Golden State Seal Merit Diploma

 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GOLDEN STATE SEAL MERIT DIPLOMA

School districts and charter schools are responsible for maintaining appropriate records in order to identify students who meet the eligibility requirements for the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma (Education Code Section 51454). The following information is provided to help school districts/charter schools identify eligible graduating seniors.
For the GSSMD, students must be eligible to receive a high school diploma and have demonstrated the mastery of the curriculum in at least six subject matter areas, four of which are English-language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and U.S. history, with the remaining two subject matter areas selected by the student.

Students may demonstrate meeting the GSSMD requirements as follows:

English-language Arts: Students must have earned one of any of the following:

  1. A grade of B+ (or numerical equivalent) or above in a single course completed in grade nine, ten, or eleven
  2. An achievement level of “Standard Met” for the high school Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment
  3. A scale score of 370 or above on CSTs, if available

Mathematics: Students must have earned one of any of the following: 

  1. A grade of B+ (or numeric equivalent) or above in a single course completed in grade nine, ten, or eleven
  2. An achievement level of “Standard Met” for the high school Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment

Science: Students must have earned one of any of the following:

  1. A grade of B+ (or numeric equivalent) or above in a single course completed in grade nine, ten, or eleven
  2. A qualifying score that demonstrates mastery of the subject as determined by the LEA for an examination produced by a private provider or LEA

U.S. History: Students must have earned one of any of the following:

  1. A grade of B (or numerical equivalent) or above upon completion of the required U.S. history course
  2. A qualifying score that demonstrates mastery of the subject as determined by the LEA for an examination produced by a private provider or LEA

Other two subject matter areas: Students may choose from any of the following:

  1. Any additional qualifying grade or score listed above earned for the subjects of ELA, mathematics, science, or U.S. history not already used to meet eligibility
  2. A grade of B (or numerical equivalent) or above upon the completion of high school courses in other subjects
  3. A qualifying score that demonstrates mastery of other subjects, as determined by the LEA, for an examination produced by a private provider or LEA

GOLDEN STATE SEAL MERIT DIPLOMA RECIPIENTS