Section 100.5 Diploma Requirements

100.5 Diploma requirements.

(b) Additional requirements for the Regents diploma. Except as provided in paragraph (d)(6) of this section, the following additional requirements shall apply for a Regents diploma.

(1) In order to obtain a Regents diploma, students first entering grade nine in 1984 or before shall successfully complete a sequence of three units of credit in one of the following areas: science, mathematics, a language other than English, music, art or career and technical education subjects. Such units of credit shall be included in the eighteen units of credit required pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(2) In order to obtain a Regents diploma, students first entering grade nine in 1985 and thereafter through the 2000-2001 school year shall successfully complete:

(i) either:

(a) a sequence of three units of credit in each of two career and technical education subjects, or in each of two languages other than English, or in each of two of the following areas: mathematics, science, a language other than English, career and technical education, art or music, provided that, for students first entering grade nine in 1988 and thereafter through the 2000-2001 school year, three-unit sequences in each of two career and technical education subjects may not be used to meet the requirements of this clause and each three-unit sequence in career and technical education shall meet the requirements of section 100.2(h)(3) of this Part; or

(b) a sequence of three units of credit in mathematics, science, a language other than English, a career and technical education subject, art or music, and a sequence of five units of credit in either English or social studies, provided that, for students first entering grade nine in 1988 and thereafter through the 2000-2001 school year, such three-unit sequence in career and technical education meets the requirements of section 100.2(h)(3) of this Part; or

(c) a sequence of five units of credit in mathematics, science, a language other than English, a career and technical education subject, art or music, provided that a student selecting a sequence of five units of credit in a language other than English may use such sequence to meet the requirements set forth in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, and further provided that for students first entering grade nine in 1988 and thereafter through the 2000-2001 school year, such a sequence of five units of credit in a career and technical education subject shall meet the requirements of section 100.2(h)(4) of this Part; and

(ii) a sequence of three units of credit in a language other than English, except that:

(a) for students first entering grade nine in 1985 or thereafter through the 2000-2001 school year who take a sequence of not less than five units of credit in career and technical education subjects, art or music, the three-unit sequence required by this subparagraph may be in a language other than English or in any other subject area; and

(b) a student identified as having a disability which adversely affects the ability to learn a language may be excused from the language other than English requirement set forth in this subparagraph if such student's individualized education program indicates that such requirement is not appropriate to the student's special educational needs. Such a student need not have a sequence in a language other than English but must meet the requirements for the total number of credits required for a diploma.

(3) Any three or five units of credit sequence in a language other than English shall consist of courses in a single language.

(4) Units of credit received by a student pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subdivision shall be included in the eighteen and one-half units of credit required pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of this section, provided that a sequence in career and technical education may be applied toward a Regents diploma only if such sequence has been approved by the department.

(5) In order to obtain a Regents diploma, a student shall pass the required Regents examinations as follows:

(i) For students first entering grade nine in 1984 and before:

(a) the Regents comprehensive examination in English;

(b) the Regents comprehensive examination in social studies; and

(ii) For students first entering grade nine in 1985 and thereafter through the 2000-2001 school year:

(a) the Regents comprehensive examination in English;

(b) the Regents comprehensive examination in a language other than English, except that students identified in clause (2)(ii)(a) of this subdivision or excused from the language other than English requirement pursuant to clause (2)(ii)(b) of this subdivision shall not be required to pass such examination;

(d) Regents examinations for the courses in mathematics required pursuant to subparagraph (a)(2)(iii) and paragraph (a)(7) of this section;

(e) Regents examinations for the courses in science required pursuant to subparagraph (a)(2)(iv) and paragraph (a)(8) of this section; and

(f) Regents examinations, as required by the commissioner, for the courses in any sequence followed pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subdivision.

(iii) For students first entering grade nine in 1987 and thereafter through the 2000-2001 school year:

(a) the Regents examination in global studies; and

(b) career and technical education proficiency examinations, as defined in section 100.1(k) of this Part, for any career and technical education sequence for which such tests are available.

(6) For students first entering grade nine in 1985 and thereafter through the 2000-2001 school year, a unit of credit towards a Regents diploma, in courses where no Regents or State test exists, other than courses in mathematics or science, shall be awarded only if:

(i) the unit of study is taught in accordance with a State syllabus approved by the department for use in a commencement-level course; or

(ii) if no State syllabus for the course is available, the unit of study is taught in accordance with a locally developed syllabus approved by the department for use in a commencement-level course.

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(7) Types of diplomas.

(i) Except as provided in subparagraphs (vi), (vii) and (viii) of this paragraph, for students first entering grade nine in the 2001-2002 school year and thereafter, there shall be no diplomas or certificates other than the following:

(a) Regents diploma; or

(b) Regents diploma with an advanced designation; or

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(d) High School Individualized Education Program Diploma as provided in section 100.9 of this Part.

(e) Regents diploma, or Regents diploma with an advanced designation, with an affixed technical endorsement awarded upon completion of an approved career and technical education program pursuant to section 100.5(d)(6) of this Title.

(ii) A local school district may award a student a Regents diploma with honors or a Regents diploma with advanced designation with honors. To earn honors, a student shall achieve an average of 90 per cent in all Regents examinations, or their equivalent pursuant to section 100.2(p) of this Part, required for the diploma. Each Regents examination score carries a weight of one and such score shall not be multiplied by the number of units of study being examined. Averages below 90.0 per cent shall not be rounded upward to 90 per cent.

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(iii) Earning a Regents or local high school diploma shall be deemed to be equivalent to receipt of a high school diploma pursuant to Education Law section 3202(1) and shall terminate a student's entitlement to a free public education pursuant to such statute. Earning a high school equivalency diploma or an Individualized Education Program Diploma shall not be deemed to be equivalent to receipt of a high school diploma pursuant to Education Law section 3202(1) and shall not terminate a student's entitlement to a free public education pursuant to such statute.

(iv) Earning a Regents diploma. Students first entering grade nine in 2001 and thereafter shall meet the commencement level New York State learning standards by successfully completing twenty-two units of credit and five New York State assessments distributed as specified in (a) through (k) below. After passing the required New York State assessment or approved alternative in mathematics, science, and English language arts, the remaining units of credit required in that discipline may be in specialized courses. A specialized course is a course that meets the requirements of a unit of credit as defined in section 100.1(a) of this Part and the New York State commencement learning standards as established by the commissioner. A specialized course develops the subject in greater depth and/or breadth and/or may be interdisciplinary. Successful completion of one unit of study in an interdisciplinary specialized course may be awarded only one unit of credit but may be used to meet the distribution requirements in more than one subject. In a public high school, an interdisciplinary specialized course shall be taught by a teacher certified in at least one of the subjects.

(a) English, four units of credit and the Regents comprehensive examination in English or an approved alternative pursuant to section 100.2(f) of this Part.

(b) Social studies, four units of credit including one unit of credit in American history, the Regents examination in United States history and government or an approved alternative pursuant to section 100.2(f) of this Part, the Regents examination in global history and geography or an approved alternative pursuant to section 100.2(f) of this Part, and a half unit of credit in Economics and a half unit of credit in Participation in Government or their equivalent as approved by the local public school superintendent or his or her designee or by the chief administrative officer of a registered nonpublic high school.

(c) Mathematics, three units of credit and the Regents examinations in mathematics designated by the commissioner or an approved alternative pursuant to section 100.2(f) of this Part. Students must pass either the Regents examination titled Mathematics A, or until January 2002, both Regents examinations titled Course I and Course II or both Course I and Mathematics A.

(d) Science, three units of credit and one of the Regents examinations in science or an approved alternative pursuant to section 100.2(f) of this Part. In order to qualify to take a Regents examination in any of the sciences a student must complete 1200 minutes of actual hands-on (not simulated) laboratory experience with satisfactory documented laboratory reports. The 1200 minutes of laboratory experience must be in addition to the required classroom instruction associated with earning a unit of credit.

(e) The Arts (including visual arts, music, dance and theatre), one unit of credit, which may be a specialized course that meets the arts standards at the commencement level as established by the commissioner. Any arts course for which credit will be awarded to meet the one unit of credit requirement for graduation must be taught by a certified teacher and must follow a State-developed or State-adopted syllabus or a locally-developed or locally-adopted syllabus approved by the commissioner.

(f) Health, one half unit of credit which may be a specialized course which meets the health standards at the commencement level as established by the commissioner. Any health course for which credit will be awarded to meet the one half unit of credit requirement for graduation must be taught by a certified teacher and must follow a State-developed or State-adopted syllabus or a locally-developed or locally-adopted syllabus approved by the commissioner.

(g) Languages other than English, one unit of commencement-level credit which can be earned by passing the State second language proficiency examination pursuant to section 100.2(d) of this Title. A student identified as having a disability which adversely affects the ability to learn a language may be excused from the language other than English requirement set forth in this subparagraph if such student's individualized education program indicates that such requirement is not appropriate to the student's special educational needs. Such a student need not have a sequence in a language other than English but must meet the requirements for the total number of credits required for a diploma.

(h) Physical Education, two units of credit, except that a student who has completed the diploma requirements in fewer than eight semesters shall not be required to continue enrollment in high school for the sole purpose of completing the physical education requirements.

(i) Additional units in English language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, the arts, languages other than English, career and technical education, or any other subject area approved by the commissioner to a total of twenty-two units of credit.

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(j) The State learning standards in technology may be met either through a course in technology education or through an integrated course combining technology with mathematics and/or science. A commencement-level course in technology education may be used as the third unit of credit in science or mathematics but not both.

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(k) The learning standards for parenting may be met either through a separate course in parenting or through integration in a course in health or family and consumer sciences.

(v) Earning a Regents diploma with advanced designation. To earn a Regents diploma with an advanced designation a student must complete, in addition to the requirements for a Regents diploma:

(a) Additional Regents examinations in mathematics as determined by the commissioner or approved alternatives pursuant to section 100.2(f) of this Part. Students must pass the two Regents examinations titled Mathematics A and Mathematics B, the three Regents examinations titled Course I, Course II and Course III or the two Regents examinations titled Mathematics A and Course 111.

(b) One additional Regents examination in science, for a total of two Regents examinations, with at least one in life science and at least one in physical science; and

(c) Two additional units in a language other than English for a total of three units and the Regents comprehensive assessment in that language. A student identified as having a disability which adversely affects the ability to learn a language may be excused from the language other than English requirement set forth in this subparagraph if such student's individualized education program indicates that such requirement is not appropriate to the student's special educational needs. Such a student need not have a sequence in a language other than English but must meet the requirements for the total number of credits required for a diploma. Students completing a five-unit sequence in career and technical education or the arts (visual arts, music, dance, and theatre) are not required to complete the additional two units of the language other than English requirement for the Regents diploma with advanced designation but must still meet the requirements for the total number of units of credit.

(vi) For students with disabilities who first enter grade nine in or after September 2001 and prior to September 2010 and who fail required Regents examinations for graduation but pass Regents Competency Tests in those subjects, as provided for in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of this section, a local diploma may be issued by the local school district. For students with disabilities who first enter grade nine in September 2005 and thereafter, a score by such student of 55-64 may be considered as a passing score on any Regents examination required for graduation, and in such event and subject to the requirements of paragraph (c)(6) of this section, the school may issue a local diploma to such student. This provision shall apply only to students with disabilities who are entitled to attend school pursuant to Education Law sections 3202 or 4402(5).

(vii) For students who first enter grade nine in or after September 2001 and prior to September 2005, a score by a student of 55-64, as determined by the school, may be considered as a passing score on any Regents examination required for graduation and, in such event, the school may issue a local diploma to such student.

(viii) For students who first enter grade nine in or after September 2005 and prior to September 2008, a score by a student of 55-64, as determined by the school, may be considered as a passing score on any Regents examination required for graduation and, in such event and subject to the requirements of paragraph (c)(6) of this section, the school may issue a local diploma to such student.

(ix) Students who first enter grade nine in September 2008, and thereafter, must attain a score of 65 or above on all required Regents examinations in order to earn a Regents diploma or a Regents diploma with advanced designation.