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Frequently Asked Questions: A Guide for Parents INTRODUCTION The Tamalpais Union High School District graduation requirements reflect the skills and knowledge described in the district’s Twenty-first Century Instructional Framework which encompasses four broad strands: • Academic Foundation, • Acquisition of Necessary Skills, • Career Planning, and • Experiences Beyond the Classroom. Fourteen specific Student Learning Outcomes have been adopted by the Board of Trustees. Students must demonstrate proficiency in four of these: Outcome #1 Communicate articulately, effectively and persuasively when writing and speaking Outcome #2 Read and analyze material in a variety of disciplines Outcome #3 Use technology to access information, analyze/solve problems and communicate ideas Outcome #5 Apply mathematical knowledge and skills to analyze and solve problems These requirements are consistent with the content standards which have been implemented by the State of California as part of the statewide educational assessment and accountability system. They also reflect the fact that all high school graduates today need a strong foundation in these fundamental skills in order to be equipped for future education and employment. Students working towards these outcomes will need to be actively engaged in their education, but they also need the support of all of us–teachers, parents, other adults. We need to forge a strong partnership. You are invited to be part of this team. The first step is to understand what students are required to do, what supports are in place, how you can access information, and how to initiate interventions. This document is designed as a reference to help you get started.

MORE on graduation — FAQs for students < FAQs for parents — FAQs for staff — Requirements — Alternatives The Questions (answers are below) WHAT’S new for the Class of 2005? answer… WHAT’S new for the Class of 2006? answer… WHAT are the requirements for graduation? answer… WHAT are my responsibilities for supporting my student? answer… WHAT are my child’s responsibilities for meeting the requirements? answer… WHAT support is available to help my student? answer… HOW will my student and I be notified about progress towards meeting these requirements? answer… HOW many opportunities does my student have to meet the performance standards? answer… IF my student is in Special Education, ESL, or has a 504 plan, what accommodations/ modifications will be made in these performance standards? answer… IF my student is a transfer student, must s/he still meet all the requirements? answer… WHAT happens if my student cannot meet the standards? answer… IS it possible for my student to earn passing grades in all required courses and still not meet the performance standards? answer…

Q. What’s new for the Class of 2005?
Answer: Beginning with the Class of 2005, students must pass a course in first year algebra. Algebra 1-2 or Algebra P1-P4 meet this requirement (Ed.Code 51224.5.) Students who have completed Algebra 1-2 in middle school will have met this requirement. Students who complete Algebra P1-P2 in middle school need to complete Algebra P3-P4 in order to fulfill this requirement.

Q. What’s new for the Class of 2006?
Answer: Beginning with the Class of 2006, students must pass the High School Exit Exam in English and mathematics in order to earn a diploma (Ed. Code 60851, 60856, 60859.)

Q. What are the requirements for graduation?
Answer:The new requirements beginning with the class of 2002 are:

Note: Students who reach grade twelve without having met the STAR test standards in Reading and/or Mathematics will have the option of taking an alternative district developed/selected assessment.

All students also must complete the following required courses with grades of D or better:

Detailed information about these assessments will be provided by your student’s teachers at the appropriate time.

Q. What are my responsibilities for supporting my student?
Answer: First, provide a good study environment at home. Second, stay in touch with how your child is doing by responding to teacher communications, reviewing student work, asking your child about how school is going, contacting a teacher if you have a concern, keeping informed about supplemental instructional opportunities and working with your student to make appropriate choices about which of these to access.

Q. What are my child’s responsibilities for meeting the requirements?
Answer: First, complete all coursework and required assessments. Second, use the teachers’ feedback (comments on papers, test/quiz scores, progress reports, grades) to initiate additional help. Request a conference with the teacher to discuss ways to improve performance. Third, plan ahead and don’t leave requirements until the senior year. Fourth, take advantage of extra help opportunities.

Q. What support is available to help my student?
Answer: The most important support is the on-going instructional program in which each teacher is well informed about the requirements and performance tasks required and provides opportunities for students to master the skills and knowledge required. In addition, supplemental instructional services will be made available such as: 1) tutoring (inc. peers), 2) summer school sessions, 3) tutorial/office hours, 4) if needed, additional diagnostic testing to help identify skill/knowledge weaknesses, 5) short workshops before or after school designed to help with a particular requirement, 6) Adult Education courses, 7) lists of supplemental programs available outside the school (such as College of Marin, private learning centers, etc.). The options will vary among the district’s schools, so it is best to ask your student’s counselor.

Q. How will my student and I be notified about progress towards meeting these requirements?
Answer: communication from the school after each formal assessment indicating the score and whether or not the standard was met. In addition, specific recommendations will be made about how to get help. Status on outcomes and exit exam are printed on report cards as well. Contact your student’s counselor if you need more information.

Q. How many opportunities does my student have to meet the performance standards?
Answer: Students will have multiple opportunities to meet the performance standards. Specific timelines and options will be explained in communications about each requirement.

Q. If my student is in Special Education, ESL, or has a 504 plan, what accommodations/modifications will be made in these performance standards?
Answer. During a student’s IEP or 504 planning process the team will consider what, if any, accommodations or modifications need to be made based upon the student’s learning disability. These adjustments should be written in as part of the individual instructional plan. ESL students are required to meet the district and state standards just as other students unless they are served as Special Education or 504 students.

Q. If my student is a transfer student, must s/he still meet all the requirements?
Answer: Transfer students are required to meet the district’s requirements for graduation. However, there are procedures for evaluating work which has been accepted at the student’s previous schools which may be accepted as an alternative to the district’s assessments. Transfer students who enter the Tamalpais High School District late in their senior year, without sufficient time to complete all the district’s requirements, may elect to have coursework transferred back to their previous school so that a diploma can be awarded from there. Counselors can provide details of these options.

Q. What happens if my student cannot meet the standards?
Answer: A student cannot earn a diploma from the Tamalpais Union High School District without meeting all of the graduation requirements. Other options such as the High School Proficiency Test, GED, or enrollment directly in a community college may need to be explored.

Q. Is it possible for my student to earn passing grades in all required courses and still not meet the performance standards?
Answer: Yes. Grades are determined using a variety of criteria including attendance, completion of homework, class participation, tests, quizzes, projects (group and individual). The performance standards are evaluated solely on what the student knows and can do. Thus, it is possible to earn a passing grade while still not meeting the graduation performance requirements. The graduation requirements cover skills and knowledge acquired across the curriculum, with many different courses contributing to the total, so a grade in any one particular course may or may not be closely related to the graduation performance requirement.

Your suggestions and comments regarding this document are welcomed! Please let your school counselor or principal know what was useful and what needs to be improved.

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