The Golden State Seal Merit Diploma (GSSMD), established in 1997, provides recognition to public school graduates who have demonstrated mastery of the high school curriculum in at least 6 subject areas. The six areas are English language arts/literacy (ELA), Mathematics, Science, U.S. history, and two subject areas. The GSSMD is awarded jointly by the State Board of Education (SBE) and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. GSSMD eligibility requirements currently include a combination of course grades, results from assessments produced by private providers or local educational agencies (LEAs), and/or qualifying Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment scores. Students who are awarded the GSSMD will have a gold insignia placed on their diploma and a black and white insignia placed on their transcript.
Approved course list, updated PowerPoint and application form links can be found in the New Assessment & OFY/OFL Charter specific Team Drives. Below is the pathway:
- Assessment & OFL or OFY Charter team drives > 2020-21 > Golden State Seal Merit Diploma
GSSMD Approved Courses List for 21-22
- If a student took an AP Course that received a C+ then we would look at it as a B+ and a B+ as an A+; both internally and externally. Post Secondary Counselors will need to enter the course in the “bump” grade.
- An English, Science or Math course taken in the 12th grade can ONLY be used for the additional two subject areas.
- Students must complete 10 units (both semesters) of a course and receive the minimum grade requirement stated in the eligibility criteria in order for it to be used on the GSSMD. If a student completed a single semester in two parts, each with partial units, grades obtained must be merged in order to obtain a final grade.
- Please see example below:
