Excerpts related to technology from the
New Hampshire Education Administrative Rules Adopted 7/1/05
PART Ed 306 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL APPROVAL
Ed 306.27 High School Curriculum, Units of Credit, Graduation Requirements, and Cocurricular Program.
(a) The local school board shall ensure that the required curriculum content developed for each high school is consistent with RSA 193-C:3, III.
(b) The required curriculum content shall comply with the following:
(1) The program of studies shall include those courses for which credit is awarded as well as other educational experiences and instructional activities required by Ed 306;
(2) Credit courses shall be planned for the attainment of specific educational objectives leading to the high school diploma;
(3) The instructional program shall include:a. Procedures for diagnosing learner needs;
b. Methods and strategies for teaching that incorporate learner needs;
c. Resource-based learning opportunities;
d. Techniques for the evaluation of student outcomes; and
e. The provision of remedial instruction as needed;(4) If a district chooses to offer extended learning opportunities, the extended learning opportunities shall:
a. Consist of activities designed to:
1. Provide credit or supplement regular academic courses; and
2. Promote the schools and individual students’ educational goals and objectives;b. Be governed by a policy adopted by the local school board that:
1. Provides for the administration and supervision of the program;
2. Encourages that certified school personnel oversee an individual student’s program;
3. Requires that each extended learning proposal meet rigorous standards, and be approved by the school prior to its beginning; 4. Specifies that credits can be granted for extended learning activities, including, but not limited to, independent study, private instruction, team sports, performing groups, internships, community service, and work study; and
5. Requires that granting of credits shall be based on a student’s demonstration of competencies, as approved by certified educators;c. Incorporate student participation in selecting, organizing, and carrying out extended learning activities;
d. Provide opportunities for students to acquire knowledge and skill development comparable to knowledge and skill development in courses offered at the high school; and
e. Be available to all students; and(5) A cocurricular program shall be offered that provides opportunities for all students to participate in activities designed to meet their needs and interests, including, but not limited to:
a. Intramural and interscholastic athletics;
b. Performing groups;
c. Academic clubs and societies;
d. Student government;
e. Activities and services that afford students with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate; and
f. Any other activities that:1. Supplement and enrich regular academic courses;
2. Provide opportunities for social development;
3. Encourage participation in the arts, athletics, and other cooperative groups; and
4. Encourage service to school and community.(c) The local school board shall require that a program of studies shall be offered for each high school that includes credit courses or equivalent study and other educational experiences and instructional activities as specified in (e) below. 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. If a student demonstrates knowledge and abilities on a placement pre-test developed by the local school district for a particular course, the student shall not receive credit for the course, but shall be allowed to take a more advanced level of the subject or an elective.
(d) By the 2008-2009 school year, the local school board shall require that a high school credit can be earned by demonstrating mastery of required competencies for the course, as approved by certified school personnel. Until the 2008-2009 school year, the local school board shall require that a high school credit can be earned as provided in (1) or (2) below, or both:
(1) Attendance at a course scheduled to meet for no less than 135 clock hours of instructional time if the school operates on an 8-period schedule or for no less than 150 clock hours of instructional time if the school operates on a 7-period schedule; or
(2) If a competency assessment is in place as provided in (i) below, by demonstrating mastery of required competencies for the course, as approved by certified school personnel.
(e) Items (1) – (16) below shall not limit opportunities to develop programs that meet the needs of each student:
(1) Ed 306.31, relative to arts education;
(2) Ed 306.33, relative to business education;
(3) Ed 306.34, relative to career and technical education;
(4) Ed 306.35, relative to career education;
(5) Ed 306.36, relative to driver education;
(6) Ed 306.37, relative to English/language arts and reading program;
(7) Ed 306.38, relative to family and consumer science education;
(8) Ed 306.39, relative to guidance and counseling program;
(9) Ed 306.40, relative to health education program;
(10) Ed 306.41, relative to physical education program;
(11) Ed 306.42, relative to information and communication technologies program;
(12) Ed 306.43, relative to mathematics program;
(13) Ed 306.45, relative to science education;
(14) Ed 306.46, relative to social studies program;
(15) Ed 306.47, relative to technology education;
(16) Ed 306.48, relative to world languages program; and
(17) Ed 306.27(a)(4), relative to extended learning opportunities, if offered.(f) 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.
(g) The following shall apply relative to required program areas and credits:
(1) Consistent with Ed 306, the local school board shall verify in writing to the commissioner that each high school shall offer courses which total at least 45 credits distributed as shown in Table 306-1 when the school seeks approval or renewal of approval under Ed 306.28;
(2) Each high school’s credit course offerings shall be composed of single credit courses, fractional credit courses, or integrated sequences of courses, or any combination of these;
(3) Each high school may use any relevant title to identify a particular course;
(4) Local school boards may propose innovative ways to meet or exceed the requirements in Table 306-1, pursuant to Ed 306.29; and
(5) The required credits in program areas offered by each high school shall be distributed as specified in Table 306-1 below:
Table 306-1 Required Program Areas and Credits Required Program Areas Credit(s) Arts education 3 credits Business education 5 credits Information and communications technologies ½ credit Family and consumer science 3 credits World languages 5 credits Health education 1/2 credit Physical education 2 credits Technology education 4 credits English 6 credits Mathematics 6 credits Science 5 credits Social studies 5 credits (h) The local school board of each high school shall award a regular high school diploma to those students who earn at least 20 credits for courses selected from the school’s program of studies, provided that the student meets the requirements for high school graduation.
(i) If the local school board adopts a policy that would allow students to graduate from high school as a result of demonstrating mastery of required competencies, the policy shall require students to meet both state and local standards. By the 2008-2009 school year, the local school board shall require that a high school have in place competency assessments for all courses offered through the high school.
(j) The local school board of each high school shall award a regular high school diploma to all students, with and without disabilities, who have earned at least their local high school’s required units of credit for graduation, selected from the school’s program of studies or comparable classes and courses approved for regular credit by the applicable academic department or school program.
(k) The awarding of different types of diplomas shall be governed by the following:
(1) A school shall award a regular diploma for completion of the district minimum earned course credit requirements;
(2) A school may award a special diploma that recognizes academic achievement;
(3) Credits earned in adult education, including but not limited to night school, may be used to earn a regular diploma; and
(4) Students may earn certificates of completion or equivalency diplomas, but these shall not be equal to a regular high school diploma.(l) All students with disabilities shall be entitled to continue with their high school educational program until such time as each student has earned a regular high school diploma or has attained the age of 21, whichever comes first, or until the IEP or Section 504 team, through a formal evaluation process, determines that such student is no longer in need of, and thereby not eligible for, special education and related services or accommodations and auxiliary supports.
(m) 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 1/2 credit Information and communications technologies 1/2 credit or demonstrate proficiency 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 1/2 credit Economics 1/2 credit World history, global studies, or geography 1/2 credit Health education 1/2 credit Physical education 1 credit Open electives 6 credits Total 20 credits (n) The ½ credit requirement in information and communications technologies education shall be met by successfully completing:
(1) The equivalent of a ½ credit course comprised of the creation of a digital portfolio to demonstrate proficient, ethical, and responsible use of 21st century tools, including, but not limited to, digital technology and communication tools, in the context of core subjects; or
(2) A ½ credit course in information and communications technologies education at the high school level.
(o) The 6 credits of open electives shall be selected from any of the school's course offerings.
(p) The local school board shall adopt a policy relative to counting credits for course work earned in one content area toward meeting any graduation requirements in another content area through the awarding of interdisciplinary credit. Any graduation requirement in a subject area may be earned through interdisciplinary credit, subject to the following conditions:
(1) Graduation requirements met by interdisciplinary credit shall be clearly designated on student transcripts;
(2) Interdisciplinary credit shall be counted only once in meeting graduation requirements; and
(3) The high school principal may approve a particular course for interdisciplinary credit if he/she determines that:a. The course has been adopted by a faculty team; and
b. The course addresses the objectives for the subject area in which the credit is to be counted.(q) If a local school board adopts policies relative to the awarding of credit for distance education as described in Ed 306.22, the policies shall require that:
(1) Students may earn credit toward the number of units required for graduation through the successful completion of such courses; and
(2) Credit shall be granted only if the high school principal determines that the distance learning course meets the academic standards required by the high school for students enrolled in a credit course offered by the high school.(r) In each high school, the minimum yearly course load for a student shall be 4 credits, except that this requirement may be modified for:
(1) Disabled students for which an individualized education program (IEP) has been developed in accordance with Ed 1109;
(2) Students for whom early graduation has been approved as provided in (t) below; or
(3) Those individuals in special or unusual circumstances as provided by local school board policy.(s) A local school board may 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 he/she 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 approval by the high school principal, the minimum 4-credit requirement per year for enrolled students shall be waived, and the student shall be awarded a high school diploma.
(t) 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 requirements.
(u) 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:
(1) Such action is in the best interests of the student; and
(2) At least one of the following circumstances exists:a. The student has a debilitating illness which limits school attendance;
b. The student has a physical disability which precludes participation in physical education;
c. The student moved into a New Hampshire school district from out of state during grade 12 and was not able to schedule a particular graduation requirement; or
d. Another condition exists beyond the control of the student similar to the conditions described in a., b., or c.(v) 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.