Section R7-2-315.01. Grand Canyon Diploma

A.      School districts and charter schools in this state may choose to offer a Grand Canyon Diploma beginning in the 2012 – 2013 school year. A high school student who is enrolled in a school district or charter school that offers a Grand Canyon Diploma may choose to pursue a Grand Canyon Diploma.

B.       A student may be awarded a Grand Canyon Diploma at the end of grade 10 or during or at the end of grade 11 or 12 pro- vided that the student has passed both the mathematics and English assessments for the applicable approved board exam- ination system, and the student has successfully completed the following subject area requirements within board examination system curriculum:

1.        Two credits of English;

2.        Two credits of mathematics;

3.        Two credits of science, including lab-based science, engi- neering or information technologies;

4.        One credit of American History;

5.        One credit of World History;

6.        One credit of fine arts or career and technical education and vocational education; and

7.        One-half credit of economics.

C.      A student that satisfies all the criteria for issuance of a Grand Canyon Diploma is exempt from the minimum course of study requirements delineated in R7-2-302.02.

D.      Students who earn a Grand Canyon Diploma shall have multi- ple pathways available to them and may:

1.        Enroll the following semester in a community college under the jurisdiction of a community college in this state. Students who take community college courses on high school campuses pursuant to this subsection shall be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, includ- ing interscholastic sports, through the end of grade 12.

2.        Remain in high school and enroll in additional advanced preparation board examination programs that are designed to prepare students for admission to high quality postsecondary institutions that offer baccalaureate degree programs. These board examination programs shall be selected from a list provided by an interstate compact for board examination systems and approved by the State Board of Education. Students who elect to remain in high school pursuant to this subsection shall be eligible to par- ticipate in extracurricular activities, including interscho- lastic sports, through the end of grade 12.

3.        Enroll in a full-time career and technical education pro- gram offered on a community college campus, a high school campus or a joint technical education district cam- pus, or any combination of these campuses. Students who elect to remain in high school pursuant to this subsection shall be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, including interscholastic sports, through the end of grade 12.

4.        Return to a traditional academic program without com- pleting the next level of board examination systems cur- riculum through the end of grade 12. Students who elect to remain in high school pursuant to this subsection shall be  eligible  to  participate   in  extracurricular  activities,

including interscholastic sports, through the end of grade 12.

E.       Students who pursue but do not earn a Grand Canyon Diploma at the end of grade 10 or 11 shall receive a customized pro- gram of assistance during the next school year that addresses the areas in which the student demonstrated deficiencies in the approved board examinations. These students may retake the board examinations at the next available examination adminis- tration. Students may choose to return to a traditional aca- demic program without completing  the  board examination system curriculum.

F.       A student who remains in a board examination system curricu- lum through grade 12 and does not pass the board examination may graduate with a standard diploma provided that the stu- dent meets the following requirements:

1.        The student has passed the Arizona Instrument to Mea- sure Standards assessments in mathematics and English or received a sufficient score as determined by the State Board of Education on the ACT, SAT, or an approved board examination in mathematics and English.

2.        The student has earned at least 22 credits and has passed a State Board of Education approved sequence of courses within the board examination system curriculum. For the purpose of this requirement the private organization and the Department of Education shall recommend for State Board of Education approval a sequence of courses for each approved board examination system. The sequence of courses for each board examination system shall ensure that students receive instruction in all State Board of Education approved academic standards encompassed in R7-2-302.02(1)(a) through (e).

G.      A student who is enrolled in a school district or charter school that does not offer a board examination system curriculum may earn a Grand Canyon Diploma by:

1.        Obtaining a passing score on the assessments of an approved board examination system in each of the subject areas delineated in R7-2-315.01(B)(1) through (6), and

2.        Completing a high school course in economics.

Historical Note

New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 18 A.A.R.

1025, effective January 24, 2011 (Supp. 12-2).