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