P6336 Graduation and Certification Audit

The Board of Education of Wichita Public Schools (WPS) is committed to ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all student graduation data reported to the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).  This policy addresses independent review and certification of WPS graduation data and outlines procedures for documenting and auditing graduation certification processes.  Any independent review conducted pursuant to this policy shall be in addition to the regular internal audit of graduation data from all high schools that is conducted annually by the school district’s Office of Secondary Education and Information Services and Technology department.    

This policy applies to all WPS high schools and all administrative departments involved in the collection, reporting, and certification of graduation data.  Grading, assessments, and standards are addressed in P1805 – Student Assessments.

Administrative Implemental Procedures

1. Starting with the Class of 2025, and periodically thereafter as the Superintendent shall determine, the Superintendent or designee shall engage a qualified independent firm to audit the District’s graduation data.
2. The scope of an audit conducted under this policy may vary according to need and the availability of resources to support and pay for the auditor’s services.  The scope of any audit under this policy should ordinarily validate the accuracy of the district’s reported graduation data for one or more school years, which will be documented in a final audit report that includes findings, recommendations, and a certification statement regarding the accuracy of the district’s reported graduation rate.  
3. The report and recommendations shall ordinarily be presented to the Board.  
4. The audit of graduation rates for a given year may cover data from all high schools or a subset of schools; provided, however, that all District high schools shall be included in the auditor’s review at least once during the four-year period starting with the 2026-2027 academic year and ending with the 2029-2030 academic year.  
5. Any administrator, teacher, or other staff member found to have tampered with, falsified, or misleadingly manipulated graduation data shall be subject to severe discipline, and the findings of any investigation concerning such conduct may be reported to the Kansas Department of Education as required by law. 

Administrative Responsibility: Secondary Education Office

New Board Policy: December 2025

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