Freshmen can earn advanced diplomas

Carson High School students who are enrolled in the ninth grade this school year will be the first class to be eligible to receive the new advanced diploma upon graduating from high school.

"I think it's always nice for students to have something extra to strive for," said Associate Superintendent Dorothy Todd. "If they want to do a little extra for the degree, more power to them."

Todd presented the requirements for the new diploma to the school board at the meeting Tuesday.

In order to receive the advanced diploma, which was created by the Nevada State Board of Education, a student must earn 17 units of credit in required courses and seven units of credit in elective courses. The total would be 24, one and a half credits more than required for a standard diploma.

"What it does is let them take another elective," Todd said. "The advanced diploma allows for more elective choices."

In order to earn a standard diploma, a student must complete 16 required and 6.5 elective credit units for a total of 22.5 credits.

Students must also pass the proficiency exam to earn either of the degrees.

The state board of education also adjusted the standards for graduation to require three credits of math in order to graduate instead of two.

Todd said the district office has sent letters home to the parents of each freshman student to inform them of the new policy.

Todd said she does not foresee any problems with the changes.

"Since it's a statewide decision, I don't anticipate any problems," she said.

The board also discussed:

- Estimates for group insurance rates. Insurance representative Bob Kaufman said the estimates are too high and they hope to reduce them by at least 2 percent.

- Policy for outside use of firing range on Carson High School campus. A policy was drafted to allow outside groups to use the range but the district's insurance carrier refused to support the policy so it was postponed.

- The policy prohibiting physical restraint of special education students was read.