HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 19-06 WA Amending Board Graduation Policy 6.04A and renaming it to 6.04 WESTLAKE ACADEMY
RESOLUTION 19-06
A RESOLUTION OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
AMENDING AND RENAMING THE BOARD GRADUATION POLICY 6.04A.
WHEREAS, Westlake Academy ensures compliance with all State legislative mandates
on graduation; and
WHEREAS,Westlake Academy ensures an International Baccalaureate World Education
for all students; and
WHEREAS, Board policy 6.04A is required to address State graduation requirements for
all students as well as local expectations; and
WHEREAS,Westlake Academy works to update all policies in a timely manner to reflect
legislative changes and ensures these policies are easily accessible to stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees finds that the passage of this Resolution is in the best
interest of the citizens of Westlake as well as the students, their parents, and faculty of Westlake
Academy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
WESTLAKE ACADEMY:
SECTION 1: That, all matters stated in the recitals hereinabove are found to be true and
correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety.
SECTION 2: That, the Board of Trustees of Westlake Academy, hereby amends board
graduation policy 6.04A by renaming it board Graduation Policy 6.04 and amends the policy as
attached in Exhibit "A".
SECTION 3: If any portion of this resolution shall, for any reason, be declared invalid by
any court of competent jurisdiction,such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof
and the Council hereby determines that it would have adopted this Resolution without the invalid
provision.
WA Resolution 19-06
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SECTION 4: That this resolution shall become effective from and after its date of
passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 61h DAY OF May 2019.
Laura`Wheat, President
ATTEST:
APPROV S T RM:
Kelly EdvUds, Board Secretary
J '. Bub tanton Lowry,
School Attorney
WA Resolution 19-06
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Exhibit "A"
TOWN OF WESTLAKE
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES POLICY
Policy No. 6.04:
Date Board Adopted: May 12, 2014
Date Board Amended: May 6, 2019
Effective Date: May 6, 2019; contingent upon approval by TEA
Policy Category: Student Achievement
Policy Name: Graduation Policy
Policy Goal: Establishing graduation requirements and defining the commencement
participation requirements, and Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor Graduate criteria.
Policy Description:
Graduation requirements - As reflective of the Academy's rigorous and enriching IB
curriculum and a desire to foster college readiness, students who graduate from Westlake
Academy will complete a program of study which includes high academic standards and
additional credit hours making them eligible for the Distinguished Level of Achievement
recognition.
Students must complete all graduation requirements identified in this policy to receive a
Westlake Academy diploma. Those requirements are as follows:
• Earn the necessary credits as required for the Foundation High School Program
with at least the Multidisciplinary Studies endorsement as outlined by the Texas
State Board of Education;
• Complete the requirements to earn the Distinguished Level of Achievement;
• Achieve satisfactory performance on required state end of course assessments;
and
• Complete all requirements to sit for and receive an IB Diploma.
The requirements for a Westlake Academy diploma are identified in the chart below:
WA Resolution 19-06
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Westlake Academy Graduation Requirements
Foundation Plan with Multidisciplinary Studies Endorsement and Distinguished Level of Achievement
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6
STUDIES IN LANGUAGE INDIVIDUALS AND SCIENCES MATHEMATICS ARTS AND ELECTIVE
LANGUAGE AND ACQUISITION SOCIETIES
Foundation Plan English(2.0) Language Bt(2.0) HumanitieS2(2.0) Science(2.0) Mathematics(2.0) PE(1.0) 22.0
DP English Literature Government(0.5) DP Science(1.0) DP Mathematics(1.0) Fine Arts(1.0)
(2.0) Economics(0.5) MYP/DP Elective'(2.0)
DP Humanities(1.0) TOK(1.0)
DP Group 6(1.0)'
Multidisciplinary DP Language B5(2.0) DP Humanities(1.0) DP Science(1.0) DP Mathematics(1.0) 5.0
Studies
Endorsement All credits in Science All credits in
and are required for Mathematics,
Distinguished Distinguished Level of including a credit in
Level of Achievement Algebra II are required
Achievement for Distinguished
Level of Achievement
IB Requirements Personal Project'
Extended Essay
CAS
Based on Total
classes taken in Credits
9-12 grade' Earned
4.0 4.0 5.0 4.0 4.0 6.0 27.0
For transfer students lacking Language Acquisition credits,a student who enrolls in Grade 10 will have a requirement of 3.0 credits for Group 2,and a student who enrolls in Grade l 1 will have a requirement of 2.0 credits for
Group 2. Transfer students will have to still fulfill all other credit requirements. The total credits earned may be decreased based upon the transfer credits but not to fall below the 26.0 minimum credits required by the state.
Z A student may choose Economics HL from Group 6 and this will satisfy the 0.5 credit of Economics requirement. However,this choice will decrease the total credits earned by 0.5 but not to fall below the 26.0 minimum credits
required by the state.
'Electives will be determined based upon course offerings and overall student interest.
Depending on a student's choice,DP group 6 courses can account for 1.0 or 2.0 credits.
'For transfer students lacking Language Acquisition credits,a student who enrolls in Grade 10 will have a requirement of 3.0 credits for Group 2,and a student who enrolls in Grade 11 will have a requirement of 2.0 credits for
Group 2. Transfer students will have to still fulfill all other credit requirements. The total credits earned may be decreased based upon the transfer credits but not to fall below the 26.0 minimum credits required by the state.
b Personal Project is a requirement for any student entering Westlake Academy during the first semester of Grade 10. Students who enter in GI l are exempt from the Personal Project.
Pre-High School Credits can be earned in Language B and Mathematics in Grade 7 and/or Grade 8.Students may be awarded up to 3.0 credits on their high school transcript,however these credits do not
count towards the Westlake Academy graduation requirements.
WA Resolution 19-06
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Additional Endorsements — Westlake Academy students who complete the Westlake
Academy graduation requirements can also select and earn other endorsements as
defined in the Texas Education Code.
Eligibility to Participate in Commencement Ceremony —Westlake Academy seniors who
have satisfied all Westlake Academy requirements for graduation are eligible to
participate in the graduation ceremonies; however, disciplinary infractions may jeopardize
a student's opportunity to participate in the commencement ceremony consistent with the
student code of conduct and any determination made by the Executive Director under the
code of conduct.
For students who have not successfully completed all coursework, an exception may be
made in the event that a senior lacks one (1) credit towards the graduation requirements.
The student must have a plan approved by the Executive Director to complete the credit
prior to the beginning of the next school year. No other exceptions to participation in the
graduation ceremony will be granted except as required by law.
Academic Recognition - Westlake Academy will encourage and recognize academic
achievement through the establishment of a class Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor
Graduates. These recognitions are determined based on a student's Cumulative Grade
Point Average (CGPA) as recorded at the end of the third reporting period of a student's
senior year.
Valedictorian and Salutatorian — The graduating senior with the highest CGPA will be
recognized as Valedictorian, and the graduating senior with the second highest CGPA
will be recognized as Salutatorian. In the event of a tie for Valedictorian, the students
will share the honor and no Salutatorian will be designated. Additionally, Valedictorian
and Salutatorian eligibility requires attendance at Westlake Academy for the six
consecutive semesters immediately preceding graduation. Further, the Superintendent or
his/her designee may deem a student ineligible for these recognitions if the student is in
violation of Westlake Academy's student code of conduct, other school requirements,
Town code, or State codes.
Honor Graduates - A graduating senior whose weighted CGPA, is 90% or above will be
determined to be an Honor Graduate and will be duly recognized at commencement. The
Executive Director and his/her designee are granted the authority to include students
whose CGPA is 90% or above at the end of the final semester.
Rank in Class - Rank in class is determined by CGPA and will used for the purposes of:
• Identifying students eligible to obtain automatic admission to Texas public
universities based upon a university's uniform admission policy and in accordance
with the Texas Education Code. This information will be reported directly to
institutions by Westlake Academy staff.
• Determining Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
WA Resolution XXX
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Outside of the above circumstances, Westlake Academy is a non-ranking high school.
Operational guidelines consistent with this policy will be detailed and published in the
Parent/Student Handbook.
In the event a student does not complete all Westlake Academy graduation requirements
by the end of the student's twelfth (12th) grade year due to unexpected circumstances,
the student may seek Board approval for and the Board may approve an alternate
graduation plan consistent with the State's foundation high school program requirements,
if it is determined to be in the best interest of the student.
Students Receiving Special Education Services — Westlake Academy will comply with
federal and state laws and regulations applicable to graduation requirements for eligible
students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
A student receiving special education services may use a course to satisfy a requirement
under the foundation high school program or a requirement for an endorsement only if
the student satisfactorily completes the course without any modified curriculum.
To the extent required by law, Westlake Academy will provide a summary of performance
for graduating students receiving special education services. This summary will consider,
as appropriate, the views of the parent and student and written recommendations from
adult service agencies on how to assist the student in meeting postsecondary goals as
well as any required evaluation information.
The Academy shall issue a certificate of attendance to a student who receives special
education services and who has completed four years of high school but has not
completed the student's individualized education program (IEP). A student eligible to
receive a certificate of attendance shall be allowed to participate in a commencement
ceremony with students receiving high school diplomas. A student may participate in only
one commencement ceremony under this provision.
Dates Amended:
10/05/15
11/02/15
WA Resolution XXX
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