0621 AAC 7 - ISD Semester and Credit change.docx

BOARD OF REGENTS ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE 7

STATE OF IOWA JUNE 1-3, 2021

Contact: Rachel Boon

IOWA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF SEMESTER CHANGE REQUEST

Action requested: The Iowa School for the Deaf requests approval to change from a trimester

system to a semester system, effective with the 2021-2022 academic year. This change will

include a reduction in the credits required to graduate from 58 credits to 47 credits.

Background: In 2019, the Board approved a change in credit requirements for high school

students at ISD; reducing the number of credits required from 64 to 58 and adding requirements

for Personal Finance and ASL as a World Language. All of these courses were offered in a

trimester system that has been in place for many years. This requested change from a trimester

system to a semester system has two primary reasons.

First, changing to semester will adjust class periods from 60 to 45 minutes. This will allow ISD to

have a seven period instruction day, instead of the current 60 minute periods and a six period

day. The State Board of Education requires 120 hours of seat time per semester credit. With a

177 day school calendar ISD will exceed the requirement by six hours. With six period trimesters

ISD courses met the seat time requirement in two trimesters; however, it made scheduling

complicated when a student completed a year-long course in two trimesters. Administrators were

constantly in the position of having to schedule students in two academic years to complete

courses that began the third trimester.

Second, when ISD initially switched to trimesters many years ago the intent was to match the

course and period schedule with Lewis Central. There were, and still are, students from ISD taking

classes in the mainstream; however, nearly all other school districts in Iowa are on semester

schedules. This difference often creates challenges with matching credit plans for students who

enroll at ISD midway through high school or part way through an academic year.

Simplifying the credit and bell schedule will make it more understandable for students, parents,

other school districts and ISD’s own staff. The appendix shows how high school graduation

requirements line up with the current trimester schedule and how it would change in a semester

schedule.

BOARD OF REGENTS ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE 7

STATE OF IOWA APPENDIX

Graduation Requirements – Trimester Hours

English 9A__ 9B__ 9C__

(8-12 credits) 10A__ 10B__ 10C__

11A__ 11B__ 11C__

12A__ 12B__ 12C__

Social Studies American Hist A__ American Hist B__

(6 credits) American Govt A__ American Govt B__

Deaf Studies__ Class #6__

Science Life Science A__ Life Science B__

(6 credits) Physical Science A__ Physical Science B__

Class #5__ Class #6__

Math Algebra 1__ OR Applied Algebra__ OR LC Algebra 1-2__

(6-9 credits) Geometry__ OR Applied Geo.__ OR LC Geo. 1-2__

Algebra 2__ OR Applied Statistics__ OR LC Algebra 3-4__

Physical Education Class #1__ Class #2__

(4 credits) Class #3__ Class #4__

Health Health 1__ Health 2__ OR LC Health__

(1-2 credits)

Personal Development Personal Finance__

(5 credits) Net Etiquette__

Personal and Career Development__

Work-Based Learning__

Computer Applications__

Fine Arts Art__ Theatre__ LC__

(1 credit)

World Language Credit ASL1__ OR ASL Expository__

(4 credits) ASL 2__ OR ASL Storytelling__

ASL 3__ OR ASL Grammar__

ASL 4__ OR ASL Literature__

Electives **Electives offered during the 2020-2021 school year include:

(7-12 credits) Yearbook, Woods, Computer Coding, Small Engine Repair, Metal,

Art, American Literature, Photography, Driver Education, Reading,

Home Maintenance and Current Events, Work-based Learning

A minimum of 58 credits is required to graduate

**Required credits are determined by where the courses are taken and course sequence.

__________________________________________________________________________

High School Handbook 08/2020 Iowa School for the Deaf Page 37

BOARD OF REGENTS ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE 7

STATE OF IOWA APPENDIX

Graduation Requirements – Semester Hours

English (8 credits)

English 9A, 9B

English 10A, 10B

English 11A, 11B

English 12A, 12B

Social Studies (6 credits)

American History A, B

American Government A, B

Deaf Studies

Social Studies Elective

Science (6 credits)

Life Science A, B

Physical Science A, B

Earth Science A, B

Math (6 credits)

Algebra 1, OR Applied Algebra, OR LC Algebra 1-2

Geometry, OR Applied Geometry, OR LC Geometry 1-2

Algebra 2, OR Applied Statistics, OR LC Algebra 3-4

Physical Education (4 credits)

Health (1 credit)

Health 1, OR Health 2

Personal Development (3 credits)

Personal Finance

Net Etiquette

Computer Applications

Fine Arts (2 credits)

Art

Theatre

World Language Credit (4 credits)

ASL 1A, 1B OR ASL Expository A, B

ASL 2A, 2B OR ASL Storytelling A, B

ASL 3A, 3B OR ASL Grammar A, B

ASL 4A, 4B OR ASL Literature A, B

Electives (7-12 credits)

**Electives offered during the 2020-2021 school year include: Yearbook, Woods, Computer

Coding, Small Engine Repair, Metals, Art, American Literature, Photography, Driver Education,

Reading, Home Maintenance, Current Events, and Personal and Career Development, Work-

Based Learning

A minimum of 47 credits is required to graduate

**Required credits are determined by where the courses are taken and course sequence.