Graduation Requirements and Revised Rules for CTE

The 2007 Minnesota Legislature directed the Department of Education to revise rules pertaining to the operation of career and technical education programs in the state. The rule clarifies the conditions under which districts may award credit for the delivery of core academic content in CTE courses.

The delivery of science, math, or art credits in CTE courses is a local district decision. Districts have flexibility and latitude to deliver media arts across the curriculum as long as the district determines locally that standards are being met with integrity. Music and visual arts require the teacher to be "highly qualified" under NCLB and districts would want to refer to the Minnesota Plan for Federal “Highly Qualified” Teacher Requirements for specific guidance.

Graduation Requirements:

Students beginning 9th grade in the 2004-2005 school year and later must successfully complete the following high school level course credits for graduation:
(1) four credits of language arts; (2) three credits of mathematics, encompassing at least algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability sufficient to satisfy the academic standard; (3) three credits of science, including at least one credit in biology; (4) three and one-half credits of social studies, encompassing at least United States history, geography, government and citizenship, world history, and economics or three credits of social studies encompassing at least United States history, geography, government and citizenship, and world history, and one-half credit of economics taught in a school's social studies, agriculture education, or business department; (5) one credit in the arts; and (6) a minimum of seven elective course credits. (b) An agriculture science course may fulfill a science credit requirement in addition to the specified science credits in biology and chemistry or physics under paragraph (a), clause (3). (c) A career and technical education course may fulfill a science, mathematics, or arts credit requirement in addition to the specified science, mathematics, or arts credits under paragraph (a), clause (2), (3), or (5).