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Graduation Requirements

DISTRICT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS WAIVER

What is AB 1806?

It is a law that was enacted in January 1, 2015 which exempts a homeless youth who transfers between schools any time after the completion of the pupil’s second year of high school, from having to meet district graduation requirements, if approved by district, and instead, can earn a diploma by meeting the State’s minimum graduation requirements.

(Ed Code 51225.1 extends these provisions to a former juvenile court school pupil, a pupil who is a child of a military family, or a pupil who is a migratory child, or a pupil participating in a newcomer program).

State Minimum & AB 1806 Graduation Requirements

State minimum graduation requirements are the 13 year long courses outlined below:

  • 3-English courses
  • 2-Math courses—including one year of Algebra I
  • 2-Science courses—including Biology and Physical Science
  • 2-Social Studies courses—including (1) course of United States history and geography; (1) course in world history, culture, and geography
  • 1-Economics and Government course
  • 1-Visual and Performance Art course or foreign language course
  • 2-PE courses

ELIGIBILITY—HOW AM I ELIGIBLE?

  • Must be homeless as defined by McKinney-Vento at the time of transfer between schools
  • Change schools after the completion of your 2nd year high school (determined by number of credits earned or the length of time enrolled, whichever makes the student eligible)
  • Not reasonably able to complete local graduation requirements by end of 4th year of high school
  • You have the right to remain in high school for a 5th year in order to complete the local graduation requirements

CAN I GET A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WITHOUT HAVING TO MEET DISTRICT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS?

  • You still must pass your classes
  • You are still expected to go to school through June of your senior year

WHO DETERMINES IF AN AB 1806 WAIVER IS GRANTED?

  • School districts determine eligibility
  • Education rights holder, or the student if they are 18 and hold their education rights, must agree to the waiver under AB 1806 or decide you will remain a 5th year senior to complete local graduation requirements

SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

  • Required to review eligibility within 30 days of transfer
  • Notify you, your education rights holder of eligibility, its potential impact on college admission, and inform the student of their right to remain in school for a 5th year to complete local graduation requirements
  • student of their right to remain in school for a 5th year to complete local or state graduation requirements

CAN ELIGIBILITY BE RECONSIDERED?

  • If a student was homeless and eligible for the exemption but declined it, and later, while still homeless, decides to accept the exemption, the student will still qualify
  • If the student wasn’t told about the exemption when the student was homeless, then the student can still be eligible even after the student is permanently housed
  • Eligibility has to be reviewed again within the first 30 days of the following academic year

ONCE ELIGIBLE, AM I ALWAYS ELIGIBLE?

Once you are determined eligible for an AB 1806 waiver, the exemption shall not be revoked

WILL GETTING A WAIVER AFFECT MY COLLEGE OPTIONS?

Yes, you will NOT be eligible for a 4-year college(CSU, UC, private college) because you will not meet the entrance requirements. You will still be eligible for a 2-year college and may transfer to a 4-year college

IF I DECIDE TO ATTEND AN ADULT SCHOOL, WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO GRADUATE UNDER AB 1806?

Yes, if you were in foster care, homeless, former juvenile court pupil, child of a military family, migratory, or a newcomer while enrolled in high school

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