Office of Academic Policy & Systems September 2021 Edition High School Academic Policy Guide High School Academic Policy Guide Updated September 2021 1 High School Academic Policy Guide Dear Colleagues, The New York City Department of Education’s academic policy guides consolidate the many requirements for academic programming, assessments, promotion, grading, and student data into one reference document. The transition back to fully in-person learning has been a significant shift for New York City. Students, families, teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, service providers, and many others in students’ lives have had to overcome enormous challenges. In spite of this, we have not wavered in our commitment to supporting and educating our students and will continue to persevere under extraordinary circumstances. During this time, our policies must reflect the wide range of experiences and challenges that we are facing as a community. Our goal in publishing the academic policy guides is to provide you with clear interpretations of academic policies and guidance about how to apply them in different scenarios. The academic policy guides are revised each year based on changes to policies and feedback from schools and field staff. This year the academic policy guides are also designed to help schools adapt—not recreate—their policies to meet students' needs as we return to fully in-person learning. This academic policy guide is just one tool that you may use in providing rigorous academic experiences that considers their individual strengths and needs. Use this guide as a resource as you program and grade students, develop instructional supports and interventions, and set your own school-level policies. As you implement these policies, we encourage you to apply an equity and empathy lens, identifying opportunities to examine how having strong policies, systems, and structures impacts the outcomes of every student. As you plan for the upcoming school year and beyond, refer to this guide and share it with key members of your school community. This guide, as well as additional resources on policies pertaining to academic requirements and programming, can be found on the Department of Education’s academic policy and systems resource pages on the InfoHub. Please contact your Borough/Citywide Office’s academic policy and systems lead for additional guidance on any of the topics described in these resources, and refer to the news section of the Principal’s Hub for updates. Sincerely, Linda Chen Chief Academic Officer New York City Department of Education High School Academic Policy Guide Updated September 2021 2 High School Academic Policy Guide INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................................. 3 I. KEY SHIFTS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS – NEW SEPTEMBER 2021 ......................................................................................... 6 II. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS – UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2021 ......................................................................................... 8 A. Diploma Types .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 B. Course Credits – Updated September 2021 ............................................................................................................... 13 1. English Language Arts ............................................................................................................................................ 14 2. Social Studies ......................................................................................................................................................... 15 3. Math ...................................................................................................................................................................... 16 4. Science – Updated September 2021 ..................................................................................................................... 16 5. World Languages (formerly Languages Other than English) – Updated September 2021 ................................... 18 6. Physical Education – Updated September 2021 ................................................................................................... 19 7. Health Education – Updated September 2021...................................................................................................... 21 8. Arts Education ....................................................................................................................................................... 22 9. Electives ................................................................................................................................................................. 22 C. Assessments – Updated September 2021 .................................................................................................................. 23 1. Regents Exams – Updated September 2021 ......................................................................................................... 24 2. NYSED -Approved Alternatives and the 4+1 Policy – Updated September 2021 ................................................... 25 3. Appeals to Graduate with Low Scores on Regents Examinations ......................................................................... 26 4. Safety Net Flexibilities – Updated September 2021 .............................................................................................. 28 5. Regents Exam Waivers – Updated September 2021 ............................................................................................. 30 6. Schoo ls using Performance-Based Assessment Tasks (PBATs) in Lieu of Regents Exams – Updated September 2021 ............................................................................................................................................................................ 31 D. Diploma Endorsements .............................................................................................................................................. 31 1. Arts Endorsement – Updated September 2021 .................................................................................................... 31 2. Seal of Biliteracy .................................................................................................................................................... 32 3. Career and Technology Education (CTE) Endorsement – Updated September 2021 ........................................... 32 4. Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Endorsement – Updated September 2021 ................... 33 5. Honors Designation – Updated September 2021 ................................................................................................. 33 6. Mastery in Math Designation – Updated September 2021 .................................................................................. 34 7. Mastery in Science Designation – Updated September 2021 ............................................................................... 34 8. Service Seal ............................................................................................................................................................ 35 E. Commencement Credentials ...................................................................................................................................... 35 1. Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential – Updated September 2021 ........ 35 2. Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential ............................................................................................ 36 F. Graduation Policies and Procedures .......................................................................................................................... 37 1. Promotion and Grade Level ................................................................................................................................... 37 2. Graduation Cohort Policy ...................................................................................................................................... 38 3. Tracking Student Progress Toward Graduation – New September 2021.............................................................. 40 4. Supporting Juniors and Seniors with College and Career Planning – New September 2021 ................................ 41 5. Certifying Students for Graduation – Updated September 2021 .......................................................................... 41 6. Early or Late Graduation ....................................................................................................................................... 43 7. Stu dent Participation in Commencement Ceremonies ......................................................................................... 44 G. City University of New York (CUNY) Proficiency and Admissions Requirements ....................................................... 44 1. CUNY Four-Year Colleges – Updated September 2021 ......................................................................................... 44 High School Academic Policy Guide Updated September 2021 3 High