ISMO Diploma - Alternative Program

The Missouri Option Program offers the opportunity to earn a high school diploma for students at risk of not graduating with their cohort group. The program utilizes a high school equivalency exam, currently the HiSet, as content mastery for graduation purposes. Missouri Option students successfully passing the exam and completing all other program requirements are eligible to receive a high school diploma.

Age

The student must be at least 16 years old (with parental consent), at least in their Junior year of high school, and no more than 20 years of age. They must be able to complete the program and graduate before their 21st birthday.

Credits

Students must be at least one year of credit behind their cohort group (class), or for other significant reasons identified in the local plan, be unable to complete their diploma with their cohort group. Cohort is defined as the year that a student enrolled in 9th Grade.

Entrance Testing

All students must take the entrance test to enter or upon entrance to the Missouri Option Program. If a student does not score at least at an 8th grade level on the reading section of the test, the committee will meet to determine admission into the program. The committee decides if this is the best placement option for the student to possibly be able to graduate on time with their classmates regardless of scores. Based upon entrance test scores, students may be approved to join the Missouri Option Program on an academic probation status.

Special Programs Students

If a student has an IEP, the IEP team will convene to determine if the Missouri Option Program is the best placement for the student. If a student is an English Language Learner, the ELL Coordinator will meet with the Missouri Option Commitee to determine if the Missouri Option Program is the best placement for the student.

Attendance Requirements

Missouri Option students are required to attend Homeroom and class during the Missouri Option class time and also average 10 hours a week in Essential Education and/or IXL. Students who are on Academic Probation are required to attend class during the Missouri Option class time, attend required Homeroom sessions, and average 20 hours a week in Essential Education and/or IXL. Students with an IEP are also required to attend their scheduled services.

HiSet Exam

Students must be approved by the Missouri Option Coordinator to take the HiSet exam. Students are required to take the HiSet exams in-person at a Missouri testing center that offers the HiSet exam. At this time, there is no option in Missouri to take the HiSet exam online for a high school diploma. Parents/students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the testing center.

Students are required to take and pass at least two tests per quarter to remain enrolled in the Missouri Option program. Please note that HiSet only allows students to retest 5 times within 1 calendar year (a total of 6 test attempts). NO SHOWS count as failed attempts. Students who No Show their tests or fail to notify the Missouri Option Coordinator MORE than 24 hours ahead of time (the start time of the test) will immediately have any future scheduled tests canceled and will need to submit a request to the Principal to be reinstated as a MOOPs student in good standing to be eligible to have tests scheduled.

The HiSET test lets you demonstrate that you have attained the knowledge equivalent to a high school graduate. It consists of five subtests that measure your knowledge in five core areas:

• Language Arts–Reading: contains 50 multiple-choice questions and measures your ability to understand, comprehend, interpret, and analyze a variety of reading material.
• Language Arts–Writing: contains 60 multiple-choice and one essay question and measures your ability to edit and revise written text, and to generate and organize ideas in writing.
• Mathematics: contains 55 multiple-choice questions and assesses your ability to solve quantitative problems using fundamental concepts and reasoning skills.
• Science: contains 60 multiple-choice questions and measures your ability to use science content knowledge, apply principles of scientific inquiry, and interpret and evaluate scientific information.
• Social Studies: contains 60 multiple-choice questions and measures your ability to analyze and evaluate various kinds of social studies information.

The HiSet tests are timed tests.

• pass Personal Finance, Health, and Government
• take all required End of Course Exams
• pass the US Constitution and Missouri Constitution exam
• pass the Citizenship exam
• complete instruction in CPR to meet state requirement
• take a College and Career Readiness Assessment
• pass all 5 sections of the HiSet exam with a cumulative score of 45

Students must have completed all graduation requirements in order to be eligible for graduation and to walk at the graduation ceremony. All program requirements must be met prior to the in-person graduation ceremony and student & LC must have signed off and had an exit meeting with the School Counselor and Missouri Option Coordinator. This exit interview can ensure that all graduation requirements have been met.

The Missouri High School Equivalency Program has partnered with Diploma Sender for fulfillment of requests for High School Equivalency transcripts and certificates.

After passing the HiSET® test, you will be awarded one free certificate and one free transcript. You must take action and register as DiplomaSender.com to receive your free documents.

ISMO Principal:

Jennifer Sonka (mailto:jsonka@insightmo.org)

MOOPs Coordinators:

Vonda Nelson (mailto:vnelson@insight.org)

Dinh Dinh (mailto:ddinh@insightmo.org)