5460 - GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Mauston High School Diploma—28 Credits

Students enrolled in Mauston High School will receive an official Mauston Diploma after the successful completion of twenty-eight (28) credits including the following:

Total - 28 Credits**

*The Mauston Board of Education shall award a pupil one (1) math and/or one (1) science credit upon the successful completion of courses that meet the requirements outlined in WI Act 63 (2013).

**When a student is enrolled in an alternative education option, there may be extreme circumstances that warrant the District’s consideration and approval of a high school diploma aligned with the Wisconsin High School Graduation Standards and criteria for promotion in 118.33, Wis. Stat. and WI Act 63 (2013).

In order to be granted a high school diploma, a student must successfully complete a civics assessment. The Board may approve a course or courses in career and technical education that it determines may satisfy up to a total of one credit of mathematics and/or science credit.

MAUSTON HIGH SCHOOL ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION OPTIONS

Mauston High School has established a number of alternative education options toward earning a high school diploma.

1. iLEAD Charter School
   
   iLEAD Charter School is a school of innovation and technology that focuses on Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Academic Discovery. iLEAD Charter School is a public school option for students in grades 7 through 12.
   
   iLEAD Charter School is a student-centered, project-based school. iLEAD Charter School engages students through a rigorous and relevant curriculum and students are enrolled in the iLEAD Charter School follow the successful completion of competency project-based achievements.
   
   iLEAD students must complete competencies with a minimum 80% accuracy rate. Students may earn credit for competencies completed from a prior high school setting that was awarded through traditional credits.
2. Mauston Virtual High School
   
   Mauston High School students may enroll in the Mauston Virtual High School on a full-time or part-time basis. Mauston students may enroll in the Mauston Virtual High School and earn credits for coursework taken online. Mauston Virtual High School is operated by Jefferson Eastern Dane Interactive Network (JEDI).
   
   Mauston Virtual High School provides learners the flexibility to go to school any time and virtually anywhere they can access the internet. Mauston High School works in partnership with the JEDI Network staff to align coursework and credit requirements needed for students to graduate from Mauston Virtual High School with 28 credits.
3. Mauston High School Diploma—General Equivalency Diploma Option #2
   
   A student may also receive an official Mauston High School diploma through an approved GED Option #2 (GEDO #2) program. State statute allows authorized school districts to use the GED test battery to measure proficiency in lieu of high school credit for students enrolled in an alternative education program. A student who passes the GED tests, completes the other requirements for graduation set forth by the Department of Public Instruction diploma and the Mauston High School career portfolio is entitled to the traditional high school diploma.
4. Lemonweir Academy
   
   Lemonweir Academy's mission is to allow students to experience the success that they have not found within the traditional school setting. It is a free public school option for students in grades 6-11.
   
   Lemonweir Academy is a hands on, collaborative learning space that is STEAM based and place-based education that takes advantage of geography to create authentic, meaningful, and engaging personalized earning opportunities for students.
   
   Students must complete competencies with a minimum 80% accuracy rate. Students may earn credit for competencies completed from a prior high school setting that was awarded through traditional credits.
5. Alternative-Competency-Based Diploma
   
   The Board authorizes the Superintendent to establish an alternative diploma program for students that meet the requirements of State law but not the additional elective credit requirements established for the attainment of a regular high school diploma from the District.
6. Wisconsin Youth Challenge Academy
   
   Mauston High School students who successfully complete the twenty-two (22)-week Challenge Academy Program may, with the approval of the Board of Education, re-enroll at Mauston High School to complete the requirements for receiving a traditional high school diploma. These requirements include completion of the Mauston High School career portfolio and any General Equivalency Diploma (GED) tests that were not completed and passed while the student was enrolled at the Challenge Academy.
7. Additional Requirements
   
   All high school students must complete other graduation requirements set forth by the State of Wisconsin, (i.e., students must successfully complete a civics exam requirement administered in accordance with the WI Stat. 118.33 (1M)(a) 1, Sec. 3266R.)

Participation in Graduation Ceremony

Mauston students graduating from the Mauston High School, Lemonweir Academy, iLEAD Charter School, Mauston Virtual High School, the GEDO #2 Program, the Wisconsin Youth Challenge Academy, will, upon successful completion of program requirements, participate in the Mauston graduation ceremony held each school year. Understand that commencement is a school-sponsored activity and all school rules of behavior and dress attire remain in effect. Students with disabilities who properly complete the programs specified in their I.E.P. and have received the recommendation of the I.E.P. Committee may participate in graduation activities and may be awarded a diploma (provided the student satisfied the District's high school graduation requirements).

Students will abide by the rules for participation in the ceremony as established by the high school administration (free from the influence/use of drugs and alcohol, proper dress, no noisemakers, etc.) Students also must not have been suspended (either in-school or out-of-school) during the week prior to or the week of the graduation ceremony.

The Board may waive graduation requirements, except for the core requirements, in exceptional cases to suit the needs of a student subject to Wis. Admin Code, §§ PI 18.03 and PI 18.04. It shall be the policy of the Board to periodically review and revise this policy specifying the criteria for awarding a diploma.

Revised 10/19/20
T.C. 7/24/23
T.C. 7/31/24

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