Academic Endorsements
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND ENDORSEMENTS
Standard Diploma
The 23 units required for graduation shall include 15 required units and 8
elective units; the elective units can be earned at technical colleges as
provided in Standard 2.103.35.
In addition to completing a minimum of 23 Carnegie units of credit, students
must pass the English language arts and mathematics portions of the
Graduation Exit Examination for the 21st Century (GEE) and either the
science or social studies portions of GEE to earn a standard high school
diploma.
Academic Endorsement
Students meeting the requirements for a standard diploma, and satisfying the
following performance indicators shall be eligible for an academic
endorsement to a standard diploma:
1. Students shall meet the current course requirements for the Tuition
Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Opportunity Award.
2. Students shall complete one additional Carnegie unit in mathematics,
science, or social studies.
3. Students shall pass all four components of the GEE with a score of Basic or
above, or one of the following combinations of scores with the English
Language Arts score at Basic or above:
· One Approaching Basic, 1 Mastery or Advanced, Basic or above in
the remaining two
· Two Approaching Basic, 2 Mastery or above.
4. Students shall complete one of the following requirements:
· Senior Project- The requirements for the senior project will be set forth by
St. Tammany Parish School Board in accordance with BESE policy.
· One Carnegie unit in an AP course with a score of 3 or higher on the
AP exam- A student must complete the AP course and test prior to the senior
year for the student to meet this criteria for an academic endorsement.
· One Carnegie unit in an IB course with a score of 4 or higher on the IB
exam
· Three college hours of non-remedial, articulated credit in mathematics,
social studies, science, foreign language, or English language arts.
5. Students shall meet the current minimum grade-point average requirement
for the TOPS Opportunity Award.
6. Students shall achieve an ACT Composite Score of 23.
Career/Technical Endorsement
Students meeting the requirements for a standard diploma and satisfying the
following performance indicators shall be eligible for a career/technical
endorsement to a standard diploma:
1. Students shall meet the current course requirements for the Tuition
Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Opportunity Award or the TOPS
Tech Award.
2. Students shall pass the English language arts, mathematics, science, and
social studies components of the GEE at the Approaching Basic level or
above.
3. Students shall complete a minimum of ninety work hours of work-based
learning experience (as defined in the SDE Diploma Endorsement
Guidebook) and complete one of the following requirements:
· Industry-based certification from the list of industry-based certifications
approved by BESE
· Three college credits in a Career/Technical area that articulate to a
postsecondary institution, either by actually obtaining the credits and/or being
waived from having to take such hours.
Industry-based certification is a portable, recognized credential (tangible
evidence) that an individual has successfully demonstrated skill competencies
on a core set of content and performance standards in a specific set of workrelated
tasks, single occupational area, or a cluster of related occupational
areas.
Articulated credit/dual enrollment is a program of study allowing high school
students to earn credits toward a high school diploma and a postsecondary
degree or certification simultaneously. Written agreements formalize
programs of study, the transfer of academic and vocational credits among
institutions, and the role of secondary and post-secondary instructors.
4. Students shall meet the current minimum grade-point average requirement
for the TOPS Opportunity Award or the TOPS Tech Award.
5. Students shall achieve the current minimum ACT Composite Score (or
SAT Equivalent) for the TOPS Opportunity Award or the TOPS Tech Award. |
