High School Completion Requirements

Under Oregon’s Educational Act for the 21st Century students receive high school diplomas in addition to Certificates of Initial and Advanced Mastery.

To receive a high school diploma, students must earn at least 22 units of credit. The State Board of Education determines required subject areas. They include: language arts, mathematics, science, social sciences, health, P.E., arts and foreign languages. Local districts may have additional requirements.

By the 2006-2007 school year, high school graduates also are required to:

• Develop an education plan and build an education profile.
• Demonstrate extended application through a collection of evidence. (No performance requirement for diploma.)
• Demonstrate career-related knowledge and skills: personal management, teamwork, communication, problem solving, employment foundations, career development. (No performance requirement for diploma.)
• Participate in career related learning experiences as outlined in the education plan.

These four new diploma requirements, adopted in 2002 for implementation with high school graduates in 2006-07 (or 2004-05 10th graders), also lead toward Certificate of Advanced Mastery (CAM) completion. Schools are required to fully implement the CAM by September 2008. To receive the CAM students are required to:

• Meet the Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) state knowledge and skills test OR the work sample requirements in English, mathematics and science;
• Meet the state performance standards for the extended application and career-related learning standards; and
• Develop an education plan and education profile and participate in career-related learning experiences.

Students may earn a Certificate of Initial Mastery by meeting the state and local assessment requirements in English, mathematics and science. Students may earn CIM endorsements in social science, the arts, physical education, health and second languages in addition to earning the CIM.

For further information about high school diploma, CIM or CAM requirements and current ODE staff contacts, see the ODE Web site.

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