RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE:

The Cobb County School District (District) shall recognize regular high school graduates through the awarding of diplomas signifying their completion of high school graduation requirements.

This Rule shall become effective July 1, 2008. This Administrative Rule specifies programs of study that shall be offered by the District for students enrolling in the ninth grade for the first time in the 2008-2009 school year and for subsequent years, according to the State rule 160-4-2-.47.

RULE:

A. REQUIREMENTS:
    No student shall receive a diploma from a District high school until all diploma   

    requirements, including state assessments, have been met as specified in Administrative

    Rule IKF (Graduation Requirements).  

    1. Georgia Assessments Non-completion:

        a. Graduating Classes of 2009, 2010 and 2011:

            Students who graduate in 2009, 2010 or 2011 who satisfy the course requirements

            but have not yet satisfactorily completed all state assessments required for

            graduation may participate in graduation ceremonies but will not receive a diploma

            until all assessments have been passed or a variance has been approved by the

            Georgia Board of Education.

        b. Graduating Classes of 2012 and Beyond:

            Students who graduate in 2012 and subsequent years, regardless of the year they

            entered 9^th grade, must complete all diploma requirements, including both course

            requirements and passing state assessments required for graduation, in order to

            participate in graduation ceremonies.

    2. Unpaid Fines/Fees:

        Students shall not be eligible to participate in graduation exercises if debts related to

        lost or damaged instructional resources such as textbooks, media materials, classroom

        instructional materials, or instructional equipment remain unpaid (Administrative

        Rule ECAD [District Property Replacement/Restitution]). However, no student shall be

        excluded from graduation exercises because of poverty or inability to pay. Indigent

        students should contact the Principal to develop an appropriate payment plan for fees

        owed.

    3. Suspension/Expulsion:

        If the student is under suspension/expulsion during the last day school is in session

        of his/her final semester before qualifying for graduation, he/she shall not participate

        in nor attend the school graduation activities. He/she may participate in the District’s

        Summer School graduation.

    4. Withdrawal From District:

        a. Graduation Opportunity:

            Students who have been enrolled in a District high school beginning in the fall of

            the ninth grade without a break in enrollment prior to their senior year but who:

            (1) Have withdrawn from the District during their senior year; and

            (2) Were within 6 units of meeting graduation requirements (Rule IKF); and

            (3) Will complete their graduation requirements (Rule IKF) within the same school

                  year; and  

            (4) Are requesting to graduate with their original graduating class;

            shall be allowed to receive a diploma from the District high school they attended

            and participate in the school’s graduation exercises.

        b. Prerequisites:

            The above graduation opportunity shall be made available to the student upon the

            following:

            (1) Receipt of an official transcript from a regionally accredited high school

                 indicating sufficient credits to meet graduation requirements. The following on-

                 line courses shall qualify to complete District graduation requirements: 

                 (a) Cobb eHigh School;

                 (b) Georgia Virtual School;

                 (c) Equivalent programs in the accredited school district in which the student is

                      enrolled may qualify for this variance if courses satisfy remaining District

                      graduation requirements and have received advance approval from the

                      District as is required of all District students. Students accumulating credits

                      in other than the identified on-line programs should apply for graduation

                      through another school or program. (Rule IKF)

            (2) The student’s fulfillment of and conforming to school and District expectations

                 of members of his/her graduating class. (Rule IKF)

    5. Recent Enrollment:

        A student who:

        a. Enrolls in a District high school during his/her senior year; and

        b. Does not have sufficient credits nor assessment results to satisfy Georgia

            graduation requirements; but

        c. Meets graduation requirements in his/her former school may be recognized as a

            graduate during the District school’s graduation exercises and receive a diploma

            from his/her former school if awarded.

B. PROCEDURES:

    The following procedures shall govern graduation exercises:

    1. Elementary/Middle School:

        Activities recognizing students exiting elementary school or middle school or from one

        level to another within those schools shall be designed so as not to resemble

        high school graduation exercises or to involve diplomas or certificates of completion.

    2. Valedictorian/Salutatorian:

        It is the school’s option to recognize the valedictorian and salutatorian of the

        graduating class. If two or more persons earn equivalent GPA's (Grade Point

        Averages) each may be recognized with valedictory honors. (See Administrative

        Rule IKA [Grading Systems])

Adopted: 8/12/81
Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Revised: 4/28/83; 8/8/84; 2/12/87; 6/12/91; 7/28/94; 8/9/95; 2/1/02; 1/14/09