La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXV-2318

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 12, December 20, 2024

Section CXV-2318 - The TOPS University Diploma

A. Assessment Requirements

1. For incoming freshmen in 2010-2011 and beyond, students must meet the assessment requirements below to earn a standard diploma.

a. Incoming freshmen in 2010-2011 through 2016-2017 must pass three end-of-course tests in the following categories:

i. English II or English III;

ii. algebra I or geometry;

iii. biology or American history.

b. Incoming freshmen in 2017-2018 through 2023-2024 must pass three LEAP 2025 assessments in the following categories:

i. English I or English II;

ii. algebra I or geometry;

iii. biology or U.S. history.

c. Beginning with incoming freshmen in 2024-2025 and beyond, the LEAP 2025 Civics assessment will replace the LEAP 2025 U.S. History assessment as the Social Studies assessment required for graduation. The LEAP 2025 U.S. History assessment will be available through 2026-2027 for those students requiring a retest to fulfill graduation requirements. Students must pass three LEAP 2025 assessments in the following categories:

i. English I or English II;

ii. algebra I or geometry;

iii. biology or civics.

2. Students who enter traditional grade 9 during or after 2017-2018 are required to score level 2 (approaching basic) or above on English I or English II, algebra I or geometry, and biology or U.S. history to be eligible for a standard high school diploma.

a. For high school seniors enrolled during spring 2021 and graduating by August 31, 2021, and for high school seniors enrolled during spring 2022 and graduating by August 31, 2022, the following may be substituted for the LEAP 2025 high school assessment requirement, provided the student has initially participated in all required assessments:

i. an ACT composite score of 17 or higher for all students; or

ii. an ACT subject score of 17 or higher in the corresponding LEAP 2025 high school assessment pair, as follows:

(a). a score of 17 or higher on the ACT English or Reading tests shall satisfy the English I/English II LEAP 2025 high school assessment requirement;

(b). a score of 17 or higher on the ACT Mathematics test shall satisfy the Algebra I/Geometry LEAP 2025 high school assessment requirement; and

(c). a score of 17 or higher on the ACT Science test shall satisfy the Biology/U.S. History LEAP 2025 high school assessment requirement; or

iii. the student participates in 20 or more extended learning hours per LEAP 2025 high school assessment subject pair for which the student has yet to achieve level 2 (approaching basic) or above, with such instruction provided by a qualified teacher.

(a). the instruction must take place following the academic year, and the student must demonstrate proficiency corresponding to level 2 (approaching basic) or above, as determined by either the school or school system.

(b). a qualified teacher is defined as a teacher holding a valid and current Louisiana teaching certificate or has received a final COMPASS evaluation of effective: emerging or higher.

(c). for purposes of this Section, a qualified teacher is defined as a teacher holding a valid and current Louisiana teaching certificate or has received a final COMPASS evaluation of effective: emerging or higher.

3. Remediation and retake opportunities will be provided for students who do not pass the GEE or the end-of-course tests. Students shall be offered 50 hours of remediation each year in each content area they do not pass on the GEE. Students shall be offered 30 hours of remediation each year in each EOC test they do not pass. Refer to Bulletin 1566, guidelines for pupil progression and the addendum to Bulletin 1566, regulations for the implementation of remedial education programs related to the LEAP/CRT program, regular school year.

4. Students may apply a maximum of two Carnegie units of elective credit toward high school graduation by successfully completing specially designed courses for remediation.

a. A maximum of one Carnegie unit of elective credit may be applied toward meeting high school graduation requirements by an eighth grade student who has scored at the unsatisfactory achievement level on either the English language arts and/or the mathematics component(s) of the eighth grade LEAP provided the student:

i. successfully completed specially designed elective(s) for LEAP remediation;

ii. scored at or above the basic achievement level on those component(s) of the 8th grade LEAP for which the student previously scored at the unsatisfactory achievement level.

5. Prior to or upon the student's entering the tenth grade, all LEAs shall notify each student and his/her parents or guardians of the requirement of passing GEE, LAA 2, or the end-of-course tests.

a. Upon their entering a school system, students transferring to any high school of an LEA shall be notified by that system of the requirement of passing GEE or the end-of-course tests.

6. Students enrolled in a course for which there is an EOC or LEAP 2025 test must take the EOC or LEAP 2025 test.

a. The EOC or LEAP 2025 test score shall count a percentage of the student's final grade for the course. During the transition to new tests, the requirement to count a LEAP 2025 test score as a percentage of the student's final grade will be waived for high school state assessments as follows:

i. English I, English II, algebra I, and geometry scores from the fall 2017 administration; the decision to include scores from these assessments in final grades in spring 2018 shall be a district decision that must be outlined in the pupil progression plan.

ii. U.S. history scores from the fall and spring administrations in 2017-2018; and

iii. biology scores from the fall and spring administrations in 2018-2019.

b. The percentage shall be between 15 percent and 30 percent inclusive, and shall be determined by the LEA.

i. For students with disabilities identified under IDEA who meet the participation criteria found in Bulletin 1530-Louisiana's IEP Handbook for Students with Exceptionalities, §405.B and R.S. 17:183.2, the EOC test score shall count for 5 percent of the students' final grade for the course.

c. The grades assigned for the EOC test achievement levels shall be as follows.

EOC Achievement Level	Grade
Excellent	A
Good	B
Fair	C
Needs Improvement	D or F

B. Minimum Course Requirements

1. For incoming freshmen in the 2014-2015 through 2023-2024 school years who are completing the TOPS university diploma, the minimum course requirements will be the following:

a. English-four units:

i. one of the following:

(a). English I;

(b). English language (part 1): Cambridge IGCSE; or

(c). English literature (part 1): Cambridge IGCSE;

ii. one of the following:

(a). English II;

(b). English language (part 2): Cambridge IGCSE; or

(c). English literature (part 2): Cambridge IGCSE;

iii. one of the following:

(a). English III;

(b). AP English language arts and composition;

(c). IB literature;

(d). IB language and literature;

(e). IB literature and performance;

(f). English language (part 1): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors); or

(g). literature in English (part 1): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

NOTE: If a student chooses to take the A level Cambridge course, the second unit will count as an elective credit.

iv. one of the following:

(a). English IV;

(b). AP English literature and composition;

(c). IB literature;

(d). IB language and literature;

(e). IB literature and performance;

(f). English language (part 2): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors); or

(g). literature in English (part 2): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

NOTE: If a student chooses to take the A level Cambridge course, the second unit will count as an elective credit.

b. mathematics-four units:

i. algebra I;

ii. geometry;

iii. algebra II;

NOTE: Integrated mathematics I, II, and III, including the Cambridge IGCSE integrated mathematics sequence, may be substituted for the algebra I, geometry, and algebra II sequence.

iv. one of the following:

(a). algebra III;

(b). advanced math-functions and statistics;

(c). advanced math-pre-calculus;

(d). pre-calculus;

(e). IB math studies (math methods);

(f). calculus;

(g). AP calculus AB;

(h). IB mathematics SL;

(i). AP calculus BC;

(j). AP statistics;

(k). IB further mathematics HL;

(l). IB mathematics HL;

(m). probability and statistics;

(n). AP computer science A; or

(o). statistical reasoning; or

(p). additional math-Cambridge IGCSE;

(q). math 1 (probability and statistics): Cambridge AICE (honors);

(r). math 1 (pure math): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(s). math 2 (part 1): Cambridge AICE-A level (honors); or

(t). math 2 (part 2): Cambridge AICE-A level (honors);

c. science-four units:

i. biology I;

ii. chemistry I;

iii. two units chosen from the following:

(a). Earth science;

(b). one of:

(i). environmental science;

(ii). environmental awareness;

(c). one of:

(i). physical science;

(ii). principles of engineering;

(iii). PLTW principles of engineering;

(iv). principles of engineering (LSU partnership);

(d). agriscience II-the elective course agriscience I is a pre-requisite;

(e). one of:

(i). chemistry II;

(ii). AP chemistry;

(iii). IB chemistry I;

(iv). IB chemistry II; or

(v). chemistry II: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(f). one of:

(i). AP environmental science;

(ii). IB environmental systems;

(g). one of:

(i). physics I;

(ii). IB physics I;

(iii). AP physics I;

(iv). physics I: Cambridge IGCSE; or

(h). one of:

(i). AP physics C: electricity and magnetism;

(ii). AP physics C: mechanics;

(iii). IB physics II;

(iv). AP physics II;

(v). physics II: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(i). one of:

(i). biology II;

(ii). AP biology;

(iii). IB biology I;

(iv). IB biology II;

(v). biology II: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors); or

(vi). human anatomy and physiology;

d. social studies-four units:

i. one unit chosen from:

(a). U.S. history;

(b). AP U.S. history;

(c). IB history of the americas I;

ii. one unit chosen from:

(a). civics with a section on free enterprise;

(b). government; or

(c). AP U.S. government and politics: comparative; or

(d). AP U.S. government and politics: United States;

iii. two units chosen from:

(a). one of:

(i). European history;

(ii). AP European history;

(iii). western civilization; or

(iv.). history (European): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(b). one of:

(i). world geography;

(ii). AP human geography;

(iii). IB geography;

(iv). physical geography; or

(v). geography: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(c). one of:

(i). world history;

(ii). AP world history;

(iii). IB history of the Americas II; or

(iv). history (international): Cambridge AICE- AS (honors);

(d). one of:

(i). IB economics;

(ii). economics;

(iii). AP macroeconomics;

(iv). AP microeconomics; or

(v). economics: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(e). AP psychology;

(f). history of religion;

(g). African American history;

(h). Dual Enrollment Psychology.

e. foreign language-two units:

i. two units from the same language (§2345);

f. art-one unit chosen from the following: i. art (§2333);

ii. music (§2355);

iii. dance (§2337);

iv. theatre (§2369);

v. speech III and IV-one unit combined;

vi. fine arts survey;

vii. drafting;

viii. media arts (§2354);

ix. photography I/II;

x. digital photography;

xi. digital design (§2338);

g. physical education-1 1/2 units. They shall include:

i. physical education I and II;

ii. adapted physical education I and II for eligible special education students;

iii. JROTC I, II, III, or IV; or

iv. physical education I (1 unit) and 1/2 unit of marching band, extracurricular sports, cheering, or dance team;

h. health education-1/2 unit;

NOTE: JROTC I and II may be used to meet the health education requirement. Refer to §2347

i. electives-three units;

j. total-24 units.

2. For incoming freshmen in the 2024-2025 school year and beyond who are completing the TOPS university diploma, the minimum course requirements will be the following:

a. English-four units.

i. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). English I;

(b). English language (part 1): Cambridge IGCSE; or

(c). English literature (part 1): Cambridge IGCSE.

ii. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). English II;

(b). English language (part 2): Cambridge IGCSE; or

(c). English literature (part 2): Cambridge IGCSE.

iii. One unit chosen from the following

(a). English III;

(b). AP English language arts and composition;

(c). IB literature;

(d). IB language and literature;

(e). IB literature and performance;

(f). English language (part 1): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors); or

(g). literature in English (part 1): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors).

iv. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). English IV;

(b). AP English literature and composition;

(c). IB literature;

(d). IB language and literature;

(e). IB literature and performance;

(f). English language (part 2): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors); or

(g). literature in English (part 2): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors).

v. If a student chooses to take the A level Cambridge course, the second unit will count as an elective credit.

b. Mathematics-four units.

i. Algebra I;

ii. geometry; and

iii. Algebra II.

iv. Integrated mathematics I, II, and III, including the Cambridge IGCSE integrated mathematics sequence, may be substituted for the Algebra I, geometry, and Algebra II sequence.

v. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). Algebra III;

(b). advanced math-functions and statistics;

(c). advanced math-pre-calculus;

(d). pre-calculus;

(e). IB math studies (math methods);

(f). calculus;

(g). AP calculus AB;

(h). IB mathematics SL;

(i). AP calculus BC;

(j). AP statistics;

(k). IB further mathematics HL;

(l). IB mathematics HL;

(m). probability and statistics;

(n). AP computer science A;

(o). statistical reasoning;

(p). additional math-Cambridge IGCSE;

(q). Math 1 (probability and statistics): Cambridge AICE (honors);

(r). Math 1 (pure math): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(s). Math 2 (part 1): Cambridge AICE-A level (honors); or

(t). Math 2 (part 2): Cambridge AICE-A level (honors).

c. Science-four units.

i. Biology I; and

ii. Chemistry I.

iii. Two units chosen from the following:

(a). Earth science;

(b). one of:

(i). environmental science; or

(ii). environmental awareness;

(c). one of:

(i). physical science;

(ii). principles of engineering;

(iii). PLTW principles of engineering; or

(iv). principles of engineering (LSU partnership);

(d). Agriscience II-the elective course Agriscience I is a pre-requisite;

(e). one of:

(i). Chemistry II;

(ii). AP chemistry;

(iii). IB Chemistry I;

(iv). IB Chemistry II; or

(v). Chemistry II: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(f). one of:

(i). AP environmental science; or

(ii). IB environmental systems;

(g). one of:

(i). Physics I;

(ii). IB Physics I;

(iii). AP Physics I; or

(iv). Physics I: Cambridge IGCSE;

(h). one of:

(i). AP Physics C: electricity and magnetism;

(ii). AP Physics C: mechanics;

(iii). IB Physics II;

(iv). AP Physics II; or

(v). Physics II: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(i). one of:

(i). Biology II;

(ii). AP biology;

(iii). IB Biology I;

(iv). IB Biology II;

(v). Biology II: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors); or

(vi). human anatomy and physiology.

d. Social Studies-four units.

i. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). U.S. history;

(b). AP U.S. history; or

(c). IB history of the Americas I.

ii. One unit chosen from the following:

(a). civics with a section on free enterprise;

(b). government;

(c). AP U.S. government and politics: comparative; or

(d). AP U.S. government and politics: United States

iii. Two units chosen from the following:

(a). one of:

(i). European history;

(ii). AP European history;

(iii). western civilization; or

(iv). history (European): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(b). one of:

(i). world geography;

(ii). AP human geography;

(iii). IB geography;

(iv). physical geography; or

(v). geography: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(c). one of:

(i). world history;

(ii). AP world history;

(iii). IB History of the Americas II; or

(iv). history (international): Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(d). one of:

(i). IB economics;

(ii). economics;

(iii). AP macroeconomics;

(iv). AP microeconomics; or

(v). economics: Cambridge AICE-AS (honors);

(e). AP psychology;

(f). history of religion;

(g). African American history; or

(h). Dual Enrollment Psychology.

e. Art-one unit chosen from the following:

i. art (§2333);

ii. music (§2355);

iii. dance (§2337);

iv. theater (§2369);

v. Speech III and IV-one unit combined;

vi. fine arts survey;

vii. drafting;

viii. media arts (§2354);

ix. Photography I/II;

x. digital photography; or

xi. digital design (§2338).

f. Physical Education-1 1/2 units chosen from the following:

i. Physical Education I and II;

ii. Adapted Physical Education I and II for eligible special education students;

ii. JROTC I, II, III, or IV; or

iv. Physical Education I (1 unit) and 1/2 unit of marching band, extracurricular sports, cheerleading, or dance team.

g. Health Education-1/2 unit.

i. JROTC I and II may be substituted for 1/2 unit of health education (§2347).

h. Foreign Language-two units chosen from the same language (§2345).

i. Financial Literacy-one unit.

j. Electives-two units.

k. Total-24 units.

C. Exceptions for Certain Students with Exceptionalities

1. A person who is no longer enrolled in a public school but was identified as a student with an exceptionality as defined in R.S. 17:1942(B), except a gifted or talented student, and who previously failed to receive a high school diploma or was denied graduation solely for failing to meet the exit examination requirements pursuant to state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education rules, regulations, or policy may petition the applicable city, parish, or other local public school board to determine eligibility to receive a high school diploma pursuant to this Subsection.

2. Petitions made pursuant to this Subsection shall be submitted to the local school board by no later than December 31, 2017.

3. A person receiving a diploma pursuant to this Section shall not be counted as a graduate in any graduation rate calculations for affected schools and districts, including calculations for any prior year. A petition shall be submitted to the local school board by December 31, 2017.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXV-2318

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 31:1291 (June 2005), amended LR 31:2211 (September 2005), LR 31:3070 (December 2005), LR 31:3072 (December 2005), LR 32:1414 (August 2006), LR 33:429 (March 2007), LR 33:432 (March 2007), LR 33:2050 (October 2007), LR 33:2354 (November 2007), LR 33:2601 (December 2007), LR 34:1607 (August 2008), LR 36:1486 (July 2010), LR 37:547 (February 2011), LR 37:1128 (April 2011), LR 37:2129 (July 2011), LR 37:2132 (July 2011), LR 37:3193 (November 2011), LR 38:754, 761 (March 2012), LR 38:1001 (April 2012), LR 38:1584 (July 2012), LR 40:994 (Ma/ 2014), LR 40:1328 (July 2014), LR 40:1679 (September 2014), LR 40:2525 (December 2014), LR 41:915 (May 2015), LR 41:1482 (August 2015), LR 4L2126 (October 2015), Amended LR 42232 (2/1/2016), Amended LR 421062 (7/1/2016), Amended LR 421878 (11/1/2016), Amended LR 422176 (12/1/2016), Amended LR 431287 (7/1/2017), Amended LR 432132 (11/1/2017), Amended LR 432483 (12/1/2017), Amended LR 44263 (2/1/2018), Amended LR 441868 (10/1/2018), Repromulgated LR 441998 11/1/2018, Amended LR 451454 (10/1/2019), Amended LR 46556 (4/1/2020), Amended LR 47860 (7/1/2021), Amended LR 45:1454 (October 2019), LR 46:556 (April 2020), LR 4839 (1/1/2022), Repromulgated LR 481092 (4/1/2022), Amended LR 482098 (8/1/2022), Amended LR 482560 (10/1/2022), Amended LR 49642 (4/1/2023), Amended LR 49862 (5/1/2023), Amended LR 50480 (4/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6, 17:7, 17:24.4, 17:183.2, and 17:395.