Graduation Requirements/Diplomas/Certificates 5-30

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Policy 5-30

STUDENTS

Graduation Requirements/Diplomas/Certificates

1. Graduation Requirements

   The requirements for graduation from high school shall be those established by the Virginia General Assembly and Virginia Board of Education regulations as cited in the legal reference to this Policy, and those identified by the School Board.

2. Locally-Awarded Verified Credits (LAVC)

   The requirements for awarding LAVCs in English, mathematics, science and history/social science shall be those established by the Virginia Board of Education Guidelines for Local School Boards to Award Verified Credits. A procedure will be set forth in regulation by the Superintendent for general eligibility, specific criteria, and guidelines by subject area, general provisions, and process for levels of appeals.

   Certain protected groups [students with disabilities who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans] who meet specific credit accommodations criteria are not subject to the limit on the number of LAVCs.

   For the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, the requirements for awarding LAVCs in English, mathematics, science and history/social science shall follow emergency guidelines as established by the Virginia Board of Education. These emergency guidelines will continue to apply to any high school credit-bearing course eligible for verified credit in which a student was enrolled in spring 2020, summer 2020 or during the 2020-21 school year and shall remain as part of the local school board policy for the duration of its impact on any affected student’s graduation.

3. Certificates and Diplomas
   1. Students who complete a prescribed course of study as defined by the School Board but who do not qualify for a diploma shall be awarded a Certificate of Program Completion by the School Board.

      Certain protected groups [students with disabilities who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans] who meet specific credit accommodations criteria are not subject to the limit on the number of LAVCs. As part of a student’s annual IEP review, IEP teams may discuss credit accommodations for which students with disabilities may be eligible.

   2. Students who have completed a prescribed course of study as defined by the School Board shall be awarded certificates by the School Board if they do not qualify for diplomas.
4. Standard Unit of Credit

   The School Board authorizes the Superintendent to develop a regulation for awarding a standard unit of credit in lieu of 70/140 clock hours of instruction provided that such regulation meets the requirements of Virginia Board of Education Regulation 8 VAC 20-131-110, as amended.

Legal Reference

Code of Virginia § 22.1-253.13:4, as amended. Standard 4. Student achievement and graduation requirements.

Virginia Board of Education 8VAC20-131, et seq., as amended. Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia.

Related Links

School Board Regulation 5-30.1
School Board Regulation 5-30.3

Adopted by School Board: October 21, 1969
Amended by School Board: May 19, 1970
Amended by School Board: January 18, 1972
Amended by School Board: August 4, 1983
Amended by School Board: February 21, 1984
Amended by School Board: July 1, 1987
Amended by School Board: August 21, 1990
Amended by School Board: July 16, 1991
Amended by School Board: June 15, 1993 (Effective August 14, 1993)
Amended by School Board: October 6, 1998
Amended by School Board: July 15, 2003
Amended by School Board: April 4, 2006
Amended by School Board: August 2, 2011
Amended by School Board: March 5, 2013
Amended by School Board: September 4, 2013
Amended by School Board: August 19, 2014
Amended by School Board: September 1, 2015
Amended by School Board: February 27, 2018
Amended by School Board: April 28, 2020
Amended by School Board: November 9, 2021