§ 4.24. High school graduation requirements.

 (a)  Each school district, including a charter school, shall specify requirements for graduation in the strategic plan under §  4.13 (relating to strategic plans). Requirements must include course completion and grades, completion of a culminating project and results of local assessments aligned with the academic standards. Students shall demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics on either the State assessments administered in grade 11 or 12 or local assessment aligned with academic standards and State assessments under §  4.52 (relating to local assessment system) at the proficient level or better to graduate. The purpose of the culminating project is to assure that students are able to apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information and communicate significant knowledge and understanding.

 (b)  Beginning in the 2002-2003 school year, students who attain a score at the proficient level on any State assessed discipline administered in grade 10, 11 or 12 shall be granted a Pennsylvania Certificate of Proficiency for that discipline. Students with disabilities who meet the required proficiency level on State assessments with appropriate accommodations shall be granted a Pennsylvania Certificate of Proficiency.

 (c)  Beginning in the 2002-2003 school year, students who attain a score at the advanced level of proficiency on any State assessed discipline administered in grade 10, 11 or 12 shall be granted a Pennsylvania Certificate of Distinction for that discipline. Students with disabilities who meet the required proficiency level on State assessments with appropriate accommodations shall be granted a Pennsylvania Certificate of Distinction.

 (d)  Each school district, including a charter school, shall describe in its strategic plan under §  4.13 how its planned instruction is designed to prepare students to meet the requirements of subsection (a).

 (e)  Children with disabilities who satisfactorily complete a special education program developed by an Individualized Education Program team under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and this part shall be granted and issued a regular high school diploma by the school district of residence. This subsection applies if the special education program of a child with a disability does not otherwise meet all requirements of this chapter. Children with disabilities who meet the required proficiency level on State assessments shall be granted the appropriate Certificate of Proficiency or Distinction.

 (f)  The Department will develop Pennsylvania Certificates of Proficiency and Distinction for each of the State assessed disciplines. The Department will distribute the certificates to each school district in sufficient quantity for the school district to issue to its students who have earned the Certificates. School districts shall enter student names on the appropriate certificate as described in subsections (b) and (c) and present the certificates to the student.

 (g)  The Department will develop, or cause to be developed, Certificates of Proficiency to acknowledge and recognize those students who attain a level of at least proficient in all State assessed disciplines. The certificates will be distinctive and differentiated from the certificates described in subsection (f). The certificates shall be awarded to students as appropriate in lieu of those prescribed in subsection (b).

 (h)  The Department will develop, or cause to be developed, Certificates of Distinction so as to acknowledge and recognize those students who attain a score at the advanced level of proficiency in all State assessed disciplines. The certificates will be distinctive and differentiated from the certificates described in subsection (f). The certificates shall be awarded to students as appropriate in lieu of those prescribed in subsection (c).

 (i)  Beginning in the 2003-04 school year, PSSA scores in each assessed discipline shall be included on student transcripts and may be released only with the permission of the student and parent or guardian, or the student only if the student is 18 years of age or older.

 (j)  This section does not allow for the release of individual student PSSA scores to the Department or other Commonwealth entities in accordance with §  4.51(c) (relating to State assessment system).

   The provisions of this §  4.24 amended under section 32 of the act of June 29, 2002 (P. L. 524, No. 88).

   The provisions of this §  4.24 amended October 25, 2002, effective October 26, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 5266; amended February 15, 2008, effective February 16, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 872. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (293050) and (304973) to (304974).

   IEP Compliance

   Court determined that hearing officer, when reaching the conclusion that the student had completed the graduation requirements, failed to consider whether the requirements of the student’s individualized education program (IEP) were fulfilled, as required by §  4.24(e). Because school district did not fulfill IEP obligation, it was required to pay tuition and fees for a transitional program after high school for one year, which the court found fulfilled the graduation requirements of §  4.24(e), Susquehanna Township School District v. Frances J., 823 A.2d 249, 255-56 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2003).

   This section cited in 22 Pa. Code §  4.13 (relating to strategic plans); and 22 Pa. Code §  4.31 (relating to vocational-technical education).