Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 7 - Education K-12
Part 24 - Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards 2023
ACCREDITATION POLICIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Appendix 7-24-A-11

APPENDIX A-11

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS STANDARD 14

Certificate of Completion

Note: This option shall be offered by districts for incoming freshmen beginning in school year 2018-2019 and thereafter.

A Certificate of Completion is not a high school diploma or an Alternate Diploma, but rather an acknowledgement of the student's participation in and completion of his/her Individualized Education Program (IEP). Students eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion must fall into one (1) the following categories:

1. Students without a Significant Cognitive Disability at the end of 8th grade who:

* Are 16 years old or older; AND

* At least three (3) or more grade levels below their peers in reading and math; AND

* Have a signed statement from the parent acknowledging the Certificate of Completion is not a traditional high school diploma and will not meet the requirements for entry into careers or post- secondary opportunities requiring a diploma.

2. Students without a Significant Cognitive Disability who have not yet turned sixteen (16) by the end of the eighth grade should transition to the ninth grade on a diploma path.

3. Students with a Significant Cognitive Disability at the end of 8th grade who:

* Have extremely limited or no receptive and expressive communication skills AND

* Have a signed statement from the parent acknowledging the Certificate of Completion is not a traditional high school diploma and will not meet the requirements for entry into careers or post- secondary opportunities requiring a diploma.

4. Students with or without a Significant Cognitive Disability at the end of their third year of high school (6 semesters) who:

* Have not earned at minimum of 3 English units, 3 math units, 2 science units, 2 social studies units, and 5 electives; AND

* Have a signed statement from the parent acknowledging the Certificate of Completion is not a traditional high school diploma and will not meet the requirements for entry into careers or post- secondary opportunities requiring a diploma; AND

* Have evidence of 3 or more years of intensive intervention implemented in middle and/or high school to earn Carnegie units. Evidence may include, but is not limited to:

* Progress monitoring data from reading intervention programs or math intervention programs

* Documentation of accommodations and modifications provided in the general education courses and assessments

* Course schedules outlining dedicated time for intervention.

The student's IEP committee determines the course of study for the Certificate of Completion. Areas of instruction should be developed based on the unique needs of the individual student. Course work shall be appropriate for the student and may include:

* Intensive remediation in deficit area skills

* Career preparation courses

* Life skills courses

Students earning the Certificate of Completion must have completed at least four (4) years of high school and/or be at least 19 years of age at the time of graduation.

Students pursuing a Certificate of Completion are required to participate in the Mississippi statewide assessment program deemed appropriate by their Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) Committee.

Students working toward the Certificate of Completion who meet the criteria for a Significant Cognitive Disability are required to participate in the high school end-of-course alternate assessment during the school year the student is enrolled in the corresponding alternate course (Alternate Biology, Alternate English II, Alternate Algebra).

Students working toward the Certificate of Completion who do not meet the criteria for a Significant Cognitive Disability are required to participate in the regular high school end-of course subject area test(s) during the school year the student is enrolled in the corresponding course(s).