1. Partial Credits

School districts, charter schools, and county offices of education must accept partial credit for partial coursework satisfactorily completed by students in another school who are:

• In foster care;
• In an unstable living situation, without a safe and steady home (experiencing homelessness);
• Part of a military family;
• Migratory children; or
• Former juvenile court school students

Credits must be accepted even if the student did not complete the entire course.

School districts, charter schools, and county offices of education also must:

• Issue partial credits to these students for the coursework they complete.
• Enroll students with partial credits from another school in the same or an equivalent course at the new school, so student may continue and complete the entire course.

2. Diplomas

Students who are:

• In foster care;
• In an unstable living situation, without a safe and steady home (experiencing homelessness);
• Part of a military family;
• A migratory child; or
• Have been in a juvenile court school,

And:

• Changed schools any time after 10th grade; and
• are not reasonably able to complete the district’s (or charter school’s) graduation requirements in time to graduate from high school in four years,

As well as:

• Any newcomer students in their third or fourth year of high school

Have the right to:

• Stay in high school a 5th year) to finish the district’s (or charter school’s) graduation requirements;

OR

• Get a state diploma, if they cannot meet local graduation requirements in four years.*

*If students may be able to attain a regular diploma in five years of high school, it is best to encourage them to stay and work toward that goal, as a regular diploma opens up more opportunities than a state diploma, particularly for college.