HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 20-20 Adopting an Amendment to the graduation policyWESTLAKE ACADEMY
RESOLUTION 20-20
A RESOLUTION OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ADOPTING THE AMENDMENT OF THE GRADUATION POLICY.
WHEREAS, Westlake Academy is obligated to create board policies in alignment with
State and Federal mandates; and,
WHEREAS, Westlake Academy is required to create and publish graduation guidelines
to ensure that graduates meet the graduation requirements of the State of Texas; and,
WHEREAS, Westlake Academy is required to create and publish graduation guidelines
to ensure that graduates meet the requirements of the International Baccalaureate Organization;
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 approves the
amended graduation policy attached to this resolution as 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.
SECTION 4: That this resolution shall become effective from and after its date of
passage.
Resolution WA 20-20
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PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 13"' DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021.
ATTEST:
v
ToddAVood, Board Secretary
APPROVED AS TO F'ORM:
Jan t . u . ,r-t anton Lowry,
School Atto ey
Laura Wheat, President
Amanda DeGan, Superintendent
TE: X PS
Resolution WA 20-20
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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: September 13, 2021
Effective Date: September 13, 2021
Policy Category: Student Achievement
Policy Name: Graduation Policy
Policy Goal: Establishing graduation requirements, defining commencement
participation requirements, and determining Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor
Graduate criteria.
Policy Description:
Graduation Requirements - As reflective of Westlake Academy's rigorous and enriching
International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and a desire to foster college readiness,
students who graduate from Westlake Academy will complete a program of study that
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.
Resolution WA 20-20
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The academic credit requirements for a Westlake Academy diploma are identified in the
chart below:
Graduation Policy Credits
GROUP
Foundation Plan
Westlake Academy
with Distinguished Level of Achievement
1
Language and
Literature
1.0 English 1
1.0 English 1
4.0
1.0 English 2
1.0 English 2
1.0 English 3
2.0 IB English Literature
1.0 English 4
2
Language Acquisition
2.0 Language B
3.0 Language B
5.0
_
2.0 IB Language B
3
Individuals and
Societies
1.0 World Geography or
World History
1.0 World Geography or
World History
5.0
_
1.0 US History
1.0 Humanities
0.5 Economics
1.0 US History
0.5 Government
0.5 Economics
0.5 Government
_
1.0 IB Individuals and Societies
4
Sciences
1.0 Biology
1.0 Biology
4.0
2.0 Lab Science
1.0 Lab Science
2.0 IB Science
5
Mathematics
1.0 Algebra 1
1.0 Algebra 1
5.0
1.0 Geometry
1.0 Geometr)�
1.0 Math
1.0 Algebra 2___
2.0 IB
6
Arts / Electives
1.0 Fine Art
_Mathematics
1.0 Fine Art _
2.0
5.0 Electives
1.0 IB TOK
PE
Physical Education
1.0 PE
1.0 PE
1.0
IB Core
Personal Project
0.0
_
IB Extended Essay_
IB CAS
Total
22.0
26.0
High School credits can be earned in Language B, and Mathematics in Grade 7 and/or
Grade 8.
Transfer Student Guidelines and Exemptions - Transfer students must complete WA
graduation requirements and achieve a minimum of 26.0 credit hours with the
applicable exemptions in the areas listed below:
For transfer students lacking Language Acquisition credits within WA's course
offerings, a student who enrolls in Grade 9 will have a minimum requirement of
4.0 credits in the same language through the WA course offerings; a student who
enrolls in Grade 10 will have a minimum requirement of 3.0 credits in the same
language through the WA course offerings; and a student who enrolls in Grade
11 will have a minimum requirement of 2.0 credits in the same language through
the WA course offerings.
Resolution WA 20-20
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• Personal Project is a requirement for any student entering Westlake Academy
before or during the first semester of Grade 10. Students who enter in G11 are
exempt from the Personal Project.
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 as determined by the Executive
Director.
For students who have not successfully completed all coursework, an exception rnay 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 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 Academy
shall compute the weighted numerical grade average to a sufficient number of decimal
places until the tie is broken. Additionally, Valedictorian and Salutatorian eligibility
requires attendance at Westlake Academy for at least 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 third reporting period of a
student's senior year.
Rank in Class - Rank in class is determined by CGPA and will be used for the purposes
of:
Resolution WA 20-20
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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; and
• Determining Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
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 extenuating
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.
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
05/06/19
Resolution WA 20-20
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