Section 51225.1.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district shall exempt a pupil in foster care, as defined in Section 51225.2, who transfers between schools any time after the completion of the pupil's second year of high school from all coursework and other requirements adopted by the governing board of the school district that are in addition to the statewide coursework requirements specified in Section 51225.3, unless the school district makes a finding that the pupil is reasonably able to complete the school district's graduation requirements in time to graduate from high school by the end of the pupil's fourth year of high school.

(b) If the school district determines that the pupil in foster care is reasonably able to complete the school district's graduation requirements within the pupil's fifth year of high school, the district shall do all of the following:

(1) Inform the pupil of his or her option to remain in school for a fifth year to complete the school district's graduation requirements.

(2) Inform the pupil, and the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, about how remaining in school for a fifth year to complete the school district's graduation requirements will affect the pupil's ability to gain admission to a postsecondary educational institution.

(3) Provide information to the pupil about transfer opportunities available through the California Community Colleges.

(4) Permit the pupil to stay in school for a fifth year to complete the school district's graduation requirements upon agreement with the pupil, if the pupil is 18 years of age or older, or, if the pupil is under 18 years of age, upon agreement with the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil.

(c) To determine whether a pupil in foster care is in the third or fourth year of high school, either the number of credits the pupil has earned to the date of transfer or the length of the pupil's school enrollment may be used, whichever will qualify the pupil for the exemption.

(d) Within 30 calendar days of the date that a pupil in foster care who may qualify for the exemption from local graduation requirements pursuant to this section transfers into a school, the school district shall notify the pupil, the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, and the pupil's social worker, of the availability of the exemption and whether the pupil qualifies for an exemption.

(e) If a pupil in foster care is exempted from local graduation requirements pursuant to this section and completes the statewide coursework requirements specified in Section 51225.3 before the end of his or her fourth year in high school and that pupil would otherwise be entitled to remain in attendance at the school, a school or school district shall not require or request that the pupil graduate before the end of his or her fourth year of high school.

(f) If a pupil in foster care is exempted from local graduation requirements pursuant to this section, the school district shall notify the pupil and the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil how any of the requirements that are waived will affect the pupil's ability to gain admission to a postsecondary educational institution and shall provide information about transfer opportunities available through the California Community Colleges.

(g) A pupil in foster care who is eligible for the exemption from local graduation requirements pursuant to this section and would otherwise be entitled to remain in attendance at the school shall not be required to accept the exemption or be denied enrollment in or the ability to complete courses for which he or she is otherwise eligible, including courses necessary to attend an institution of higher education, regardless of whether those courses are required for statewide graduation requirements.

(h) If a pupil in foster care is not exempted from local graduation requirements or has previously declined the exemption pursuant to this section, a school district shall exempt the pupil at any time if an exemption is requested by the pupil and the pupil qualifies for the exemption.

(i) If a pupil in foster care is exempted from local graduation requirements pursuant to this section, a school district shall not revoke the exemption.

(j) If a pupil in foster care is exempted from local graduation requirements pursuant to this section, the exemption shall continue to apply after the termination of the court's jurisdiction over the pupil while he or she is enrolled in school or if the pupil transfers to another school or school district.

(k) A school district shall not require or request a pupil in foster care to transfer schools in order to qualify the pupil for an exemption pursuant to this section.

(l) A pupil in foster care, the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the pupil, the pupil's social worker, or the pupil's probation officer shall not request a transfer solely to qualify the pupil for an exemption pursuant to this section.

(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 324, Sec. 1. Effective September 23, 2013.)