Show-Me Success Diploma Program

PURPOSE: This rule outlines the criteria for the Show-Me Success Diploma, an alternative pathway to graduation for high school students that may be earned at any point between the end of the student’s tenth-grade year and the conclusion of the student’s twelfth-grade year as outlined in section 160.560, RSMo. (1) Definitions. (A) Proportionate share of the state, local, and federal aid shall be defined as the sum of the following divided by total September membership and shall be paid by the school district or charter school from local or unrestricted state funds: 1. Property taxes and delinquent taxes; 2. School District Trust Fund (Prop C); 3. Merchants’ and manufacturers’ tax revenues; 4. Financial institutions’ tax revenues; 5. City sales tax revenue, including city sales tax collected in any city not within a county; 6. Payments in lieu of taxes; 7. Revenues from state-assessed railroad and utilities tax; 8. Total state revenue; and 9. Total federal revenue. (B) Local aid shall not be construed to include— 1. Charitable contributions, gifts, and grants made to the school district or charter school; 2. Interest earnings of school districts and student fees paid to school districts; and 3. Debt service authorized by a public vote for the purpose of making payments on a bond issuance of a school district. (C) Intent to enroll. For purposes of section (3) of this rule, intent to enroll is demonstrated by an acceptance letter from the postsecondary institution and notification to the postsecondary institution of acceptance or payment of enrollment deposit. (D) Qualifying postsecondary institution shall be defined as an institution that participates in a student aid program operated by the U.S. Department of Education. (E) Pupil attendance percentage shall be defined as the district or charter school’s prior year average attendance percentage calculated by using the prior year average K-12 membership divided by the prior year regular term K-12 Average Daily Attendance (ADA). (2) Local education agencies (LEAs) may provide a course of study for a Show-Me Success Diploma. The course of study must include all graduation requirements required by state law. (3) For LEAs to count a Show-Me Success Diploma graduate in their attendance data for state aid purposes, the LEA must— (A) Allow the student to remain in high school and participate in a program of study available in the LEA; or (B) Document that the student has enrolled in or demonstrated the intent to enroll in a postsecondary program that participates in a student aid program operated by the U.S. Department of Education. (4) LEAs who elect to offer a Show-Me Success Diploma Program must demonstrate that its program graduates have the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in college-level courses offered by community colleges in this state that count toward a degree or certificate. AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (A) Students earning a Show-Me Success Diploma must demonstrate qualifying scores in each subject on one of the following measures: Measure English Mathematics Science Required End-of- Course (EOC) Proficient/ Advanced English II Proficient/ Advanced Algebra I or other required assessment Proficient/ Advanced Biology Course Grade Earn a B or better in English II or higher level course Earn a B or better in Algebra I or higher level course Earn a B or better in Biology or higher level course and; (B) Students earning a Show-Me Success Diploma must demonstrate qualifying scores in each subject on one (1) of the following assessments: Assessment English Score Mathematics Score Accuplacer® 92 Sentence Skills and 85 Reading 114 Arithmetic 116 Elementary Algebra ACT® 18 22 Asset® 41 23 SAT® 430 510 AUTHORITY: section 161.092, RSMo 2016, and section 160.560, RSMo Supp. 2023.* Original rule filed June 14, 2023, effective Jan. 30, 2024. *Original authority: 160.560, RSMo 2022, and 161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2014.