Before a student is evaluated for early high school graduation, the principal (or his/her designee) must obtain written permission from the student's parent/guardian.

Students referred for early high school graduation will be evaluated in a prompt manner. Evaluations related to referrals that occur during the school year will ordinarily be completed within sixty (60) calendar days. Evaluations related to referrals that occur at the end of a school year or during the summer will occur either before the end of the school year, if possible, or within sixty (60) calendar days of the start of the next school year. The building principal will schedule the evaluations. Normally, changes in a student's schedule to accommodate the accelerated learning will only occur at the start of a semester.

Upon referral, the student's principal (or his/her designee) shall convene an acceleration evaluation committee to determine the appropriateness of early high school graduation for the student. The committee shall be comprised of the following:

The acceleration evaluation committee shall be responsible for conducting a fair and thorough evaluation of the student.

Students referred for early high school graduation shall be evaluated based on past academic performance, measures of achievement based on State academic content standards, and successful completion of State mandated graduation requirements. The acceleration evaluation committee will consider the student's own thoughts on possible accelerated placement in its deliberations.

The acceleration evaluation committee shall issue a written decision on the outcome of the evaluation process to the principal and the student's parent/guardian. This notification shall include instructions for appealing the decision.

Appeals must be made in writing to the Superintendent within ten (10) calendar days of the parent/guardian receiving the committee's decision. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall review the appeal and notify the parent/guardian of his/her final decision within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving the appeal. The Superintendent or his/her designee's decision shall be final.

If the student is recommended for early high school graduation, the acceleration evaluation committee will develop a written acceleration plan designed to allow the student to complete high school graduation requirements on an accelerated basis. The plan may include the provision of educational options in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code 3301-35-06(G), waiving District graduation requirements that exceed those required by the State, and early promotion to sophomore (or higher) status to allow the student to take the Ohio Graduation Test.

Approved 7/06