CHAPTER 13. GRADUATION RATE DETERMINATION
IC 20-26-13
Chapter 13. Graduation Rate Determination
IC 20-26-13-1
Applicability
Sec. 1. This chapter applies to:
(1) a public high school; and
(2) an accredited nonpublic high school.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-13-2
"Cohort"
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "cohort" refers to a class ofstudents who:
(1) attend the same high school; and
(2) are first considered to have entered grade 9 in the same year.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.229-2007, SEC.3.
IC 20-26-13-3
"Enrollment"
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "enrollment" means the totalnumber of students within a grade that is reported to the departmentannually on:
(1) October 1; or
(2) a date specified by the department.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-13-4
"Expected graduation year"
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "expected graduation year" meansthe reporting year beginning three (3) years after the reporting yearin which a student is first considered by a school corporation to haveentered grade nine.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-13-5
"Graduation"
Sec. 5. (a) As used in this chapter, "graduation" means thesuccessful completion by a student of:
(1) a sufficient number of academic credits, or the equivalent ofacademic credits; and
(2) the graduation examination or waiver process requiredunder IC 20-32-3 through IC 20-32-6;
resulting in the awarding of a high school diploma or an academichonors diploma.
(b) The term does not include the granting of a generaleducational development diploma under IC 20-20-6.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-13-6 "Graduation rate"
Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "graduation rate" means thepercentage of students within a cohort who graduate during theirexpected graduation year.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-13-7
"Reporting year"
Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "reporting year" refers to theperiod beginning October 1 of a year and ending September 30 of thefollowing year.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-13-8
"Retention"
Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "retention" refers to thereclassification by a school corporation of a student that places thestudent into a cohort that has an expected graduation year after theexpected graduation year of the student's initial cohort.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-13-9
Graduation rate determination by department
Sec. 9. Beginning with the class of students who are expected tograduate in the 2005-2006 school year, the department shalldetermine the graduation rate of high school students under thischapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10.
IC 20-26-13-10
Formula to determine four year graduation rate
Sec. 10. Except as provided in section 11 of this chapter, the four(4) year graduation rate for a cohort in a high school is thepercentage determined under STEP FIVE of the following formula:
STEP ONE: Determine the grade 9 enrollment at the beginningof the reporting year three (3) years before the reporting yearfor which the graduation rate is being determined.
STEP TWO: Add:
(A) the number determined under STEP ONE; and
(B) the number of students who:
(i) have enrolled in the high school after the date on whichthe number determined under STEP ONE was determined;and
(ii) have the same expected graduation year as the cohort.
STEP THREE: Subtract from the sum determined under STEPTWO the number of students who have left the cohort for anyof the following reasons:
(A) Transfer to another public or nonpublic school.
(B) Removal by the student's parents under IC 20-33-2-28 toprovide instruction equivalent to that given in the public
schools.
(C) Withdrawal because of a long term medical condition ordeath.
(D) Detention by a law enforcement agency or thedepartment of correction.
(E) Placement by a court order or the department of childservices.
(F) Enrollment in a virtual school.
(G) Leaving school, if the student attended school in Indianafor less than one (1) school year and the location of thestudent cannot be determined.
(H) Leaving school, if the location of the student cannot bedetermined and the student has been reported to the Indianaclearinghouse for information on missing children andmissing endangered adults.
(I) Withdrawing from school before graduation, if thestudent is a high ability student (as defined in IC 20-36-1-3)who is a full-time student at an accredited institution ofhigher education during the semester in which the cohortgraduates.
STEP FOUR: Determine the total number of studentsdetermined under STEP TWO who have graduated during thecurrent reporting year or a previous reporting year.
STEP FIVE: Divide:
(A) the number determined under STEP FOUR; by
(B) the remainder determined under STEP THREE.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.242-2005,SEC.11; P.L.145-2006, SEC.151; P.L.229-2007, SEC.4;P.L.45-2008, SEC.1; P.L.43-2009, SEC.17.
IC 20-26-13-10.2
Formula to determine five year graduation rate
Sec. 10.2. In the reporting year immediately following thedetermination of a cohort's four (4) year graduation rate undersection 10 of this chapter, the department shall calculate a five (5)year graduation rate for the cohort using the following formula:
STEP ONE: Determine the number determined under STEPFOUR of the formula established in section 10 of this chapter.
STEP TWO: Add:
(A) the number determined under STEP ONE; and
(B) the number of students in the cohort who have graduatedduring the current reporting year.
STEP THREE: Divide:
(A) the sum determined under STEP TWO; by
(B) the remainder determined under STEP THREE of theformula established in section 10 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.5.
IC 20-26-13-10.5
Formula to determine six or subsequent year graduation rate Sec. 10.5. In the reporting year immediately following thedetermination of a cohort's five (5) year graduation rate under section10.2 of this chapter and each subsequent reporting year, thedepartment shall calculate a six (6) or subsequent year graduationrate for the cohort using the following formula:
STEP ONE: Determine the number determined under STEPTWO of the formula established in section 10.2 of this chapter.
STEP TWO: Add:
(A) the number determined under STEP ONE; and
(B) the number of students in the cohort who have graduatedduring the current reporting year.
STEP THREE: Divide:
(A) the sum determined under STEP TWO; by
(B) the remainder determined under STEP THREE of theformula established in section 10 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.6.
IC 20-26-13-10.7
Student included in only one graduation year
Sec. 10.7. For purposes of determining a graduation rate undersections 10, 10.2, and 10.5 of this chapter, a student may be countedas a member of only one (1) cohort and as graduating during onlyone (1) reporting year.
As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.45-2008, SEC.2.
IC 20-26-13-11
Student who has left school; responsibility of state attendanceofficer
Sec. 11. (a) A student who has left school is not included inclauses (A) through (I) of STEP THREE of the formula establishedin section 10 of this chapter unless the school corporation canprovide written proof that the student has left the school for one (1)of the reasons set forth in clauses (A) through (I) of STEP THREEof section 10 of this chapter. If the location of the student is unknownto the school, the principal of the school shall send a certified letterto the last known address of the student, inquiring about the student'swhereabouts and status. If the student is not located after the certifiedletter is delivered or if no response is received, the principal maysubmit the student's information, including last known address,parent or guardian name, student testing number, and other pertinentdata to the state attendance officer. The state attendance officer,using all available state data and any other means available, shallattempt to locate the student and report the student's location andschool enrollment status to the principal so that the principal canappropriately send student records to the new school or otherwisedocument the student's status.
(b) If a school corporation cannot provide written proof that astudent should be included in clauses (A) through (I) of STEPTHREE of section 10 of this chapter, the student is considered adropout.As added by P.L.242-2005, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.229-2007,SEC.8.
IC 20-26-13-12
Estimated graduation rate
Sec. 12. For each high school, the department shall calculate anestimated graduation rate that is determined by the total number ofgraduates for the reporting year divided by the total number ofstudents enrolled in grade 9 at the school three (3) years before thereporting year. For any school where the difference between theestimated graduation rate and the number determined under STEPFIVE of section 10 of this chapter is more than five percent (5%), thedepartment shall request the data used in determining that themissing students are classified under one (1) or more of clauses (A)through (I) of STEP THREE of section 10 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.242-2005, SEC.13. Amended by P.L.229-2007,SEC.9; P.L.45-2008, SEC.3.
IC 20-26-13-13
Corrected graduation rate
Sec. 13. For any school that cannot provide written proofsupporting the school's determination to include a student under anyone (1) of clauses (A) through (I) of STEP THREE of section 10 ofthis chapter, the department shall require the publication of thecorrected graduation rate in the next school year's report requiredunder IC 20-20-8-3.
As added by P.L.242-2005, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.229-2007,SEC.10.
IC 20-26-13-14
Report; contents
Sec. 14. (a) Each reporting year, the department shall determineand report the following for each cohort:
(1) A four (4) year graduation rate determined under section 10of this chapter.
(2) A five (5) year graduation rate determined under section10.2 of this chapter.
(3) A six (6) and subsequent year graduation rate determinedunder section 10.5 of this chapter.
(b) Except for the correction of calculation errors, a four (4) yearand five (5) year graduation rate may not be altered after the rates areinitially reported.
As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.11.
IC 20-26-13-15
Deadline for schools to report graduation information; report datefor four year graduation rate
Sec. 15. (a) The provisions of sections 12 and 13 of this chaptermust be completed before the release of the reports required undersection 14 of this chapter. The department shall establish deadlines
for each school to provide the information required under section 13of this chapter.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the department shall reportthe four (4) year graduation rates for each cohort not later thanJanuary 15 following the cohort's expected graduation rate.
As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.12.
IC 20-26-13-16
Graduation rate determination under National Governors'Association guidelines
Sec. 16. In addition to any other determination required under thischapter, the department shall determine and report a statewidegraduation rate that is consistent with guidelines developed by theNational Governors' Association. If the guidelines are unclear orallow flexibility in determination, the requirements of this chapterapply to the determination of a statewide graduation rate. However,cohort members who leave after less than one (1) year of attendancein an Indiana school and whose location cannot be determined maynot be subtracted in the calculation of a statewide graduation rate.
As added by P.L.229-2007, SEC.13.