SP 9-30e – High School Diplomas

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SP 9-30e

APPROVED: July 1, 2024
EFFECTIVE: July 1, 2024

REFERENCE(S): Board Policy (BP) 9-30, Approval of Academic Programs

APPROVED: 

/ Joseph A. Garcia /
Joseph A. Garcia, Chancellor

Application

This procedure applies to the issuance of high school diplomas (“diplomas”) through the Colorado Community College System and its Colleges (CCCS or System), within programs approved by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE or Board) pursuant to BP 9-30.

Basis

This procedure defines the minimum standards for CCCS awarded diplomas. Under state statute, high school graduation requirements are generally set by local school boards. State statute also authorizes the SBCCOE to establish and approve graduation requirements for high school diplomas. CCCS shall align its minimum standards with the Colorado Graduation Guidelines, which are designed to help all students and families plan for success after high school.

Definitions

“Colorado Graduation Guidelines”: Guidelines set forth by the State Board of Education, outlining the minimum components, expectations, and responsibilities of the state in supporting students demonstrating their readiness for next steps after high school. Graduation Guidelines begin with the implementation of Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAP), 21st Century Essential Skills, and Colorado Academic Standards for all content areas, and are used to implement menu options for students seeking a diploma.

“High School Diploma”: A document conferred to a learner upon completion of education requirements that demonstrate Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness.

“Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness” (PWR): The knowledge and skills (competencies) needed to succeed in postsecondary settings and to advance in career pathways as lifelong learners and contributing citizens.

Procedure

Students must demonstrate readiness for college, or a career, based on at least one measure in mathematics, and one measure in reading, writing, and communicating. Colleges shall only issue a high school diploma when a learner has completed a course in civics, and has demonstrated competency in 1) mathematics, and 2) reading, writing, and communicating from any Colorado Graduation Guidelines Menu option listed below. A learner may demonstrate competency in each required area by completing a “demonstration of competency completion” as described in the Colorado Graduation Guidelines Menu below.

College Coursework in Civics:
State statute requires all Colorado high school graduates to complete coursework in civics, specifically a course that incorporates genocide and Holocaust studies. The Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs shall develop a process for the development of, changes to, and exceptions to the courses approved to demonstrate the civics requirement.

As required by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) Transfer Policy, a College will only accept transfer credit for a civics course meeting CCHE requirements in which the learner earned a grade of “C” or better.

Colorado Graduation Guidelines Menu:
The State Board of Education, through the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), approved a graduation guidelines menu with options to demonstrate competency in 1) mathematics, and 2) reading, writing, and communicating through assessment, college coursework (Concurrent Enrollment), industry credentials, and/or standards-based performance assessment.

This menu is used to create a list of options that learners must use to demonstrate their knowledge in order to receive a diploma. CCCS may offer some or all of the menu options, may raise a cut score on an included assessment, and may add graduation requirements in other content areas.

Colleges shall use the Colorado Graduation Guidelines Menu and may utilize one or a combination of demonstrations of competency completion for mathematics, and for reading, writing, and communicating when issuing a diploma on behalf of the SBCCOE.

Assessment — Cut scores for nationally normed assessments are approved on the Colorado Graduation Guidelines Menu to show demonstration of competency in 1) mathematics, and/or 2) reading, writing, and communicating. Acceptable assessments are Accuplacer, ACT, Advance Placement (AP), ASVAB, International Baccalaureate (IB), and SAT.

College Coursework in Mathematics, and Reading, Writing, and Communicating — The Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs shall develop a process for the development of, changes to, and exceptions to the courses approved as demonstrations of competency in mathematics, and in reading, writing, and communicating.

One course in each category of 1) mathematics, and 2) reading, writing, and communicating must be successfully completed by the learner.

A grade of “C” or better is required in each course applied to a future certificate or degree in order to be accepted for conferring a certificate or degree or for guaranteed transfer as described in the CCHE Transfer Policy.

Industry Credentials — Industry certificates are credentials recognized by business and industry. They measure a student’s competency in an occupation, and they validate a knowledge base and skills that show mastery in a particular industry. For an industry certificate to be utilized to demonstrate competency for conferral of a high school diploma, it must be aligned to competencies in 1) mathematics and/or 2) reading, writing, and communicating requirements.

Colleges will utilize the same processes for reviewing industry certificates for credit as they use for all learners.

Standards-Based Performance Assessment — Colleges will utilize the same processes for all learners for course challenge exams as the process for standards-based performance assessment. For the standards-based performance assessment to be utilized to demonstrate competency for conferral of a high school diploma, it must be aligned to courses with competencies in 1) mathematics and/or 2) reading, writing, and communicating requirements.

Credit for Prior College Level Learning:
Credit may be awarded for prior learning to satisfy the Colorado Graduation Guidelines for 1) mathematics and/or 2) reading, writing, and communicating requirements from Concurrent Enrollment coursework a learner completed while enrolled in high school and/or work-based learning experiences in accordance with Board policies and System procedures.

Exceptions

Exceptions to this procedure may be approved by the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs on a case by case basis.

Revising this Procedure

CCCS reserves the right to change any provision or requirement of this procedure at any time and the change shall become effective immediately.