6146.11 - Alternative Credits Towards Graduation

In order to meet individual student needs and encourage all students to complete their high school education, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) desires to provide flexibility in the completion of prescribed courses in accordance with law.

• (cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
• (cf. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements)
• (cf. 6146.3 - Reciprocity of Academic Credit)
• (cf. 6162.52 - High School Exit Examination)
• (cf. 6200 - Adult Education)

With the active involvement of parents/guardians, administrators, teachers, and students, SBCSS shall adopt alternative means for students to complete the prescribed course of study required for high school graduation. These alternative means shall be made available to students, parents/guardians, and the public. (Education Code 51225.3)

• (cf. 1220 - Citizen Advisory Committees)
• (cf. 6020 - Parent Involvement)

Students may fulfill any course requirement for graduation through the following:

1. Practical demonstration of skills and competencies (Education Code 51225.3)
   • Opportunities to demonstrate skills and competencies shall include, but not be limited to, challenging a course through successful completion of a district-developed examination which covers course objectives. SBCSS shall not use results from the General Educational Development test or other state or national tests for this purpose.
2. Supervised work experience or other outside school experience in accordance with Education Code
   • 51760.3 and 5 CCR 1635 (Education Code 51225.3)
   • (cf. 6178.1 - Work Based Learning)
3. Career technical education classes offered in high school (Education Code 51225.3)
   • (cf. 6178 - Career Technical Education)
4. Courses offered by regional occupational centers or programs (Education Code 51225.3)
   • (cf. 6178.2 - Regional Occupational Center/Program)
5. Interdisciplinary study (Education Code 51225.3)
6. Independent study (Education Code 51225.3)
   • (cf. 6158 - Independent Study)
7. Credit earned at a postsecondary institution (Education Code 48800, 51225.3)
   • (cf. 6172.1 - Concurrent Enrollment in College Classes)
8. Private instruction in accordance with 5 CCR 1631
9. Correspondence instruction from a California university or college accredited for teacher training in accordance with 5 CCR 1633 (Education Code 51740-51741)
10. Military service and training in accordance with 5 CCR 1634 (Education Code 51440)
11. For credit toward SBCSS’ foreign language requirement, foreign language studies successfully completed in a private school in accordance with 5 CCR 1632 (Education Code 51243)

Upon receiving advance, written application by the student or his/her parent/guardian, the Superintendent or designee shall determine whether completion of the proposed alternative means would satisfy course requirements for graduation and what documentation shall be required, if any, to verify the student's successful completion. The Superintendent or designee shall make the final determination as to whether the student's completion of an alternative means is sufficient to satisfy the district's graduation requirements.

As appropriate, the Superintendent or designee shall determine the grade to be assigned to students for the completion of any of the above alternative means. When a grade is assigned by a private school, postsecondary institution, or other educational institution for completion of coursework, that same grade shall be awarded by the district provided that the Superintendent or designee has determined the alternative course to be substantially equivalent to a district course.

• (cf. 5121 - Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)

Legal Reference

EDUCATION CODE

• 35160 Authority of governing boards
• 35160.1 Broad authority of school districts
• 48412 Certificate of proficiency
• 48645.5 Course credit, juvenile court schools
• 48800-48802 Attendance at community college; advanced education
• 51220 Areas of study; grades 7-12
• 51225.3 Requirements for graduation
• 51240-51246 Exemptions from requirements
• 51420-51427 General Educational Development test
• 51440 Veterans' education, evaluation and credit toward high school graduation
• 51740-51741 Authority to provide instruction by correspondence
• 51745-51749.3 Independent study
• 51760-51769.5 Work experience education
• 52300-52499.66 Career technical education

CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5

 

• 1600-1635 Alternative credit
• 10070-10075 Work experience education
• 11500-11508 Regional occupational centers and programs
• 11520-11523 Proficiency examination and certificate
• 11700-11703 Independent study

UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20

• 2301-2414 Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006

Management Resources

WEB SITES
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov

Approved: February 3, 2016