Educational Update 1997
TRANSITION TO NEW DIRECTIONS' GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
As you know, students who entered Senior 1 during the 1995-96 school year, and all Senior 1 students entering in subsequent years, must meet New Directions’ graduation requirements.
Students who entered Senior 1 during or prior to the 1994-95 school year may graduate by meeting the graduation requirements of the three-year Revised High School Program (20 credits across Senior 2-4), the four-year Answering the Challenge requirements (28 credits across Senior 1-4), or the four-year New Directions’ requirements (28 credits across Senior 1-4). This accommodation was communicated in the Educational Change Update letter of March 22, 1996 to enhance flexibility during the transition to New Directions’ graduation requirements.
During the 1996-97 school year, it has come to the Department’s attention that schools require further accommodations related to Answering the Challenge graduation requirements. In a spirit of understanding the challenges inherent in timetabling and scheduling during the transition to New Directions’ graduation requirements, additional accomodations specifically related to Answering the Challenge graduation requirements will now be permitted and can be applied in relation to any students who entered Senior 1 during or prior to the 1994-95 school year. The specific Answering the Challenge accomodations permitted are as follows:
Answering the Challenge Accommodations
| Senior 1 | |
| Compulsory Credits | 5 or 6 credits |
| Complementary Credits | 2 or 3 credits |
| Language Arts (English) | 1 or 2 credits |
Note: A student who takes only one Senior 1 English Language Arts credit must complete one additional complementary credit in a subject area of his/her choosing. However, a student who took Français Language Arts or Français Immersion does not have to take an additional complementary credit.
| Senior 2 | |
| Compulory Credits | 5 or 6 credits |
| Complementary Credits | 2 or 3 credits |
| Skills for Independent Living | 0 or 1 credit |
Note: A student who does not take Senior 2 Skills for Independent Living must complete an additional complementary credit.
| Senior 3 | |
| Compulsory Credits | 4 or 4½ credits |
| Electives | Minimum of 1½ - 2 credits |
| Physical Education | 0 or ½ credit |
Note: A student who does not take Senior 3 Physical Education (½ credit) must complete an additional ½ elective credit.
| Senior 4 | |
| Language Arts (English) | 1 or 2 credits |
| Senior 4 courses | 2 or 3 credits |
Note: A student who takes only one Senior 4 English Language Arts credit must complete a Senior 4 English Language Arts first credit and must complete an additional Senior 4 credit in any subject area.
Please refer to Table 1 – Revised (June 1997) Answering the Challenge New High School Program Model which presents these accomodations.