A. District boards of education may develop and issue a certificate of distinction that is to be awarded to students, beginning with students in the 2000-2001 high school graduating class who have met or exceeded the following criteria by the end of their senior year in high school with at least a 3.25 grade point average on a 4.0 scale:

1. Earned four units each in English, mathematics, social studies, and science;

2. Earned two additional units in the area of technology, the humanities, or the arts;

3. Earned two units in a foreign language; and

4. Achieved a proficient or advanced score on all end-of-instruction tests as required pursuant to Section 1210.508 of this title, as those tests are implemented.

B. For purposes of this section, applicable vocational-technical classes offered by comprehensive high school vocational-technical programs shall qualify for technology, science, and mathematics units. Students enrolled in the programs may use one unit of their six concentrated vocational-technical curriculum units for one unit of mathematics required by this section and one unit of their six concentrated vocational-technical curriculum units for one unit of science required by this section. Advanced placement classes in the subject areas listed in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of subsection A of this section may be substituted on a course-by-course basis to satisfy the academic units required for a certificate of distinction.

C. For purposes of this section, “unit” means a Carnegie Unit as defined by the North Central Association’s Commission on Schools.

Added by Laws 2000, c. 232, § 2, eff. July 1, 2000. Amended by Laws 2009, c. 456, § 7, eff. July 1, 2009.

NOTE: Editorially renumbered from § 11-103.6c of this title to avoid duplication in numbering.