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Policy IKF
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
