The Board of Education for the Kansas City Missouri School District establishes the following graduation policy and instructs the administration to develop all necessary procedures for proper implementation.

Requirements

Beginning with the freshman class of 2006-2007, a student must meet the following requirements in order to graduate from the Kansas City, Missouri School District, unless one (1) or more of the stated exceptions apply. The student must obtain the following credits, depending on the diploma sought:

* The 0.5 unit of credit of Personal Finance may be earned in social studies, practical arts or as an elective. If earned in social studies or practical arts, the required units of credit in that area are reduced by 0.5 and the elective total is increased by 0.5.

** General electives for the IB diploma include at least one (1) unit from the advanced course offerings, one (1) unit of Theory of Knowledge, one-half (½) unit of Speech, one-half (½) unit of Computer Applications and one-half (½) unit of College Admission Prep.

The student must also:

1. Pass proficiency exams concerning American History/African-American History, American Institutions, and the Missouri and the United States Constitutions.

2. Successfully complete a course of instruction, at least one (1) semester in length, on the institutions, branches and functions of the government of the state of Missouri, including local governments, the United States government and the electoral process.

Exceptions

1. Graduation requirements and grading scales for a student with a disability receiving special education services pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) may be determined according to the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP).

2. Students transferring from another accredited Missouri school as a junior or senior who cannot reasonably complete the district's requirements may be permitted to graduate based on the successful completion of a program of studies that would have met the graduation requirements at the school formerly attended, including the requirements of (2) and (3) above.

3. Eligible students who successfully complete the GED Option Program will be awarded a high school diploma.

Earning Credit

1. The superintendent or designee is directed to assign credit values for courses offered by or through the school district and to develop formulas and procedures for awarding credit to transfer students who transfer from a district that uses a different standard for awarding credit.

2. The Kansas City, Missouri School District recognizes a maximum of two (2) units of credit obtained through correspondence courses or courses delivered primarily through electronic media (such as satellite video, cable video or computer-driven or online courses) as long as they are earned through the University of Missouri Center for Distance Learning or from a school accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools or its equivalent regional accrediting agency.

3. Students may earn advanced-standing credit by successfully completing high-school level courses prior to entering the ninth grade. This advanced-standing credit may be counted toward meeting the subject-area requirements for graduation and for meeting the district requirements, but it will not be counted toward the minimum number of credits required by the State Board.

4. The district will waive one (1) unit of academic credit in communication arts, math, science or social studies, whichever is most appropriate, for students who successfully complete an eligible three-unit career/technical program.

5. Students may earn credit by other means as approved by the superintendent or designee and in accordance with law.

Diplomas

The Kansas City Missouri School District offers students three (3) high school diplomas. They are:

1. High School Diploma – A student may be awarded a High School Diploma from the Kansas City Missouri School District upon completion of a minimum of 24.0 units of credit from the designated program of studies.

2. College Preparatory High School Diploma – A student may be awarded a College Preparatory Diploma from the Kansas City Missouri School District upon completion of a minimum of 26.0 units of credit from the designated program of studies. In order to receive the College Preparatory Studies Certificate from the State of Missouri, a student must also meet the requirements and guidelines for the College Preparatory Studies Certificate as stated in the Graduation Requirements for Students in Missouri Public Schools.

3. International Baccalaureate High School Diploma – In order to receive the International Baccalaureate Diploma, a student must meet the requirements outlined in the International Baccalaureate Program Guidelines in addition to meeting the requirements of the High School Diploma. To be eligible for this diploma, the student must be enrolled in a school with an authorized International Baccalaureate program. Students must follow a four-year course of study that requires them to successfully complete five (5) mandatory areas of study that include English, History of the Americas, foreign language, math and science. Students choose their sixth area of study from fine arts, psychology or a second science.