Parent Alert! The Tennessee Diploma Project will be implemented during the 2009-2010 School

Year impacting graduation requirements for students currently in the 8^th grade.

Beginning next school year, the Tennessee Department of Education will implement the Tennessee Diploma Project (TDP), a broad overhaul of standards and curriculum designed to challenge students and better prepare them for college and the workforce.

Students beginning high school in Fall 2009 will begin a new path with increased graduation requirements from 20 credits to 22, a focus on the skills needed for college and the workforce in an ever expanding global economy, and new assessments.

Gateway Exams in high school will be replaced by end-of-course exams that truly test the mastery of expectations leading to college- and work-readiness. The overall assessment system includes the ACT’s College and Readiness Test, Explore (given in the 8th grade) and the PLAN College Readiness Test given in the 10th grade. The full list of requirements is listed below.

Tennessee Diploma Project: Graduation Requirements

In addition to better aligning our academic standards with national standards, Tennessee is also implementing more rigorous graduation requirements. These changes will challenge our students and better prepare them for college and the workforce.

Tennessee Graduation Requirements
Current Basic High School Requirements	Requirements for Students Beginning High School in Fall 2009
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: 20	TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: 22
MATH: 3 Credits Including either Geometry or Algebra II	MATH: 4 Credits  Including Algebra I, II, Geometry and a fourth higher level math course
SCIENCE: 3 Credits Including one physical science course and Biology	SCIENCE: 3 Credits Including Biology, Chemistry or Physics, and a third lab course
ENGLISH: 4 Credits	ENGLISH: 4 Credits
SOCIAL STUDIES: 3 Credits	SOCIAL STUDIES: 3 Credits
WELLNESS: 1 Credit	PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND WELLNESS: 1.5 Credits
	PERSONAL FINANCE: .5 Credits
ELECTIVE: 6 Credits	FOREIGN LANGUAGE: 2 Credits FINE ARTS: 1 Credit May be waived for students not going to a University to expand and enhance the elective focus
	ELECTIVE FOCUS: 3 Credits Math and Science, Career and Technical Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB)