Carnegie Units and High School Attendance Policies

Abstract

This case was developed as part of a doctoral course for educational administration students who were specializing in K-12 educational administration. It could be used in a leadership, special education, or policy course for future school leaders or teachers. Currently, most educational institutions use Carnegie Units to structure how students earn credit throughout the year. In addition, many schools have an attendance policy delineating specific guidelines that students must meet to earn credit. Recently, two high school seniors had their graduation jeopardized due to issues with Carnegie Units and a district’s attendance policy. Drawing from the case of Matthew and Jerry, this article will explore attendance policies and the usage of Carnegie Units.