6350: Graduation and Continuation Exercises

District Policy 6350

GRADUATION AND CONTINUATION EXERCISES

1.0              Students who have successfully completed all District- and school-established requirements for graduation by a designated date may participate in graduation exercises. This policy applies to all District graduation and continuation exercises, including preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school and high school.

1.1       A high school student who has met the qualifications of paragraph 1.0 above may only participate in the high school graduation exercise from which the student is receiving a diploma.

1.2       Students who enroll in courses at another District high school or participate in athletics or extracurricular activities at another District high school may not participate in that school’s graduation exercise.

1.3       High school students and their parents/guardians who wish to request an exception to paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 to allow the student to participate in two district high school graduation exercises must submit the request in writing to the Executive Director of High Schools by November 1 of the student’s senior year. The decision of the Executive Director of High Schools shall be final and shall be based on special circumstances or other good cause that make it advisable to approve the request. Such special circumstances shall be rare and include occurrences such as a student’s medical condition that required the student to transfer from a comprehensive district high school to Five Star Online Academy (FSOA) during the student’s senior year.

2.0       Students enrolled in approved out-of-district courses pursuant to the post-secondary enrollment option may demonstrate successful completion of such courses by a letter from an appropriate official of the institution in which they are enrolled.

3.0       Any student who has met the qualifications of paragraph 1.0 above by the end of the first semester of the school year may withdraw from school and participate in spring graduation exercises.

3.1       Students who qualify can continue to attend Career and Technical Education (CTE) campus for program completion during second semester.

4.0       Students who participate in graduation exercises shall wear the designated graduation gown, cap, and school's honor recognition as determined by the school for each graduation exercise.

4.1       Students may adorn the designated graduation gown, cap or honor recognition with the following:

4.1.1    Objects of cultural or religious significance including but not limited to feathers, flowers, jewelry, beads, cords, leis, serape sashes, cloths or ornaments;

4.1.2    Military sash provided by the military branch the student will enter upon graduation; and

4.1.3    Tribal Regalia as permitted by law in Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) 22-1-142 and 26.5-1-114.

4.2       Adornments listed in section 4.1 above are items worn in addition to but not replacing graduation attire.

4.3       All adornments must comply with District Policy 5060, Student Dress Code.