All students in Grades 9-12 are required to take a minimum of five and a half (5_) credits per year and physical education which is equal to 1/2 credit, accumulative to two (2) full credits at the end of four (4) years. Courses meeting for two quarters or one semester only or half of the school year for the entire block will receive 1/2 credit.

All students are required to accumulate 22.5 credits for graduation; effective with the class of 2007, all students will be required to accumulate 24 credits for graduation.

4 credits English (4 years)

3 credits Mathematics

3 credits Social Studies (including U.S.

History, for class of 2004

_ credit must be in Civics)

3 credits Science (beginning with the class of

2004)

2 credits Physical Education

1 credit Arts/Vocational

1/2 credit Computer Applications

1/2 credit Health

1 credit World Language (for class of 2007)

A student who is repeating a course for which she or he has already received credit will be granted no additional credit for successful repetition of the course.

All seniors must schedule a minimum of six (6) credits and must accumulate 4_ credits in their senior year in order to graduate.

The student enrolled in the Adult Education Diploma Program must meet the same requirement as the regular high school student with the exception of physical education.

Montville Public Schools Performance Standards

English

In order to graduate from Montville High School, students must meet the graduation requirements of four credits in English as described in the Program of Studies, and they must demonstrate an understanding of specified basic skills in reading and writing.

Definition of Basic Skills

The student must exhibit the ability to:

•Read a text for understanding of main point and purpose, and for interpretation

•Write in a focused and organized manner in a variety of forms using Standard Written English as dictated by the genre

•Speak articulately for a variety of audiences

•Use technology to complete research and present information

Demonstration of Achievement of Basic Skills

1. ALL students are required to participate in the Response to Literature portion of the CAPT exam.

2. In addition, the student will demonstrate achievement of the basic skills in English by:

a. Successfully completing English 1, 2, 3, and 4

(These courses are required of all students for graduation. Within the context of the courses, rubric-style assessments will be used to measure basic skills and documentation of these assessments will be maintained in student portfolios.)

OR

b. Earning a CAPT writing score of 8 in the Response to Literature portion of Reading and Writing Across Disciplines

OR

c. Attaining a SAT I Verbal score of 460 or above

Mathematics

In order to graduate from Montville High School, students must meet the graduation requirements of three credits in mathematics as described in the Program of Studies, and they must demonstrate an understanding of specified basic skills in mathematics.

Definition of Basic Skills

The student must exhibit the ability to:

•Complete practical math problems requiring demonstration of problem-solving skills by carrying out multi-step tasks

•Effectively communicate in writing or in a pictorial, graphical, or algebraic representation how she/he arrived at each answer

•Use technology to perform calculations and create and analyze graphs

Demonstration of Achievement of Basic Skills

1. ALL students are required to participate in the mathematics portion of the CAPT exam

2. In addition, the student will demonstrate achievement of the basic skills in mathematics by:

a. Successfully completing three credits of mathematics courses

(These courses are required of all students for graduation. Within the context of the courses, rubric-style assessments will be used to measure basic skills and documentation of these assessments will be maintained in student portfolios.)

OR

b. Earning a CAPT math score of 240 or higher

OR

c. Attaining a SAT I Math score of 450 or above

Science

In order to graduate from Montville High School, students must meet the graduation requirements of three credits in science as described in the Program of Studies, and they must demonstrate an understanding of specified basic skills in science.

Definition of Basic Skills

The student must exhibit the ability to:

•Practice safe laboratory techniques

•Demonstrate competency in measurement skills

•Collect and organize data

•Identify variables, establish controls, and design experimental procedures

•Create and analyze graphs and data tables

•Use technology to collect, analyze, and display data and to communicate effectively

•Use basic concepts in the disciplines of biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics to explain observed phenomena in the laboratory and in everyday life

•Demonstrate, verbally and in writing, an awareness of social, economic, environmental, and political ramifications of current issues in the disciplines of biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics

Demonstration of Achievement of Basic Skills

1. ALL students are required to participate in the science portion of the CAPT exam

2. In addition, the student will demonstrate achievement of the basic skills in science by:

a. Successfully completing Coordinated Science 511 and 521 or Coordinated Science 512, 522, and 532 or an equivalent sequence

(These courses are required of all students for graduation. Within the context of the courses, rubric-style assessments will be used to measure basic skills and documentation of these assessments will be maintained in student portfolios.)

OR

b. Earning a "proficient" score on the CAPT performance task and a score of 240 or better on the written science CAPT

Social Studies

In order to graduate from Montville High School, students must meet the graduation requirements of three credits in social studies (including one credit in U.S. History and one-half credit in Civics) as described in the Program of Studies, and they must demonstrate an understanding of specified basic skills in social studies.

Definition of Basic Skills

The student must exhibit the ability to:

•Formulate and defend opinions both orally and in writing

•Demonstrate the ability to support positions with factual evidence

•Use primary and secondary sources

•Use electronic sources for research

•Understand the structure of the U.S. Government

Demonstration of Achievement of Basic Skills

1. ALL students are required to participate in the Interdisciplinary portion of the CAPT exam

2. In addition, the student will demonstrate achievement of the basic skills in social studies by:

a. Successfully completing Civics, U.S. History/American Studies, and a third credit in an elective area of the student's choice

(These courses are required of all students for graduation. Within the context of the courses, rubric-style assessments will be used to measure basic skills and documentation of these assessments will be maintained in student portfolios.)

OR

b. Earning a CAPT score of 7 or higher on Sections 1 and 2 on the Interdisciplinary portion of the exam

Transfer students:

Students transferring from another school will be required to meet the Montville Pubic Schools Basic Skills Standards, unless the student transfers after completion of the junior year. If a student transfers into the Montville Public Schools after completing at least three years in a high school in another district, he/she may be exempted from Montville's graduation basic skills standards or the basic skills standards may be modified. This will be determined by the principal in consultation with the student's counselor, the counselor from the sending school, and the family.

Students with Special Needs:

Some students who quality for Special Education services may be exempt from some or all of the district's basic skills standards as described in this policy. If appropriate, exemption to, or modification of, the basic skills standards will be indicated in the student's Individual Education Plan.

Notification:

Teachers and counselors:

Teachers and counselors will be notified of CAPT and SAT scores upon their receipt at the school. Teachers will be provided with a list of all juniors who have not yet met the basic skills requirements by earning specified scores on these standardized tests.

Core area teachers of required courses will place rubric-scored samples of student work which document demonstration of basic skills in student portfolios. Teachers will provide department chairs with lists of students who have earned passing grades on assessments which measure basic skills in their subject area, and department heads will forward these lists to the students' counselors. Counselors will maintain a check sheet of each student's progress in meeting the basic skills standards.

Students and their families:

Students and their families will be notified about the basic skills graduation standards through course guides and through orientation and information programs.

Students and their families will be notified of the student's progress in meeting the basic skills standards beginning with the receipt of the CAPT scores in the fall of the junior year. At the completion of the junior year and in January of the senior year, the school counselors will provide written notification to students who have not yet met district basic skills standards either by earning designated scored on the CAPT or the SAT or by passing specified core area courses.

Options if Requirements Are Not Met:

Seniors who are not eligible for graduation with their class due to a failure to meet the district basic skills standards or district graduation credit requirements may select one or more of the following options:

1. Return in September as a fifth year student

2. Enroll in an appropriate summer school program

Awards of High School Diplomas

Students who complete all graduation requirements shall receive a diploma at the June commencement.

In addition, individuals who have received an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces after a minimum of ninety days of active service during World War II for individuals who withdrew from school to join the Armed Forces, are eligible to receive a diploma.

Policy 6146