Welcome

1. Welcome

2. 2009-2010 Diploma Options • First Choice Diploma- Advanced Academic Endorsement • Advanced Academic Endorsement with Honors • Advanced Academic with High Honors • The Opt- out Diploma – Alabama High School Diploma

3. First Choice Diploma- 28 credits • 4 Credits any level English • 4 Credits any level Science • 4 credits any level Social Studies • 4 credits of any level Math & Successful completion of Algebra II with Trig • 2 credits of Foreign Language ( Same Language) • 1 Credit of Fine Art • 1 Credit Health • 1 Credit Life or equivalent • 1 Credit Business Technology/Computer • 1 Credit Online/IVC course • 5 Elective Credits • *****Must pass all 5 parts of AHSGE*****

4. Advanced Academic Endorsement with Honors • 4 Credits Advanced Level English • 4 Credits Advanced Level Science (must include Physics) • 4 credits Advanced Level Social Studies • 4 credits Advanced Level Math (must include Pre Calculus) • 2 credits of Foreign Language ( Same Language) • 1 Credit of Fine Art • 1 Credit Health • 1 Credit Life or equivalent • 1 Credit Business Technology/Computer • 1 Credit Online/IVC course • 5 Elective Credits • *****Must pass all 5 parts of AHSGE*****

5. Advanced Academic Endorsementwith High Honors • At Least 2 Advanced Placement (AP) Courses from any of the 4 core subjects • 4 Credits Advanced Level English • 4 Credits Advanced Level Science (must include Physics) • 4 credits Advanced Level Social Studies • 4 credits Advanced Level Math (must include Pre Calculus) • 2 credits of Foreign Language ( Same Language) • 1 Credit of Fine Art • 1 Credit Health • 1 Credit Life or equivalent • 1 Credit Business Technology/Computer • 1 Credit Online/IVC course • 3-5 Elective Credits • *****Must pass all 5 parts of AHSGE*****

6. Opt-out Diploma OptionAlabama High School Diploma • 4 Credits any level English • 4 Credits any level Science • 4 credits any level Social Studies • 4 credits of any level Math • 1 Credit of Fine Art • 1 Credit Health • 1 Credit Life or equivalent • 1 Credit Business Technology/Computer • 1 Credit Online/IVC course • 7 Elective Credits • *****Must pass all 5 parts of AHSGE*****

7. Important Facts to Remember • All students will be fall into the 1st choice diploma option, those that want an Honors or High Honors diploma must complete the coursework for those programs to be eligible for those programs. Students who are not performing well in Mathematics may drop down to the Alabama High School diploma option when the time is appropriate. • If you want you child to receive an ADVANCED DIPLOMA, be eligible for Honor graduate, Valedictorian, or Salutatorian you must choose Honors or High Honors option. • All students must take and pass all 5 parts of the graduation exam in order to graduate (specific exceptions apply to IDEA students) • Credit recovery classes are available for students in need of help • AOD and Certificate Diploma Options are still available for IDEA students • Credit Based Endorsement is not a choice students can select, but rather in very severe cases, is an option that MAY be offered to a student by the school at the end of their SENIOR year if the student has failed to meet ONE of the diploma options but has satisfied the requirements of Credit Based endorsement. • CBE Criteria- Students who earn the required credits for graduation and have passed at least 3 parts of the AHSGE (2 of those parts must be Reading and Mathematics) while continuing to take the AHSGE in their Senior year ( through the Spring administration) MAY be offered an opportunity to participate in the Credit-based Endorsement program. • CBE Criteria also applies to any student with a disability as defined by IDEA who has taken all sections of the AHSGE through the 12th grade can substitute another area of the AHSGE in lieu of reading or mathematics if the student qualifies for the exemption based on the established disability. Documentation MUST include evidence that the student possesses a disability in the area in which a subject-area test of the AHSGE has not been passed.

8. Questions or Concerns • What if my child does not want to take Algebra II with Trig? • Parents can decided to have students apply for the Alabama High School Diploma after they have complete math through geometry • What if my child decides he/she wants change from 1st choice to the Advanced with Honors option in the 10th grade year? • As long as the student has taken all ADVANCED core classes, he/she may still be eligible for the Honors option • If my child decides to complete the High Honors option will AP classes be on the same grading scale as Advanced classes? • AP grades will be weighted by adding 10 points to each PASSING semester grade earned in an AP class. Failing grades will not be weighted 10 points. • What is the Selection criteria for Honor Graduates? • Honr graduates shall be graduating seniors who have completed Honors or High Honors endorsement coursework, passed all parts of the AHSGE and have an overall GPA of 4.00 on ALL COURSES taken during the freshman year through the 2nd semester of their senior year. AP courses will be weighted when calculating GPA as such: A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 • What if my child choosesa diploma type that is too rigorous and wants to change after a semester or a year? • Yes, a student may choose a less rigorous diploma type if they are not successful in their choice, unless they have chosen the Opt-out Alabama High School Diploma