(1) At or before grade 12, a school district or public charter school shall award a high school diploma to a student who completes the requirements established by the State Board of Education, the school district or public charter school and this section.
(2) In order to receive a high school diploma from a school district or public charter school, a student must satisfy the requirements established by the board and the school district or public charter school and, while in grades 9 through 12, must complete:
(a) At least 24 credits, as defined by rule of the board;
(b) Three credits of mathematics; and
(c) Four credits of English.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, a school district or public charter school may award a diploma to a student who does not satisfy the requirements of subsection (2)(b) or (c) of this section if the student:
(a) Has met or exceeded the academic content standards for mathematics or English established by the board, as demonstrated on Oregon state assessments; or
(b) Displays proficiency in mathematics or English at a level established by the board.
(4) A student may satisfy the requirements of subsection (2) of this section in less than four years. If a student satisfies the requirements of subsection (2) of this section and a school district or public charter school has the consent of the student’s parent or guardian, the school district or public charter school shall award a diploma to the student upon request from the student.
(5) If a school district or public charter school has the consent of a student’s parent or guardian, the school district or public charter school may advance the student to the next grade level if the student has satisfied the requirements for the student’s current grade level.
(6) The requirement for obtaining the consent of a student’s parent or guardian under subsections (4) and (5) of this section does not apply to a student who is:
(a) Emancipated pursuant to ORS 419B.550 to 419B.558; or
(b) 18 years of age or older.
(7)(a) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2) of this section, a school district or public charter school shall award a modified diploma to a student who does not satisfy the requirements of subsections (1) and (2) of this section if the student meets requirements established by the State Board of Education by rule.
(b) The modified diploma shall be made available only to those students who have demonstrated the inability to meet the full set of academic content standards even with reasonable modifications and accommodations. To be eligible for a modified diploma, a student must have:
(A) A documented history of an inability to maintain grade level achievement due to significant learning and instructional barriers; or
(B) A documented history of a medical condition that creates a barrier to achievement.
(8) A school district or public charter school shall award an alternative certificate to a student who does not satisfy the requirements for a diploma if the student meets requirements established by the board of the school district or public charter school.
(9) A student who receives a modified diploma or alternative certificate shall have the option of participating in a high school graduation ceremony with the class of the student.
(10) The State Board of Education shall submit for review by the legislative committees on education or the interim legislative committees on education, as appropriate, any proposed rules to implement requirements for a diploma, a modified diploma or an alternative certificate prior to the adoption of those rules by the board. [2005 c.827 §1; 2007 c.407 §1; 2007 c.660 §12]
Note: Section 3, chapter 827, Oregon Laws 2005, provides:
Sec. 3. (1) The requirements of ORS 329.451 (2) and (3) apply to students who receive a high school diploma from a school district on or after July 1, 2009.
(2) ORS 329.451 (4) applies to students who satisfy the requirements for a high school diploma on or after the effective date of chapter 407, Oregon Laws 2007 [July 1, 2007].
(3) ORS 329.451 (5) first applies to the 2007-2008 school year.
(4) The requirements of ORS 329.451 (2) and (3) apply to students who receive a high school diploma from a public charter school:
(a) On or after July 1, 2009, if the charter of the public charter school specified that ORS 329.451 applied to the school prior to the effective date of this 2007 Act [chapter 660, Oregon Laws 2007] [July 1, 2007]; or
(b) On or after July 1, 2011.
(5) School districts and public charter schools shall make modified diplomas and alternative certificates as required by ORS 329.451 (7) and (8) first available to students during the 2008-2009 school year.
(6) Notwithstanding subsections (4) and (5) of this section, ORS 329.451 as amended by section 12 of this 2007 Act [chapter 660, Oregon Laws 2007] applies to public charter schools that enter into a charter or renew a charter on or after the effective date of this 2007 Act [chapter 660, Oregon Laws 2007]. [2005 c.827 §3; 2007 c.407 §2; 2007 c.660 §15]
Note: 329.451 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 329 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
Section: Previous 329.430 329.440 329.445 329.445 329.447 329.447 329.450 329.451 329.455 329.460 329.465 329.465 329.467 329.467 329.470 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008