S.B. 603 Summary

• Creates new pathways for students experiencing educational disruption (homelessness, foster care, medical/behavioral crises, school withdrawal, military relocation, or family court involvement) to earn high school credits and graduate through alternative education programs without standard attendance requirements.

• Allows schools to award full or partial course credit based on completion of coursework through diverse pathways including competency demonstrations, exams, community agency programs, apprenticeships, work experience, college courses, community service, and vocational training.

• Requires complex areas to adopt procedures for awarding partial and full credits that eliminate barriers, consolidate partial credits toward graduation requirements, and provide expedited enrollment in accepted alternative education programs.

• Mandates each complex area provide services to students with educational disruptions including academic success coaching, personalized graduation plans, flexible scheduling, priority class placement, and access to extracurricular programs at minimal or no cost.

• Allows students experiencing educational disruption to earn a high school diploma upon request if they complete state minimum graduation requirements or cannot reasonably complete requirements within four years, while retaining the option to remain in school until age 20 (or 22 with an individualized education program).