3537 - (ILBAA) High School Graduation Competencies

For the purposes of assessment of high school course work through the demonstration
of student mastery of course competencies, the following definitions are established:

 

(1) "Competencies" means student learning targets that represent key content-
specific concepts, skills, and knowledge applied within or across content domains.

Specific and required types of competencies include district competencies and
course competencies.
(2) "District competencies" mean specific types of competencies that are common
across the district and organized in developmental progressions that lead to
achievement of graduation competencies.
(3) " Course competencies" means specific types of competencies that are common
across a course and define learning expectations for the successful completion of a
course.
(4) "Mastery" means the consistent demonstration of competence over time in a
content area.

Course credit will be awarded through the demonstration of a student's mastery of the
competencies of the course. Course credit granted through demonstration of mastery
will be counted through traditional methods. Grades and credit granted through
demonstration of mastery will be included in the student's grade point average.
Students must be enrolled in the particular course in order to receive course credit.

Students who are involved in an approved Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) to
satisfy course requirements in whole or in part shall demonstrate mastery through a
method or methods as approved by the course instructor, as specified in Policy 3528
(IMBC).

Credit may be used to fulfill prerequisites for other courses and/or subject area credit
requirements for graduation. Credit will not be granted, however, for a course in a
subject area lower in course sequence than one for which the student has already
earned credit.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish rules for implementing this policy in
cooperation with the high school Principal and shall be responsible for ensuring that all
high school courses include appropriate competency assessments. Competency
Assessments will be selected, conducted, and reviewed in conjunction with the
provisions of Policy (3536) ILBA.

Assessments shall be aligned with clearly defined educational standards that specify
what students should know and be able to do. The assessment items and tasks shall be
valid and appropriate representations of the standards students are expected to
achieve. Assessment standards, tasks, procedures, and uses shall be fair to all
students.

 

 

Adopted: February 5, 2024
Related Policies: Policy 3536 (ILBA)