Graduation Guidelines

COVID-19 and Graduation 2021

The State Board of Education approved flexibility for Graduation Guidelines for the Class of 2021. For 2020-2021, local education providers (LEPs) may graduate students according to district determined graduation requirements that include the Menu of Options and/or local options, such as courses. LEPs can decide if they would like to implement Graduation Guidelines for the Class of 2021 or delay full implementation until the class of 2022.

Graduation Guidelines Flexibility 2021

Graduation FAQs for the Class of 2021

Graduation Menu Availability, Fall 2020

What Are Graduation Guidelines?

Colorado Graduation Guidelines are a road map to help students and their families plan for success after high school. In order to graduate from high school, students choose from a Menu of Options - adopted at the local school board level - to demonstrate Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) in English and math. The guidelines go into effect for the Class of 2021.

Regional Conversations - PWR Symposia

Join your peers from neighboring schools and districts for a virtual Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Symposium to talk about implementing Graduation Guildlines and other PWR initiatives. Engage in strategic conversations about capstone, work-based learning, industry certifications, and ICAP.

Consider hosting a PWR Symposium with other schools or districts. Contact Robin Russel, 303.866.2908, russel_r@cde.state.co.us.

Resources and Promising Practices from 2018-2020 PWR Symposia

Menu of Options

Local school boards establish high school graduation requirements that meet or exceed the Colorado Graduation Guidelines for the graduating class of 2021. Local school boards and districts select from this menu to create a list of options that their students must use to show what they know or can do in order to graduate from high school, beginning with the graduating class of 2021.

School districts may offer some or all of the state menu options, may raise a cut score on an included assessment and may add graduation requirements in other content areas.

Graduation Guidelines begin with the implementation of: Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAP), 21st Century Essential Skills, and Colorado Academic Standards for all content areas, including a course in Civics.

Print a Copy of the Menu of Options Imprime Una Copia del Menu de Opciones

View Guidance for English Learners, Gifted Students, and Students with Disabilities

Click the Menu titles below for more information and guidance:

Click Menu below to view and print

Menu of Options	English	Math
Classic ACCUPLACER	62 on Reading Comprehension or 70 on Sentence Skills	61 on Elementary Algebra
Next Generation ACCUPLACER	241 on Reading or 236 on Writing	255 on Arithmetic (AR) or 230 on Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS)
ACT	18 on ACT English	19 on ACT Math
ACT WorkKeys - National Career Readiness Certificate	Bronze or higher	Bronze or higher
Advanced Placement (AP)	2	2
ASVAB	31 on the AFQT	31 on the AFQT
Concurrent Enrollment	Passing grade per district and higher education policy	Passing grade per district and higher education policy
District Capstone	Individualized	Individualized
Industry Certificate	Individualized	Individualized
International Baccalaureate (IB)	4	4
Scores update for new SAT (2016)	470	500
Collaboratively-developed, standards-based performance assessment	State-wide scoring criteria	State-wide scoring criteria

View Expanded Descriptions and Implementation Strategies

Why Graduation Guidelines?

The guidelines have two purposes, the first is to articulate Colorado’s shared beliefs about the value and meaning of a high school diploma. The second is to outline the minimum components, expectations, and responsibilities of local districts and the state to support students in attaining their high school diploma.

Life beyond high school is different from what it used to be. Most jobs in Colorado now and in the future require training or education beyond high school. Students who graduate and work in Colorado will need in-demand skills that meet business, industry, and higher education standards.

What does this mean for me now?

Align Graduation Guidelines with your local graduation requirements. See examples of local school board graduation policies.
Develop implementation strategies for the Class of 2021
Include programs that are already in place: concurrent enrollment, capstone projects, or career pathways.

Where can I find help?
What is getting in the way?

Learn from other districts about their plans and practices.
Find out what the Top Jobs in Colorado are
Explore the new College Admission website from CDHE
Join a conversation with the ad hoc Graduation Guidelines Committee, or the NE BOCES Collaborative.
Attend a Regional PWR Symposium.

What's on the horizon?

Implementation Practices: Districts have been learning from each other about how to implement Graduation Guidelines. Join your peers and neighbors in regional conversations; come to a PWR Symposium
Reporting: Districts report the measure(s) by which each student from the class of 2021 has graduated, according to the Menu of Options.
- Find a sample report form and provide feedback to the data team: 2019-2020 Student Interchange File Layout Graduation Guidelines (PDF)
- Submit data as students demonstrate readiness according to the Menu. Districts do not need to wait until 2021.

Next Steps

These graduation guidelines have been a catalyst for excellent conversations – about competencies, postsecondary and workforce readiness (PWR) and local control.

The Colorado Department of Education continues to meet with interested constituents to solicit feedback on the development of graduation guidelines and has engaged the expertise of more than 500 contributors. If you or your group is interested in being part of the conversation, we would like to hear from you.

Contact: Robin Russel, 303-866-2908, russel_r@cde.state.co.us

Find it Now

Legislation (PDF)
Workgroups
Graduation Guidelines Engagement Toolkit (PDF)
Menu of Options (Print a Copy of the Fact Sheet)
- Students with Exceptions: English learners, gifted students and students with disabilities
Resources
Promising Practices: Board policies, district plans, rubrics and implementation strategies for capstone and industry certificates.

Note:

Currently, Colorado's only statewide requirement for high school graduation is the satisfactory completion of a civics/government course that encompasses information on both the United States and State of Colorado (C.R.S. 22-1-104)

STAY INFORMED: Visit CDE’s COVID-19 Resources for Schools page

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Graduation Guidelines

COVID-19 and Graduation 2021