Subcommittee outlines exemption process for highly mobile students

The education subcommittee reviewed detailed exemption procedures for "highly mobile students," a category Dr. Chamberlain defined to include foster youth, students experiencing homelessness, former juvenile-court students, children of military families, migratory students, and newcomer-program pupils. "Highly mobile students need to be notified of the exemption from local graduation requirements and if the student qualifies within and if the student qualifies within 30 days of transfer into the school," she said, summarizing the required timeline for notification and processing.

Dr. Chamberlain said exemptions may be granted when students transfer into the district after the second year of high school and that exemptions should not be revoked; the superintendent or designee may instead find a student reasonably able to complete requirements and consult with the student and educational rights holder about options, including remaining in school a fifth year or pursuing credit recovery and community-college transfers. The district will include information about these educational rights in annual complaint-notification materials and will report annually to the California Department of Education the number of students graduating in the fourth or fifth year with such exemptions.