New High School Graduation Requirements Announced for Rising Freshman
Students entering the 9th grade in Fall 2009 will be the first group of students required to meet new course and credit requirements as outlined under the Future-Ready Core Course of Study. The Future-Ready Core Course of Study requirements feature:
- An additional mathematics course (through Algebra II or Integrated Mathematics III) for those students who previously did not pursue the College/University Prep Course of Study.
- A recommended four elective credits in a concentrated area.
- An increase from 20 to 21 for the total number of credits required for graduation.
The State Board of Education has made the decision to implement these new graduation requirements to best prepare all students for education and a career beyond high school. This could include community college, four-year college or university study. The guiding principle for the State Board in making this decision was when many in the business community reported that it takes about the same level of academic preparation to be successful in the workplace as it takes to be successful as a first-year college student.
Parents are encouraged to work closely with their child's guidance counselor, this spring, in developing a high school plan that will reflect the courses required for graduation.
Additional information about the Future-Ready Core and high school graduation requirements are available online at www.ncpublicschools.org/gradrequirements under Resources.
NC General Statute for Parent Involvement Leave
Need help getting to school to satisfy your “Three for Me” commitment? Talk to your employer about NC Statute 95-28.3.
The General Assembly believes that parent involvement is an essential component of school success and positive student outcomes. Therefore, employers shall grant four hours per year leave to any employee who is a parent or guardian of a school-aged child so that the employee may attend or otherwise be involved at that child's school. However, any leave under this section is subject to the following conditions:
(1) The leave shall be at a mutually agreed upon time between the employer and the employee.
(2) The employer may require an employee to provide the employer with a written request for the leave at least 48 hours before the time desired for the leave.
(3) The employer may require that the employee furnish written verification from the child's school that the employee attended or was otherwise involved at that school during the time of the leave. Employers cannot discharge, demote, or otherwise take an adverse employment action against an employee who requests or takes leave under this section. An employer si not required to pay an employee for leave taken under this section.
SOLICITING AND ADVERTISING
File: 9410
No person, agent, representative, or salesman shall solicit or attempt to sell or explain any article of property or proposition to any teacher or student of any New Hanover County public school on the school grounds or during the school day without having first secured the written permission and consent of the superintendent or his/her designee. No advertising or announcement, that does not concern educational matters or things of general community interest, shall be read to the students of the schools, or distributed in the school rooms or on the school premises.
Approved: 11/21/72
Revised: 10/02/90
Revised: 11/04/97
LEGAL REF: NCGS 14-238
New Hanover County Public Schools, Wilmington, North Carolina
DISTRIBUTION OF NON-SCHOOL MATERIAL TO STUDENTS
File: 9415
Students and the educational program must be the focus of the schools. It is, therefore, the policy of the New Hanover County Schools to create a non-public forum for distributing materials from outside organizations to be taken home by students. Staff shall be required to distribute only four types of materials to students to be taken home.
1. Materials from the New Hanover County Schools.
2. Materials from agencies/departments with the towns, county, state or federal government and the state university system.
3. Materials from Parent Teacher Associations/organizations and school booster organizations.
4. Nonprofit organizations providing programs for youth that are primarily designed to promote fitness, cultural arts or academics consistent with the N.C. Standard Course of Study.
Materials that primarily promote fund-raising activities by these nonprofit groups will not be approved.
Materials distributed through students shall contain no commercial advertising. The listing of the name and/or logo of a program sponsor for an outside agency or school or nonprofit organization or an acknowledgement of financial support would be allowed.
No other organizations may require school staff to distribute materials to be taken home by students.
Each school may develop procedural guidelines for the distribution of the aforementioned materials, but the distribution of non-school material should not interfere with instructional time. Principals or the principals’ designees shall approve materials from their own school organizations and booster groups. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall approve materials from all other school-related groups, as well as agencies, government branches and nonprofit organizations before distribution.
Unless otherwise restricted by building or district level administration, staff members may share information with individual students to inform them about community resources to supplement the education provided by the district. Nothing herein shall prevent the distribution of student-to-student materials or prohibit schools from designating a location accessible to parents and students where flyers or literature may be left by any person or organization. If a school chooses to create a limited public forum to allow literature distribution in this fashion, it may develop procedures as needed, but materials may not be screened for viewpoint.
Political campaign materials for candidates may not be distributed to students or made available on school grounds during school time or at school events. However, on election days, posters and printed materials are permitted at schools used as polling places in accordance with state law and board of elections requirements.Adopted: 11/07/05
Cross Ref: 9410, 6420, 6422
New Hanover County Public Schools, Wilmington, North Carolina
Materials Distribution Procedures
The New Hanover County Schools Public Relations Department reviews and considers non-school materials for distribution to NHCS students. Materials must adhere to the requirements set forth by New Hanover County Board of Education Policy 9415.
Nonprofit organizations providing programs for youth that are designed to promote fitness, cultural arts or academics consistent with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study will be considered. Materials submitted by for-profit businesses/organizations will not be considered for distribution and will be denied as required by the Board Policy.
The following procedures have been implemented. Please review before submitting materials for consideration.
Requests are reviewed every Wednesday. Responses are provided within 24 hours via fax or email.
Materials should be submitted for consideration via fax, (910) 251-2939 or email to: cbuie@nhcs.net.
The NHCS disclaimer must be included on any and all materials distributed to students. The disclaimer is as follows:
"This information/publication does not represent the views of New Hanover County Schools nor does it constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by New Hanover County Schools."If materials are approved:
A stamped/approved copy will be returned.
Materials should be bundled in groups of 25 for easy distribution at the schools.
For current NHCS membership, click here.For verification purposes, a copy of the approved copy should be placed on top of materials.
School principals have site-based decision authority to decline approved materials for distribution to students.If materials are not approved:
A response citing the reason(s) why approval was not granted will be provided.
For more information about non-school materials distribution, please contact the Public Relations Department at (910) 254-4317.
