The Missouri Option Program is for those students, age 17 to 20, who are unable to graduate with their kindergarten cohort group due to the lack of credits necessary to graduate and are at risk of leaving school without a high school diploma.  The Missouri Option Program is committed to helping those students who have realized the importance of earning a high school diploma and achieve their dreams of becoming a high school graduate. Graduation through this program is not dependent on Carnegie credit attainment (the normal credit system).  It is a competency-based program approved by the State Board of Education that utilizes a high school equivalency exam as mastery for graduation purposes. The HiSET®is the exam sanctioned by the state for the Missouri Option program.  It is developed and distributed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Missouri Option students who successfully pass the exam and complete all other program requirements listed below are eligible to receive a high school diploma.

1. 1. Attend 15 hours of class
   2. Turn in 15 hours of employment or volunteer service (this will increase to 30 hours per week if the student passes the HiSET before turning 18)
   3. Earn Health, Personal Finance and Government credit
   4. Complete CPR training
   5. Pass the US and MO Constitution exam and Citizenship exam
   6. Take the College and Career Readiness exam