100.5 Diploma requirements.

(a) General requirements for a Regents or a local high school diploma. Except as provided in paragraph 6 of subdivision (d) of this section, the following general requirements shall apply with respect to a Regents or local high school diploma.  Requirements for a diploma apply to students depending upon the year in which they first enter grade nine. A student who takes more than four years to earn a diploma is subject to the requirements that apply to the year that student first entered grade nine. Students who take less than four years to complete their diploma requirements are subject to the provisions of subdivision (e) of this section relating to accelerated graduation.

(1) Students first entering grade nine in 1984 or before shall earn at least sixteen units of credit or their equivalent, as determined by the commissioner, to receive a local high school diploma, and eighteen units of credit or their equivalent, as determined by the commissioner, to receive a Regents high school diploma. Such units of credit shall include:

(i) English, four units;

(ii) social studies, including a year of American history, three units;

(iii) mathematics, one unit, provided that students first entering grade nine in 1984 shall earn at least two units of credit in mathematics as set forth in paragraph (7) of this subdivision;

(iv) science, one unit, provided that students first entering grade nine in 1984 shall earn at least two units of credit in science as set forth in paragraph (8) of this subdivision; and

(v) health, one half unit.

(2) Students first entering grade nine in 1985 and thereafter, but prior to the 2001-2002 school year, shall have earned at least eighteen and one-half units of credit or their equivalent, as determined by the commissioner, in order to receive either a Regents or local high school diploma. Such units of credit shall include:

(i) English, four units;

(ii) social studies, four units of credit as set forth in paragraph (6) of this subdivision;

(iii) mathematics, two units of credit, as set forth in paragraph (7) of this subdivision;

(iv) science, two units of credit as set forth in paragraph (8) of this subdivision;

(v) art and or/music, one unit of credit; and

(vi) health education, one half unit of credit in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 135.3(c) of this Title.

(3) Students first entering grade nine in the 2001-2002 school year, but prior to the 2005-2006 school year, shall have earned at least 22 units of credit including two credits in physical education to receive either a Regents or local high school diploma.  Students first entering grade nine in the 2005-2006 school year and thereafter shall have earned at least 22 units of credit including two credits in physical education to receive a Regents diploma. Such units of credit shall incorporate the commencement level of the State learning standards in: English language arts; social studies; mathematics, science, technology; the arts (including visual arts, music, dance and theatre); languages other than English; health, physical education, family and consumer sciences; and career development and occupational studies. Such units of credit shall include:

 

(i) English, four units of credit;

(ii) social studies, four units of credit as set forth in paragraph (6) of this subdivision;

(iii) science, three units of credit of commencement level science, at least one course shall be life sciences and at least one in the physical sciences, the third may be either life sciences or physical sciences;

(iv) mathematics, three units of mathematics, which shall be at a more advanced level than grade eight and shall meet commencement-level learning standards as determined by the commissioner;

(v) visual arts and/or music, dance, or theatre, one unit of credit; and

(vi) health education, one half unit of credit in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 135.3(c) of this Title. Learning standards in the area of parenting shall be attained through either the health or family and consumer sciences programs or a separate course.

(4) All students shall have earned the equivalent of two units of credit in physical education in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 135.4(c)(2)(ii) of this Title. Such units of credit shall not count towards the required units of credit set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision for those students who enter grade nine before the 2001-2002 school year. Beginning with the 2001-2002 school year and thereafter, such units of credit in physical education shall count toward the required total. A student who has completed the diploma requirements as set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision in fewer than eight semesters, and who is otherwise eligible to receive a diploma, shall not be required to continue enrollment in high school for the sole purpose of completing the physical education requirements as set forth in this paragraph.

(a) English.

(1) for students who first enter grade nine prior to September 1996, by passing either the Regents Competency Test in Reading and the Regents Competency Test in Writing, or the Regents Comprehensive Examination in English; or

(2) for students who first enter grade nine in or after September 1996 and prior to September 2005, by passing the Regents Comprehensive Examination in English. For purposes of a Regents endorsed diploma a score of 65 shall be considered passing. For a local diploma a score of 55-64, as determined by the school, also may be considered passing; or

(3) for students with disabilities who first enter grade nine in or after September 1996 and prior to September 2010 and who fail the Regents Comprehensive Examination in English, the English requirements for a local diploma may be met by passing the Regents Competency Test in Reading and the Regents Competency Test in Writing or their equivalents. This provision shall apply only to students with disabilities who are entitled to attend school pursuant to Education Law sections 3202 or 4402(5).

(4) The transcripts and permanent record cards of students shall indicate the assessment the student has passed to meet diploma requirements, and the score achieved.

(b) Mathematics.

(1) for students who first enter grade nine prior to September 1997, by passing either the Regents Competency Test in Mathematics, or a Regents examination in mathematics; or

(2) for students who first enter grade nine in or after September 1997 and prior to September 2005, by passing a Regents examination in mathematics. For purposes of a Regents endorsed diploma a score of 65 shall be considered passing. For a local diploma a score of 55-64, as determined by the school, also may be considered passing; or

(3) for students with disabilities who first enter grade nine in or after September 1997 and prior to September 2010 and who fail a Regents examination in mathematics, the mathematics requirements for a local diploma may be met by passing the Regents Competency Test in Mathematics or its equivalent. This provision shall apply only to students with disabilities who are entitled to attend school pursuant to Education Law sections 3202 or 4402(5).

(4) The transcripts and permanent record cards of students shall indicate the assessment the student has passed to meet diploma requirements, and the score achieved.

(c) United States History and Government.

(1) for students who first enter grade nine prior to September 1998, by passing either the Regents Competency Test in United States history and government, or the Regents examination in United States history and government; or

(2) for students who first enter grade nine in or after September 1998 and prior to September 2005, by passing the Regents examination in United States history and government. For purposes of a Regents endorsed diploma a score of 65 shall be considered passing. For a local diploma a score of 55-64, as determined by the school, also may be considered passing; or

(3) for students with disabilities who first enter grade nine in or after September 1998 and prior to September 2010 and who fail the Regents examination in United States history and government, the United States history and government requirements for a local diploma may be met by passing the Regents Competency Test in United States history and government. This provision shall apply only to students with disabilities who are entitled to attend school pursuant to Education Law sections 3202 or 4402(5).

(4) The transcripts and permanent record cards of students shall indicate the assessment the student has passed to meet diploma requirements, and the score achieved.

(d) Science.

(1) for students who first enter grade nine prior to September 1999, by passing either the Regents Competency Test in science or a Regents examination in science; or

(2) for students who first enter grade nine in or after September 1999 and prior to September 2005, by passing a Regents examination in science. For purposes of a Regents endorsed diploma a score of 65 shall be considered passing. For a local diploma a score of 55-64, as determined by the school, also may be considered passing; or

(3) for students with disabilities who first enter grade nine in or after September 1999 and prior to September 2010 and who fail a Regents examination in science, the science requirements for a local diploma may be met by passing the Regents competency test in science. This provision shall apply only to students with disabilities who are entitled to attend school pursuant to Education Law sections 3202 or 4402(5).

(4) The transcripts and permanent record cards of students shall indicate the assessment the student has passed to meet diploma requirements, and the score achieved.

(e) Global History and Geography.

(1) for students who first enter grade nine prior to September 1998, by passing either the Regents Competency Test in global studies or the Regents examination in global studies; or

(2) for students who first enter grade nine in or after September 1998 and prior to September 2005, by passing the Regents examination in global studies. For purposes of a Regents endorsed diploma a score of 65 shall be considered passing. For a local diploma a score of 55-64, as determined by the school, also may be considered passing; or

(3) for students with disabilities who first enter grade nine in or after September 1998 and prior to September 2010 and who fail the Regents examination in global history and geography, the global history and geography requirements for a local diploma may be met by passing the Regents Competency Test in global studies. This provision shall apply only to students with disabilities who are entitled to attend school pursuant to Education Law sections 3202 or 4402(5).

(4) The transcripts and permanent record cards of students shall indicate the name of the assessment the student has passed to meet diploma requirements, and the score achieved.