Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 200 - Board of Education
Chapter 20 - Council on Elementary and Secondary Education
Subchapter 10 - Academic Standards, Programs and Operations
Part 2 - Secondary Design: Middle and High School Learning Environments and the Rhode Island Diploma System
Section 200-RICR-20-10-2.3 - Rhode Island Diploma System

Universal Citation: 200 RI Code of Rules 20 10 2.3

Current through September 18, 2024

A. Diploma eligibility shall be derived through the:

1. Successful completion of credits in conformance with §2.3.1 of this Part.

2. Successful completion of at least one (1) performance-based diploma assessment as described in §2.3.2 of this Part.

B. In order to be eligible for a diploma, students must meet State and local requirements in § 2.3(A) of this Part.

C. LEAs shall provide students with multiple opportunities and appropriate supports to meet local graduation requirements adopted in compliance with this Part and to prepare for post-secondary academic and career goals.

D. Each Rhode Island school committee shall adopt graduation requirements consistent with §§2.3.1 through 2.3.9 of this Part in LEA policy and shall maintain and provide documentation of these policies annually to RIDE.

2.3.1 Credit Requirements

A. LEAs shall formally adopt credit graduation requirements that apply to all students within the LEA and require successful completion of at least twenty (20) credits.

B. The twenty credits must include demonstration of proficiency, as defined by the LEA and aligned with appropriate high school content standards for all awarded credits.

1. All credits shall be aligned to State endorsed standards or locally adopted standards in content areas for which there are no State standards.

2. The awarding of credit shall demonstrate that students have met the identified academic standards to achieve high school level proficiency, as determined by the LEA. Seat time and instructional minutes shall not be a consideration in the issuance of credit.

3. Successful completion of a credit shall include demonstration of the knowledge, skill, and competencies outlined in the credit learning objectives.

4. LEAs are recommended to explore the use of flex credits to meet the credit requirements enumerated in §2.3.1(C).

C. The twenty (20) credits must include the following content-area credits:

1. Four (4) credits of English language arts;

2. Four (4) credits of math including Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry;

3. Three (3) credits of science including two (2) lab sciences; and,

4. Three (3) credits of history/social studies.

5. Two (2) credits of world languages in the same world language;

6. One (1) additional credit of college preparatory coursework; and

7. Pursuant to LEA policies and applicable State law, the additional three (3) required credits shall include the arts, computer science, and physical education and health. Physical education and health standards shall include meeting all physical education and health requirements enumerated in State statute. Arts requirements shall include meeting all requirements enumerated in the Basic Education Program Regulations.

8. Effective with the Class of 2028, it is the default expectation is that all students shall be enrolled in credit sequence stated in §2.3.1(C) and proficiency requirements stated in §2.3.2 of this Part. A student with the informed consent of their parent or legal guardian may enroll in a RIDE-approved readiness pathway after reviewing student data, and student's college and career goals identified in their Individualized Learning Plan. Approved readiness pathway credits will substitute for the credits identified in §§2.3.1(C) and 2.3.1(D) of this Part, and proficiency requirements identified in §2.3.2 of this Part. Readiness pathways will focus on developing the academic and technical skills needed for a successful transition to employment and shall be aligned to the student's Individualized Learning Plan. RIDE will annually review, approve, and publish approved readiness pathways, and their outcomes. This will include disaggregated data. School schedules and the availability of courses shall not be a driving factor in a student's decision to enroll in a readiness pathway.

D. Students who are enrolled in and are on-track to complete a high-skill, high-growth CTE program, and/or full-time dual enrollment may receive flexibility on how to meet the twenty (20) credits required for graduation to support a student's participation and progress in advanced learning experiences. As such, students may meet their twenty (20) credits by meeting the following credit requirements:

1. Four (4) credits of English language arts;

2. Three (3) credits of math including Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry;

3. Three (3) credits of science including two (2) lab sciences; and,

4. Three (3) credits of history/social studies.

5. Two (2) credits of world languages in the same world language;

6. Two (2) additional credits of college preparatory coursework; and

7. Pursuant to LEA policies and applicable State law, the additional three (3) required credits shall include the arts, computer science, physical education and health. Physical education and health standards shall include meeting all physical education and health requirements enumerated in State statute. Arts requirements shall include meeting all requirements enumerated in the Basic Education Program Regulations.

E. Designation as a content-area credit, e.g., "math" or "science," shall be an LEA decision based upon alignment to relevant State endorsed standards or, in those content areas not defined by State-adopted standards, other recognized content standards. LEAs may develop flex credit experiences that integrate multiple core or other content areas and associated learning standards into a single credit for the purpose of meeting credit requirements.

F. The selection and scheduling of credits shall be consistent with the needs of the individual student and, to the maximum degree possible, the student's individual learning plan (ILP) and IEP where applicable. LEAs are encouraged to develop flex credit experiences that allow students to develop academic learning experiences that support the passions and goals of students.

G. LEA graduation requirements shall satisfy all curricular requirements set forth in General Laws and applicable Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Regulations.

H. Students may meet the requirements set forth in this Section, inclusive of the fourteen (14) content-area credit requirements, through credits earned within the ACN, State-approved career and technical programs, expanded learning opportunities, dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, on-line learning, experiential learning opportunities, and other non-traditional academic and career-readiness learning experiences.

I. Recognition of learning opportunities as fulfilling the credit graduation requirements in this Section shall be aligned to State endorsed content-area standards. Credit catalogs should clearly indicate credits that may fulfill contentarea credit requirements. LEAs are strongly encouraged to allow the use of the ACN to meet graduation credit requirements.

J. Students who achieve modified proficiency standards applied to credit requirements for students determined to be eligible for the alternate assessment under Federal law, State Rules and Regulations, and as noted in the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP), may, at LEA discretion, be awarded a diploma for graduation purposes.

2.3.2 Real-World Relevant Proficiency Requirements

A. Students shall successfully demonstrate proficiency in the following subject areas to provide them real-world relevant skills that will develop skills and support their success in participating in society, thriving in the twenty-first (21st) century economy, and in securing their own financial security.

1. Civics beginning with the Class of 2028.

2. Computer Science beginning with the Class of 2028.

3. Financial Literacy beginning with the Class of 2024.

B. RIDE will engage stakeholders to adopt standards for each proficiency requirement which will include standards, assessments, and resources to support effective implementation. LEAs are recommended to explore the use of flex credits to meet the credit requirements enumerated in §§2.3.2(A)(1) - (3) of this Part.

2.3.3 College and Career Ready Requirements

A. Each graduating senior shall be provided information on postsecondary opportunities including, but not limited to, college, career, apprenticeship, and the military.

B. Each graduating senior shall be encouraged to complete one (1) of the following to support a successful transition to postsecondary education and/or career training. High schools shall be required to provide students information pursuant to State statute on how to complete and submit to the U.S. Department of Education a free application for Federal student aid; and complete and submit to the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner a free application for State student aid.

C. RIDE shall collect information on the completion of the U.S. Department of Education's free application for Federal student aid, and the free application for State student aid. This information will be reported in ESSA school report cards including the disaggregation of data, and will be included in school accountability for the Class of 2028.

D. Each graduating senior shall complete a resume prior to high school graduation.

2.3.4 Performance-based Diploma Assessments

Students shall successfully complete at least one (1) performance-based diploma assessment. Successful completion of performance-based diploma assessments shall include demonstrations of both applied learning skills and proficiency in one (1) or more content areas. All performance-based diploma assessments shall be evaluated utilizing an LEA-defined scoring criteria aligned with applicable State standards, applied learning standards, and the expectations employers, and postsecondary education. Performance-based assessment may include workbased learning, community service, project-based learning, and other strategies that support applied learning.

2.3.5 Appeals Process for Graduation Decisions

Students and families shall have the right to appeal graduation decisions through locally managed appeals policies and processes. Locally managed appeals processes shall consider all valid sources of evidence that demonstrate and document student proficiency at a level commensurate with the requirements set forth in this Part. LEAs shall maintain documentation on locally managed appeals criteria, processes, and outcomes.

2.3.6 Council Designations

A. Commencing with the graduating class of 2021, LEAs shall include a designation notation on permanent high school transcripts and on the diplomas of all students who meet Council-defined criteria. The Council shall determine:

1. Designations available statewide; and,

2. The level of achievement necessary for a Council Designation.

B. Designations approved by the Council shall include, but not be limited to documentation of student achievement of a statewide ELA and Math standard and documentation of student completion of a credit of study consistent with a personal learning goal.

C. LEAs shall provide students with multiple opportunities and appropriate supports to meet designation requirements.

D. LEAs are authorized to award additional locally-developed designations until the Class of 2026.

E. Commencing with the Class of 2028, students will be required to earn a diploma plus credential that is recognized and valued by Rhode Island's postsecondary education institutions, and employers to earn a diploma endorsement.

2.3.8 Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Approved Diploma System

A. The Commissioner shall establish protocols and criteria for reviewing LEA diploma systems to ensure that they are in compliance with all elements of this Part.

B. The LEA is responsible for maintaining all records that demonstrate compliance with this Part.

C. The Commissioner shall develop a progressive system of monitoring and accountability to ensure LEA implementation and compliance with this Part.

2.3.9 Local Educational Agency Notification to Students, Families, and Community Members of the Requirements for Graduation

A. All notices in this Section must be provided in a format accessible to family and students.

1. LEAs shall provide full and effective annual notice of the State and local graduation requirements to administrators, teachers, students, families, and members of the community. Full and effective notice of the requirements for graduation and Council designations must be provided to students and their families no later than October 1 in the year in which said students enter the ninth (9th) grade (or at the time of enrollment into the LEA), after which the local and State diploma system requirements shall not be altered for the affected class. LEAs shall provide notice of the requirements to students enrolled by the LEA in non-public schools or programs and to students attending school in juvenile correction programs.

2. LEAs shall provide annual notification to parents/guardians to receive information on their child's progress toward graduation requirements, college and career readiness benchmarks, council designation requirements, and CTE programs, if applicable, as a part of their end of year report card.

3. In the event that a student is in jeopardy of not earning a diploma or graduating college and career ready, the LEA must maintain a record of multiple and timely individual notices to the student and his/her family that include:

a. Clear notification of the student's academic status; and,

b. The opportunity to meet and discuss the student's academic program, support, and planned interventions; and,

c. Regular updates of student performance and progress.

B. LEA failure to provide student and family notifications in the manner set forth in this Section may be addressed through locally managed appeals processes but shall not be presumed to result in the awarding of a diploma.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

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