Graduation Requirements

 

Individualized Senior Years Program: Certificate of Completion
Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth will be introducing a certificate of completion for an Individualized Senior Years Program, effective this school year. This certificate recognizes the achievement of students with significant cognitive disabilities who benefit from a highly individualized and functionally appropriate learning experience.
Letter ( 14 KB)
Guidelines ( 20 KB)
Order Certificates from the Manitoba Text Book Bureau, stock # 72501

Consultation on Proposed Changes to Senior Years Programs and Graduation Requirements: Summary Report 2006
In April 2006, Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth invited school divisions and partner organizations to attend one of three consultation sessions held in Brandon (April 13), Winnipeg (April 20), and The Pas (April 26). Participants provided written feedback to the Department in the form of divisional responses. The feedback has been compiled and a summary report prepared.

 

Current Graduation Requirements

During the past ten years many challenges have taken place within society and in education. Technology has made possible many educational opportunities that were not available in the past. Students are more aware of opportunities and choices that fit with their plans for a future career. Students are enrolling in college and university while in their Senior Years in school. As we all know, it is important that our education system meet the needs of our students in a changing world. With this in mind the Department has made a number of changes to increase student choice in the Senior Years.

The changes will allow students to choose courses that are of interest to them while at the same time keeping core courses common to all. This includes allowing Senior Years students to get credits for locally developed courses, distance education courses, post-secondary courses (college and university) and for community service. These changes have been made following consultation throughout Manitoba including with school boards, the Manitoba Teachers Society and parent councils.

 

Planning and Policy Documents

Evaluating Out-of-Province Course Completions for Senior Years Credits: A Guide for School Administrators
This document outlines considerations, procedures, and resources to help schools evaluate course credits completed outside Manitoba and determine appropriate grade-level equivalencies that will facilitate placement of students arriving from out of province.

Focus on the Future: Your Grad Planner
This document will help students gain an understanding of the requirements for high school graduation, career planning and paying for their future education.

Student Transfer Guide
This guide, compiled by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), provides detailed information on the school systems and graduation requirements for each province and territory.

 

Options for Meeting the Senior Years Credit Requirements

The department changed the Senior Years graduation requirements based on consultations throughout Manitoba. While changes have been made, the required credits (15) remain but are now known as Compulsory credits. The other 13 credits now known as optional credits can be taken from a wider range of course choices.

These changes are explained in detail in the report Increasing Choice and Flexibility: Changes to Senior Years Graduation Requirements (March 2001) ( 74 KB)

A report on the status of the eight initiatives and the implementation process has been published in June 2002: Increasing Choice and Flexibility: Changes to Senior Years Graduation Requirements: A Status Report

• Categories of Credits
  The number of categories was changed from four to two: compulsory and optional. This change made graduation requirements easier to understand and gave students more choices.
• SICs and SIPs
  More opportunity is provided for School Initiated Courses (SICs) and Student Initiated Projects (SIPs) including sharing of such courses across the province. Students can select a maximum of 11 SICs and three SIPs across their Senior Years. Schools are encouraged to consult with parents and other community members, about their SIC and SIP school offerings. See Community Service Credit SIP.
• Distance Learning Courses
  Coursed developed by Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth (including school-based courses, Independent Study Option, Teacher Mediated Option, Web-Based Courses).
  It will be possible for students to take courses delivered from outside the province and use these as compulsory or optional credits.
• Post-Secondary Credits and Senior years (Dual Credits)
  Senior Years students are allowed to take college and university courses for Senior Years graduation credits.
  Guidelines for Implementing Post-Secondary and Senior Years (Dual Credits) ( 24 KB)
  Dual Credits - University and College Registration Form ( 43 KB)
• Challenge for Credit Option
  In some instances, where students can demonstrate they have already achieved the learning expectations defined in a particular Manitoba curriculum, they may challenge for credit in the course. The challenge process must be based on the policy established by the school/division/district.
  Guidelines for Implementation ( 19 KB)
  Questions to consider in the development of local policies ( 7 KB)
  Parent/Guardian Approval Form - Notice of Intent to Challenge for Credit ( 14 KB)
  Challenge for Credit Option for a Course Credit ( 7 KB)
  Assessment Strategies ( 6 KB)
• Special Language Credit Option
  Senior Years students who can demonstrate their proficiency in a language other than English or French may earn up to 4 optional credits. Arrangements are made through the school principal for a qualified examiner to assess the student's oral and written skills.
• Private Music Option
  Senior Years students can earn up to 4 optional credits if they meet the requirements of the Conservatory Canada or the Royal Conservatory programs. Arrangements are made through the school principal or school counsellor for these credits to be recorded. See guidelines and requirements.
• International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement Courses
  Students may take Grade 11 and Grade 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses to meet graduation requirements. Schools offering IB and AP courses must ensure that students do not receive credit for similar courses based on Manitoba curricula. Students taking IB and/or AP courses to meet Grade 12 credit requirements for English language arts and mathematics are required to write the provincial Grade 12 standards tests in these subject areas. These tests are based on Manitoba curricula.
• Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB)
  Senior Years Students can earn credits when they are registered in the senior levels of the RWB professional program.
• Substitution of Credits
  Principals may substitute one or two compulsory credits where individuals can make a strong case for doing so. Divisions must develop a policy regarding substitutions of credits for principals to be authorized to do this.

 

Previous Graduation Requirements

Before March 2001, there were four categories of Senior Years credits. These were: Compulsory Core (English language arts, mathematics, social studies and science]; Compulsory (physical education/health education); Compulsory Complementary (additional English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and additional languages); and Optional Supplementary (a variety of credits such as music, the arts, home economics, industrial arts or locally developed courses).

There were five credits required in Senior 1 and 2 (Grades 9 and 10). These were: English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and physical education/health education.

• At the Senior 3 (Grade 11) level there were three required credits: English language arts, mathematics and Canadian history.
• At the Senior 4 (Grade 12) level English language arts and mathematics were a requirement.
• Students were required to choose three credits from within the compulsory complementary category.
• Across their Senior Years, students were required to complete one Senior 3 (Grade 11) credit and two Senior 4 (Grade 12) additional credits within the compulsory complimentary and optional supplementary categories.
  Students could choose three Student Initiated Projects (SIPs) and over the four years of senior years schooling could enroll in a maximum of 11 School Initiated Courses (SICs).