MJUSD
DIVISION 6000
INSTRUCTION
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
The following graduation requirements will be in effect when a six period day is implemented.
High School Graduation Requirements
Required Subjects Required Units
English............................................................................................................................... 40
Social Studies
World Geography........................................................................................................... 5
World History and Cultures............................................................................................ 10
U.S. History and Geography.......................................................................................... 10
American Government and Civics.................................................................................... 5
Economics..................................................................................................................... 5
Mathematics....................................................................................................................... 20
Algebra 1..................................................................................................................... 10
Science
Physical Science........................................................................................................... 10
Biological Science......................................................................................................... 10
Physical Education.............................................................................................................. 20
Fine Arts (art, music, drama or foreign language)................................................................. 10
Health and First Aid (see #2)................................................................................................ 5
Electives............................................................................................................................ 60
Total Units Required for Graduation................................................................................. 220
Clarifications:
1. Five (5) units of credit are earned for the successful completion of a course that meets the equivalent of five (5) regular periods per week for one (1) semester during the regular school year or sixty (60) clock hours during summer school.
2. The Health and First Aid curriculum must include all provisions listed in Education Code 51202: Instruction in Personal and Public Health and Safety; and in Education Code 51303: Instruction on Alcohol, Narcotics and Restricted Dangerous Drugs.
3. A student completing the complete year of AFJROTC 1 may count those ten (10) units of credit as meeting the ten (10) of twenty (20) units required of Physical Education and required for graduation.
4. Ten (10) units of Physical Education must be completed in regular PE classes. The remaining units may be completed through Weight Training classes, regular PE classes, or alternative PE options. AFJROTC 1 and 2 can count towards the 20 units of PE and meet the PE requirement.
5. Office Practice/Teacher Aide/Library Aide credit will be limited to twenty (20) units, with no more than ten (10) units earned per year.
6. Courses completed with a grade of “C-” or higher in both semesters may not be repeated to raise the student’s GPA.
7. A student repeating the senior year will remain under the previous year’s graduation requirements until the end of the first semester of the repeating year. At the beginning of the second semester of the repeating year, any and all changes in graduation requirements will be in effect.
8. Students not meeting the graduation requirements above will not participate in graduation activities nor receive a high school diploma. It is the Board’s intent that parents be given early notification if their student is at risk of not meeting these requirements.
9. If a student can provide written documentation that he/she will receive a diploma from another school district, that student will be allowed to participate in the graduation activities at the MJUSD high school where they are enrolled.
10. Any exception to this policy will be made by appeal to the Board of Trustees.
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
The following graduation requirements will be in effect when a seven period day is implemented.
High School Graduation Requirements
Required Subjects Required Units
English............................................................................................................................... 40
Social Studies
World Geography........................................................................................................... 5
World History and Cultures............................................................................................ 10
U.S. History and Geography.......................................................................................... 10
American Government and Civics.................................................................................... 5
Economics..................................................................................................................... 5
Mathematics....................................................................................................................... 20
Algebra 1..................................................................................................................... 10
Science
Physical Science........................................................................................................... 10
Biological Science......................................................................................................... 10
Physical Education.............................................................................................................. 20
Fine Arts (art, music, drama or foreign language)................................................................. 10
Health and First Aid (see #2)................................................................................................ 5
Electives........................................................................................................................... 100
Total Units Required for Graduation................................................................................. 260
Clarifications:
1. Five (5) units of credit are earned for the successful completion of a course that meets the equivalent of five (5) regular periods per week for one (1) semester during the regular school year or sixty (60) clock hours during summer school.
2. The Health and First Aid curriculum must include all provisions listed in Education Code 51202: Instruction in Personal and Public Health and Safety; and in Education Code 51303: Instruction on Alcohol, Narcotics and Restricted Dangerous Drugs.
3. A student completing the complete year of AFJROTC 1 may count those ten (10) units of credit as meeting the ten (10) of twenty (20) units required of Physical Education and required for graduation.
4. Ten (10) units of Physical Education must be completed in regular PE classes. The remaining units may be completed through Weight Training classes, regular PE classes, or alternative PE options. AFJROTC 1 and 2 can count towards the 20 units of PE and meet the PE requirement.
5. Office Practice/Teacher Aide/Library Aide credit will be limited to twenty (20) units, with no more than ten (10) units earned per year.
6. Courses completed with a grade of “C-” or higher in both semesters may not be repeated to raise the student’s GPA.
7. A student repeating the senior year will remain under the previous year’s graduation requirements until the end of the first semester of the repeating year. At the beginning of the second semester of the repeating year, any and all changes in graduation requirements will be in effect.
8. Students not meeting the graduation requirements above will not participate in graduation activities nor receive a high school diploma. It is the Board’s intent that parents be given early notification if their student is at risk of not meeting these requirements.
9. If a student can provide written documentation that he/she will receive a diploma from another school district, that student will be allowed to participate in the graduation activities at the MJUSD high school where they are enrolled.
10. As a seven period day is implemented, the credits required for graduation will be phased in incrementally. For the first year of implementation the senior class credits required for graduation will be 230 (electives 65), for the second year of implementation the senior class credits required will be 240 (electives 75), for the third year of implementation the senior class credits required will be 250 (electives 85), and for the fourth year of implementation the senior class and thereafter, the credits required will be 260 (electives 100).
11. Any exception to this policy will be made by appeal to the Board of Trustees.
The Superintendent or designee shall develop procedures for tracking each student’s progress in meeting all District requirements for graduation.
Exemptions and Waivers
A foster youth, homeless student, former juvenile court school student, or child of a military family who transfers into the district any time after completing his/her second year of high school shall be required to complete all graduation requirements specified in Education Code 51225.3 but shall be exempt from any additional district-adopted graduation requirements, unless the Superintendent or designee makes a finding that the student is reasonably able to complete the requirements in time to graduate by the end of his/her fourth year of high school. Within 30 days of the transfer, any such student shall be notified of the availability of the exemption and whether he/she qualifies for it. (Education Code 51225.1)
(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)
(cf. 5145.6 - Parental Notifications)
(cf. 6173 - Education for Homeless Children)
(cf. 6173.1 - Education for Foster Youth)
(cf. 6173.2 - Education of Children of Military Families)
(cf. 6173.3 - Education for Juvenile Court School Students)
Retroactive Diplomas
Any student who completed grade 12 in the 2003-04 through 2014-15 school year and met all applicable graduation requirements other than the passage of the high school exit examination shall be granted a high school diploma. (Education Code 51413)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
47612 Enrollment in charter school
48200 Compulsory attendance
48412 Certificate of proficiency
48430 Continuation education schools and classes
48645.5 Acceptance of coursework
48980 Required notification at beginning of term
49701 Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
51224 Skills and knowledge required for adult life
51224.5 Algebra instruction
51225.1 Exemption from district graduation requirements
51225.2 Pupil in foster care defined; acceptance of coursework, credits, retaking of course
51225.3 High school graduation
51225.35 Mathematics course requirements; computer science
51225.36 Instruction in sexual harassment and violence; districts that require health education for graduation
51225.5 Honorary diplomas; foreign exchange students
51225.6 Compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation
51228 Graduation requirements
51240-51246 Exemptions from requirements
51250-51251 Assistance to military dependents
51410-51413 Diplomas
51420-51427 High school equivalency certificates
51430 Retroactive high school diplomas
51440 Retroactive high school diplomas
51450-51455 Golden State Seal Merit Diploma
51745 Independent study restrictions
56390-56392 Recognition for educational achievement, special education
66204 Certification of high school courses as meeting university admissions criteria
67386 Student safety; affirmative consent standard
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
1600-1651 Graduation of students from grade 12 and credit toward graduation
4600-4687 Uniform complaint procedures
COURT DECISIONS
O'Connell v. Superior Court (Valenzuela), (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1452
Management Resources:
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Department of Education, High School: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/hs
University of California, List of Approved a-g Courses: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/requirements
Governing Board Adoption 8/11/21