The law requires school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education to exempt certain students with disabilities from all local coursework and other requirements that are in addition to the statewide course requirements.[1] A student with a disability who entered ninth grade in the 2022-23 school year or later and is eligible to take the California Alternative Assessment can graduate from high school under the state minimum graduation requirements.[2] The state minimum graduation requirements are outlined in question 11.16.
The school district, charter school, or county office of education must ensure that students that are eligible for this graduation pathway are eligible to participate in any graduation ceremony or school activity related to graduation with their grade-level peers. Crucially, participation in this graduation pathway does not terminate the requirement that the school provide FAPE to the student until twenty-two years of age unless the IEP team agrees that the student has completed their high school experience.[3]