Pupil assessment: high school exit examination: eligible pupils with disabilities.

Existing law requires each pupil completing grade 12 to successfully pass the high school exit examination as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation or a condition of graduation from high school. Existing law requires by October 1, 2010, that the State Board of Education, taking into consideration specified findings and recommendations, adopt regulations for alternative means by which eligible pupils with disabilities, as defined, may demonstrate that they have achieved the same level of academic achievement in the content standards required for passage of the high school exit examination. Existing law defines an eligible pupil with a disability as a pupil who has, among other things, an anticipated graduation date and is scheduled to receive a high school diploma on or after January 1, 2011, and the school district or state special school certifies that the pupil has satisfied or will satisfy all other state and local requirements for the receipt of a high school diploma on or after January 1, 2011. Existing law (1) authorizes an eligible pupil with a disability, commencing January 1, 2011, to participate in the alternative means of demonstrating the level of academic achievement in the content standards required for passage of the high school exit examination in the manner prescribed by the regulations adopted by the state board, and (2) authorizes the state board, by regulation, to extend the January 1, 2011, date by up to 2 years, as specified. This bill would instead define an eligible pupil with a disability as a pupil who has, among other things, an anticipated graduation date and is scheduled to receive a high school diploma on or after July 1, 2015, and the school district or state special school certifies that the pupil has satisfied or will satisfy all other state and local requirements for the receipt of a high school diploma on or after July 1, 2015. The bill would instead (1) authorize an eligible pupil with a disability, commencing July 1, 2015, to participate in the alternative means of demonstrating the level of academic achievement in the content standards required for passage of the high school exit examination in the manner prescribed by the regulations adopted by the state board, and (2) authorize the state board, by regulation, to extend the July 1, 2015, date by up to one year, as specified. The bill would also make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.