5461 - EARLY GRADUATION
It is the belief of the Southern Local Board of Education that most students would benefit from a planned four (4) year program of high school instruction. However, individual cases may merit the early graduation of certain students.
While such may be the case, permission for early graduation will be granted after certain criteria have been met.
Reasons to request an early graduation may include:
Entering into continued education or military service (documentation showing acceptance/enlistment must be presented).
Relocation outside the School District.
Entering the workforce as the primary income source for the family (this must be presented in documentation to be considered valid).
Completing all high school requirements as part of an accelerated academic program.
Early admission to a college or university in order to pursue academic or career goals.
Permission for early graduation will be given for reasons A, B, or C listed above after the following conditions have been met:
Unless unusual circumstances exist, students should have completed six (6) semesters of high school credit before being considered for early graduation.
the student must have met all of the graduation requirements of the State of Ohio including a State graduation test, and attained a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above for the six (6) semesters.
The student’s parent or guardian must submit a written request for early graduation PRIOR to the end of the semester that precedes the last semester of intended attendance.
The written request must include the reason(s) why early graduation is in the best interest of the student and should be considered by the District.
Permission for early graduation will be given for reasons D and E listed above (as part of an academically accelerated program) after the following conditions have been met:
The student has passed any State required graduation test.
The student has met all the graduation requirements of the State of Ohio.
The student has enough earned credits to graduate. Credits can be earned through any combination of the following:
normal classroom instruction time;
a certified tutor approved by the School District;
on-line instruction approved by the District;
virtual learning academies approved by the District;
postsecondary educational options or dual enrollment options at a college or university approved by the District or the State of Ohio;
credit flexibility options as established by the State of Ohio.
The student’s parent or guardian must submit a written request for early graduation PRIOR to the end of the semester that precedes the last semester of intended attendance.
The written request must include the reason(s) why early graduation is in the best interest of the student and should be considered by the District.
Students referred for possible early high school graduation based on academic acceleration shall be evaluated based on past academic performance, measures of achievement based on State academic content standards, and successful completion of State mandated graduation requirements. The acceleration committee shall consider the student’s own thoughts on possible accelerated placement in its deliberations.
The acceleration committee shall issue a written decision to the high school principal and the student’s parents or legal guardian based on the outcome of the evaluation process. If a consensus recommendation cannot be reached by the committee, a decision regarding whether or not to accelerate the student will be determined by a majority vote of the committee membership. The acceleration committee shall be composed of:
the student’s principal or designee;
a current teacher of the referred student (with the exception of students referred for possible early admission to kindergarten);
a teacher at the grade level to which the student may be accelerated (with the exception of students referred for possible early graduation from high school);
a parent or legal guardian of the referred student or a representative designated by a parent or legal guardian of the referred student;
a gifted education coordinator or gifted intervention specialist. If a gifted coordinator or gifted intervention specialist is not available in the District, a school psychologist or guidance counselor with expertise in the appropriate use of academic acceleration may be substituted.
A parent or legal guardian of the evaluated student shall be notified in writing of the outcome of the evaluation process within forty-five (45) days of the submission of the referral to the referred student’s principal. This notification shall include instructions for appealing the outcome of the evaluation process.
A parent or legal guardian of the referred student may appeal in writing the decision of the acceleration committee to the local superintendent within thirty (30) days of being notified of the committee’s decision. The Superintendent shall review the appeal and notify the parent or guardian who filed the appeal of his/her final decision within thirty (30) days of receiving the appeal. The Superintendent’s decision shall be final.
For students the acceleration committee recommends for early graduation based on academic acceleration, the committee shall develop a written acceleration plan designated to allow the student to complete graduation requirements on an accelerated basis. This may include the provision of educational options in accordance with A.C. 3301-35-06(G), waiving District prerequisite requirements for enrolling in advanced courses, waiving District graduation requirements that exceed those required by the State, and early promotion to sophomore (or higher) status to allow the student to take the Ohio Graduation Test.
The acceleration committee shall designate a school staff member to ensure successful implementation of the written acceleration plan and to monitor the adjustment of the student to the accelerated setting.
A conference must be held among the school officials, the student, and the student’s parent or guardian to ensure that there is no misunderstanding as to the school’s or the student’s responsibilities.
The student must submit a minimum of two (2) letters of recommendation supporting early graduation. At least one (1) of these letters must be written by a current member of the faculty of Miller High School.
The student must receive approval from the high school principal for early graduation. Students approved for early graduation may participate in commencement exercise. They may not participate in any other activities without the permission of the high school principal.
In the case of early graduation, the actual diploma will be issued at the regularly scheduled commencement exercise. The high school principal can issue a letter certifying high school completion and the impending receipt of the diploma.
Issues of early graduation will be handled on an individual basis.
Revised 3/25/03