation. NOTE: The substitution of JROTC is permissible.
Electives	8 units
TOTAL	23 units

F. High School Area of Concentration

1. All high schools shall provide students the opportunity to complete an area of concentration with an academic focus and/or a career focus.

a. To complete an academic area of concentration, students shall meet the current course requirements for the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Opportunity Award plus one additional Carnegie unit in mathematics, science, or social studies.

b. To complete a career area of concentration, students shall meet the minimum requirements for graduation including four elective primary credits in the area of concentration and two related elective credits, including one computer/technology course. The following computer/technology courses can be used to meet this requirement.

Course	Credit
Computer/Technology Literacy	1
Computer Applications or Business Computer Applications	1
Computer Architecture	1
Computer Science I, II	1 each
Computer Systems and Networking I, II	1 each
Desktop Publishing	1
Digital Graphics & Animation	1/2
Multimedia Presentations	1/2 or 1
Web Mastering or Web Design	1/2
Independent Study in Technology Applications	1
Word Processing	1
Telecommunications	1/2
Introduction to Business Computer Applications	1
Technology Education Computer Applications	1
Advanced Technical Drafting	1
Computer Electronics I, II	1 each
Database Programming with PL/SQL	1
Java Programming	1
Database Design and Programming	1/2

G. Academic Endorsement

1. Graduating seniors in 2005 and thereafter who meet the requirements for a standard diploma and satisfy the following performance indicators shall be eligible for an academic endorsement to the standard diploma.

a. Students shall complete the academic area of concentration.

b. Students shall pass all four components of GEE 21 with a score of basic or above, or one of the following combinations of scores with the English language arts score at basic or above:

i. one approaching basic, one mastery or advanced, basic or above in the remaining two; or

ii. two approaching basic, two mastery or above.

c. Students shall complete one of the following requirements:

i. senior project;

ii. one carnegie unit in an AP course with a score of three or higher on the AP exam;

iii. one carnegie unit in an IB course with a score of four or higher on the IB exam; or

iv. three college hours of non-remedial, articulated credit in mathematics, social studies, science, foreign language, or English language arts.

d. Students shall meet the current minimum grade-point average requirement for the TOPS Opportunity Award.

e. Students shall achieve an ACT Composite Score of at least 23.

H. Career/Technical Endorsement

1. Graduating seniors in 2005 and thereafter who meet the requirements for a standard diploma and satisfy the following performance indicators shall be eligible for a career/technical endorsement to the standard diploma.

a. Students shall meet the current course requirements for the TOPS Opportunity Award or the TOPS Tech Award.

b. Students shall complete the career area of concentration.

c. Students shall pass the English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies components of the GEE 21 at the Approaching Basic level or above.

d. Students shall complete a minimum of 90 work hours of work-based learning experience (as defined in the DOE Diploma Endorsement Guidebook) and complete one of the following requirements:

i. industry-based certification from the list of industry-based certifications approved by BESE; or

ii. three college hours in a career/technical area that articulate to a postsecondary institution, either by actually obtaining the credits and/or being waived from having to take such hours.

e. Students shall meet the current minimum grade-point average requirement for the TOPS Opportunity Award or the TOPS Tech Award.

f. Students shall achieve the current minimum ACT Composite Score (or SAT Equivalent) for the TOPS Opportunity Award or the TOPS Tech Award.

I. A Louisiana state high school diploma cannot be denied to a student who meets the state minimum high school graduation requirements; however, in those instances in which BESE authorizes an LEA to impose more stringent academic requirements, a school system diploma may be denied.

J. Each school shall follow established procedures for special requirements for high school graduation to allow each to address individual differences of all students.