51225.1
. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district shall
exempt a pupil in foster care, as defined in Section 51225.2, or a
pupil who is a homeless child or youth, as defined in Section 11434a
(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code, who transfers between
schools any time after the completion of the pupil's second year of
high school from all coursework and other requirements adopted by the
governing board of the school district that are in addition to the
statewide coursework requirements specified in Section 51225.3,
unless the school district makes a finding that the pupil is
reasonably able to complete the school district's graduation
requirements in time to graduate from high school by the end of the
pupil's fourth year of high school.
(b) If the school district determines that the pupil in foster
care, or the pupil who is a homeless child or youth, is reasonably
able to complete the school district's graduation requirements within
the pupil's fifth year of high school, the school district shall do
all of the following:
(1) Inform the pupil of his or her option to remain in school for
a fifth year to complete the school district's graduation
requirements.
(2) Inform the pupil, and the person holding the right to make
educational decisions for the pupil, about how remaining in school
for a fifth year to complete the school district's graduation
requirements will affect the pupil's ability to gain admission to a
postsecondary educational institution.
(3) Provide information to the pupil about transfer opportunities
available through the California Community Colleges.
(4) Permit the pupil to stay in school for a fifth year to
complete the school district's graduation requirements upon agreement
with the pupil, if the pupil is 18 years of age or older, or, if the
pupil is under 18 years of age, upon agreement with the person
holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil.
(c) To determine whether a pupil in foster care, or a pupil who is
a homeless child or youth, is in the third or fourth year of high
school, either the number of credits the pupil has earned to the date
of transfer or the length of the pupil's school enrollment may be
used, whichever will qualify the pupil for the exemption.
(d) (1) (A) Within 30 calendar days of the date that a pupil in
foster care who may qualify for the exemption from local graduation
requirements pursuant to this section transfers into a school, the
school district shall notify the pupil, the person holding the right
to make educational decisions for the pupil, and the pupil's social
worker or probation officer of the availability of the exemption and
whether the pupil qualifies for an exemption.
(B) If the school district fails to provide timely notice pursuant
to subparagraph (A), the pupil described in subparagraph (A) shall
be eligible for the exemption from local graduation requirements
pursuant to this section once notified, even if that notification
occurs after the termination of the court's jurisdiction over the
pupil, if the pupil otherwise qualifies for the exemption pursuant to
this section.
(2) (A) Within 30 calendar days of the date that a pupil who is a
homeless child or youth may qualify for the exemption from local
graduation requirements pursuant to this section transfers into a
school, the school district shall notify the pupil, the person
holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, and
the local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youth
designated pursuant to Section 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii) of Title 42 of the
United States Code, of the availability of the exemption and whether
the pupil qualifies for an exemption.
(B) If the school district fails to provide timely notice pursuant
to subparagraph (A), the pupil described in subparagraph (A) shall
be eligible for the exemption from local graduation requirements
pursuant to this section once notified, even if that notification
occurs after the pupil is no longer a homeless child or youth, if the
pupil otherwise qualifies for the exemption pursuant to this
section.
(e) If a pupil in foster care, or a pupil who is a homeless child
or youth, is exempted from local graduation requirements pursuant to
this section and completes the statewide coursework requirements
specified in Section 51225.3 before the end of his or her fourth year
of high school and that pupil would otherwise be entitled to remain
in attendance at the school, a school or school district shall not
require or request that the pupil graduate before the end of his or
her fourth year of high school.
(f) If a pupil in foster care, or a pupil who is a homeless child
or youth, is exempted from local graduation requirements pursuant to
this section, the school district shall notify the pupil and the
person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil
how any of the requirements that are waived will affect the pupil's
ability to gain admission to a postsecondary educational institution
and shall provide information about transfer opportunities available
through the California Community Colleges.
(g) A pupil in foster care, or a pupil who is a homeless child or
youth, who is eligible for the exemption from local graduation
requirements pursuant to this section and would otherwise be entitled
to remain in attendance at the school shall not be required to
accept the exemption or be denied enrollment in, or the ability to
complete, courses for which he or she is otherwise eligible,
including courses necessary to attend an institution of higher
education, regardless of whether those courses are required for
statewide graduation requirements.
(h) If a pupil in foster care, or a pupil who is a homeless child
or youth, is not exempted from local graduation requirements or has
previously declined the exemption pursuant to this section, a school
district shall exempt the pupil at any time if an exemption is
requested by the pupil and the pupil qualifies for the exemption.
(i) If a pupil in foster care, or a pupil who is a homeless child
or youth, is exempted from local graduation requirements pursuant to
this section, a school district shall not revoke the exemption.
(j) (1) If a pupil in foster care is exempted from local
graduation requirements pursuant to this section, the exemption shall
continue to apply after the termination of the court's jurisdiction
over the pupil while he or she is enrolled in school or if the pupil
transfers to another school or school district.
(2) If a pupil who is a homeless child or youth is exempted from
local graduation requirements pursuant to this section, the exemption
shall continue to apply after the pupil is no longer a homeless
child or youth while he or she is enrolled in school or if the pupil
transfers to another school or school district.
(k) A school district shall not require or request a pupil in
foster care, or a pupil who is a homeless child or youth, to transfer
schools in order to qualify the pupil for an exemption pursuant to
this section.
(l) (1) A pupil in foster care, the person holding the right to
make educational decisions for the pupil, the pupil's social worker,
or the pupil's probation officer shall not request a transfer solely
to qualify the pupil for an exemption pursuant to this section.
(2) A pupil who is a homeless child or youth, the person holding
the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, or the local
educational agency liaison for homeless children and youth designated
pursuant to Section 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii) of Title 42 of the United
States Code, shall not request a transfer solely to qualify the pupil
for an exemption pursuant to this section.
(m) (1) A complaint of noncompliance with the requirements of this
section may be filed with the local educational agency under the
Uniform Complaint Procedures set forth in Chapter 5.1 (commencing
with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of
Regulations.
(2) A complainant not satisfied with the decision of a local
educational agency may appeal the decision to the department pursuant
to Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title
5 of the California Code of Regulations and shall receive a written
decision regarding the appeal within 60 days of the department's
receipt of the appeal.
(3) If a local educational agency finds merit in a complaint, or
the Superintendent finds merit in an appeal, the local educational
agency shall provide a remedy to the affected pupil.
(4) Information regarding the requirements of this section shall
be included in the annual notification distributed to, among others,
pupils, parents or guardians of pupils, employees, and other
interested parties pursuant to Section 4622 of Title 5 of the
California Code of Regulations.