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Policy IKF

Graduation Requirements

Awarding a high school diploma based on the accumulation of credits earned for passing courses has been a  longstanding practice in American high schools, but this system has not ensured that students meet high academic  standards and demonstrate proficiency. Consequently, many graduates leave high school unprepared to succeed in  postsecondary education and modern careers. 

To ensure that all students graduate from our schools with the knowledge, skills, and work habits they will need  in adult life, the South Portland School Department has adopted a proficiency-based system of teaching and  learning. The graduation requirements will ensure that each student provides evidence that they have achieved  expected learning standards, and acquired the knowledge, skills, and work habits that will prepare them for  postsecondary education and modern careers. 

The district’s proficiency-based system of teaching and learning requires our schools and educators to provide the  interventions, support systems, and personalized-learning pathways that each student needs to meet the expected  standards and graduate college and career ready. 

  1. Communicating Graduation Requirements 

  • To ensure that every student and family has the information and resources they need to appropriately plan and  sequence the student’s educational decisions, our schools, educators, and staff will clearly and consistently  communicate—prior to entering high school and throughout the student’s educational career—the graduation  standards and diploma requirements that must be met to earn a high school diploma. 

  • The Superintendent, through the high school principal or other designee, shall be responsible for ensuring that  accurate, up-to-date information concerning all graduation standards and diploma requirements are (1) readily  available to all incoming students and their families in the spring preceding the start of each school year, and (2)  published on the district and high school websites. A detailed guide to graduation standards, academic  expectations, and diploma requirements will be disseminated to all incoming ninth-grade students at the time of  course selection. This policy will also be referenced in each edition of the high school student handbook and on  the district and high school websites. 

  • As soon as it is practical and feasible, the Board expects the Superintendent or designee to inform all students and  their families of any modifications made to the district’s graduation requirements, which extends to all applicable  changes in relevant state law, rules, or regulations. 

  • The Board has approved the following schedule of minimum requirements for graduation, which encompasses  minimum graduation requirements specified by the state and described in relevant laws, rules, and regulations.  The Board is aware that current law and regulations are subject to change.

  1. Academic Requirements for Graduation 

For the South Portland High School classes of 2020 -2023, the graduation requirements are: 

  • Satisfactory completion of a minimum of twenty four (24) credits. 

  • Satisfactory completion of four (4) credits of English. 

  • Satisfactory completion of three (3) credits of social studies (to be provided in separate courses or  integrated study programs - American History, Government, Civics and Personal Finance) 

  • Satisfactory completion of one (1) credit of physical education and one-half (.5) credit of health. 

  • Satisfactory completion of three (3) credits of science including at least one year of lab study. 

  • Satisfactory completion of three (3) credits of mathematics. 

  • Satisfactory completion of one (1) credit of fine arts. 

  • Satisfactory completion of one-half (.5) credit of Career & College Exploration, JMG or Junior/Senior  Seminar. 

  • Demonstrated competency in computer literacy. 

  • Satisfactory participation in the Maine High School Assessment for third year students per  guidelines as provided by the Maine Department of Education, including exceptions provided for through  MDOE allowable exemptions. 

  • All exceptions to these requirements must be pre-approved by the Principal 

  • Notwithstanding the foregoing:  

    • All students at South Portland must carry six credit bearing courses each semester, unless waived by the  principal due to extenuating circumstances. 

    • A student may meet these requirements through a post-secondary course, a State-approved adult  education course, a State-approved summer school program, or an online course approved by the school  principal in advance of registration. The student may participate in the next regular graduation ceremony  following successful completion of the requirements. 

    • Students who experience education disruption, as defined in section 5001-A, subsection 4, paragraph F,  who successfully demonstrate achievement of the content standards of the system of learning results in  addition to any other diploma requirements applicable to secondary school students as set forth in their school work recognition plans as defined in section 5161, subsection 6 must, with the approval of the  commissioner, be awarded a Department of Education diploma as defined in section 5161, subsection 2. 

    • A student who leaves South Portland High School to attend an accredited, degree-granting institution of  higher education may upon satisfactory completion of the freshman year be awarded a high school  diploma, provided that the student has notified the principal at the time of the early admission. 

    • The South Portland High School administration, faculty, and staff will develop and apply a set of  graduation standards and performance indicators that align with the content-area standards of the Maine  Learning Standards. 

  • All students will demonstrate that they have achieved proficiency in the cross-curricular Guiding  Principles of the Maine Learning Standards. 

The Guiding Principles state that each Maine student must leave school as: 

  • A clear and effective communicator 

  • A self-directed and lifelong learner 

  • A creative and practical problem solver 

  • A responsible and involved citizen 

  • An integrative and informed thinker 

The South Portland High School administration, faculty, and staff will develop and apply a set of  graduation standards and performance indicators that align with the cross-curricular standards of the  Guiding Principles of the Maine Learning Standards. 

  • Our structure will allow our students to distinguish themselves through academic rigor. Students who  show proficiency on the Learning Targets beyond the guaranteed and viable curriculum will have an  opportunity to earn recognition through endorsements. 

  • While most students will satisfy graduation requirements over the course of a four-year academic  program, students may also satisfy South Portland High School’s graduation requirements during a period  of time that is either accelerated or lengthened, based on their distinct learning needs. If a student is  accelerating or lengthening their academic program, they are expected to develop a personal learning plan  with assistance from counselors, teachers, and/or an administrator that allows them to meet the expected  proficiency targets at the pace and with the support they need. 

  1. Multiple Pathways 

  • South Portland High School offers all students multiple learning options that allow students to  demonstrate proficiency on expected learning standards, earn academic credit, and satisfy graduation  requirements. South Portland High School also encourages its students to explore a broad range of  learning experiences, including outside-of-school options.  

  • Prior to pursuing outside-of-school learning options, students must describe their learning experiences in a  Personal Learning Plan, including how the experience satisfies both graduation requirements and expected  cross-curricular and content-area standards. The plan will be reviewed and approved by guidance and the  department chair. Appeals will be brought to the principal. Decisions of the Principal shall be final. 

  • Learning options may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

    • Academic courses offered by the school 

    • Dual enrollment or early college courses

    • Career and technical education programming 

    • Online or blended learning options 

    • Alternative or at-risk programming 

    • Apprenticeships, internships, field work, or exchange experiences 

    • Independent studies or long-term projects 

    • Adult education 

  1. Transfer Students 

For students who transfer to South Portland High School from another state, country, school, program, or  home-schooling situation, including educational programs that are not aligned with South Portland High  School’s cross-curricular and content-area graduation standards, Guidance and the Principal shall evaluate  the value of the student’s prior educational experiences and determine to what degree the student has met  the school’s graduation requirements. After enrolling in South Portland High School, these students will  need to satisfy all assessment, proficiency, and graduation requirements in the appropriate subject areas,  as determined by guidance and the Principal. The decision of the Principal shall be final. The  Superintendent will ultimately determine whether these students are eligible to receive a diploma.  

  1. Home-Schooled Students 

For home-schooled students wishing to receive a diploma from South Portland High School, the Principal  shall evaluate the value of the student’s prior educational experiences and determine to what degree the  student has met the school’s graduation requirements. After enrolling in South Portland High School,  these students will need to satisfy all assessment, proficiency, and graduation requirements in the  appropriate subject areas, as determined by Guidance and the Principal. The decision of the Principal shall  be final. A homeschooled student must have attended South Portland High School for a minimum of two  (2) years or four (4) semesters to be eligible for a diploma.

  1. Students Receiving Special-Education Services 

Students who successfully meet South Portland High School’s cross-curricular and content-area  graduation standards, as specified in the goals and objectives of their Individualized Education Plans  (IEP), will be awarded diplomas.  

  1. Students Receiving ELL Services 

Students who successfully meet South Portland High School’s cross-curricular and content-area  graduation standards, as specified in their personal learning plan, will be awarded diplomas. 

  1. Delayed Awarding of Diplomas 

If a student leaves high school to attend an accredited, degree-granting institution of higher education, the  student may, upon satisfactory completion of the freshman year, be awarded a high school diploma,  provided that the student has notified the Principal at the time of the early admission. 

  1. Extended Study

Students are eligible for extended years of study to complete the school’s graduation requirements if they  have not reached the age of 20. Students eligible for extended years of study may be referred to adult  education or other programs and resources. 

  1. Participation in Graduation Ceremony 

  • Participation in the graduation ceremony of South Portland High School will be limited to those members  of the senior class who have completed all Board requirements as stated in this policy.  

  • The South Portland High School Principal will consider the following exception for students in the current  graduation cohort.  

  • Students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) who have met all graduation requirements but  who are not being granted a diploma and will be maintaining enrollment at South Portland High  School in order to continue working toward IEP goals.  

  • Students may only participate in one South Portland High School graduation ceremony.  

Legal Reference 

20-A M.R.S.A. § 4722-A (as revised) Proficiency-Based Diploma Standards 

Ch. 127 § 7 (Me. Dept. of Ed. Rule) (as revised) 

Cross References 

IGBI: LAU Plan  

IK: Assessment of Student Learning 

IKA: Grading and Reporting System 

IKC: Transcripts 

IHCDA: Dual Enrollment and Early College 

IKD: Academic Recognition 

IKE: Promotion, Retention, and Acceleration 

IKFF: Multiple Pathways 

Approved: December 8, 2014 

Revised: July 13, 2015 

Revised: March 11, 2019 

Revised: November 13, 2019

*Please excuse any formatting errors.