SECTION I INTRODUCTION PENN HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT PLAN FOR SUCCESS 2016-2017 Mission The Penn Hills School District is committed to excellence in education and improved opportunities for all with a focus on student learning. Vision The vision of the Penn Hills School District is to engage our entire community to inspire individual students to their highest levels of reading and academic achievement while instilling a commitment to service, respect, and life-long learning. Secondary Schools The curriculum of the Penn Hills secondary schools has been organized with this mission and vision in mind. Instructional services in the middle and senior high schools are comprehensive and varied. They are comprehensive to meet the educational demands common among all youth, and varied to provide for the wide range of interest and abilities to be found in the enrollment of a comprehensive secondary school. In view of the fact the Penn Hills students are looking forward to a variety of careers and post-secondary school educational opportunities, the curriculum is further organized to meet the needs of those who expect to qualify for entrance to an institution of higher learning, those who expect to enter business and industry directly, and those who desire a general education. The school curriculum has been developed under criteria established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The recommended basic program has been supplemented broadly through the inclusion of learning opportunities and modern foreign languages, extended science and mathematics opportunities, and enrichment areas, as well as vocationally oriented courses in line with the recent recommendations of national studies dealing with the nature of the American comprehensive school at the secondary level. The following pages describe the courses available in the Penn Hills High School. This Program of Studies has been prepared in order to provide parents and students with the essential information needed to make a sound decision about the program to be followed in the secondary grades. Parents and youth are urged to study this guide to insure that every student pursues a curriculum that is challenging, rewarding, and functional. Consultations with guidance counselors, secondary level school administrators, and teachers, are invited for the purpose of assessing the student's individual capabilities and interests and to further interpret the curricular areas that may be pursued with profit and success. 1 SECTION II GENERAL INFORMATION Course availability is subject to change at the discretion of Administration or by approval of the Board of School Directors. I. STANDARDS FOR GRADUATION FROM PENN HILLS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, PENN HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT Graduation from Penn Hills Senior High School shall be based upon the completion of twenty-five (25) credits during the final four years of the upper grades. In Grades 9-12 every student obtains: Four (4) units of credit in English Four (4) units of credit in Mathematics Three (3) units of credit in Science Four (4) units of credit in Social Studies Two (2.5) units of credit in Health and Physical Education One (1) unit of credit in Technology One (1) unit of credit in FACS Five and one-half (5.5) units of credit in electives Penn Hills School District graduation requirements comply with all applicable laws as enumerated in 22 Pa. Code § 4.24. Although students with special abilities are encouraged to explore the fine arts as deeply as their interests and needs dictate, a limit of four (4) credits in music (chorus, orchestra, band) and/or four (4) credits in art can be applied during the last four years of secondary school to the twenty-five (25) total credits required for graduation. HEALTH/PHYSICAL EDUCATION POLICY Four tenths (.4) credit will be granted for Health and (.4) credits per year for Physical Education will be granted. Physical Education classes must be scheduled each year. All students are encouraged to participate fully in the physical education classes and earn a passing grade. A failing grade in physical education must be made up during summer school or the following school year. Contract Physical Education and Contract Health will not be an option for making up a failing grade. In addition to the above standards for graduation from Penn Hills School District, Penn Hills School District students must attain “Proficiency” or “Advanced” scores on the Keystone Exams in Algebra I and English Literature. In addition those scores appear on the student’s transcript as “Proficient” or “Advanced.” All courses offered in the high school, grades 9-12, curriculum are included in the calculation of class rank, QPA average, and honor rolls. *Students who do not qualify for graduation at the end of their senior year will not automatically be re-enrolled in the regular education program for the next school year. Complete school records will be reviewed to include consideration of attendance, academic, and behavior history. Only those non-graduates who 2 are deemed not to be potentially disruptive to the school setting will be considered for return to the regular day program. STUDY HALL SCHEDULING A maximum of nine (9) study hall periods per week may be scheduled. Therefore, a student MUST maintain a full class schedule in grades 9 -12 SOCIAL STUDIES ELECTIVE COURSES Priority for scheduling social studies elective courses will be offered to Grade 12 students. Grade 11 students may schedule social studies electives provided slots are available in a given class. Grade 9 and 10 students may not schedule social studies elective courses. SENIOR PROJECT The Penn Hills School District requires completion of a comprehensive project during the senior year that is supported by the completion of related research projects in grades 9-12. The English Department supervises the completion of all projects. Completion of the senior project is a graduation requirement. II. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS - BOARD POLICY The Board will acknowledge each student's successful completion of the instructional program appropriate to the student's interests and needs by awarding a diploma at graduation ceremonies. The Board shall adopt the graduation requirements students must achieve, which shall include course completion and grades, completion of a culminating project, and results of district and state assessments. The Board shall award a regular high school diploma to every student enrolled in this district who meets the requirements of graduation established by this Board as part of the district's Strategic Plan. A requirement for graduation shall be the completion of work and studies representing the instructional program assigned to grades 9 through 12, which are aligned to established academic standards. The Board requires that each candidate for graduation shall have earned twenty-five (25) credits. The fourth year of high school shall not be required if the student has been accepted by an accredited institution of higher learning and has completed all requirements for graduation. Students with disabilities can participate in commencement exercises without receiving a diploma. The student's IEP team will determine graduation requirements for receiving a diploma at a later date. The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for planning and executing graduation ceremonies that appropriately recognize this important achievement. Accurate recording of each student's achievement of academic standards shall be maintained, as required by law and state regulations. Students shall be informed of graduation requirements they are required to complete. 3 Periodic warnings shall be issued to students in danger of not fulfilling graduation requirements. A student who has completed the requirements for graduation shall not be denied a diploma as a disciplinary measure, but the student may be denied participation in the graduation ceremony when personal conduct so warrants. Such exclusion shall be regarded as a school suspension. A list of all candidates for the award of a diploma shall be submitted to the Board for its approval. Graduates shall be informed of all obligations required to be fulfilled prior to commencement. Obligations not cleared prior to commencement will necessitate the student providing proof to the high school office that all obligations have been cleared before the diploma is issued. Students must attend all scheduled commencement practices unless excused by the principal. Violations that will automatically eliminate the student from commencement exercises are: 1. Reporting for practice and for commencement under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 2. Smoking in the school building or on school grounds. 3. Failure to pay financial obligations, complete class work and detentions. 4. Misconduct at commencement practices and prior to or during the commencement ceremony. 5. Failure to follow instructions given by the senior sponsors and/or administrators that related to the provisions and/or procedures implemented as a result of this policy. III. SCHOOL CODE - CHAPTER 4 ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT High School Education 1. Instruction in the high school program must focus on the development of abilities needed to succeed in work and advanced education through planned instruction. 2. Curriculum and instruction in the high school must be standards-based and provide all students opportunities to develop the skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation