All students are required to participate in the Smart Core curriculum unless their parents or guardians, or the students if they are eighteen (18) years of age or older, sign a Smart Core Waiver Form to not participate. While Smart Core is the default option, a Smart Core Information Sheet and a Smart Core Waiver Form will be sent home with students prior to their enrolling in seventh (7th) grade, or when a seventh (7th) through twelfth (12th) grade student enrolls in the district for the first time and there is not a signed waiver form in the student’s permanent record. This policy is to be included in student handbooks for grades six (6) through twelve (12) and both students and parents must sign an acknowledgement they have received the policy. Those students not participating in the Smart Core curriculum will be required to fulfill the Core curriculum or the Alternate Pathway to Graduation when required by their IEP to be eligible for graduation. Counseling by trained personnel shall be available to students and their parents or legal guardians prior to the deadline for them to sign and return the waiver form.

While there are similarities between the two curriculums, following the Core curriculum may not qualify students for some scholarships and admission to certain colleges could be jeopardized. Students initially choosing the Core curriculum may subsequently change to the Smart Core curriculum provided they would be able to complete the required course of study by the end of their senior year. Students wishing to change their choice of curriculums must consult with their counselor to determine the feasibility of changing paths.

This policy, the Smart Core curriculum, and the courses necessary for graduation shall be reviewed by staff, students, and parents as part of the annual school district support plan development process to determine if changes need to be made to better serve the needs of the district’s students. The superintendent, or his/her designee, shall select the composition of the review panel.

Sufficient information relating to Smart Core and the district’s graduation requirements shall be communicated to parents and students to ensure their informed understanding of each. This may be accomplished through any or all of the following means:4

• Inclusion in the student handbook of the Smart Core curriculum and graduation requirements;

• Discussion of the Smart Core curriculum and graduation requirements at the school’s annual public meeting, PTA meetings, or a meeting held specifically for the purpose of informing the public on this matter;

• Discussions held by the school’s counselors with students and their parents; and/or

• Distribution of a newsletter(s) to parents or guardians of the district’s students.

   

Administrators, or their designees, shall train newly hired employees, required to be licensed as a condition of their employment, regarding this policy. The district’s annual professional development shall include the training required by this paragraph.5

To the best of its ability, the District shall follow the requirements covering the transfer of course credit and graduation set forth in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children for all students who meet the definition of “eligible child” in Policy 4.2—ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS including the waiving of specific courses that are required for graduation if similar coursework has been satisfactorily completed.

The number of unit’s students must earn to be eligible for high school graduation is to be earned from the categories listed below. A minimum of twenty-two (22) units is required for graduation for a student participating in either the Smart Core or Core curriculum. In addition to the twenty-two (22) units required for graduation by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the district requires additional __ units to graduate for a total of __ units. The additional required units may be taken from any electives offered by the district.6 There are some distinctions made between Smart Core units and Graduation units. Not all units earned toward graduation necessarily apply to Smart Core requirements.

All students must receive a passing score on the Arkansas Civics Exam in order to graduate.

Students shall be trained in quality psychomotor skill bases in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators in order to graduate.

Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, each student shall have a student success plan (SSP) developed by school personnel in collaboration with the student’s parents and the student that is reviewed and updated annually.

The SSP is an individualized student driven plan that prepares students to graduate ready for postsecondary opportunities. The plan addresses student needs and interests associated with post-secondary education and career goals.  The SSP is a collection of programs and services that address academic, college, and career exploration topics for students in grade 8. 

The purpose of the Student Success Plan is to:

• Set personal and academic goals

• Support most rigorous high school expectations for each student

• Explore postsecondary education and careers

What will be covered:

• Pathways to Graduation

• Accelerated Learning Opportunities

• Academic Deficit Interventions provided

• College Career Planning

LRSD uses Naviance as an online tool that supports academic, career, and college planning.  These tools are located in the Naviance student portal.  Students and parents can communicate with school staff and work on college and career readiness activities assigned by counselors and teachers.  Students can set personalized goals, take career interest inventories, and assessments.  Students can search for colleges and information on careers.

Students who either refuse to sit for a Statewide assessment or attempt to boycott a Statewide assessment by failing to put forth a good faith effort on the assessment as determined by the assessment administrator/proctor, or whose parents do not send their student to school on the dates the assessments are originally administered or scheduled as make-up days shall not be permitted to participate in any non-curriculum related extracurricular activity, including school dances, prom, homecoming, senior events, and may be prevented from walking or participating in graduation exercises. The student shall remain ineligible to participate until the student takes the same or a following Statewide assessment, as applicable. The Superintendent or Principal may waive this paragraph's provisions when the student’s failure was due to exceptional or extraordinary circumstances. Students falling under the provisions of this paragraph shall be permitted to attend curriculum related field trips occurring during the school day.

The Little Rock School District Board of Education believes that students should graduate from high school possessing the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed for responsible citizenship, life-long learning, and productive employment in our modern economy.  Programs for post-secondary preparation will be available to equip students for the advanced training that will be needed for the work of the 21st century.  The Little Rock School District will be responsible for providing the educational opportunities and experiences that will enable our students to take full advantage of post-secondary education and employment opportunities available to them after graduation.

The District shares with the state of Arkansas the commitment to ensure all students have access to a rigorous curriculum.  The District’s general graduation requirements meet the State’s adopted Smart Core or Core Curriculum.

In order to receive the ADE Seal, students must complete the state’s recommended core curriculum with a minimum grade point average of 2.75.

Students who participate in the District’s high school magnet programs may meet the magnet curriculum requirements through completion of the designated Career Focus courses established for each magnet.  In order to receive a Magnet Seal, magnet students must complete all the requirements of the magnet program.  Students transferring into a magnet program after the freshman year may earn a diploma from that high school, but they will not earn the Magnet Seal. 

Arkansas Scholars, a program of the Arkansas Business & Education Alliance, is a partnership between the District and the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee.   Many local businesses have agreed to recognize the achievement of Arkansas Scholars status as a symbol of high quality education.  A special Arkansas Scholars seal will be affixed to the diploma and transcript of a student who meets the following standards established by the Arkansas Scholars program:

1. Earn semester grades of "C" or above in all courses.

2. Achieve a 95% or better attendance record (average over four years).

3. Complete the recommended courses to graduate from high school and to prepare for post- secondary education, including:

   • English. 4 units (I, II, III, & IV)

   • Science. 3 units (from biology, chemistry, physics, and physical science, lab based).

   • Mathematics. 4 units (algebra I, geometry, algebra II and an advanced math course)

   • Social studies. 3 units (to include world history, U.S. history, civics/government)

   • Complete the balance of state mandated high school graduation requirements.

4. Finish high school in 8 consecutive semesters.

1. A special Honors Seal will be affixed to the diploma and transcript of a student who meets the following standards: Completes the units required for the Little Rock Scholars curriculum, which includes and goes beyond the requirements of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board for unconditional admission to any public two-year or four-year institution of higher education in Arkansas and which includes, but goes beyond, the requirements for eligibility for the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship. The Little Rock Scholars curriculum also reflects the admission requirements of the most competitive universities in the United States of America.

2. The Little Rock Scholars curriculum requires the successful completion of any combination of at least six Pre-Advanced Placement, Advanced Placement, and/or International Baccalaureate courses over a four-year period. Other approved dual-credit courses offered to LRSD students in collaboration with area colleges/universities may also be substituted for the Pre-AP, AP, or IB requirements.

3.Earns a grade-point-average of at least 3.5. Students designated for valedictory or salutatory recognition must have completed the Little Rock Scholars curriculum.

Each high school may design its own traditions to commend and celebrate the achievements of the following sets of graduates:

1. The valedictorian and salutatorian;

2. Students earning an overall average of 3.5 or above;

3. Students earning Magnet Program, Arkansas Scholars, Little Rock Scholars, and/or Honors Diploma Seals;

4. Members of the National Honor Society or similar honors organization;

5. Scholarship recipients;

6. Students with perfect attendance throughout high school;

In order to be a participant in the graduation ceremony, the student must be within one unit of completing the graduation requirements and must have enrolled in and paid the tuition, if applicable, for the one-half or one unit to be taken in summer school (or, alternately, in another approved credit-earning program).  All high school students and their parents will be informed in writing of this expectation when course lists and graduation requirements are published for the spring registration process.

Principals will make a determination of potential graduates at the end of the junior year and each quarter of the students’ senior year and inform students and their parents immediately if it is determined that the student is in danger of not graduating.  Such students will be advised of all the appropriate credit-earning options, including, but not limited to, evening high school, summer programs, credit recovery, correspondence courses, online courses, and placement at the Accelerated Learning Center.

When a student is within one year of completing the District’s graduation requirements and the student wishes to graduate early, he/she must submit a written request, signed by the parent/guardian, for early graduation to the high school principal.  If the student requests to graduate at the end of the sixth semester of high school, the request must be made prior to the beginning of the fifth semester.  If the student wishes to graduate at the end of the seventh semester, the request must be made prior to the beginning of the sixth semester. 

A plan for early graduation will be reviewed in a conference to include the student, counselor, parents/ guardians, and the high school principal.  If it is determined that the student can complete the requirements for high school graduation early, then he/she will be permitted to do so, with signed parent consent if the student is a minor.

If the student has completed the credits required for graduation after seven semesters and has complied with the requirements for early graduation, the student may participate in the graduation ceremony at the end of the eighth semester with the other students in the graduating class.  All records completed at the end of the student’s seventh semester will be used for calculating class rank and honors.  All arrangements for participation in the graduation ceremony, such as acquiring the cap and gown, invitations, etc., are the responsibility of the student.

The award of the high school diploma will not be made until all graduation requirements are met.

Students and their parents are responsible for payment of lost\damaged textbooks. If the book is lost or damaged beyond use, the student will be charged for the entire cost of the book. Books returned damaged beyond an acceptable condition may be assessed a damage fine at the school’s discretion, Guidelines are as follow:

• Minor damage will be assessed at 25% of cost (removal of bar code)

• Major damage will be assessed at 50%

• Lost books will be assessed at up to 100%

It is the student and parent’s responsibility to clear all fines.