Wenatchee High School Guidance and Counseling Center

Student/Parent

Handbook

Graduation Requirements

And

Certificate of Academic Achievement

December 2007

Table of Contents

           Topic                                                                            Page

General Graduation Requirements                                              1

           Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA)

           Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA)

CAA Options flowchart                                                               2

CAA Options explained

           College Admission and AP Test Scores                            3

           WASL-Grades Comparison                                              4

           Collection of Evidence                                                     5

Special Circumstances, Waivers and Transfer Students               6

2007-08 Calendar of Important Dates                                         7

                                                                                                                                                     Page 1

Washington State Graduation Requirements

Beginning with the class of 2008, students must meet all local and state requirements in order to earn a high school diploma. The requirements for participation in the graduation ceremony is a local school board decision. Students and parents should understand both requirements. 

           Diploma requirements

• Meet local and state credit requirements.
• Complete a culminating project (defined by local school districts)
• Complete a “High School and Beyond Plan” (defined by local school districts)
• Meet the state standards in reading and writing (see below)
• Either of these two options
• Meet the state standard in mathematics (see below)
• Earn one mathematics credit after 11th grade(two credits for class of 2009 and beyond)  and take the appropriate mathematics assessment at least once per year until graduation

**Students who meet state standards in reading, writing and mathematics will also earn a Certificate of Academic Achievement or Certificate of Individual Achievement(see below). These certificates tell families, schools, businesses and colleges that an individual student has mastered a minimum set of reading, writing and math skills by graduation. Students in the graduating classes of 2008-2012 can still earn a high school diploma without earning a certificate.

Note:  A student’s graduation requirements are determined by the date they start ninth grade.  Graduation requirements remain the same for the student regardless of whether they graduate early or need more than four years to graduate.

Meeting state standards

Meeting state standards in any of the subject areas may be accomplished by earning an acceptable score for that subject on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). Students have other options for demonstrating that they have met state standards (see page 2).

Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) or Certificate of Individual Achievement(CIA)

• For the graduating classes of 2008-2012, the CAA or CIA is earned by students who meet state standards in reading, writing and mathematics.
• For the graduating classes of 2013 and beyond, the CAA is earned by students who meet state standards in reading, writing, mathematics, and science.
• The CIA is available for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) who are unable to take the High School WASL (with or without accommodations). Any testing accommodations used must be consistent with the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Page 2

The chart below describes additional options for students to demonstrate that they have met state standards in one or more subject areas. For additional details, refer to the pages following the chart

Page 3

College Admission and AP Test Scores

What is it?

Students may use their reading, writing, or mathematics scores on the SAT or ACT to show they have key knowledge and skills. In addition, students who earn a score of three or higher on specified Advanced Placement (AP) tests may use these scores.

What test scores do students need to earn? Students must meet or exceed one of the following scores:

              Mathematics                  Reading                         Writing

              PSAT: 47                        SAT: 350                         SAT: 380

              SAT: 470                        ACT: 13                          ACT: to be determined

              ACT: 19

**PSAT mathematics scores earned prior to Sept. 1, 2008 may also be used.

 What AP tests count? (students must earn a score of three or higher)

              Mathematics: Calculus or statistics

              Writing: English language and composition

              Reading: English literature and composition, macroeconomics, microeconomics, psychology, United States history, world history, United States government                    and politics, or comparative government and politics.

How do I access this option? Contact your school about how to submit a score for one of these tests. If you plan to take one of these exams specifically for the purpose of meeting state standards in one or more subject areas, you may qualify for a one-time fee waiver. Contact your school prior to registering for the exam if you wish to submit a fee waiver  Contact your school for registration information or you can get more information about the SAT online at www.collegeboard.com or the ACT at www.actstudent.org

What is the timeline for this option? The SAT and ACT are given nearly every month of the school year and can be repeated as many times as you wish. It normally takes approximately three weeks to receive the results.

Page 4

WASL/Grades Comparison

What is it?

A student's grades in either mathematics or English courses are compared to the grades of other students who took the same courses AND passed the WASL. This option may be used to meet the mathematics, reading or writing standard.

Who is eligible to use this option?

This option is available to students in their senior year who have a 3.2 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or higher (across all courses).

How does it work? At the request of the student, the school district identifies a group of students who took, for example, the same mathematics courses as the student and also passed the WASL mathematics test. The group’s GPA earned in these courses is then calculated and compared to the applicant student’s GPA in the same courses.

How does a student meet the WASL/Grades Comparison requirement? If the applicant student’s GPA in the courses meets or exceeds the overall grade-point average earned by the group of students who took the same courses and passed the WASL, the student meets the standard.

Where can I get more information?

Contact your school for more information.

What is the timeline for this option? The grades comparison may be done after grades are placed on the transcript. For semester schools this may be mid-year or at the end of the year. Contact your school for more information about this option.

Page 5

Collection of Evidence

What is it?

Students compile a set of classroom work samples with the help of a teacher. This option may be used for meeting the mathematics, reading and/or writing standard.

How does it work? Students use subject-specific classroom work samples developed under a teacher’s supervision. Students must follow state guidelines for Collections. The guidelines specify the number of work samples that must be completed and the skills students must show through those work samples.

How long does it take? The time will vary depending upon a number of factors. Most students will take approximately one entire semester, working during one class period, to complete a collection.

How does a student meet the requirement? Each student collection is scored at the state level by a panel of educators selected and trained by the state. Collections must show a student has the skills that are tested on the WASL.

How does a student access this option For the 2007-2008 school year, the deadlines for submitting collections are February 15, 2008 and June 16, 2008. There is a mandatory registration process in order to submit a collection, by December 15, 2007 for the February 15 submission and April 15, 2008 for the June 16 submission. Contact your school for more information about how to register for this option.

How do students find out the results of their Collection? The school district will be notified about 60 days after the collections are submitted. This means that students who submit a collection in June will not find out if they have met standard using this option until late summer.

Page 6

Transfer student waivers, Special Circumstances Appeals

Transfer student waivers (from out-of-state or out-of-country):

Students who transfer from out-of-state are eligible to receive a public school diploma without passing the High School Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) or an approved alternative if they passed their previous state’s high school exit exam or the high school exam used to meet federal No Child Left Behind testing requirements. Transfer students in the class of 2008-2012 are required to meet the state reading and writing requirements, but not mathematics in order to earn a diploma. Contact your school to see which exams from previous states qualify and for the form that needs to be submitted

Out-of-state transfer students and transfer students from out-of-country also have immediate access (without first having taken the WASL) to the state’s Certificate of Academic Achievement Options to show their skills. The CAA option that transfer students may find useful allows students to submit reading, writing and mathematics scores from the SAT and ACT, and mathematics scores from the PSAT until August 2008.

Special, Unavoidable Circumstance Appeals:

Students in their senior year who have been unable to demonstrate their skills and knowledge on the High School WASL or another assessment because of special, unavoidable circumstances may appeal to a High School Certificate Review Board. Examples of “special, unavoidable circumstances” include the following:

(a) Not being able to take or complete an assessment because of:

(i) The death of a parent, guardian, sibling or grandparent;

(ii) An unexpected and severe medical condition. The condition must be documented by a medical professional and included with the application; or

(iii) Another unavoidable event of a similarly compelling magnitude that reasonably prevented the student from sitting for or completing the assessment.

(b) A major irregularity in the administration of the assessment;

(c) Loss of the assessment material;

(d) Failure to receive an accommodation during administration of the assessment that was

documented in the student's individualized education program that is required in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or in a plan required in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;

(e) For students enrolled in the state transitional bilingual instructional program, failure to receive an accommodation during the administration of the assessment that was scheduled to be provided by the school district; or

(f) Students who transfer from an out-of-state or out-of-country school to a Washington public school in the twelfth grade year after March 1.

Contact your school if you believe that you qualify for one of these waivers or appeals