Graduation Requirements

Modified Standard Diploma: Minimum Course & Credit Requirements

News & Announcements

A webinar, entitled Standard Diploma Credit Accommodations for Students with Disabilities, has been added to the list of resources explaining alternatives for these students in meeting the requirements for a Standard Diploma, when the Modified Standard Diploma is no longer an option.

The Modified Standard Diploma is intended 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 program are determined by the student's IEP team and the student, when appropriate. Decisions of eligibility and participation may be made at any point after the student's eighth grade year. Written consent from parent/guardian must be obtained for a student to choose this diploma program.

The student must:

be allowed to pursue a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma at any time throughout his or her high school career;
not be excluded from courses and tests required to earn a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma; and
pass literacy and numeracy competency assessments as prescribed by the Board:
- For students who entered the ninth grade prior to 2000-01, the literacy and numeracy competency assessments were the reading and mathematics subtests of the LPT.
- For students who entered the ninth grade in 2000-01 and beyond, the literacy and numeracy competency assessments are the eighth-grade English Reading test and the eighth-grade Mathematics SOL test (Board action – November 30, 2000).
- The Board also approved four additional substitute assessments to satisfy the literacy and numeracy requirements for students pursuing a Modified Standard Diploma.
  - Substitute Numeracy and Literacy Tests for the Modified Standard Diploma
    Superintendent's Memo – Informational #53, March 5, 2004

Approved Courses:

NOTE: The Modified Standard Diploma will not be an option for students with disabilities who enter the ninth grade for the first time beginning in 2013-2014. Credit accommodations allow students with disabilities who previously would have pursued a Modified Standard Diploma to earn a Standard Diploma.

Modified Standard Diploma Course Requirements (8 VAC 20-131-50.D)
Discipline Area	Standard Credits
English	4
Mathematics [Note 1]	3
Laboratory Science [Note 2]	2
History & Social Sciences [Note 3]	2
Health & Physical Education	2
Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education	1
Electives [Note 4]	6
Total	20

NOTE 1: Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include content from among applications of algebra, geometry, personal finance and statistics in courses that have been approved by the Board.

NOTE 2: Courses complete shall include content from at least two of the following: applications of earth science, biology, chemistry, or physics in courses approved by the Board.

NOTE 3: Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include one unit of credit in U.S. and Virginia History and one unit of credit in U.S. and Virginia Government in courses approved by the Board.

NOTE 4: Courses to satisfy this requirement shall include a least two sequential electives in the same manner required for the 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 (PDF).
- Sequential electives may be in any discipline as long as the courses are not specifically required for graduation.
- Courses used to satisfy the one unit of credit in a fine arts or career and technical education course may be used to partially satisfy this requirement.
- For career and technical education electives, check with the Office of Career and Technical Education at (804) 225-2051.
- An exploratory course followed by an introductory course may not be used to satisfy the requirement.
- An introductory course followed by another level of the same course of study may be used.
- Sequential electives do not have to be taken in consecutive years.
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 this requirement.

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