DATE: October 1, 2008

TO: Ninth Grade Students and Parents

FROM: Robert Hicks

RE: Revised Graduation Regulations

Last week we received the final approved revised Board of Regents Regulations regarding high school graduation. These include a change to the use of state assessments in determining graduation eligibility. We are required to notify you of this change by October 1, and at the bottom of this letter is the relevant new regulatory language. The regulations in their entirety are available at http://www.ridoe.net/. Throughout the year we will be learning from the Department of Education how we must implement these new requirements and will share information with you as it is revealed to us and incorporated into our diploma system. These new requirements first apply to the class of 2012, your class.

L-6-3.3. Use of proficiency measures for high school graduation.

Each local educational agency shall create a composite measure of each student’s overall proficiency for graduation in the six core academic areas. This composite measure will be developed using individual student results on state assessments in mathematics and English language arts, and, when so designated by the Board of Regents, science, combined with measures of successful course completion and at least two additional performance-based diploma assessments, as set forth in sections 3.1 and 3.2 of these regulations. In areas where the Board of Regents has not approved a state assessment for the purpose of determining student proficiency for graduation, the local educational agency shall use successful course completion and at least two additional performance-based diploma assessments to determine student proficiency for graduation in those areas of study. While state assessments shall not be the sole grounds to prohibit graduation from high school, local educational agencies shall use individual student results on Board of Regents’ designated statewide assessments as one third (33 1/3%) of the components of their total assessment of student proficiency for graduation in said designated areas of study. The Board of Regents shall determine the minimum achievement level on the designated statewide assessments for the purposes of this section. If a student does not meet this minimum level of proficiency necessary in an area of study, additional evidence of proficiency will be required in a manner and format to be prescribed by the Commissioner. State assessment results shall also be included on each student’s permanent high school transcript in each academic year following the year in which the District in which such student is enrolled has secured approval from the Commissioner of its High School Diploma System pursuant to Section 3.4 of these Regulations.