• Background Information
• Courses Approved for the Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas
Mathematics
Science
History and Social Science
• Courses Approved for the Modified Standard Diploma
Mathematics
Science
History and Social Science
• Electives
Sequential Electives
Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education
Foreign Language
• For Further Information

Section 8 VAC 20-131-50 of Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (8 VAC 20-131-10 et. seq.) (the Standards of Accreditation) sets forth the requirements for the Standard, Advanced Studies, and Modified Standard Diplomas. Those requirements specify which level of courses and/or subject area disciplines students must complete to earn either a standard or verified unit of credit in the areas of mathematics, laboratory science, and history and social science, as well as the credit requirements in other content disciplines. The regulations also specify that the Board of Education can approve additional courses (other than those specifically named in the standards) to satisfy the requirements in those areas.

Courses Approved for the Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas

In February 1998, the Virginia Board of Education approved certain courses that would satisfy the mathematics, science, and history and social science course requirements for the Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas. Subsequent to that time, some additional courses have been added to the original list. The following tables contain a list of the courses that have been approved by the board to satisfy graduation requirements for the Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas as of June 28, 2007.

* To earn credit towards meeting the graduation requirements in mathematics using this course, students must also complete Part II of the two-year sequence. Part I and Part II may be used to satisfy two units of mathematics credit.

Algebra I may not be used in conjunction with Algebra I, Part II, and Geometry may not be used in conjunction with Geometry, Part II, to satisfy the mathematics requirement.

In the advanced studies diploma program, only one unit of credit for a Part I course may be used to satisfy the four required mathematics credits for graduation. A second unit may be granted as a local school division credit.

*** May be a one-semester or two-semester course.

* Students who have not taken the first-level course in this discipline will take the SOL test listed.

** The prerequisite content for this course is the first-level SOL core course in this discipline.
*** Students will take the Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry test(s) when they have completed the appropriate SOL content, as determined by the local school division.

**** To earn credit towards meeting the graduation requirements in science using this course, students must also complete Part II of the two-year sequence. Part I and Part II may be used to satisfy two units of science credit. Board of Education approved as of May 26, 2000.

+ The sequence of Principles of Technology I (9811) and Principles of Technology II (9812) will satisfy one (1) standard unit of credit in laboratory science for physics and one (1) elective credit. Students who enroll in Principles of Technology courses for a physics credit must have completed Algebra I and two (2) other laboratory science courses as specified by the Standards of Accreditation prior to enrolling in Principles of Technology. There is no SOL test associated with Principles of Technology I and II.

* This course must cover the prescribed SOL from two of the following courses: World History and Geography Part I, World History and Geography Part II, or World Geography in order for students to receive a verified credit beginning with the ninth-grade class of 2000-2001. Students will take the corresponding end-of-course test when they have completed the SOL content, as determined by the school division.

** If students have not taken a lower level course and/or the associated test earlier, the approved end-of -course test or an approved substitute assessment test will be required at the completion of the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate course.

The revised Regulations Establishing Accrediting Standards for Public Schools in Virginia effective September 28, 2000, provide the option of a Modified Standard Diploma for "…certain students at the secondary level who have a disability and are unlikely to meet the credit requirements for a Standard Diploma. Eligibility and participation in the Modified Standard Diploma program shall be determined by the student's Individual Education Program (IEP) team and the student, where appropriate, at any point after the student's eighth grade year." (8 VAC 20-131-50.D.1) At its November 30, 2000, meeting, the Board of Education approved the following list of mathematics, science, and history and social science courses to satisfy the standard units of credit that are required for the Modified Standard Diploma.

The approved list and the provisions identified for certain courses on the following list apply only to the Modified Standard Diploma. This list of courses provides students with options for satisfying the content requirements specified for the Modified Standard Diploma. To encourage and facilitate students’ transition from a Modified Standard Diploma program to a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma program, the list includes some of the courses approved by the Board of Education in February 1998 for the Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas.

While students are not required to pass Standards of Learning end-of-course tests to earn a Modified Standard Diploma, they must take the tests that are required for any courses in which they are enrolled. Instruction provided in these courses, as well as the Standards of Learning tests associated with them, would be subject to any accommodations required in a student’s Individual Education Program (IEP).

The following tables contain the courses that have been approved by the Board of Education for a Modified Standard Diploma, as of June 28, 2007.

+A personal living and finance course has been approved to meet a mathematics requirement for the Modified Standard Diploma. The personal living and finance course may not be used to satisfy the mathematics requirement for the Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma. For the purpose of satisfying the requirement for the Modified Standard Diploma, a locally developed personal living and finance course may be based on either the Objectives for Personal Living and Finance approved by the Board of Education in April, 1999, and revised in 2006 or on the 2006 Economics Education and Financial Literacy: Objectives and Correlations to Mathematics and History and Social Science Standards of Learning and Career and Technical Education Competencies.

* Students may earn one mathematics credit for the Modified Standard Diploma by successfully completing this course.

** Students who are enrolled in a course that requires an end-of-course SOL test must take the test, but they do not have to pass the SOL test to satisfy the requirement for the Modified Standard Diploma.

*** Students will take the Algebra I, Geometry, and/or Algebra II SOL test(s) when they have completed the appropriate SOL content, as determined by the local school division, but they do not have to pass the test(s) to satisfy the requirement for the Modified Standard Diploma.

* Students may earn one science credit towards the Modified Standard Diploma by successfully completing this course.

** Students who are enrolled in a course that requires an end-of-course SOL test must take the test, but they do not have to pass the SOL test to satisfy the requirement for the Modified Standard Diploma.

*** Students who have not already taken a course in this discipline where a SOL test is required will take the SOL test associated with this discipline, but they do not have to pass the test to satisfy the requirement for the Modified Standard Diploma.

+ Students will take the Earth Science, Biology, and Chemistry test(s) when they have completed the appropriate SOL content, as determined by the local school division, but they do not have to pass the test to satisfy the requirement for the Modified Standard Diploma.

* Students may earn one credit in U.S. and Virginia History for the Modified Standard Diploma by successfully completing this course. This course may be treated as a survey course of U.S. and Virginia History topics in the SOL.

** Students who are enrolled in a course that requires an end-of-course SOL test must take the test, but they do not have to pass the SOL test to satisfy the requirement for the Modified Standard Diploma.

Electives

Sequential Electives – Effective with the graduating class of 2003, students who wish to receive a Standard or Modified Standard Diploma must successfully complete two sequential electives. On February 5, 2002, the Board of Education approved Guidelines for Sequential Electives for the Standard and Modified Standard Diploma. These guidelines are available at: http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/suptsmemos/2002/int001a.pdf.

Fine Arts and Career and Technical Education - The Standard, Advanced Studies, and Modified Standard Diplomas each contain a requirement for one standard unit of credit in Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education. The Standards of Accreditation do not require that courses used to satisfy the requirement of Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education be approved by the Board. Therefore, local school officials should use their own judgment in determining which courses students take to satisfy the requirement of a unit of credit in Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education for the Standard, Advanced Studies, and Modified Standard Diplomas.

Foreign Language - The Advanced Studies Diploma contains a requirement for either three years of one foreign language or two years of two languages. In March 1998, the Board of Education approved the provision of three years of instruction in American Sign Language (ASL) for foreign language credit toward an Advanced Studies Diploma; other foreign languages will satisfy this requirement as well. Details of this action are available in Superintendent’s Memorandum, Interpretive, No. 1, June 12, 1998 (http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/suptsmemos/1998/int001.html).

For Further Information

Further information about graduation requirements for Virginia public schools is available in the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia found at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Accountability/soafulltxt.pdf or from the Office of Middle and High School Instruction at 804-225-2880.