D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5, r. 5-A2203
Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 49, December 6, 2024
Rule 5-A2203 - ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS2203.1The course work set forth in Subsections 2203.3 shall be required of students who enrolled in ninth (9th) grade in school year 2007-2008 and thereafter in order to be certified as eligible to receive a high school diploma.
2203.2At the beginning of the ninth (9th) grade, students shall develop a graduation plan pacing the courses they will take to complete high school. This shall be done with the assistance of the school counselor or other school official designated by the local education agency (LEA).
2203.3(a) A total of twenty-four (24) Carnegie Units in corresponding subjects and required volunteer community service hours shall have been satisfactorily completed for graduation. (b) The following Carnegie Units in the following subjects shall be required: | COURSES | UNIT(S) |
| English | 4.0 |
| Mathematics; must include Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra II at a minimum | 4.0 |
| Science; must include three (3) lab sciences | 4.0 |
| Social Studies; must include World History 1 and 2, United States History; United States Government, and District of Columbia History | 4.0 |
| World Language | 2.0 |
| Art | 0.5 |
| Music | 0.5 |
| Physical Education/Health | 1.5 |
| Electives | 3.5 |
| Total | 24.0 |
(c) At least two (2) of the twenty four (24) Carnegie Units for graduation must include a College Level or Career Preparatory (CLCP) course approved by the LEA and successfully completed by the student. The course may fulfill subject matter or elective unit requirements as deemed appropriate by the LEA. CLCP courses approved by the LEA may include courses at other institutions. (d) All students must enroll in Algebra I no later than tenth (10th) grade commencing with the 2016-2017 school year, unless the school is approved for a waiver pursuant to Subsection 2203.7.(e) For all students entering the ninth (9th) grade beginning school year 2009-2010, one (1) of the three (3) lab science units, required by paragraph (a) of this subsection, shall be a course in Biology.(f) In addition to the twenty-four (24) Carnegie Units, community service shall be satisfactorily completed for graduation as set forth in §2203.12.(g) One and one half (1.5) Carnegie Units in health and physical education shall not be required for the evening program high school diploma.2203.4An LEA may establish specialized or career-focused programs or courses of study, which lead to the high school diploma in accordance with Subsection 2203.3. These courses of study can include academic, performing arts, science and mathematics, and career or vocational education focuses or other areas of concentration. The programs or courses of study may require additional coursework.
2203.5Electives taken to fulfill the requirements of Subsection 2203.4 shall be required to be taken in courses established by the LEA for each area of concentration in order to receive certification in the area of concentration.
2203.6Each student who completes the requirements for specialized or career focused courses of study established under Subsection 2203.4 shall receive appropriate recognition on the student's diploma.
2203.7Beginning with School Year 2016-2017:
(a) The District of Columbia Public Schools ("DCPS") or the Public Charter School Board ("PCSB") may waive the Carnegie Unit requirement set forth in Subsection 2203.3 for a school seeking to award competency-based unit(s), as defined in this chapter, accordingly: (1) A school that seeks a waiver from the Carnegie Unit requirement to award competency-based unit(s) shall submit an application to either the DCPS or PCSB. If a charter school is part of an LEA, the application must be submitted to the PCSB through the LEA; (2) Applications for a waiver to award competency-based unit(s) shall be in the format established by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education ("OSSE") and contain the information required by OSSE; and(3) The DCPS or PCSB, respectively, shall review the school's application in accordance with the standards and requirements established by OSSE. If the school's application meets the standards and requirements established by OSSE, the DCPS or PCSB, respectively shall approve the school's application for a waiver to award competency-based unit(s);(c) OSSE shall make publicly available aggregated evidence of annual implementation of Subsections 2203.7(a) in a summative report no later than three years after initial implementation, and annually thereafter, to share best practices and lessons learned from implementation. 2203.8A student with special needs who does not achieve a diploma, as set forth in Subsection 2203.3 shall be eligible to receive an Individual Educational Program (IEP) Certificate of Completion. The decision to pursue a program leading to an IEP Certificate of Completion shall be made by the IEP team including the parent(s) and where possible, the student. The decision shall be made no earlier than the ninth (9th) grade and shall be attached in writing to the student's IEP. An LEA shall comply with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq.) (IDEA) and District law with regard to appropriate transition assessments.
2203.12(a) The following community service requirement, referred to in §2203.3(f), shall be satisfactorily completed for graduation, except as provided in paragraph (b): (1) Students graduating in 2023 shall satisfactorily complete a minimum of twelve (12) hours of community service to graduate;(2) Students graduating in 2024 shall satisfactorily complete a minimum of fifty (50) hours of community service to graduate;(3) Students graduating in 2025 shall satisfactorily complete a minimum of seventy-five (75) hours of community service to graduate; and(4) Students graduating in 2026 or thereafter shall satisfactorily complete a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of community service to graduate.(b) High school students who transfer to a District of Columbia local education agency (LEA) from a school outside of a District of Columbia LEA shall satisfactorily complete the following number of community service hours: (1) Students who transfer during their senior year shall have the community service graduation requirement waived;(2) Students who transfer during their junior year or as rising seniors shall have to satisfactorily complete twenty-five (25) hours of community service;(3) Students who transfer during their sophomore year or as rising juniors shall have to satisfactorily complete fifty (50) hours of community service; and(4) Students who transfer during their freshman year shall have to satisfactorily complete seventy-five (75) hours of community service;(c) A District of Columbia LEA that enrolls a student transferring from another District of Columbia LEA shall accept all community service hours approved by the prior LEA.(d) The specific volunteer projects eligible to satisfy the community service requirement shall be approved by the LEA. LEAs shall approve unpaid community service conducted in person or virtually that is intended to provide a societal benefit through activities organized by the school, organized by students, or organized by individuals outside the school, including through a government, non-profit, or for-profit entity.D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5, r. 5-A2203
Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 5220 (4/8/2016); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 70 DCR 14192 (10/27/2023)