Introduction

For a student to graduate from high school with a Maryland High School Diploma, he/she must meet the following graduation requirements [Figure 1]:

• Complete all State course requirements.
  21 specified credits
• Complete State service-learning requirements.
  75 hours or equivalent
• Complete all State testing requirements.
  Students entering grade 9 in Fall 2005 or later must meet the testing requirement using one of the three options below:

  1.) Pass each of the four High School Assessment (HSA) tests - algebra/data analysis, English, biology, and government.
  There are two potential substitutions:

  • Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) Tests - For students who have earned a score approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on the HSA-related AP or IB test

  • Modified HSA - An alternative test for students with disabilities who meet the specific participation criteria based on their IEP process

  2.) Combined-Score Option - For students who have earned a combined score of 1602 on the four HSA tests

  3.) Bridge Plan for Academic Validation - For students who meet eligibility criteria

Each of the three options is a separate path for meeting the testing requirement for graduation. Students can be working on more than one option at any given time. This is referred to as working on parallel paths (see Step 2).

• Complete all local graduation requirements.
  Local school systems frequently add course and other requirements beyond the State's minimum requirements.

Figure 1

 

©2008 Maryland State Department of Education