Ariz. Admin. Code § 7-2-302

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 45, November 8, 2024

Section R7-2-302 - Minimum Course of Study and Competency Requirements for Graduation from High School

The Board prescribes the minimum course of study and competency requirements as outlined in subsections (1) through (5) and, through the graduating class of 2025, receipt of a passing score of 60 correct answers out of one hundred questions on a civics test identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services as prescribed in A.R.S. § 15-701.01. Beginning with the graduating class of 2026, students shall obtain a passing score of at least 70 correct answers out of one hundred questions on a civics test identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services prescribed in A.R.S. § 15-701.01.

1. Subject area course requirements. The Board establishes 22 credits as the minimum number of credits necessary for high school graduation. Students shall obtain credits for required subject areas as specified in subsections (1)(a) through (e) based on completion of subject area course requirements or competency requirements. At the discretion of the local school district governing board or charter school, credits may be awarded for completion of elective subjects specified in subsection (1)(f) based on completion of subject area course requirements or competency requirements. The awarding of a credit toward the completion of high school graduation requirements shall be based on successful completion of the subject area requirements prescribed by the State Board and local school district governing board or charter school as follows:

a. Four credits of English or English as a Second Language, which shall include but not be limited to the following: reading American and other world literature, reading informational text, writing, research methods, speaking and listening skills, grammar, and vocabulary.

b. Three credits in social studies to minimally include the following:

i. One credit of American history, including Arizona history;

ii. One credit of world history/geography, to include instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides;

iii. One-half credit of American government, including civics and Arizona government; and

iv. One-half credit in economics.

c. Four credits of mathematics to minimally include:

i. Three credits containing course content in preparation for proficiency at the high school level on the statewide assessment and aligned to the Arizona Mathematics Standards for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. These three credits shall be taken beginning with the ninth grade unless a student meets these requirements prior to the ninth grade pursuant to subsection (1)(c)(iii). The requirement for the third credit covering Algebra II, may be met by, but is not limited to the following: a math course comparable to Algebra II course content; computer science, career and technical education and vocational education, economics, science and arts courses as determined by the local school district governing board or charter school.

ii. A fourth credit that includes significant mathematics content as determined by the local school district governing board or charter school.

iii. Courses successfully completed prior to the ninth grade that meet the high school mathematics credit requirements may be applied toward satisfying those requirements.

iv. The mathematics requirements may be modified for students using a Personal Curriculum pursuant to R7-2-302.03.

d. Three credits of science in preparation for proficiency at the high school level on the statewide assessment.

e. One credit of the Arts or career and technical education and vocational education.

f. Seven credits of additional courses prescribed by the local school district governing board or charter school.

i. Health instruction, regardless of the course it is provided in, shall include instruction on mental health;

ii. Mental health instruction may be included in other courses; and

iii. All mental health instruction shall comply with A.R.S. § 15-701.03.

g. A credit or partial credit may apply toward more than one subject area but shall count only as one credit or partial credit toward satisfying the 22 required credits.

2. Credits earned through correspondence courses to meet graduation requirements shall be taken from an accredited institution as defined in R7-2-601. Credits earned thereby shall be limited to four, and only one credit may be earned in each of the following subject areas:

a. English as described in subsection (1)(a) of this Section,

b. Social Studies,

c. Mathematics, and

d. Science.

3. Online and distance education courses may be offered by the local governing board or charter school if the course is provided through an Arizona Online Instruction Program established pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-808.

4. Local school district governing boards or charter schools may grant to career and technical education and vocational education program completers a maximum of 5 1/2 credits to be used toward the Board English, mathematics, science, and economics credit requirements for graduation, subject to the following restrictions:

a. The Board has approved the career and technical education and vocational education program for equivalent credit to be used toward the Board English, mathematics, science, and economics credit requirements for graduation.

b. A credit or partial credit may apply toward more than one subject area but shall count only as one credit or partial credit toward satisfying the 22 required credits.

c. A student who satisfies any part of the Board English, mathematics, science, and economics requirements through the completion of a career and technical education and vocational education program shall still be required to earn 22 total credits to meet the graduation requirements prescribed in this Section.

5. Competency requirements.

a. The awarding of a credit toward the completion of high school graduation requirements shall be based on the requirements outlined in A.R.S. § 15-701.01 and the successful completion of State Board-adopted academic standards for subject areas listed in subsections (1)(a) through (1)(e) and the successful completion of the competency requirements for the elective subjects specified in subsection (1)(f). Competency requirements for elective subjects as specified in subsection (1)(f) shall be the academic standards adopted by the State Board. If there are no adopted academic standards for an elective subject, the local school district governing board or charter school shall be responsible for developing and adopting competency requirements for the successful completion of the elective subject. The school district governing board or charter school shall be responsible for developing and adopting the method and manner in which to administer a test that is identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. School districts and charter schools shall document and report student outcome data on the test pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-701.01 and based on procedures adopted by the Arizona Department of Education. Schools may administer the test to students beginning in the seventh grade and any pupil who does not obtain a passing score on the test may retake the test until the pupil obtains a passing score.

b. The determination and verification of student accomplishment and performance shall be the responsibility of the subject area teacher.

c. Upon request of the student, the local school district governing board or charter school shall provide the opportunity for the student to demonstrate competency in the subject areas listed in subsections (1)(a) through (1)(f) in lieu of classroom time. In appropriate courses, a school district governing board or charter school shall include as a mechanism to demonstrate competency a score determined by the State Board as college and career ready on the appropriate assessment adopted by the State Board pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 15-741 or 15-741.01.

6. The local school district governing board or charter school shall be responsible for developing a course of study and graduation requirements for all students placed in special education programs in accordance with A.R.S. Title 15, Chapter 7, Article 4 and R7-2-401 et seq. Students placed in special education classes, through 12, are eligible to receive a high school diploma upon completion of graduation requirements.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-302

Former Section R7-2-302 repealed, new Section R7-2-302 adopted effective December 4, 1978 (Supp. 78-6). Amended effective July 8, 1983 (Supp. 83-4). Amended subsections (1) and (5) effective January 1, 1987 (Supp. 84-3). See R7-2-302.01 and R7-2-302.02 for minimum credits for graduating classes of 1987 forward (Supp. 86-5). Repealed effective August 28, 1992; Inadvertently omitted from Supp. 92-3; corrected Supp. 93-4. Amended effective November 17, 1994 (Supp. 94-4). Repealed effective February 20, 1997 (Supp. 97-1). New Section adopted by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 1255, effective February 20, 2001 (Supp. 01-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 3893, effective August 21, 2002 (Supp. 02-3). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 21 A.A.R. 1778, effective 6/23/2014. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 22 A.A.R. 143, effective 8/26/2013. Amended by exempt rulemaking at 22 A.A.R. 197, effective 10/26/2015. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 24 A.A.R. 691, effective 2/26/2018. Amended by final rulemaking at 26 A.A.R. 2897, effective 10/26/2020. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 27 A.A.R. 2694, effective 10/25/2021. Amended by final exempt rulemaking at 29 A.A.R. 183, effective 12/9/2022.