AN ACT CONCERNING HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS REFORM.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 10-221a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2007):

(a) For classes graduating from 1988 to 2003, inclusive, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of twenty credits, not fewer than four of which shall be in English, not fewer than three in mathematics, not fewer than three in social studies, not fewer than two in science, not fewer than one in the arts or vocational education and not fewer than one in physical education.

(b) [Commencing with classes graduating in 2004, and for each graduating class thereafter] For classes graduating from 2004 to 2010, inclusive, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of twenty credits, not fewer than four of which shall be in English, not fewer than three in mathematics, not fewer than three in social studies, including at least a one-half credit course on civics and American government, not fewer than two in science, not fewer than one in the arts or vocational education and not fewer than one in physical education.

(c) Commencing with classes graduating in 2011, and for each graduating class thereafter, no local or regional board of education shall permit any student to graduate from high school or grant a diploma to any student who has not satisfactorily completed a minimum of twenty-three credits, not fewer than four of which shall be in English, not fewer than four in mathematics, including two in algebra and one in geometry, not fewer than three and one-half in social studies, chosen from a combination including one in American history, one in world history, one in world geography, one-half in economics, one-half in civics and American government, not fewer than two in a world language, not fewer than one in technology and computer literacy, not fewer than three in biology, physics or chemistry, not fewer than four in physical education, including at least one credit in wellness and not fewer than one and one-half in arts, global awareness, ethics or personal finance.

[(c)] (d) Any student who presents a certificate from a physician stating that, in the opinion of the physician, participation in physical education is medically contraindicated because of the physical condition of such student, shall be excused from the physical education requirement, provided the credit for physical education may be fulfilled by an elective.

[(d)] (e) Determination of eligible credits shall be at the discretion of the local or regional board of education, provided the primary focus of the curriculum of eligible credits corresponds directly to the subject matter of the specified course requirements. The local or regional board of education may permit a student to graduate during a period of expulsion pursuant to section 10-233d, if the board determines the student has satisfactorily completed the necessary credits pursuant to this section. The requirements of this section shall apply to any student requiring special education pursuant to section 10-76a, except when the planning and placement team for such student determines the requirement not to be appropriate. For purposes of this section, a credit shall consist of not less than the equivalent of a forty-minute class period for each school day of a school year except for a credit or part of a credit toward high school graduation earned at an institution accredited by the Department of Higher Education or regionally accredited.

[(e)] (f) Only courses taken in grades nine through twelve, inclusive, shall satisfy this graduation requirement, except that a local or regional board of education may grant a student credit (1) toward meeting a specified course requirement upon the successful completion in grade seven or eight of any course, the primary focus of which corresponds directly to the subject matter of a specified course requirement in grades nine to twelve, inclusive; or (2) toward meeting the high school graduation requirement upon the successful completion of coursework at an institution accredited by the Department of Higher Education or regionally accredited. One three-credit semester course, or its equivalent, at such an institution shall equal one-half credit for purposes of this section.

[(f)] (g) A local or regional board of education may offer one-half credit in community service which, if satisfactorily completed, shall qualify for high school graduation credit pursuant to this section, provided such community service is supervised by a certified school administrator or teacher and consists of not less than fifty hours of actual service that may be performed at times when school is not regularly in session and not less than ten hours of related classroom instruction. For purposes of this section, community service does not include partisan political activities. The State Board of Education shall assist local and regional boards of education in meeting the requirements of this section.

[(g)] (h) A local or regional board of education may award a diploma to a veteran of World War II, pursuant to section 27-103, who left high school prior to graduation in order to serve in the armed forces of the United States and did not receive a diploma as a consequence of such service.

Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 10-16b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2007):

(b) (1) If a local or regional board of education requires its pupils to take a course in a foreign language in order to graduate or receive a diploma prior to 2011, the parent or guardian of a pupil identified as deaf or hearing impaired may request in writing that such pupil be exempted from such requirement and, if such a request is made, such pupil shall be exempt from such requirement.

(2) The parent or guardian of a pupil identified as deaf or hearing impaired who is a member of a class graduating in 2011, or of any graduating class thereafter, may request from the local or regional board of education, in writing, that such pupil be exempt from the requirement to complete not fewer than two credits in a world language in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-221a, as amended by this act, and, if such a request is made, such pupil shall be exempt from such requirement.

Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 10-223a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2007):

(b) On or before September 1, 2002, each local and regional board of education shall specify the basic skills necessary for graduation for classes graduating in 2006, and for each graduating class thereafter, and include a process to assess a student's level of competency in such skills. The assessment criteria shall include, but shall not exclusively be based on, the results of the tenth grade mastery examination pursuant to section 10-14n. Each local and regional board of education shall identify a course of study for those students who have not successfully completed the assessment criteria to assist such students to reach a satisfactory level of competency prior to graduation. For classes graduating in 2011, and for each graduating class thereafter, a student shall achieve the level of proficiency or higher on each component of the tenth grade mastery examination pursuant to section 10-14n in order to graduate or receive a diploma. A local or regional board of education, with the approval of the Department of Education, may provide an academically acceptable alternative to the requirement of proficiency on each component of such examination.

Statement of Purpose:

To enhance high school graduation requirements and to require a score of proficient or higher on the tenth grade mastery test for graduation.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]