- Diplomas
Diplomas for students meeting graduation requirements shall be ordered by the school system upon the recommendation of the principal. The principal shall file a list of students including the information needed for the diploma orders in time to ensure that the diplomas will be available for delivery on schedule. Diplomas shall be signed by the Chair of the DeKalb County Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools.
No principal shall award a diploma until there is a certified statement on file that the student has completed graduation requirements. A certified list of graduates of each high school shall be filed in the Office of the Superintendent or designee on the day diplomas are issued.
Where diplomas are issued irregularly, as in the case of general education diploma (GED) tests or makeup work, the provision for awarding diplomas by the principal remains the same. Also, a certified statement that the students have completed the graduation requirements shall be filed in the Office of the Superintendent prior to delivery of the diplomas.
Students who complete requirements for a high school diploma at the Open Campus High School will normally participate in graduation exercises at the Open Campus High School. Such candidates for high school graduation will be granted the option of receiving a regular diploma from the DeKalb County high school previously attended provided they meet all the requirements of that school, or a diploma from the Open Campus High School provided they meet the requirements of that school. If candidates for graduation decide not to participate in the graduation exercises at the Open Campus High School, they will be permitted to receive a diploma either by mail or in person. Students who elect to participate in the graduation ceremony of the high school issuing the diploma will be permitted to do so. Students completing graduation requirements at the Open Campus High School may be permitted to purchase a class ring from the institution issuing the diploma.
Under no circumstances shall a student be given an unsigned diploma. Only students who have met all graduation requirements shall be permitted to participate in graduation exercises.
- Certificates
Students who have fulfilled course requirements for graduation but who are unable to demonstrate the minimum competencies as set forth in the state assessment requirements for high school graduation will receive a certificate in lieu of a diploma.
Legal References
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0061 — Fundamental roles of local boards of education and local school superintendents (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0073 — Removal of board members upon potential loss of accreditation; turnaround schools; prohibition on use of public funds for litigation expenses (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0081 — Strategic plan and proposed contract for local school systems requesting flexibility; strategic waivers school system (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0082 — Contract terms for local school systems requesting flexibility (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0084 — Accountability, flexibility, and consequences components of contract (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0084.1 — Loss of governance for nonperforming schools (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0084.2 — State monitoring (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0154 — Remedial education program (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0244 — Waiver requests by a local board of education; requirements for application for waiver; period of waiver; blanket waivers (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0282 — Georgia Academic Placement and Promotion Policy (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0283 — Georgia Academic Placement and Promotion Policy-Criteria; specific requirements for students in grades three, five and eight; implementation (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0284 — Criteria for local boards of education; model placement and promotion policy (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0329 — Requirements for high schools that receive reform grants as chronically low-performing high schools (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0690.2 — Establishment of student attendance and school climate committee; membership; penalties for failure to comply; review and policy recommendations (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0741 — Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and response to intervention (RTI) (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0948 — Reduction in Force Policies (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-2088 — Charter School annual report (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-2090 — Collaborative efforts on matters related to authorization of state charter schools; administration (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-2093 — (REPEALED 2022) Annual report on state charter schools that offer virtual instruction; minimum requirements; publication on website (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-03-0496 — Definitions. Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Scholarship Program. (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-03-0497 — Establishment of REACH scholarship; student requirements. (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-14-0025 — Office of Student Achievement-Creation; director; authority; seal; administrative assignment (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-14-0033 — Indicators of quality of learning in individual schools and school systems; comparison to state standards; rating schools and school systems; providing information; uniform definition of "dropout" and "below grade level" (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-14-0041 — Appropriate levels of intervention for failing schools; master or management team; school improvement team; annual reports; data revision; hearing (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-14-0044 — Turnaround coaches; role (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-14-0045 — Turnaround eligible schools defined; role of local boards of education (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-14-0046 — On-site diagnostic review by third-party specialist; development of intensive school improvement plan (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-14-0047 — Individual assessments of low performing students in turnaround eligible schools (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-14-0048 — Resources and supports for turnaround eligible schools (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-14-0049 — Failure to progress after implementation of intensive school improvement plan; interventions (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-14-0049.13 — Reporting of percentage of students with each state funded characteristic included in Code Section 20-2-161; online sortable database; underlying fiscal data for financial efficiency ratings; inter-agency cooperation (Lexis)
- Rule 160-5-1-.33 — Strategic Waivers and Title 20/No Waivers School Systems
- Rule 160-4-2-.09 — Governor’s Honor Program
- Rule 160-4-2-.11 — Promotion, Placement, and Retention
- Rule 160-7-1-.01 — Single Statewide Accountability System
- Rule 160-4-9-.04 — Charter Schools and Charter Systems Definitions
- Rule 160-4-2-.38 — Education Program for Gifted Students
- Rule 160-5-1-.37 — Teacher and Leader Evaluations
- Rule 160-4-9-.07 — Charter Systems
- 20 USC 6301 — Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Statement of Purpose
- 20 USC 6318 — Parent and family engagement
- 20 USC 7101 — ESEA: 21st Century Schools-General Provisions
- 20 USC 7116 — 21st Century Schools-Local educational agency applications
- 34 CFR 200.58 — Qualifications of Paraprofessionals
- 34 CFR 200.61 — Parents' Right to Know