This policy has been adopted by the NC State Board of Education, but is still pending codification in the NC administrative code.  all codified rules may be accessed by going to the oah website.

 

The year a student enters grade nine for the first time determines the graduation course requirements the student must meet.

 

I.      FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 9 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2009–10 AND BEYOND. In order to graduate and receive a high school diploma, students entering grade nine for the first time in 2009–10 and beyond shall pass as defined in State Board of Education Policy GCS-L-004 (High School Transcript) the Future-Ready Core course of study, meet proficiency standards defined in State Board of Education Policy GCS-N-003. Note: The Occupational Course of Study is available for those students with disabilities who are specifically identified for this program.

 

FUTURE-READY CORE COURSE OF STUDY. (21 credits) Students entering ninth grade for the first time in 2009–10 and beyond and are following the Future-Ready Core must pass the following courses:

 

1.      4 sequential English credits which shall be:

                                                             a.      Starting with English I

                                                            b.      English II

                                                             c.      English III

                                                            d.      English IV

2.      4 Mathematics credits which shall be either:

                                                             a.      Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and a fourth mathematics course to be aligned with the student’s post high school plans or

                                                            b.      Integrated Mathematics I, II, and III and a fourth mathematics course to be aligned with the student’s post high school plans

Note: Students seeking to complete minimum application requirements for UNC universities must successfully complete four mathematics courses which include a mathematics course with either Algebra II or Integrated Mathematics III as a pre-requisite.

Note: In the rare instance a principal exempts a student from the Future-Ready Core mathematics sequence, except as limited by N.C.G.S. §115C-81(b), the student will be required to pass:

                                                                                       i.         Algebra I and Geometry plus either Alternative Mathematics I and Alternative Mathematics II or two application-based mathematics courses as determined by the LEA

    or

                                                                                        ii.      Algebra I and Algebra II plus either Alternative Mathematics I and Alternative Mathematics II or two application-based mathematics courses as determined by the LEA

   or

                                                                                       iii.      Integrated Mathematics I and Integrated Mathematics II plus either Alternative Mathematics I and Alternative Mathematics II or two other application-based mathematics courses as determined by the LEA.

 

3.      3 Science credits which shall be:

                                                             a.      a physical science course

                                                            b.      Biology

                                                             c.      an earth/environmental science course

 

4.      3 Social Studies credits which shall be:

                                                             a.      Civics and Economics

                                                            b.      US History

                                                             c.      World History

                             Note: Effective with students entering the ninth grade for the first time in 2003-04, World History must be taken to meet the requirements of World Studies. 

 

5.      1 Health and Physical Education credit

 

6.      2 Elective credits of any combination from either:

                                                             a.      Career and Technical Education (CTE) or

                                                            b.      Arts Education or

                                                             c.      Second Language (Credits in the same second language or demonstration of proficiency in a language other than English as determined by the LEA. Minimum application requirements for UNC universities require students to pass two years of a second language)

Note: For clarification, possible elective combinations may include 2 Second Language credits; or 1 CTE credit and 1 Arts Education credit; or 2 CTE credits; or 1 Arts Education credit and 1 Second Language credit; or other (combinations from a., b. and c.).

 

7.      4 Elective credits (four-course concentration recommended) from one of the following:

                                                             a.      Career and Technical Education (CTE)

                                                            b.      ROTC

                                                             c.      Arts Education (e.g., dance, music, theater arts, visual arts)

                                                            d.      Any other subject area or cross-disciplinary courses (e.g., mathematics, science, social studies, English and courses e.g., dual enrollment, Huskins or Learn and Earn.)

 

II.      FOR STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 9 FOR THE FIRST TIME PRIOR TO 2009–10. In order to graduate and receive a high school diploma, students entering grade nine for the first time prior to the 2009–10 school year shall select and pass as defined in State Board of Education Policy GCS-L-004 (High School Transcript) one of the four courses of study (i.e., College/University Preparation, College Technical Preparation, Career Preparation, or Occupational), and meet proficiency standards defined in State Board of Education policy GCS-N-003, and meet local school board requirements.

 

A.   COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY PREPARATION COURSE OF STUDY. (For students entering ninth grade for the first time prior to 2009-10.) Students following the College/University Preparation course of study must pass the following 20 credits plus any local requirements:

1.       English credits which shall be:

                                                             a.      English I

                                                            b.      English II

                                                             c.      English III

                                                            d.      English IV

 

2.       Mathematics credits depend on the year the student entered grade 9:

                                                             a.      Students entering the ninth grade for the first time in 2002–03 and beyond must pass 4 Mathematics credits which shall be either:

                                                                             i.    Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and a higher level mathematics course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite or

                                                                           ii.    Integrated Mathematics I, II, and III and one course beyond Integrated Mathematics III.

                                                            b.      Students entering the ninth grade for the first time prior to 2002–03 must pass 3 Mathematics credits which shall be either:

                                                                             i.    Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II or a higher level mathematics course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite or

                                                                           ii.    Integrated Mathematics I, II, and III.

          

3.      3 Science credits which shall be:

a.       a physical science course

b.      Biology

c.       an earth/environmental science course

 

4.      3 Social Studies credits which shall be:

                                                             a.      Civics and Economics

                                                            b.      US History

                                                             c.      World History

Note: Effective with students entering the ninth grade for the first time in 2003–04, World History must be taken to meet the requirements of World Studies. 

 

5.      1 Health and Physical Education credit

 

6.      2 credits in the same second language or demonstration of proficiency in a language other than English as determined by the LEA.

 

7.      Elective credits depend on the year the student entered grade nine:

                                                             a.      Students entering the ninth grade for the first time in 2002–03 and beyond must pass 3 elective credits

                                                            b.      Students entering the ninth grade for the first time prior to 2002–03 must  pass 4 elective credits  

 

B.  COLLEGE TECHNICAL PREPARATION COURSE OF STUDY. (For students entering ninth grade for the first time prior to 2009-10.) Students following the College Technical Preparation course of study must pass the following 20 credits plus any local requirements:

1.                  4  English credits which shall be:

a.           English I

b.          English II

c.           English III

d.          English IV

 

2.                     3 Mathematics credits which shall be one of the following:

a.           Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II or

b.          Algebra I, Technical Mathematics I and II or

c.           Integrated Mathematics I, II, and III.

 

Note: A student who is pursuing this course of study may also meet the requirements of a College/University course of study by passing one additional mathematics course for which Algebra II or Integrated Mathematics III is a prerequisite, and effective with the class entering the ninth grade for the first time in the 2002-03 school year, two credits in the same second language.

 

3.                     3 Science credits which shall be:

a.           a physical science course

b.          Biology

c.           an earth/environmental science course

 

4.                     3 Social Studies credits which shall be:

a.           Civics and Economics

b.          US History

c.           World History

Note: Effective with students entering the ninth grade for the first time in 2003-04, World History must be taken to meet the requirements of World Studies.

 

5.                     Second Language is not required.

Note: A student who is pursuing this course of study may also meet the requirements of a college/university course of study by passing one additional mathematics course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite, and effective with the class entering the ninth grade for the first time in the 2002-03 school year, two credits in the same second language. 

 

6.                      1 Health and Physical Education credit

 

7.                      4 Career/Technical Education credits which shall be in a career concentration or

              pathway that leads to a specific career field and which shall include a second-

              level (advanced) course.

 

8.                      2 elective credits

Note: A student who is pursuing this course of study may also meet the requirements of a College/University course of study by passing one additional mathematics course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite, and effective with the class entering the ninth grade for the first time in the 2002-03 school year, two credits in the same second language. 

 

C.    CAREER PREPARATION COURSE OF STUDY. (For students entering 9th grade for the first time prior to 2009-10.) Students following the Career Preparation course of study must pass the following 20 credits plus any local requirements:

1.              4 English credits which shall be:

a.           English I

b.          English II

c.           English III

d.          English IV

 

2.             3 Mathematics credits, one of which shall be Algebra I (except as limited by G.S. § 115C-81(b)); Note: This requirement may be met with Integrated Mathematics I and II when accompanied with the Algebra I end-of-course (EOC).

 

3.             3 science credits which shall be:

a.           a physical science course

b.          Biology

c.           an earth/environmental science course

 

4.             3 Social Studies credits which shall be:

a.           Civics and Economics

b.          US History

c.           World History

Note: Effective with students entering the ninth grade for the first time in 2003-04, World History must be taken to meet the requirements of World Studies. 

 

5.                 1 Health and Physical Education credit

 

6.                 2 elective credits

 

7.             4 credits in Career/Technical Education, which shall be in a career concentration or pathway that leads to a specific career field and which shall include a second-level (advanced) course; or 4 credits in one of the four disciplines in arts education (e.g., theatre, music, visual arts, or dance) or  4 credits in ROTC;

 

III.      Eligible students entering ninth grade for the first time in 2000–2001 and beyond may follow the Occupational Course of Study. Students following the Occupational Course of Study must pass the following 22 credits plus any local requirements:

1.     4 English credits which shall be:

a.       Occupational English I

b.      Occupational English II

c.       Occupational English III

d.      Occupational English IV

 

2.   3 Mathematics credits which shall be: 

a.       Occupational Mathematics I

b.      Occupational Mathematics II

c.       Occupational Mathematics III

 

3.   2 Science credits which shall be:

a.       Life Skills Science I

b.      Life Skills Science II

 

4.   2 Social Studies credits which shall be:

a.       Social Studies I: Government/U.S. History

b.      Social Studies II: Self-Advocacy/Problem Solving

 

5.   1 Health and Physical Education credit

 

6.          6 Occupational Preparation Education credits, which shall be Occupational Preparation I, II, III, and IV (i.e, completion of 300 hours of school-based training, 240 hours of community-based training, and 360 hours of paid employment) or 360 hours of unpaid vocational training, unpaid internship, paid employment at community rehabilitation facilities, and volunteer and/or community services hours for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years.

 

7.      4 Career/Technical Education Elective credits

 

 

8.      A career portfolio

 

9.Completion of the student’s IEP objectives

 

History Note:  Authority G.S. 115C-12(9b); 115C-81(b)(4); N.C. Constitution, Article IX, Sec. 5; Eff. December 1, 1999;Amended Eff. January 2, 2006; April 1, 2005; September 1, 2002; December 1, 2001; December 1, 2000.