My name is Carly and I am a high school sophomore in Indiana. I am interested in graduating early; I will have all of my required credits, including those senior credits, at the end of my junior year. I will have more than enough credits to obtain a Core 40 diploma after the completion of my sixth semester.
Indiana state law requires seven semesters of high school before a diploma can be awarded, but a school corporation can waiver this law as they see fit. My mother and I have met with my principal and guidance counselor and have initiated the first steps in having my waiver granted.
Because there are no adopted policies yet in my school district concerning this issue, we must first present the idea to the school board so that they might adopt them. My principal has said that if a procedure is adopted, he will grant my waiver. I have applied to Indiana State University and the admissions office is sending a letter stating that there is no reason I won't be accepted so long as my next year's grades reflect this year's.
My guidance counselor has been increasingly helpful in organizing my schedule so that I can fit all of the necessary classes in next year, with two empty classes left over. I have also registered to take SAT's for a second time on June 5 so that I may apply for additional financial aid.
When my principal approached my superintendent about the idea, he blatantly disagreed with the entire proposal, implying that there was simply no point. The school board, he says, will almost certainly feel the same way as they are afraid that once they allow me to do this, everyone will want to do it. I have to disagree, because I don't know a single student at my school who has taken eight classes every semester like I have. Also, my principal says that they may be embarrassed that their standards are not high enough to prevent this. If it makes any difference, my being in college a year early will allow me to work more hours at a part-time job and will also allow me to live on campus, which will significantly lighten the load for my single mother who is currently laid off.
Does anyone have authority over my school board so that their traditions do not prevent my early graduation, according to the law? The school board meeting at which I will present my case is on April 28. What exactly should I bring to this meeting to present? Do I need to write my own proposal? If they refuse to instate procedures, is there anyone else I can appeal to or anyone else I can contact? I really appreciate all of your help.

Sincerely,

Carly Robbins

Over a year ago, I wrote the above message. I'm Carly and I'm updating my progress.

Last April, the Southwest Parke Community School Corporation denied my request to utilize the waiver provided in the law that I found. They cited such reasons as "what about prom?" and said that four years in high school was good enough for their own children who are also students at Riverton Parke High School. Seeing the need for immediate action, I contacted every high school principal whose email address I could find in Indiana to see which corporations actually used this waiver on a regular basis. The closest to home I found was the West Lafayette School Corporation, and my mother and I met with a guidance counselor there and their principal, Dr. Anne Koivo. We could not afford to commute and pay tuition, and so were forced to find an apartment on the Purdue campus and I have been attending West Lafayette schools since January. I will graduate in May after three years of high school, with the class of 2005. All of my credits transferred correctly and I will receive a Core 40 diploma. I was admitted to Purdue University and will take summer classes to begin my major in political science.

I am currently working with my gifted and talented coordinator at the Southwest Parke schools to implement change in their corporation. So far, the only policy of six semester graduation that the corporation would agree to is one that includes ridiculous rigor, including the obtention of an Academic Honors diploma over only six semesters, with cumulative GPA of 4.0 or greater, admittance to a 4-year institution, and specific SAT scores. I believe their goal is to dissuade anyone from attempting to graduate in six semesters as it would taint their traditions.

If you would like to contact me or have any ideas as to any other types of work I need to do expedite this project or spread it to your corporation, please do so at any time. Thanks!

Another Update:

In January 2006, I was able to testify in favor of Indiana SB 310 which enables gifted students to graduate high school early through alternative means. It was passed unanimously! However, it will be difficult to ensure that school corporations actually allow students to exercise these rights - and even more difficult to let students and their families know that these methods of early graduation are available to them to advance post-secondary study.

My first year at Purdue was wonderful! However, I have since transferred to the much-smaller Indiana State University. I am currently a junior pursuing an internship with the Indiana legislature and look forward to applying to law and graduate schools.

Can you tell me where IN law allows school coprarations to waive the 7 semester rule.

Thank You So Much in advance.

Greg