OAR 581-022-2010: Modified Diploma

(1) Definitions. As used in this rule: (a) “Documented history” means evidence in the cumulative record and education plans of a student that demonstrates the inability over time to maintain grade level achievement even with appropriate modifications and accommodations. (b) “Instructional barrier” means a significant physical, cognitive or emotional barrier that impairs a student’s ability to maintain grade level achievement. (c) “Modified course” means a course that has been systematically changed or altered for a student only after reasonable alternative instructional strategies (e.g. accommodations, remediation) are exhausted. (d) “Other services” for the purposes of this rule means: (A) Those services paid for or provided by another agency, such as Vocational Rehabilitation or Brokerages, which may be considered in the calculation of the total number of hours that equals at least the total number of instructional hours that is required to be provided to students who are attending public high school. These “other services” are not to be considered educational services and are not provided by or through the school district or public charter school. (B) Those services identified in OAR 581-022-2320(4), such as school assemblies, student orientations, testing, etc, which may be considered in the calculation of the total number of hours that equals at least the total number of instructional hours that is required to be provided to students who are attending public high school. These services are provided by the school district or public charter school. (2) On or after July 1, 2009, each district school board or public charter school governing board with jurisdiction over high school programs shall award a modified diploma only to students who have demonstrated the inability to meet the full set of academic content standards for a high school diploma even with reasonable modifications and accommodations but who fulfill all state requirements as described in this rule and all applicable local school district requirements as described in district school board policies or public charter school requirements as described in school policies. In addition, on or after July 1, 2009, a district school board or public charter school governing board may only award a modified diploma to a student who meets the eligibility criteria specified in section 3 of this rule. (3)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) or (d) of this section, a school district or public charter school shall grant eligibility for a modified diploma to a student who has: (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. (b) A student shall have the opportunity to meet the requirements of a modified diploma by the later of: (A) Four years after starting grade nine; or (B) The student reaching the age of 21 years, if the student is entitled to a public education until the age of 21 years under state or federal law. (c) A student may complete the requirements for a modified diploma in less than four years if the parent/guardian or adult student gives consent. (A) The consent must be written and must clearly state that the parent/guardian or adult student is waiving the 4 years to complete the requirements for a modified diploma. (B) A copy of all consents must be sent to the district superintendent. (C) Each school district must annually provide the number of consents obtained to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. (D) The consent may not be used to allow a student to satisfy the requirements for a modified diploma in less than three years. (d) A school district or public charter school may not deny a student who has the documented history described in paragraph (a) of this subsection the opportunity to pursue a diploma with more stringent requirements than a modified diploma for the sole reason that the student has the documented history. (e) Students currently engaged in the use of illegal drugs are not eligible for a modified diploma if the significant learning and instructional barriers are due to the use of illegal drugs. (f) Students currently engaged in the illegal use of alcohol are not eligible for a modified diploma if the significant learning and instructional barriers are due to the alcohol abuse, regardless of whether that student is disabled under Section 504 on the basis of alcoholism. (g) Notwithstanding paragraph (c) and (d) of this section, a school district or public charter school may grant eligibility for a modified diploma to a student who is no longer engaging in illegal use of drugs or alcohol if the student: (A) Has successfully completed a supervised drug or alcohol rehabilitation program and are no longer engaged in the illegal use of drugs or alcohol; or (B) Has been rehabilitated successfully and is no longer engaged in the illegal use of drugs or alcohol; or (C) Is participating in a supervised rehabilitation program and is no longer engaging in the illegal use of drugs or alcohol. (4)(a) A school district or public charter school shall determine which school teams shall decide if a student will work toward obtaining a modified diploma. A student’s school team must include an adult student, parent/ guardian of the student. (b) A school district or public charter school may award a modified diploma to a student only upon the consent of the parent or guardian of the student or upon the consent of the adult student or emancipated minor student. A district or school must receive the consent in writing and during the school year in which the modified diploma is awarded. (A) If student is under 18, consent must be received from the parent or guardian. (B) If the student is under age 18 and emancipated, consent must be received from the student. (C) If the adult student is 18 or older, consent must be received from the student or guardian. (D) If the student is under guardianship from the courts, consent must come from the court-appointed authority. (c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a student’s school team shall decide that a student should work toward a modified diploma no earlier than the end of the 6th grade and no later than 2 years before the student’s anticipated exit from high school. (d) For students with a documented history described in subsection 3a of this section, the following information must be provided annually, beginning in grade five or after such a documented history has been established: (A) Information about the availability of high school diplomas, modified diplomas and the requirements for the diplomas; and (B) a disclosure that a student awarded a certificate of attendance will not be counted as a high school graduate in any reporting for the state or school district and that the student awarded a certificate of attendance may not indicate that the student received a high school diploma on applications for employment, military service, financial aid, admittance to an institution of higher education or any other purpose. (e) A student’s school team may formally decide to revise a modified diploma decision. (f) A student’s school team may decide that a student who was not previously working towards a modified diploma should work toward a modified diploma when a student is less than 2 years from anticipated exit from high school if the documented history of the student described in section (3) of this rule has changed. (5) Unit of credit requirements for students graduating with a modified diploma: (a) To receive a modified diploma prior to January 1, 2027 a student must earn 24 units of credit, between grade 9 and the end of their high school career, with at least 12 of those credits to include: (A) Language Arts — 3; (B) Mathematics — 2; (C) Science — 2; (D) Social Sciences (which may include history, civics, geography and economics including personal finance) — 2; (E) Health Education — 1; (F) Physical Education — 1; and (G) Career Technical Education, The Arts or World Languages (units may be earned in any one or a combination) — 1. (b) To receive a modified diploma after January 1, 2027 a student must earn 24 units of credit, between grade 9 and the end of their high school career, with at least 13 of those credits to include: (A) Language Arts — 3; (B) Mathematics — 2; (C) Science — 2; (D) Social Sciences (which may include history, civics, geography and economics) — 2; (E) Health Education — 1; (F) Physical Education — 1; and (G) Career Technical Education, The Arts or World Languages (units may be earned in any one or a combination) — 1. (H) Personal Financial Education – 0.5; and (I) Higher Education and Career Path Skills – 0.5 (c) School districts and public charter schools shall be flexible in awarding the remaining units of credit. These credits must be awarded to meet the needs of the individual student as specified in the education plan of the student with the expectations and standards aligned to the appropriate grade level academic content standards. These credits may include: (A) Additional core credits described in paragraph (a) of this section; (B) Professional technical education; (C) Electives; and (D) Career development. (d) Students may earn units of credit through regular education with or without accommodations or modifications and through modified courses. (e) Students shall have the option to earn credit for demonstrating proficiency. A student may be given credit for successful demonstration of knowledge and skills that meets or exceeds defined levels of performance. Students may demonstrate proficiency through classroom work or documentation of learning experiences outside of school, or through a combination of these means. (f) School districts and public charter schools shall ensure that students have access to needed courses, modifications and supports to pursue a modified diploma and to progress in the general education curriculum. (g) A school district or public charter school may not require a student to earn more than 24 units of credit to receive a modified diploma. (6) A school district or public charter school shall grant credit toward a modified diploma only for courses that contain substantial academic content. A school district or public charter school shall grant credit for a modified diploma through a continuum of instruction beginning at basic skills and progressing through high level skills. (7) A school district or public charter school shall award a regular diploma under OAR 581-022-2000 if all requirements for a regular diploma are met. Completion of one or more modified courses shall not prohibit a student from earning a regular diploma; however, required core courses taken under modified conditions must be retaken under standard conditions to be counted toward a regular diploma. (8) A school district or public charter school shall grant credit toward a modified diploma according to individual student needs across academic content areas including applied, consumer, academic, or knowledge and skill development. (9) Each student shall develop an education plan and build an education profile as provided under OAR 581-022-2000. (10) A school district or public charter school shall inform the student and parent or guardian of the student if the courses in grades 9-12 have been modified for an individual student. (11) A school district or public charter school shall provide transcripts which clearly identify modified courses that do not count toward the regular diploma but that do count toward a modified diploma. (12) Each student shall build a collection of evidence, or include evidence in existing collections, to demonstrate extended application of the standards as defined in OAR 581-022-0102. (13) Each student receiving a modified diploma shall have the option of participating in the high school graduation ceremony with the members of their class receiving a high school diploma. (14)(a) A student who receives a modified diploma shall have access to instructional hours, hours of transition services and hours of other services that are designed to meet the unique needs of the student. (b) When added together, the school district or public charter school will provide a total number of hours of instruction and services to the student that equals at least the total number of instructional hours that is required to be provided to students who are attending a public high school. (c) The school district or public charter school may not unilaterally decrease the total number of hours of instruction and services to which the student has access regardless of the age of the student. (d) Transition services and other services designed to meet the unique needs of the student may be provided to the student through an interagency agreement entered into by the school district if the individualized education program developed for the student indicates that the services may be provided by another agency. The school district or public charter school retains the responsibility for ensuring that the student has access to the number of service hours required to be provided to the student. (e) An agency is not required to change any eligibility criteria or enrollment standards prior to entering into an interagency agreement with the school district. (f) School districts and public charter schools shall ensure that all students have on-site access to the appropriate resources and courses to achieve a modified diploma at each high school in the school district or at the public charter school.