Graduation
requirements
State sets minimum graduation
standards
Granite School
District must abide by the graduation requirements set first by the state
legislature and then implemented in state board rule; these include additional
math, science and language arts credits for graduates in the year 2011. In
addition, local boards of education may set standards for districts beyond those
set by the state. Granite’s Board of Education has, over the years,
increased the state’s semester requirements for 9th grade geography
and 7th grade earth systems from one semester each to one year each.
Graduation requirements can be found
online.
Granite District has made every effort to introduce for
students as much flexibility into those requirements as is allowable by law.
With the increase in required math, science and language arts credits, the state
provided an approved list of applied, advanced and supplemental courses that
could count toward meeting those new graduation requirements; districts have
been given latitude to accept any or none of those courses. Our Granite
District Board of Education, in an effort to provide as many options in course
choices that meet the credit requirements as the law will allow, approved the
entire list provided by the state and will continue to add to those options
whenever the Utah State Office of Education adds to its approved list.
In addition to increasing the number of
course credits required for graduation, the legislature has prescribed specific
courses that must be taken by every student to graduate: computer technology,
general financial literacy, U.S. government and citizenship. Granite
District is aware that not all students desire to take these and other
particular courses or may already consider themselves proficient in the course
content. While neither districts nor individual schools may waive state
graduation requirements, Granite students do have options for meeting those
graduation requirements beyond taking the class. State law currently
allows for earning course credit by taking state-approved competency assessments
- most of which have been created by Granite District - in the following areas:
Algebra 1, Biology, Computer Technology, Earth Systems Science, Fitness for
Life, General Financial Literacy, Geography for Life, U.S. Government &
Citizenship, World Languages. Students who would like to “test out” of
taking a course may visit Granite District’s
website
for information about the process. Also, district policy on acquiring
graduation credits extends to earning those credits online through such
accredited sources as the
Electronic High School,
thus providing students with more course options in a school day schedule.
Students who choose to participate in the International
Baccalaureate Programme commit to requirements beyond those required for high
school graduation in Utah. They commit to additional academic rigor in
anticipation of receiving a diploma that is recognized by some colleges and
universities in the world as enhanced, value added. The program is
prescriptive and requires school compliance with both student course and teacher
training requirements to maintain affiliation with the international
organization; Granite District has no latitude or flexibility within those
program standards.
Asked at Skyline High School community meeting, January 16,
2008
Asked at Taylorsville High School community meeting, January
22,
2008
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P.E. and related credit
requirements
The state core curriculum which must be taught in every Utah school is
determined by the Utah State Office of Education. At the elementary level, the
physical education curriculum for each grade includes four content areas:
fitness, motor skills development, social and emotional development, and
knowledge. Schools must spend a minimum of ninety minutes (exclusive of recess
and other free time) in structured P.E. activities per week to meet the state
requirement.
Effective this year, elementary schools also have the latitude, assuming
Community Council and staff support, to designate up to one half of a teacher
allocation for a P.E. specialist to serve the school.
At the secondary level, the USOE mandate for grades 9-12 is 1.5 units of P.E.
credit - generally a semester each of Participation Skills, Fitness for Life,
and a maximum of one semester of Individual Lifetime Activities, Team Sports or
Athletic Participation. For each course, a specific academic curriculum is
prescribed. Participation in a dance class can generate either P.E. or fine arts
credit depending on the qualifications of the teacher teaching the class.
Whether elementary or secondary, the desired outcome of all physical education
experiences is that every student gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes that
will promote physical activity as part of everyday life.
Asked at Taylorsville High School community meeting, January
22,
2008
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