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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