Kristen as a junior at PCM High School where she is an honor roll student. She needs two more credits to meet the 44-credit graduation requirement. PCM's graduation policy as developed several years ago. The policy allows an eligible student to graduate one semester early if the student's request is filed by December 1 of the preceding school year. The policy is published in the student handbook.

The high school principal pointed out that Kristen actually needs 3 more credits to graduate. She would need 2 semesters of P.E. (one credit); one semester of government (one credit); and one semester of economics, or another one of government (for one credit). The board president testified that the Board has waived the deadline for applying for early graduation, but only 3 or 4 times. He testified that the Board does not like to waive its policies.

The accreditation standards contained in Chapter 12 of the Administrative Rules of the Department of Education establish the minimum requirements that schools need to "offer and teach" in order to receive accreditation. However, the number of courses the student is required to take in order to graduate with a diploma from the district is determined by board policy.

In reviewing the facts of this appeal, we found that the District Board acted reasonably in denying Appellant's request for early graduation.

That the decision of the PCM Community School District Board of Directors made on March 30, 1998, was affirmed.