1. Graduation Credit and Rank Recommendations
Presented to the Board of Education on: March 20, 2017 Presented to High School PTOs on: Peoria High School – March 6:00 p.m. Richwoods High School – March 7:00 p.m. Manual Academy – March 5:30 p.m.

2. Graduation Committee Members
Thom Simpson
Cheryl Sanfilip
Beth Derry
George McKenna
Derrick Booth
Chris Coplan
Susan Grazanich
Taunya Jenkins
Thomas Welsh
Dr. Rita Ali
Annette Johnson
Heather Young
Brett Elliot
Brent Baker
Patricia Simmons
Jared Lucas
John Meisinger
Judy Zimmerman
Jeff Atkins- Dutro
Tom Hayes
Scott Schiefling
Matt McCaw
Patrick Hogan
Travis Bolby

3. Committee’s Task
In 2015, a committee made up of principals, counselors, teachers and community volunteers began reviewing graduation requirements and the impact on the district’s graduation rate.
The district’s graduation credits increased from 22 to 26 and the and number of periods from 6 to in 2011.
The district’s graduation rate declined from 90% in 2010 to % in 2016.

4. Philosophy of the High School Graduation Plan:
Each student should be provided with educational and career options that will allow them to graduate and pursue their future endeavors without the pressure of performing relative to peers. This can be achieved by:
offering educational and/or career options according to each student’s interests;
Providing rigorous educational experiences;
providing interventions;
changing required graduation credits; and
providing flexibility in scheduling and awarding of credits.

5. Recommendation 1 regarding Class Rank:
Class rank would be replaced with a new academic recognition distinction beginning with the graduating class of 2020 and all subsequent classes. Valedictorian and salutatorian distinctions would be replaced by the Latin system of recognition, i.e., Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude.

6. General Facts about Class Rank:
Class rank creates unnecessary stress for students and parents and does not always allow students to follow their personal aspirations due to pursuing a weighted grades.
High school students frequently ask for their rank, fixate on weighted coursework and manipulate their schedule to gain an advantage over peers.
Colleges and universities increasingly rely less on class rank than ever before and more on test scores, grades, and rigorous courses.

7. Importance of Class Rank in College Admissions
*Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling

8. Proposed New Levels of Recognition:
The Sterling Merit Scholars will continue to be recognized for exemplary academic performance.
Cum Laude “with honor” will be granted to students with GPAs of 4.25 – 4.49.
Magna Cum Laude “with great honor” will be granted to students with GPAs of – 4.74.
Summa Cum Laude with highest honor” will be granted to students with GPAs of and higher.
Recognized students would wear colored chords during the graduation ceremony.
Note: With the Latin system, there will be a need to assure that each high school offers enough enriched, Advanced Placement, and dual credit courses to enable students to take in order to achieve these recognition honors.

9. Proposed Recognition Plan:
Class of 2018 – Valedictorian and Salutatorian Named
Class of 2019 – Valedictorian and Salutatorian Named
Class of 2020 – Cum, Magna, & Summa Cum Laude Recognition
Class of 2021 – Cum, Magna, & Summa Cum Laude Recognition
Class of 2022 – Cum, Magna, & Summa Cum Laude Recognition

10. Recommendation 2 regarding Graduation Credits:
Change the number of required credits from 26 to 24, with a range from credits a student could earn during 4 years of high school. This would provide students an extra period in the 7 period day for tutoring, enrichment opportunities, interventions, electives, and/or internships.
The number of graduation credits required for graduation was increased from 22 to 26 in With a 7 period day, students no longer had the option of a study hall nor did staff have the flexibility to provide interventions during the school day.

11. High School
Required Credits
Daily Periods
Peoria Public Schools 26 7
Dunlap 21
7 plus early bird
Morton 20
Washington
22.5
Pekin
6 plus early bird
East Peoria 22
Limestone
23.5 8
Illini Bluffs
Metamora
Tremont 27
4 blocks
Brimfield
Bloomington 24
Decatur
Rockford
Springfield

12. Recommendation 3 regarding Flexibility:
Provide flexibility in providing educational and career options for all students.

13. Examples of flexible options:
Flex scheduling/staggered start time
Tutoring
Early graduation
School within a school by school
Career Pathways
Length of courses (1, ½, ¼ semester)
PE waivers
Increased rigor
AP Opportunity Labs
Allocation of resources/staff
Continuum or Menu of intervention options/choices of interventions
Opportunities with connection to supports – transitional experiences
Homeroom/Advisory/Freshman Seminar
Competency-based education

14. Recommended Proposals
Recommendation 1 regarding Class Rank: Class rank would be eliminated beginning with the graduating class of 2020 and all subsequent classes. Valedictorian and salutatorian distinction would be replaced by the Latin system of academic recognition (Cum Laude. Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude)
Recommendation 2 regarding Graduation Credits: Change the number of credits from 26 to 24, providing a range from 24 to 28 credits a student can earn, beginning with the class of 2020.
Recommendation 3 regarding Flexibility: Provide flexibility in providing educational and career options for all students. The reduction of graduation credits will allow the flexibility for providing interventions, elective classes, and/or doing an internship or service learning.