Graduation requirements: pupils in foster care.

Existing law requires a pupil to complete specified courses while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of graduation from high school. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to adopt rules specifying additional coursework requirements. Existing law requires a school district to exempt a pupil in foster care from all coursework and other requirements adopted by the governing board of the school district that are in addition to the statewide coursework requirements for graduation if the pupil, while he or she is in grade 11 or 12, transfers into the school district from another school district or between high schools within the school district, unless the school district makes a finding that the pupil is reasonably able to complete the additional requirements in time to graduate from high school while he or she remains eligible for foster care benefits. This bill would recast those provisions relating to pupils in foster care and would instead require a school district to exempt a pupil from all coursework and other requirements adopted by the governing board of the school district that are in addition to the statewide coursework requirements unless the school district makes a finding that the pupil is reasonably able to complete the requirements in time to graduate from high school by the end of the pupil's 4th year of high school. The bill would make the exemption from local graduation requirements applicable only to a pupil who transfers between schools during or after the pupil's 3rd year of high school and who is currently in foster care or, at the time of transfer, was in foster care. The bill would allow either the number of credits the pupil has earned to the date of transfer or the length of the pupil's school enrollment to be used to determine whether a pupil is in the 3rd year of high school, whichever would qualify the pupil for the exemption. The bill would, within 30 days of a pupil's transfer, require the school district to notify the pupil who may qualify for the exemption and the adult holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil and inform them of whether or not the pupil qualifies for the exemption. The bill would prohibit a school or school district from requiring or requesting that a pupil graduate before the end of his or her 4th year of high school if the pupil is exempted and completes the statewide coursework requirements before the end of his or her 4th year in high school and the pupil is otherwise entitled to remain in attendance at the school. By requiring school districts to perform additional duties in complying with the exemption requirement, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.