La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXV-2319

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section CXV-2319 - The Career Diploma

A. Curriculum and Entrance Requirements

1. The 23 units required for the career diploma shall include academic credits and a sequence of seven credits in career and technical education for incoming freshmen prior to 2014-2015 or participation in approved training programs that lead to an approved industry-based credential for incoming freshmen in 2014-15 and beyond.

a. For high school seniors enrolled during spring 2021 and graduating with a Career Diploma by August 31, 2021, a score of Silver or higher on ACT WorkKeys may substitute as the culminating IBC.

2. Students with exceptionalities assessed on the regular academic content standards who meet certain requirements may attain a career diploma by meeting the requirements of their IEP. See Bulletin 1530-Louisiana's IEP Handbook for Students with Exceptionalities. Students with exceptionalities assessed on the alternate academic content standards may attain a career diploma by meeting the requirements in §2320 of this bulletin.

B. Assessment Requirements

1. For incoming freshmen in 2010-2011 and beyond, students must meet the assessment requirements below to earn a standard diploma.

a. Incoming freshmen in 2010-2011 through 2016-2017 must pass three end-of-course tests in the following categories:

i. English II or English III;

ii. algebra I or geometry;

iii. biology or American History.

b. Incoming freshmen in 2017-2018 and beyond must pass three LEAP 2025 assessments in the following categories:

i. English I or English II;

ii. algebra I or geometry;

iii. biology or U.S. History.

c. Beginning with incoming freshmen in 2024-2025 and beyond, the LEAP 2025 Civics assessment will replace the LEAP 2025 U.S. History assessment as the Social Studies assessment required for graduation. The LEAP 2025 U.S. History assessment will be available through 2026-2027 for those students requiring a retest to fulfill graduation requirements. Students must pass three LEAP 2025 assessments in the following categories:

i. English I or English II;

ii. Algebra I or geometry;

iii. biology or civics.

d. Students with disabilities identified under IDEA that entered high school during or prior to the 2013-2014 school year and meet the LAA 2 participation criteria may meet the assessment requirements by passing the English language arts and mathematics components of the LAA 2 and either the science or social studies component of LAA 2.

3. Students who enter traditional grade 9 during or after 2017-2018 are required to score level 2 (approaching basic) or above on English I or English II, algebra I or geometry, and biology or U.S. history to be eligible for a standard high school diploma.

a. For high school seniors graduating during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years, the following may be substituted for the LEAP 2025 high school assessment requirement, provided the student has initially participated in all required assessments:

i. an ACT composite score of 17 or higher for all students; or

ii. a score of Silver or higher on ACT WorkKeys for students pursuing a Career Diploma; or

iii. an ACT subject score of 17 or higher in the corresponding LEAP 2025 high school assessment pair, as follows:

(a). a score of 17 or higher on the ACT English or Reading tests shall satisfy the English I/English II LEAP 2025 high school assessment requirement;

(b). a score of 17 or higher on the ACT Mathematics test shall satisfy the Algebra I/Geometry LEAP 2025 high school assessment requirement; and

(c). a score of 17 or higher on the ACT Science test shall satisfy the Biology/U.S. History LEAP 2025 high school assessment requirement; or

iv. the student participates in 20 or more extended learning hours per LEAP 2025 high school assessment subject pair for which the student has yet to achieve level 2 (approaching basic) or above, with such instruction provided by a qualified teacher.

(a). The instruction must take place following the academic year, and the student must demonstrate proficiency corresponding to level 2 (approaching basic) or above.

(b). For purposes of this section, a qualified teacher is defined as a teacher holding a valid and current Louisiana teaching certificate or has received a final COMPASS evaluation of Effective:Emerging or higher.

4. Remediation and retake opportunities will be provided for students who do not pass the GEE or, or the end-of-course tests. Students shall be offered 50 hours of remediation each year in each content area they do not pass on the GEE. Students shall be offered 30 hours of remediation each year in each EOC test they do not pass. Refer to Bulletin 1566, guidelines for pupil progression, and the addendum to Bulletin 1566, regulations for the implementation of remedial education programs related to the LEAP/CRT Program, regular school year.

5. Students may apply a maximum of two Carnegie units of elective credit toward high school graduation by successfully completing specially designed courses for remediation.

a. A maximum of one Carnegie unit of elective credit may be applied toward meeting high school graduation requirements by an eighth grade student who has scored at the Unsatisfactory achievement level on either the English language arts and/or the mathematics component(s) of the eighth grade LEAP provided the student:

i. successfully completed specially designed elective(s) for LEAP remediation;

ii. scored at or above the Basic achievement level on those component(s) of the eighth grade LEAP for which the student previously scored at the Unsatisfactory achievement level.

6. Prior to or upon the student's entering the tenth grade, all LEAs shall notify each student and his/her parents or guardians of the requirement of passing GEE or the end-of-course tests.

a. Upon their entering a school system, students transferring to any high school of an LEA shall be notified by that system of the requirement of passing GEE or the

7. Students enrolled in a course for which there is an EOC or LEAP 2025 test must take the EOC or LEAP 2025 test.

a. The EOC or LEAP 2025 test score shall count a percentage of the student's final grade for the course. During the transition to new tests, the requirement to count a LEAP 2025 test score as a percentage of the student's final grade will be waived for high school state assessments as follows:

i. English I, English II, algebra I, and geometry scores from the fall 2017 administration; the decision to include scores from these assessments in final grades in spring 2018 shall be a district decision that must be outlined in the pupil progression plan.

ii. U.S. history scores from the fall and spring administrations in 2017-2018; and

iii. biology scores from the fall and spring administrations in 2018-2019.

b. The percentage shall be between 15 percent and 30 percent inclusive, and shall be determined by the LEA.

i. For students with disabilities identified under IDEA who meet the participation criteria found in Bulletin 1530-Louisiana's IEP Handbook for Students with Exceptionalities, §405.B and R.S. 17:183.2, the EOC test score shall count for 5 percent of the students' final grade for the course.

c. The grades assigned for the EOC test achievement levels shall be as follows.

EOC Achievement Level	Grade
Excellent	A
Good	B
Fair	C
Needs Improvement	D or F

d. The DOE will provide conversion charts for various grading scales used by LEAs.

C. Minimum Course Requirements

1. The minimum course requirements for a career diploma for incoming freshmen in 2014-2015 through 2022-2023 shall be the following:

a. English-4 units:

i. one of the following:

(a). English I;

(b). English language part 1: Cambridge IGCSE;

(c). English literature part 1: Cambridge IGCSE.

ii. one of the following:

(a). English II;

(b). English language part 2: Cambridge IGCSE; or

(c). English literature part 2: Cambridge IGCSE.

iii. the remaining units shall come from the following:

(a). technical writing;

(b). business English;

(c). English III;

(d). English language part 1: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(e). literature in English part 1: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(f). English IV;

(g). any AP or IB English course;

(h). English language part 2: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(i). literature in English part 2: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors); or

(j). comparable Louisiana technical college courses offered by Jump Start regional teams as approved by BESE;

b. Mathematics-4 units:

i. Algebra I (1 unit), Applied Algebra I (1 unit), or Algebra I-Pt. 2 (the elective course Algebra I-Pt. 1 is a pre-requisite);

ii. The remaining units shall come from the following:

(a). geometry;

(b). financial literacy (formerly financial math);

(c). math essentials;

(d). Algebra II;

(e). advanced math-functions and statistics;

(f). advanced math - pre-calculus;

(g). Algebra III;

(h). pre-calculus;

(i). business math;

(j). probability and statistics; or

(k). statistical reasoning;

(l). transition to college mathematics; or

(m). comparable Louisiana technical college courses offered by Jump Start regional teams as approved by BESE;

(n). Integrated Mathematics I, II, and III may be substituted for Algebra I, geometry, and Algebra II and shall count as three math credits;

(o). additional math-Cambridge IGCSE; or

(p). math 1 (pure math): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

c. Science 2 units:

i. 1 unit of biology;

ii. 1 unit from the following:

(a). Chemistry I;

(b). physical science

(c). earth science;

(d). Agriscience II;

NOTE: Agriscience I is a prerequisite for Agriscience II and is an elective course.

(e). environmental science;

(f). principles of engineering;

(g). any AP or IB science course PLTW principles of engineering;

(h). principles of engineering (LSU partnership);

(i). any AP or IB science course;

(j). physics I: Cambridge IGCSE;

(k). biology II: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(l). chemistry II: AICE-AS (honors); or

(m). physics II: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

d. social studies 2 units:

i. 1 of the following:

(a). U.S. history;

(b). AP U.S. history;

(c). IB history of the Americas I;

ii. 1 unit of the following:

(a). civics;

(b). government;

(c). AP U.S. government and politics: comparative; or

(d). AP U.S. government and politics: United States;

e. Health Education-1/2 unit:

i. JROTC I and II may be used to meet the Health Education requirement. Refer to §2347

f. Physical Education-1 1/2 units:

i. shall be Physical Education I and

ii. 1/2 unit from among the following:

(a). physical education II;

(b). marching band;

(c). extracurricular sports;

(d). cheering; or

(e). dance team;

iii. ROTC may be substituted;

iv. adaptive PE for eligible special education students may be substituted;

g. at least nine credits in the Jump Start course sequence, workplace experiences, and credentials;

i. Jump Start 1.0 course sequences will be available for incoming freshmen through 2020-2021; and

ii. Jump Start 2.0 course sequences will be available for incoming freshmen beginning in 2020-2021 and beyond;

h. Total-23 units.

2. The minimum course requirements for a career diploma for incoming freshmen in 2023-2024 shall be the following:

a. English-4 units:

i. one of the following:

(a). English I;

(b). English language part 1: Cambridge IGCSE; or

(c). English literature part 1: Cambridge IGCSE.

ii. one of the following:

(a). English II;

(b). English language part 2: Cambridge IGCSE; or

(c). English literature part 2: Cambridge IGCSE.

iii. the remaining units shall come from the following:

(a). technical writing;

(b). business English;

(c). English III;

(d). English language part 1: Cambridge AICEAS (honors);

(e). literature in English part 1: Cambridge AICEAS (honors);

(f). English IV;

(g).any AP or IB English course;

(h). English language part 2: Cambridge AICEAS (honors);

(i). literature in English part 2: Cambridge AICEAS (honors); or

(j). comparable Louisiana technical college courses offered by Jump Start regional teams as approved by BESE;

b. mathematics-4 units:

i. algebra I, applied algebra I, or algebra I-Pt. 2 (the elective course algebra I-Pt. 1 is a pre-requisite);

ii. geometry or applied geometry;

iii. The remaining units shall come from the following:

(a). financial literacy (formerly financial math);

(b). math essentials;

(c). algebra II;

(d). advanced math-functions and statistics;

(e). advanced math pre-calculus;

(f). algebra III;

(g). pre-calculus;

(h). business math;

(i). probability and statistics;

(j). statistical reasoning;

(k). transition to college mathematics; or

(l). comparable Louisiana technical college courses offered by Jump Start regional teams as approved by BESE;

(m). integrated mathematics I, II, and III may be substituted for algebra I, geometry, and algebra II and shall count as three math credits;

(n). additional math-Cambridge IGCSE; or

(o). math 1 (pure math): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

c. science-2 units:

i. 1 unit of biology;

ii. 1 unit from the following:

(a). chemistry I;

(b). physical science;

(c). earth science;

(d). agriscience II;

NOTE: Agriscience I is a prerequisite for Agriscience II and is an elective course.

(e). environmental science;

(f). principles of engineering;

(g). any AP or IB science course PLTW principles of engineering;

(h). principles of engineering (LSU partnership);

(i). any AP or IB science course;

(j). physics I: Cambridge IGCSE;

(k). biology II: Cambridge AICEAS (honors);

(l). chemistry II: AICEAS (honors); or

(m). physics II: Cambridge AICEAS (honors);

d. social studies-2 units:

i. 1 of the following:

(a). U.S. history;

(b). AP U.S. history;

(c). IB history of the Americas I;

ii. 1 unit of the following:

(a). civics;

(b). government;

(c). AP U.S. government and politics: comparative; or

(d). AP U.S. government and politics: United States;

e. health education-1/2 unit:

i. JROTC I and II may be used to meet the health education requirement. Refer to §2347;

f. physical education-1 1/2 units:

i. shall be physical education I; and

ii. 1/2 unit from among the following:

(a). physical education II;

(b). marching band;

(c). extracurricular sports;

(d). cheering; or

(e). dance team;

iii. ROTC may be substituted;

iv. adaptive PE for eligible special education students may be substituted;

g. at least nine credits in the Jump Start course sequence, workplace experiences, and credentials;

i. Jump Start 1.0 course sequences will be available for incoming freshmen through 2020-2021; and

ii. Jump Start 2.0 course sequences will be available for incoming freshmen beginning in 2020-2021 and beyond;

h. total-23 units.

3. The minimum course requirements for a career diploma for incoming freshmen in 2024-2025 and beyond shall be the following:

a. English-4 units.

i. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). English I;

(b). English language part 1: Cambridge IGCSE; or

(c). English literature part 1: Cambridge IGCSE.

ii. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). English II;

(b). English language part 2: Cambridge IGCSE; or

(c). English literature part 2: Cambridge IGCSE.

iii. Two units chosen from the following:

(a). technical writing;

(b). business English;

(c). English III;

(d). English language part 1: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(e). literature in English part 1: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(f). English IV;

(g). any AP or IB English course;

(h). English language part 2: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(i). literature in English part 2: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors); or

(j). comparable Louisiana technical college courses offered by Jump Start regional teams as approved by BESE.

b. Mathematics-4 units.

i. Algebra I, Applied Algebra I, or Algebra I-Pt. 2 (the elective course Algebra I-Pt. 1 is a pre-requisite);

ii. geometry or applied geometry; and

iii. financial literacy.

iv. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). math essentials;

(b). Algebra II;

(c). advanced math-functions and statistics;

(d). advanced math pre-calculus;

(e). Algebra III;

(f). pre-calculus;

(g). business math;

(h). probability and statistics;

(i). statistical reasoning;

(j). transition to college mathematics;

(k). comparable Louisiana technical college courses offered by Jump Start regional teams as approved by BESE;

(l). additional math-Cambridge IGCSE; or

(m). Math 1 (pure math): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors).

v. Integrated Mathematics I, II, and III may be substituted for Algebra I, geometry, and Algebra II and shall count as three math credits.

c. Science-2 units.

i. biology; and

ii. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). Chemistry I;

(b). physical science;

(c). earth science;

(d). Agriscience II-the elective course Agriscience I is a pre-requisite;

(e). environmental science;

(f). principles of engineering;

(g). any AP or IB science course PLTW principles of engineering;

(h). principles of engineering (LSU partnership);

(i). any AP or IB science course;

(j). Physics I: Cambridge IGCSE;

(k). Biology II: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(l). Chemistry II: AICE-AS (honors); or

(m). Physics II: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors).

d. Social Studies-2 units.

i. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). U.S. history;

(b). AP U.S. history; or

(c). IB history of the Americas I.

ii. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). civics;

(b). government;

(c). AP U.S. government and politics: comparative; or

(d). AP U.S. government and politics: United States.

e. Physical Education-1 1/2 units chosen from the following:

i. Physical Education I and II;

ii. Adapted Physical Education I and II for eligible special education students;

ii. JROTC I, II, III, and IV; or

iv. Physical Education I (1 unit) and 1/2 unit of marching band, extracurricular sports, cheerleading, or dance team.

f. Health Education-1/2 unit.

i. JROTC I and II may be substituted for 1/2 unit of health education (§2347).

g. Jump Start course sequence, workplace experiences, and credentials-minimum of nine credits.

i. Jump Start 1.0 course sequences will be available for incoming freshmen through 2020-2021; and

ii. Jump Start 2.0 course sequences will be available for incoming freshmen beginning in 2020-2021 and beyond;

h. total-23 units.

4. Repealed.

D. Courses developed by LEAs and submitted to BESE for approval as substitutes for core course requirements must meet state content standards for the subject area at the ninth grade level or higher.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXV-2319

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 31:1291 (Tune 2005), amended LR 31:2211 (September 2005), LR 31:3070 (December 2005), LR 31:3072 (December 2005), LR 32:1414 (August 2006), LR 33:429 (March 2007), LR 33:432 (March 2007), LR 33:2050 (October 2007), LR 33:2354 (November 2007), LR 33:2601 (December 2007), LR 34:1607 (August 2008), LR 35:1230 (July 2009), LR 35:1876 (September 2009), LR 35:2321 (November 2009), LR 35:2750 (December 2009), LR 36:1490 (July 2010), LR 37:548 (February 2011), LR 37:1130 (April 2011), LR 37:2130 (July 2011), LR 37:3197 (November 2011), LR 38:761 (March 2012), LR 38:1005 (April 2012), LR 40:2522 (December 2014), LR 41:1482 (August 2015), AmendedLR 42232 (2/1/2016), Amended LR 431287 (7/1/2017), Amended LR 432132 (11/1/2017), Amended LR 432484 (12/1/2017), Amended LR 441868 (10/1/2018), Amended LR 451747 (12/1/2019), Amended LR 46557 (4/1/2020), Amended LR 461086 (8/1/2020), Amended LR 47860 (7/1/2021), Amended LR 4839 (1/1/2022), Repromulgated LR 481093 (4/1/2022), Amended LR 482560 (10/1/2022), Amended LR 49252 (2/1/2023), Amended LR 49643 (4/1/2023), Repromulgated LR 49858 (5/1/2023), Amended LR 50482 (4/1/2024), Amended LR 50972 (7/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6, 17:7, 17:24.4, 17:183.2, 17:183.3, 17:274, 17:274.1, and 17:395.