Policy 6146.4 - Differential Graduation & Competency Standards & Certificates of Educational Achievement for Individuals with Exceptional Needs

The Governing Board recognizes that students with disabilities are entitled to a course of study that provides them with a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and that modifications to the district's regular course may be needed on an individualized basis to provide FAPE. In accordance with law, each student’s individualized education program (IEP) team shall determine the appropriate goals, as well as any appropriate individual accommodations necessary for measuring the academic achievement and functional performance of the student on state and district wide assessments.

 

District students shall complete all course requirements for high school graduation as specified in Board Policy 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements. However, a student with a disability that entered the ninth grade in the 2025-26 school year and later may be exempted from all coursework and other requirements adopted by the Board that are in addition to the statewide course requirements for high school graduation if the student's IEP provides for both of the following requirements:
 

Any such exempted student shall receive a diploma and be eligible to participate in any graduation ceremony and school activity related to graduation in which a student of similar age without a disability would be eligible to participate.

 

The district's responsibility to provide FAPE shall not terminate when a student with a disability who is exempted from district-adopted graduation requirements participates in graduation activities unless the student's IEP team, which includes the parent/guardian and student, has determined that the student has completed the high school experience.

 

Instead of a high school diploma, a student with disabilities may be awarded a certificate or document of educational achievement or completion if the student has met one of the following requirements:

 

a) The student has satisfactorily completed a prescribed alternative course of study approved by the Board of Education of the school district which the student attended or the district with jurisdiction over the student as identified in his/her IEP; or

b) The student has satisfactorily achieved his or her IEP goals and objectives during high school as determined by the IEP team; or

c) The student has satisfactorily attended high school, participated in the instruction specified in his or her IEP, and has met the objectives of the statement of transition services.
 

A student with disabilities who meets any of the criteria specified above shall be eligible to participate in any graduation ceremony and any school activity related to graduation which a graduating student of similar age without disabilities would be eligible to participate.