Class of 2020

Wednesday, May 27, 2020—Today, Governor Jay Inslee announced that he does not believe that all counties, including King County, will move to Phase II of the state’s Safe Start recovery plan by June 1, and will remain in Phase I as several important areas—disease activity, testing, and healthcare system status—have yet to meet guidelines laid out in the plan. 

The announcement means King County, along with others, cannot safely reopen businesses and resume travel, shopping, recreation, and gatherings (some restrictions were lifted for houses of worship). The decision also impacts our plans for celebrating the Class of 2020. 

Earlier this month, we created two plans for graduation celebrations for the Class of 2020. As Phase I does not allow any in person activity (including the graduation walk we planned in Option 1) we will move to Option 2 and create a virtual graduation by videotaping parts of the ceremony and including a slideshow of graduating seniors (senior photos will be used in this slideshow). This virtual graduation ceremony will premiere on the district’s YouTube page on Monday, June 15.

Additionally, high schools are planning a graduation event between June 1-5 that will provide students who have met graduation requirements an opportunity to pick-up their diploma cover, while in cap and gown, in a vehicle procession in the school’s parking lot. Students and families are being provided details of this plan by school staff.

In accordance with guidance from Renton School District and the Department of Health, Talley with now hold a “drive through” style of graduation. On June 4^th, students will have the option of picking up their diploma cover and taking pictures in front of the Talley High School sign in a cap and gown. Please review the following information about this opportunity for any graduating senior that would like to participate.

Safety: While we prepare for this important celebration, public safety is a priority for us. We will work with RSD staff to maintain all safety guidelines in order to keep our students, families, and staff members healthy throughout this celebration. All participants are required to follow safety guidelines by keeping appropriate 6ft social distancing guidelines. Additionally, we highly encourage the use of masks at this event.

Date/Time: On June 4^th, students who wish to participate in this graduation celebration will be given a time slot between 12pm and 3pm. Each time slot will have a limited number of students in the graduation space to keep contact at a minimum. Time slots must be adhered to in order to comply with current safety regulations. See the attached document for when your student should arrive at the school.

Place: Talley High School Staff Parking Lot - 7800 S 132nd St, Seattle, WA 98178 – Staff members will be available to direct you for where to park, procedures for diploma pickup, and picture taking.

Family and Friends: Students may be accompanied by a limited number of friends and family members. All accompanying family members and friends must arrive in the same vehicle.

Robes: Talley will have sanitized caps and gowns for students to borrow for picture taking in front of the Albert Talley Sr. High School sign on June 4^th. Additionally, all stoles and tassels will be provided to students by Talley High which the student may keep. If you wish to purchase a robe for commemorative purposes please follow the provided link.

Talley will have sanitized caps and gowns for students to borrow for picture taking in front of the Albert Talley Sr. High School sign on June 4^th. Additionally, all stoles and tassels will be provided to students by Talley High which the student may keep. If you wish to purchase a robe for commemorative purposes please follow the provided link.

All graduates MUST complete the following survey regarding commencement participation, graduation speakers, robes, and additional senior celebrations. Please use this link:  

https://forms.gle/FnQJ61ho5pdvK2SK7

Graduation Ceremony Video: On June 15^th, a graduation ceremony video will premiere on the district’s YouTube page. With the provided link, students and families will be able to watch the Talley recorded ceremony, speeches, and celebrations of individual graduates. In the video, we will use the student’s most recent student photo when announcing their name. If you would like to use a different photo for the video, please email it to Ms. Kia ASAP.

Credits and Credit Waiver:

Given the recent closures due to COVID-19, the district and state will provide the opportunity for certain graduation requirements to be waived. A Talley staff member will contact you directly about your progress towards graduation, provide information about potential waivers, and answer any questions that you may have. You will receive communication from this designated staff member by May 27^th.

• Renton School District Graduation Requirements Policy 2410
• Procedure 2410P

The High School and Beyond Plan is a State graduation requirement and will not be waived in light of the transition to online learning.

Go to the Opportunity Center’s Google Classroom Page (code: lco23eh) and review all content within the Class of 2020 HSBP section (or the 2017-19 section if that is your grad year).  If you still have questions or are not able to access the content, contact Ms. Kellie.

Community Service is a requirement for all students working towards graduation. This year, students have the option of fulfilling the minimum 20 hours as they normally would (information below) or they can waive the requirement by using the following form.

Community Service Waiver Request Form: 
https://forms.gle/PfdgoKLQ46uJaYpu5

In accordance with district Procedure 2414P, the principal or designee will determine waiver of this graduation requirement and will grant waivers when appropriate.  Written requests for waivers may also be initiated by the parents/guardians or the student of legal age (18 and over). Requests must be submitted by May 29, 2020.

Community Service Requirement

Students may complete 20 hours of community service as part of their high school graduation requirements. 

The project may be completed through participation in school activities (e.g., National Honor Society, Key Club, athletic teams, etc.) as well as other acceptable community activities.

• Community service hours are typically completed outside of school time. Additionally, the work must be voluntary in nature and not tied to any class credit or pay. 
• It is recommended that the community service be related to the student’s career exploration or to a cause about which the student feels passionate.
• Written requests for waivers shall be addressed to the Principal and will be granted when appropriate, in accordance with Procedure 2414P.

Superintendent’s Certificate of Merit

A Certificate of Merit will be issued to high school students meeting the requirements below.  This recognition is designed to honor those students who demonstrate a deep commitment to serving their community by going far above and beyond the graduation requirement for community service. Community service hours may be accumulated annually or throughout the high school career.  Students will keep a written log and hours must be verifiable. 

1. A bronze-level designation on the certificate is earned for completing 80-99 hours of community service.
2. A silver-level designation on the certificate is earned for completing 100-119 hours of community service.
3. A gold-level designation on the certificate is earned for completing 120+ hours of community service.    

 

Students who have not already met both ELA and/or Math state standards: Because of the circumstances due to COVID, the state is offering a waiver for the state standards for on-track seniors who need it. Once you have completed all your other graduation requirements (credits, HSBP, CS), you will be eligible for this waiver. Talley will apply for this waiver on your behalf and it will automatically go through at the end of the school year. You MUST complete all your other grad requirements by June 19 to be eligible.

Class of 2020 FAQ’s

How do I meet graduation requirements?

See graduation requirements for the Class of 2020.

The basic requirements are:

• 22 total credits in specific areas
• Meeting graduation pathways requirements in ELA and Mathematics
• High School & Beyond Plan
• WA State History requirement
• Community Service (this requirement can be waived by the principal or designee - see request form on your high school website)
  • Talley High

Seniors should be working on assignments, activities, or project-based learning projects as outlined by their teachers to earn a letter grade in your classes. Counselors are continuing to reach out to seniors to make personalized plans toward graduation. Seniors are welcome to contact their teachers and counselors if they have any questions about their graduation status. 

What does it mean to be on track to graduate? How do I know if I’m on track to graduate?

If you were on track to graduate, you will still graduate this spring. “On-track to graduate” means that you have successfully completed or are enrolled in courses that would allow you to meet state graduation requirements by the end of this year. Counselors will continue to contact seniors who are off track for graduation. Please reach out to your counselor if you have any questions or concerns. 

How will I be graded? 

Teachers will be grading on a letter grade system of A-D or give an I – Incomplete. Teachers will establish grading rubrics in alignment with their content departments.

What happens if I get an incomplete? 

Please work with your counselor to understand how getting an incomplete would affect your ability to graduate and what alternatives there are.

Do I continue Running Start or online courses?

Yes, please continue to take and complete all Running Start and online courses that you had already started before the school closure or began after the school closure.

Is state testing canceled? What if I was planning on taking a state test to meet a graduation requirement?

Yes, state testing has been canceled due to the school closure. In Washington State there are many ways that you can meet the state assessment requirement for graduation. Your school counselor will be connecting with you if you need to meet this requirement to discuss what other options are available. 

Can credits be waived for the class of 2020?

The district applied for and was granted the ability to waive credits on an emergency basis. These requests will go through your counselor at a later date and if granted will show up on your transcript as “waived”. While credits may be waived, graduation pathway requirements cannot.

I was planning to take the World Language Credit by Proficiency exam. Will this be rescheduled? What about the Seal of Biliteracy?

World Language exams will not be held this spring. Seniors should check with their counselors if they believe they need World Language credit for graduation or college entrance purposes as many colleges have indicated they are relaxing their entrance requirement rules this spring. Students who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy will still receive it on their diploma.

What if I was planning on taking a state assessment to meet a graduation requirement?

In Washington state there are many ways that you can meet the state assessment requirements for graduation. Your school counselor will be connecting with you if you need to meet this requirement to discuss what other options are available. 

I am taking Bridge to College so that I can meet my math/ELA requirement for graduation. Will I still earn credit for this course?

Yes, if you receive an A-D letter grade. We are working to ensure that all students enrolled in Bridge to College classes will earn the credit they need to fulfill this requirement. Please check your email and be in touch with your teacher about what will be required. Students still need a ‘B’ or above to be eligible for the college placement agreement for College Composition and/or specified entry-level college math courses at participating Washington institutions of higher education. 

Is AP testing happening?

Yes. AP test(s) will be taken remotely. This information is being updated on the College Board website. Your AP teacher will continue to reach out to you through email and will share information as it is available. Please also see the College Board website for more information by following this link here: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/

What is happening with IB testing?

IB tests have been canceled. Grades and credits received this year will carry the same value as they have in the past. You will be submitting coursework to your teachers; they will connect with you directly.

High School Grading
High school students and middle school students earning high school credits (e.g., Algebra, Geometry, Spanish I) will be graded in the following manner for the third trimester of the 2019-2020 school year:  

• Letter Grades (A through D):
  • Students will complete assignments, activities, and assessments.At the end of the course, students will receive a traditional letter grade on their high school transcript.
  • Attendance will not be a factor when determining student grades.
  • If students are unable to complete enough work for the course to earn a letter grade in accordance with the teacher’s grading practice, then the student will earn an Incomplete (I) on their transcript.

• Incomplete (I):    
  • The Incomplete will be converted to a letter grade by one of the following:  contract with the teacher to establish assignments or assessments which must be completed by an agreed upon timeline; taking the course in the following year; completing an online course.
  • Students who did not engage in the class at all via remote learning shall retake the class or complete the class as online credit recovery.
  • We will establish further guidelines on the conversion of incompletes to letter grades A-D.

For students with grading accommodations in Individual Education Plans (IEPs), pass/fail will require a change in the Continuous Learning Plan (CLP) from pass/fail to pass/incomplete. IEP case managers will contact families to reflect this change.

Another consideration during this time is access and resources for students and families. It is not our intention to have students penalized for inability to access online coursework. While we have been able to provide Chromebooks and hot spots to many, we realize that an increased demand for technology supports is likely. We will continue to contact families, particularly those of students who haven’t yet  engaged, to identify and remove barriers to access. I also encourage you to alert school personnel if your student’s access to learning has been interrupted. 

Should you have any questions regarding grades, please contact your child’s principal.

Chromebook Drop-Off: Seniors are expected to turn in their laptops after graduation. We will arrange a time and place to drop off Chromebooks sometime after June 15th. 

Fines/Return Materials: You need to clear any fines you may have before you can receive your diploma. You can do this by either returning the materials you have listed on your account as missing or by paying the fine. To check your account and/or pay the fine go to: https://wa-renton.intouchreceipting.com/. Enter your lunch number and your last name (all caps) and the system will bring up an itemized list of what you owe. You can then pay the fine with a debit or credit card or find the items to return them. If you choose to return the items, let us know and we will arrange a time and place to drop them off.