Policy Group
2000 Instruction
Jerome Joint School District No. 261
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION 2710
High School Graduation Requirements – Specialty Diplomas
STEM Diploma
The Board may award a STEM Diploma to every student enrolled in the School District who meets the requirements of graduation established by the School District and also completes the following:
1. Eight semester credits in mathematics;
2. Eight semester credits in science; and
3. Five credits in the students’ choice of any or all State approved STEM courses.
Students who have completed eight or more credits in mathematics that include algebra II or a higher-level mathematics class before the student’s senior year are not required to take a mathematics class in the student’s senior year.
The official transcript will indicate the specific courses taken and level of achievement.
Bi-Literacy Diploma
The Board may award a Bi-Literacy Diploma to every student enrolled in the School District who meets the requirements of graduation established by the School District, demonstrates proficiency in English, and meets one of the following requirements:
Demonstrates intermediate mid-level proficiency or higher in the world language based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines; or
Qualifies for four competency-based credits by demonstrating proficiency in the world language at the intermediate mid-level or higher based on the ACTFL guidelines; or
To receive this specialty diploma, students are not required to complete more than the total credits required to graduate.
Workforce Readiness and Career Technical Education Diploma
The Board may award a Workforce Readiness and Career Technical Education Diploma to every student who successfully completes all minimum graduation requirements as well as the following:
1. Successfully passed a technical skills assessment;
2. Successfully passed the workplace readiness assessment; and
3. Demonstrated competency in career technical education program standards as identified with “Skill stack” or a successor program and earned the workforce readiness badge or an industry certification approved by the Division of Career Technical Education for this purpose.
To receive this specialty diploma, students are not required to complete more than the total credits required to graduate. A student may earn their last year of Math and English credits through a practical math or technical writing course.
Each student is encouraged to earn a relevant industry certification.
Cross References:
§2700 High School Graduation Requirements
§ 2700P High School Graduation
Requirements
Legal References:
I.C. § 33-523 STEM Diploma
I.C. § 33-524 Bi-literacy Diploma
I.C. § 33-526 Workforce Readiness Diploma
I.D.A.P.A. 08.02.01.250.02 Required Attendance
I.D.A.P.A. 08.02.01.350 Early Graduation
I.D.A.P.A. 08.02.03.105 High School Graduation Requirements
I.D.A.P.A. 08.02.03.1802 STEM Diploma Math Exemption
Policy History:
Adopted on: 01/26/2021
Revised on: 11/16/2021
Revised on: 04/25/2023
Revised on: 02/25/2025