Civics Test Graduation Requirement
In compliance with WI Act 59 (2017), Section 3266R, 118.33(1m)(a)1, of the 2017-19 biennial state budget, any students graduating from a Wisconsin high school (starting with the class of 2017), takes a civics test comprised of 100 questions that are identical to the 100 questions that may be asked of an individual during the process of applying for U.S. citizenship by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the pupil correctly answers at least 65 of those questions. The Little Chute High School Social Studies Department has developed a 100 question civics examination.
The examination questions will be derived from the U.S. Citizenship Test offered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. These questions are a general review of information commonly found in the U.S. Constitution and from U.S. History courses. Students will be allowed to prepare for the test by completing curriculum and instructional materials found in the LCHS U.S. History courses offered during their junior year. Our students will also be able to review on their own through websites like the Wisconsin Council for the Social Studies (https://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/).
The examination will be administered by the social studies teachers to all juniors by the end of the third term of their junior year.
- The test will be administered in an online format
- Students who answer sixty-five of the one hundred questions will have completed the requirement.
- Students with special needs who have completed the test in full will have completed their requirement.
- Students who do not answer sixty-five or more questions correctly will receive remediation during a lunch period or after school at the teacher's discretion.
- Students will be allowed to attempt the civics examination for a second time, during the 4th term.
- Students shall repeat this formula until they have completed the state requirement.
There are no exemptions for this requirement.
Portfolio Graduation Requirement
The Little Chute Area School District awards diplomas to recognize those students who have met certain academic requirements of the District. Those academic requirements include successful completion of the District's portfolio requirement. No student may be granted a high school diploma unless the student has satisfied the following portfolio criteria:
- Pass Little Chute High School's Leadership course.
- Students in grades 9-12 will participate in an annual portfolio review with their portfolio advisor.
- Students in grade 12 will participate in a mandatory Senior Portfolio Exit Interview. The senior student will present his/her portfolio to a committee that may include Administration, Board Members, Staff, Community Members, and/or Business/Industry Personnel. To successfully complete the portfolio process, a senior student must present evidence that they have collected work samples that reflect the eight District Goals. Senior students must meet proficiency in all areas on Little Chute High School's Portfolio Rubric. The Senior Portfolio will not be evaluated at the conference. The evaluation of the portfolio will be completed before the portfolio exit interview by the senior's portfolio advisor.
- Senior exit interviews will be scheduled during the month of April. If a senior student fails to meet the April deadline for their exit interview, they will be rescheduled during the month of May.
Substitution of Academic Credit for Physical Education Credit
The Little Chute Area School District will grant substitute credit for one-half (.5) physical education credit of the 1.5 physical education credits otherwise required for graduation. The substituted one-half credit must be in the English, math, science, and/or social studies departments.
The course being substituted for the one-half physical education credit must be approved by the high school principal prior to the substitute credit option being recorded on the student’s high school transcript. An approval form for such substitute credit option will be kept with the student’s permanent academic records.
Students who participate in a Varsity/JV level WIAA sanctioned sport, including poms, offered and completed at Little Chute High School during their junior year or prior to the end of the first semester of the student’s senior year may be considered for the substitute credit option provided they successfully complete the season in good standing as determined by the head coach, athletic director, and high school principal. A violation of the District’s athletic code that causes a suspension from competition at any point during the season will prevent the student from using that season for purposes of credit substitution.
Any appeals for the substitute credit option will be made to the District Administrator whose decision will be final.
No student with a disability shall be denied the opportunity to benefit from this program for substitution credit because the student’s disability prevents him/her from qualifying to participate in the school’s WIAA sports programs. On an individualized basis, the District shall evaluate requests for appropriate accommodations and/or modifications, including, to the extent necessary, consideration of approval of an alternative organized physical activity, which would enable such a student to participate in and benefit from this credit option.
High School Credit in Middle School
The Little Chute Area School District is committed to providing an appropriate and rigorous academic experience for students of the District. Wisconsin Act 138 (2013) permits a School Board to count a credit that a pupil earns in 7th or 8th grade toward the requirements for high school graduation if all of the conditions are met as follows:
- The pupil’s performance on a statewide assessment under s.118.30 or a similar examination approved by the School Board demonstrates that the pupil is academically prepared for coursework that is offered in the high school grades.
- For math and reading courses, the student’s performance on a district universal assessment demonstrates the student above grade level.
- The student has demonstrated proficiency in Life and Career schools that indicate the ability to be a self-directed learner.
- The credit is earned in a course that is taught by a teacher who is licensed to teach the subject in high school grades.
- The credit is earned in a course that is taught using curriculum and assessments that are equivalent to the curriculum and assessments used to teach the subject in the high school grades.
High School credit will be awarded to middle school students for taking equivalent high school courses at the middle school and for courses taken at the high school while enrolled in grades 7-8.
This credit will count towards elective credit.
Students involved in earning these credits will still be required to take 4 credits of English, 3 credits of social studies, 3 credits of math, 3 credits of science, and 1.5 credits of physical education in grades 9-12. The course(s) will automatically appear on the transcript with credit given and the grade will not be computed in the grade point average.
