CLASS OF 2020 GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Grading and Class Promotion Course grades and promotion for the Class of 2020 are determined by school board policies and not by state requirements. The District has latitude in determining what grades to award, if any, for coursework and what coursework is required for credit.
Alternate Learning Environments, Changes in Instruction, and Graduation
Some students in the Class of 2020 may fall in the following categories regarding graduation credits:
Students who currently have attained the district graduation requirements, which include the state-required credits.
Students who have completed the state-required graduation credits but have not completed all the district requirements. Local options may include:
o Local school boards could decide to modify district policy to grant a high school diploma.
o Local school boards could determine that coursework currently completed is sufficient to award credit for the district-required graduation credits.
o As part of a Continuity of Learning Plan, districts could provide additional learning opportunities that students could complete in an alternate learning environment to meet district requirements/credits for graduation.
Students who have not met the minimum state-required graduation credits but were on track to meet those requirements through current coursework prior to entering an alternate learning environment. Local options may include:
o Local school boards could determine coursework currently completed is sufficient to award credit for the state-required graduation credits.
o As part of a Continuity of Learning Plan, districts could provide additional learning opportunities students could complete in an alternate learning environment to meet state-required graduation credits.
Students who are further behind in meeting high school graduation requirements and who would not have been able to meet the state graduation requirements with the normal coursework currently taken prior to the end of the 2019-20 school year. Local options may include:
o As part of a Continuity of Learning Plan, districts could provide targeted educational opportunities for these students and consider summer educational opportunities to complete coursework.
IDEA Considerations
Graduating with a regular high school diploma or reaching the maximum age of eligibility both result in termination of a student's eligibility for Special Education (IDEA) services. Procedurally, the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team must meet to review the student's status and issue the appropriate coding for the student, specifically 210 or 211 as described in the ADVISER Data Elements Manual, a reasonable time before the student's eligibility is terminated. These meetings may be held via the telephone or through a virtual platform (e.g. Zoom, Google, etc.) and should include the student (if possible). The school district will also provide the student with a summary of performance prior to graduation or ending services because of age through a Notice of Graduation or Notice of Ending Services Due to Age.
Legal Reference: Nebraska Revised Statute 79-729
NDE Class of 2020 – Graduation Requirements and Promotion Guidance 4/6/2020
