New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Ed - Board of Education
Chapter Ed 300 - ADMINISTRATION OF MINIMUM STANDARDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Part Ed 306 - MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL APPROVAL
Section Ed 306.27 - High School Curriculum, Credits, Graduation Requirements, and Co-curricular Program
Current through Register No. 12, March 21, 2024
(a) The local school board shall require that the curriculum content developed for each high school outlines district and graduation competencies and is consistent with RSA 193-C:3, III.
(b) The required curriculum content shall comply with the following:
(c) The local school board shall require that a program of studies shall be offered for each high school that enables each student to engage in and demonstrate achievement outlined for graduation as well as other educational experiences and instructional activities as follows:
(d) Each high school shall offer maximum student opportunities, in and out of the classroom, while at the same time specifying a basic number of courses that each high school shall offer.
(e) A student shall receive acknowledgement of achievement of the competencies contained within the course, shall be awarded course credit, and shall be eligible to take another course when the following is met:
(f) Department approved assessments shall include assessments that measure achievement of the competencies contained within the course.
(g) The local school board shall require that graduation be based on mastery of required graduation competencies as demonstrated through the accumulation of credits as outlined in Table 306-3 and by a certified educator. Each high school shall determine how completion of a classroom course, career and technical education courses, independent study, distance learning course, or extended learning opportunity can support student achievement and demonstration of district or graduation competencies.
(h) Credits shall be based on the demonstration of district and or graduation competencies not on time spent achieving these competencies. The credit shall equate to the level of rigor and achievement necessary to master competencies that have been designed to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to progress toward college level and career work.
(i) Students may receive acknowledgement of achievement for graduation competencies through student demonstration of a collection of work or other assessment evidence gained through prior learning activities.
(j) The items in (c) above shall not limit opportunities to develop programs that meet the needs of each student.
(k) The programs of studies in (c) above may be offered and coordinated individually or through interdisciplinary studies.
(l) Students shall engage with and apply English and mathematics graduation competencies during every year they are enrolled in high school even if graduation competencies for English and mathematics have been demonstrated. Such engagement may occur through integration of these graduation competencies in courses focused on content areas other than English or mathematics. Such engagement shall support students to be college and career ready in mathematics and English/language arts. Nothing contained in this section shall preclude a school or district from offering courses and other learning opportunities in addition to the minimum outlined in Ed 306.
(m) There shall be a minimum of 20 credits for a regular high school diploma, unless the local school board has set a requirement of more than 20 credits for a regular high school diploma, in which case the local credit requirement shall apply. The local school board shall require that each high school offers courses or learning opportunities as specified in (c) above.
(n) The following shall apply relative to the required program of studies:
Table 306-1 Required Program Areas and Courses
Required Program Areas |
Courses |
Arts education |
3 courses |
Business education |
3 courses |
Family and consumer science |
3 courses |
Digital literacy |
½ course or demonstrated proficiency |
World languages |
5 courses |
Health education |
½ course |
Physical education |
2 courses |
Technology education |
4 courses |
English |
6 courses |
Mathematics |
6 courses |
Science |
5 courses |
Social studies |
5 courses |
Computer science |
2 courses |
(o) The local school board of each high school shall award a regular high school diploma to those students who achieve and demonstrate all graduation competencies as encompassed in at least 20 credits.
(p) The local school board shall require that a high school have in place competency assessments for all courses offered through the high school.
(q) The local school board of each high school shall award a regular high school diploma to all students, with and without disabilities, who have achieved and demonstrated their local high school's required graduation competencies.
(r) The school board of a district which does not operate a high school may award a high school diploma if the following are met:
(s) The awarding of different types of diplomas shall be governed by the following:
(t) The district shall provide learning opportunities that enable students to achieve the district's graduation competencies. Graduation competencies shall align with the skills, knowledge, and work-study practices required for success in college and careers.
(u) Students shall demonstrate competencies contained in at least the equivalent of 20 credits. Students shall engage in learning concerning competencies in the areas of English/language arts and mathematics for every year they are in high school until graduation, regardless of if English/language arts or mathematics graduation competencies have been achieved. Such engagement may occur through integration of these graduation competencies in courses focused on content areas other than English or mathematics as long as English or mathematics competencies are clear expectations of the course. Such engagement shall support students to be college and career ready in mathematics and English/language arts. Nothing contained in this section shall preclude a school or district from offering courses and other learning opportunities in addition to the minimum outlined in Ed 306.
(v) The 20 credits required for graduation shall be distributed as specified in Table 306-2:
Table 306-2 Required Subjects and Credits for High School Graduation
Required Subjects |
Credit(s) |
Arts education |
½ credit |
Digital literacy |
½ credit |
English |
4 credits |
Mathematics |
3 credits, including algebra credit that can be earned through a sequential, integrated, or applied program |
Physical sciences |
1 credit |
Biological sciences |
1 credit |
US and NH history |
1 credit |
US and NH government/civics |
½ credit |
Economics, including personal finance |
½ credit |
World history, global studies, or geography |
½ credit |
Health education |
½ credit |
Physical education |
1 credit |
Open electives |
6 credits |
Totals |
20 credits |
(w) Graduation competencies shall include competencies from the content areas as distributed in Table 306-3 in which students demonstrate proficiency as determined by the local school district:
Table 306-3 Required Credits for Graduation and Graduation Competencies
Required Graduation Competencies by Content Areas |
Credit(s) |
Arts education |
½ credit |
Digital literacy |
½ credit |
English |
4 credits |
Mathematics that encompasses algebra, mathematical modeling, statistics and probability, complex applications of measurement, applied geometry, graphical presentation and interpretation, statistics an data analysis |
3 credits, d |
Physical sciences |
1 credit |
Biological sciences |
1 credit |
US and NH history |
1 credit |
US and NH government/civics |
½ credit |
Economics, including personal finance |
½ credit |
World history, global studies, or geography |
½ credit |
Health education |
½ credit |
Physical education |
1 credit |
Open electives |
6 credits |
Totals |
20 credit |
(x) The rigor and number of graduation competencies shall align with the equivalent of the credits as outlined in Table 306-3.
(y) In addition to the graduation competencies aligned with credits as outlined in Table 306-3, students shall also demonstrate achievement of additional competencies through the equivalent of 6 elective courses, career and technical education courses, or extended learning opportunities of their choosing. These additional competencies required for graduation should align with student interests and should prepare the student for successful transitions into careers and college.
(z) The graduation competencies in digital literacy education shall be met by either:
(aa) The local school board shall adopt a policy relative to counting achievement and demonstration of graduation competencies from course work earned in one content area toward meeting any graduation competencies in another content area.
(ab) Any graduation competency in a subject area may be earned through interdisciplinary learning, subject to the following conditions:
(ac) Local school board policies relative to the awarding of achievement and demonstration of district or graduation competencies for distance education as described in Ed 306.22, shall require that:
(ad) In each high school, the minimum yearly course load for a student shall be the equivalent of 4 credits, except that this requirement may be modified for:
(ae) A local school board shall adopt policies pertaining to early graduation for individual students. Such policies shall require parental involvement for students under the age of 18. Consistent with local policy, the high school principal shall approve such requests if the high school principal determines that all state and local graduation requirements will be met and that early graduation is related to the career or educational plans of the student making the request. Upon demonstration of all graduation competencies, awarding of appropriate credits, and approval by the high school principal, the student shall be awarded a high school diploma.
(af) The principal shall evaluate the transcripts of students who transfer into a secondary school from another educational program, or state, to determine previous educational experiences toward meeting graduation competencies.
(ag) Upon receipt of a written request from the local school board, the commissioner of education shall waive a particular graduation requirement and shall permit the local board to award a high school diploma to a student if the commissioner determines that:
(ah) Each local high school shall provide reasonable accommodations for cocurricular activities as appropriate in order to allow for full access and participation by students with disabilities.
(ai) The local school board shall require, and each district shall establish, and provide instruction in, Holocaust and genocide education as described in Ed 306.49, implemented not earlier than in 8th grade and continuing through grade 12 as a component of a course in social studies, world history, global studies, or US history. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent developmentally appropriate instruction in Holocaust and genocide studies prior to 8th grade or as a component of other learning areas.