Oregon Department of Education - Oregon Achieves Together

Important SB 992 Implementation Update

Oregon Department of Education sent this bulletin at 07/11/2024 11:48 AM PDT

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To: Superintendents, Principals, Public Information Officers, Special Education Directors, Charter School Leaders
From: Dr. Charlene Williams, Director, Oregon Department of Education
Date: July 11, 2024
Re: Important SB 992 Implementation Update

Dear Education Partners,

During the June 2024 meeting, the State Board of Education adopted administrative rules (OARs) related to high school completion to reflect updates made by Senate Bill 992 (2023).

In This Message

Summary of updates to OARs related to high school completion.
District and public charter actions needed to address rule updates.

Background

SB 992 updated the statutory requirements related to high school completion. The State Board of Education has approved rule updates to align with the new statutory requirements. These updates include:

The removal of the alternative certificate as an option for completing high school. A new option for a certificate of attendance was created in SB 992, but this is not the same as an alternative certificate. Under SB 992, students not meeting requirements for a diploma would have the opportunity to be awarded with a certificate of attendance if they maintained full-time attendance for at least four years beginning in grade nine and they meet any additional requirements established by the district or public charter. This certificate is not a high school completion option but is awarded in place of high school completion when requirements for high school completion have not been met. As such, within age limits, students with disabilities who earn a certificate of attendance remain entitled to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to continue working towards a high school completion option, such as a standard diploma.

New requirements for districts and public charters to provide:
- Students served through special education who have not yet achieved a standard diploma or finished the school year in which they turn 21 years of age are eligible for secondary transition services, as appropriate. These transition-aged students must be provided with access to the same number of instructional hours as all other students attending the district’s or public charter’s high schools.
- On-site access to all courses and resources needed to earn an Oregon Diploma, a modified Oregon Diploma, or an Extended Oregon Diploma.
- An annual disclosure and notification to the parents and guardian of students with a history of inability to maintain grade level achievement due to significant learning and instructional barriers or have a documented history of a medical condition that creates a barrier to achievement. The notification must include:
- Notification about the availability of high school diplomas, modified diplomas, and extended diplomas and the requirements for those diplomas; and
- Disclosure that a certificate of attendance will not be counted as a high school graduate in any reporting for the state or school district and students granted a certificate of attendance may not indicate that they received a high school diploma on applications for employment, military service, financial aid, admittance to an institution of higher education, or any other purpose.

Actions Needed

Districts should ensure they have policies and procedures in place to:
- Remove the alternative certificate from the high school completion options offered by the district. Update any IEPs indicating that a student is working towards that option no later than the next required annual review.
- Ensure that transition-aged students (typically 18-21 years old) in special education are afforded access to the same number of instructional hours as all other students attending the district’s or public charter’s high schools, as appropriate.
- Implement the updated annual notification and the new annual disclosure to parents or guardians of students with a documented history of an inability to maintain grade level achievement due to significant learning and instructional barriers or have a documented history of a medical condition that creates a barrier to achievement.
- Ensure all students have on-site access to appropriate resources and courses to achieve high school diplomas, modified diplomas, and extended diplomas at each high school in the school district or at the public charter school.

Additional rule revisions to high school graduation requirements were made in June 2023 to align with Senate Bill 3 (2023). More information about SB 3’s provisions and amendments can be found at the following link: Higher Education and Career Path Skills & Personal Financial Education: Oregon’s Newest Diploma Requirements. School Districts and public charters should ensure updates to their policies and procedures regarding high school completion are in alignment with the provisions of both SB 3 and SB 992.

Contact Us

For questions or information: ODE.RecordsQuestions@ode.oregon.gov

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