The Missouri Option Program permits full-time, public school enrolled students who are at least 17 years of age and at risk of dropping out or not graduating with their cohort group, the opportunity to earn a standard high school diploma. Graduation through the Missouri Option Program is not dependent on Carnegie credit attainment. The Missouri Option Program is competency-based and approved by the State Board of Education. The program utilizes a high school equivalency exam as content mastery for graduation purposes. The exam sanctioned by the state for the Missouri Option program is the HiSET® test. Missouri Option students successfully passing the exam and completing all other program requirements are eligible to receive a high school diploma.
Requirements
Students must participate in a minimum of 15 hours of academic instruction per week. Students must also be enrolled in other school-supervised instructional activities (career education courses, elective classes, work experience, etc.) that lead to the student's classification by the LEA as a full-time student. The LEA should provide a level and quality of education that ensures the integrity of the Missouri Option Program and locally issued high school diploma.
Local Education Agencies may have additional requirements when issuing a regular high school diploma that is consistent with what is required of all students. Missouri Option students must take the required EOC's - Algebra I (or Algebra II if Algebra was taken prior to high school), English II, Biology and American Government. State law also requires that all graduate candidates take a course in government and the functions of government and pass the required tests related to the U.S. and Missouri Constitutions. Participants must also complete a half unit course in Personal Finance and Health.
Graduation
Students meeting graduation requirements through the Missouri Option program at Webster Learning Center will be eligible to participate in a June graduation ceremony offered through Webster Learning Center. Missouri Option graduates earn a diploma from their home building which must be picked up in the home building's front office in June.