0001|                               AN ACT
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0002| AUTHORIZING LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO GRANT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS TO
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0003| STUDENTS WHO FULFILL INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS; DECLARING AN
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0004| EMERGENCY.
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0005| 
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0006| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
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0007|      Section 1.  Section 22-2-8.4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter
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0008| 33, Section 5, as amended by Laws 1995, Chapter 174, Section 1 and
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0009| also by Laws 1995, Chapter 180, Section 1) is amended to read:
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0010|      "22-2-8.4.  GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.--
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0011|           A.  At the end of the eighth grade or during the ninth
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0012| grade, each student shall prepare an individual program of study for
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0013| grades nine through twelve.  The program of study shall be signed by a
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0014| student's parent or guardian.
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0015|           B.  Beginning with students entering the ninth grade in the
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0016| 1986-87 school year, successful completion of a minimum of
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0017| twenty-three units shall be required for graduation.  These units
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0018| shall be as follows:
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0019|                (1)  four units in English, with major emphasis on
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0020| grammar and literature;
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0021|                (2)  three units in mathematics;
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0022|                (3)  two units in science, one of which shall have a
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0023| laboratory component;
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0024|                (4)  three units in social science, which shall
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0025| include United States history and geography, world history and
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0001| geography and government and economics;
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0002|                (5)  one unit in physical fitness;
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0003|                (6)  one unit in communication skills, with major
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0004| emphasis on writing and speaking, which may include a language other
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0005| than English; and
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0006|                (7)  nine elective units.  Only the following elective
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0007| units shall be counted toward meeting the requirements for graduation: 
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0008| fine arts, including music, band, chorus and art; practical arts;
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0009| physical education; languages other than English; speech; drama;
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0010| vocational education; mathematics; science; English; reserve officer
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0011| training corps; social science; computer science; health education;
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0012| and other electives approved by the state board.
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0013|      With the approval of the local school board, participation on an
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0014| athletic team or in an athletic sport during the school day may count
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0015| toward fulfillment of the physical education required unit.
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0016|           C.  Final examinations shall be administered to all students
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0017| in all classes offered for credit.
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0018|           D.  Except as provided in Subsection E, no student shall
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0019| receive a high school diploma who has not passed a state competency
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0020| examination in the subject areas of reading, English, math, science
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0021| and social science.  Beginning with the 1997-98 school year, the state
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0022| competency examinations on social science shall include a section on
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0023| the constitution of the United States and the constitution of New
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0024| Mexico.  If a student exits from the school system at the end of grade
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0025| twelve without having passed a state competency examination, he shall
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0001| receive an appropriate state certificate indicating the number of
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0002| credits earned and the grade completed.  If within five years after a
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0003| student exits from the school system he takes and passes the state
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0004| competency examination, he may receive a high school diploma.
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0005|           E.  A student who receives special education services and
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0006| who has fulfilled the goals and objectives or course work set forth in
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0007| his individualized education program shall, upon the recommendation of
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0008| the individualized education committee, receive a high school diploma.
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0009|           F.  The state board may establish a policy to provide for
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0010| administrative interpretations to clarify curricular and testing
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0011| provisions of the Public School Code."
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0012|      Section 2.  EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public
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0013| peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.    
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0014|                                                
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