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Senate Bill 992 and School �Completion Updates

Drafted for RTAPs

Oregon Department of Education

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SB 992: Background

Oregon schools award high school diplomas to students who satisfy applicable requirements.
Oregon students may earn an Oregon Diploma, a modified Oregon diploma, or an extended diploma.
Schools may provide other high school completion documents to a student who does not satisfy the requirements for any diploma, consistent with the requirements of Oregon Revised Statute (ORS).
SB 992 (2023) amended several ORS provisions related to high school completion.

Oregon Department of Education

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Certificate of Attendance Criteria

Under the provisions of SB 992, the certificate of attendance may be awarded to students who:

Demonstrate regular full-time attendance for at least four years, beginning in 9th grade; and
Do not meet the requirements for an Oregon Diploma, a modified Oregon Diploma, or an Oregon Extended Diploma.

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The certificate of attendance acknowledges a student’s regular full-time attendance for at least four years, beginning in the 9^th grade and may be awarded to students who do not meet the requirements for an Oregon diploma, a modified Oregon diploma, or an Oregon extended diploma.

The certificate of attendance can be awarded to any student, not only students experiencing disability.

A-1: What is the purpose of a certificate of attendance? A certificate of attendance acknowledges a student’s regular full-time attendance for at least four years, beginning in grade nine and may be awarded to students who do not meet the requirements for an Oregon diploma, a modified Oregon diploma, or an Oregon extended diploma.

B-1: When is a student eligible for a certificate of attendance? A school district or public charter school shall award a certificate of attendance to a student who does not satisfy the requirements for a high school diploma, a modified diploma, or an extended diploma if the student: • Has maintained regular full-time attendance for at least four years beginning in grade nine, and • Meets requirements established by the board of the school district or public charter school. With appropriate written consent, a student may receive a certificate of attendance in less than four years, but not less than three years.

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School Completion Options for All Oregon Students

Diploma

Oregon Diploma
Modified Oregon Diploma
Oregon Extended Diploma

Certificate

Only students that began 9^th grade before July 1, 2020, remain eligible to receive an alternative certificate for school completion.
SB 992 provides eligible students that began 9^th grade after July 1, 2020, the opportunity to receive certificate of attendance for school completion.
The certificate of attendance is not a graduation option.

Oregon Department of Education

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These are school completion options available for all students; not only students experiencing a disabilities.

Oregon diploma: This is the standard high school diploma, requiring 24 credits including specific academic courses.
Modified Oregon Diploma: Like the standard Oregon Diploma, it requires 24 credits which may be earned through general education courses with and without modifications and credits earned through modified courses.
Oregon extended diploma: the extended diploma requires fewer credits which may be earned through earned through general education courses with and without modifications and credits earned through modified courses.

SB 992 became effective on July 1, 2024 resulting in changes to certificate options for high school completion. Prior to SB 992, districts were authorized to award students an alternative certificate for school completion. Now, only those students who began 9th grade before July 1, 2020 remain eligible to receive the alternative certificate for school completion. And, beginning July 1, 2024, the certificate of attendance may be awarded to students meeting certain requirements.

Unlike the alternative certificate that could be selected as an IEP graduation option, the certificate of attendance is not an option for graduation.

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Consent Requirements for Certificate of Attendance

With appropriate written consent, a student may receive a certificate of attendance in less than four years, but not less than three years.
Each school district must annually provide the number of consents to the State Superintendent.
Consent may not be used to allow a student to satisfy the requirements of the certificate of attendance in less than three years.

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C-2: Can a student meet the requirements for the certificate of attendance in less than four years? Yes. A student may satisfy the requirements for graduation with a modified Oregon Diploma, an Oregon Extended Diploma, or completion with a certificate of attendance in less than four years if the parent, guardian, adult student, or emancipated minor student gives consent. The consent must be written and state that the parent, guardian, adult student, or emancipated minor student, as appropriate, is waiving the allowance of four years or, for students experiencing disabilities eligible for special education, until the age of 21 to complete the requirements for the diploma or certificate. A copy of the consent must be sent to the district superintendent. Each school district must annually provide the number of consents to the State Superintendent. Consent may not be used to allow a student to satisfy the requirements of the certificate of attendance in less than three years.

B-1: When is a student eligible for a certificate of attendance? A school district or public charter school shall award a certificate of attendance to a student who does not satisfy the requirements for a high school diploma, a modified diploma, or an extended diploma if the student: • Has maintained regular full-time attendance for at least four years beginning in grade nine, and • Meets requirements established by the board of the school district or public charter school. With appropriate written consent, a student may receive a certificate of attendance in less than four years, but not less than three years.

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Certificate of Attendance Limitations

Certificate of attendance is not equivalent to a high school diploma.
Students receiving a certificate of attendance are not considered high school graduates for any purpose.
Students may not indicate that they received a high school diploma on applications for employment, military service, financial aid, admittance to institutions of higher education, or any other purpose.

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Like the alternative certificate, students that receive a certificate of attendance will be counted as non-graduates and school completers for the purpose of cohort graduation rates.

E-6: Is a student who receives a certificate of attendance considered a dropout for the cohort graduation collection? For the purpose of calculating cohort graduation rates, a student who receives a certificate of attendance will not be counted as a dropout. Students receiving a certificate of attendance will be categorized as Non-Dropout/NonCompleters in the Average Daily Membership (ADM) collection

A-2: Is the certificate of attendance the same as a diploma? No. The certificate of attendance is not equivalent to a high school diploma. Students who receive a certificate of attendance are not considered high school graduates for any purpose, which includes state or school district reporting, applications for employment, military service, financial aid, admission to institutions of higher education, or any other purpose. It is essential to recognize that a certificate of attendance may impact a student’s post-secondary opportunities. Many colleges, universities, and employers require a high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), for admission or employment. A certificate of attendance may also affect a student’s eligibility for financial aid or scholarships, as many programs require a high school diploma or its equivalent as a prerequisite.

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	Oregon Diploma	Modified Oregon Diploma	Extended Diploma
	24 units of credit to include:	24 units of credit to include:	12 credits with no more than 6 credits earned in a self-contained special education classroom and shall include:
Language Arts	4	3	2
Mathematics	3 Must be Algebra 1 and above	2	2
Science	3	2	2
CTE, The Arts or World Languages	3	1	1
Health Education	1	1	1
Physical Education	1	1	1
Social Sciences	3 Must include 0.5 credits of United States Civics beginning in Jan 1, 2026	2 May include history, civics, geography and economics (including personal finance)	3 Includes history, geography, economics, or civics
Personal Financial Education	0.5 This requirement begins Jan 1, 2027	0.5 This requirement begins in Jan 1, 2027	--
Higher Education and Career Path Skills	0.5 This requirement begins Jan 1, 2027	0.5 This requirement begins in Jan 1, 2027	--
Electives	6 credits before Jan 1, 2027 5 credits on/after Jan 1, 2027	12 credits before Jan 1 2027 11 credits on/after Jan 1, 2027	--
Personal Learning Requirements	Personal Ed Plan & Profile, Career Related Learning Experience Required	Personal Ed Plan & Profile, Career Related Learning Experience Required (can be modified as needed)	--

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Modified Oregon Diploma and Extended Diploma: Eligibility

Oregon Department of Education

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	Modified Diploma	Extended Diploma
Students with a documented history of an inability to maintain grade level achievement due to significant learning and instructional barriers.	X	X
Students with a documented history of a medical condition that creates a barrier to achievement.	X	X
A change in the student’s ability to participate in grade level activities as a result of a serious illness or injury that occurred after grade eight.		X

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Updating IEPs Containing Alternative Certificates

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Student enrolled in 9th grade prior to July 1, 2020	Student enrolled in 9th grade on or after July 1, 2020

Review appropriateness of alternative certificate for graduation to ensure student is not denied the opportunity to earn a diploma. Student may still be awarded an alternative certificate if appropriate and the student satisfies the requirements for an alternative certificate as in effect on the day before July 1, 2024.	Alternative certificate is not a graduation option. Update the IEP graduation to remove alternative certificate and consider the necessary services, supports, and accommodations for that student to achieve a diploma. Certificate of attendance is not a graduation option and cannot be considered as such in the IEP.

A-3(updated October 2024): Prior to July 1, 2024 (the effective date of SB 992), districts were authorized to provide an alternative certificate as a graduation option. Students who began 9th grade before July 1, 2020, and have an IEP specifying an alternative certificate for graduation may continue to pursue an alternative certificate for school completion, as it remains valid under the provisions that were in place at the time the student began 9^th grade.

The alternative certificate is no longer available for any student who began 9^th grade on or after July 1, 2020. School districts will need to review the circumstances of students within their jurisdiction to ensure that, as applicable, IEPs have an appropriate graduation option selected.

Current statute states that “a student awarded a certificate of attendance will not be counted as a high school graduate . . . and may not indicate that [they] received a high school diploma on applications for employment, military service, financial aid, admittance to an institution of higher education or any other purpose” (ORS 329.451(13)(c)(A)(ii)). Therefore, a certificate of attendance is not a graduation option and cannot be considered as such in the IEP. To ensure that a student experiencing disability is not denied the opportunity to earn a diploma, the IEP team should review the requirements for an Oregon Diploma, a modified Oregon Diploma, and an Oregon Extended Diploma and consider the necessary services, supports, and accommodations for that student to achieve a diploma.

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SB 992 : Changes to Annual Disclosure and Notification

For students with a documented history, districts must provide to parents annually:

Information about the availability of high school diplomas, modified diplomas and extended diplomas and the requirements for the diplomas; and
A disclosure that a student awarded a certificate of attendance will not be counted as a high school graduate in any reporting for the state or school district; and
Disclosure that a student awarded a certificate of attendance may not indicate that the student received a high school diploma on applications for employment, military service, financial aid, admittance to an institution of higher education or any other purpose.

Oregon Department of Education

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SB 992 required changes to annual notifications and disclosure for students that have a documented history of:

An inability to maintain grade level achievement due to significant learning and instructional barriers;
A medical condition that creates a barrier to achievement; or
A change in the student’s ability to participate in grade level activities as a result of a serious illness or injury that occurred after grade eight.

Prior to SB 992, school districts and public charter schools were required to annually provide information related to diploma options for students with such a documented history.

SB 992 further defined information and disclosures to be provided annually to include:

Information about the availability of high school diplomas, modified diplomas and extended diplomas and the requirements for the diplomas; and
A disclosure that a student awarded a certificate of attendance will not be counted as a high school graduate in any reporting for the state or school district; and
Disclosure that a student awarded a certificate of attendance may not indicate that the student received a high school diploma on applications for employment, military service, financial aid, admittance to an institution of higher education or any other purpose.

E-4: What annual notices are districts required to provide to parents? ORS 329.451 requires districts and public charter schools to annually provide the following information and disclosure to the parents and guardians of students with a documented history of an inability to maintain grade level achievement due to significant learning and instructional barriers or students who have a documented history of a medical condition that creates a barrier to achievement: • Information about the availability of high school diplomas, modified diplomas and extended diplomas and the requirements for the diplomas; and • A disclosure that a student awarded a certificate of attendance will not be counted as a high school graduate in any reporting for the state or school district; and • Disclosure that a student awarded a certificate of attendance may not indicate that the student received a high school diploma on applications for employment, military service, financial aid, admittance to an institution of higher education or any other purpose.

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SB 992: Annual Reporting Changes

Through data collected in the Annual Cumulative Daily Membership (ADM) and Special Education Child Count reports, districts will report on:

Students who are awarded a certificate of attendance after grade 12; and whether the student: (1) has a disability, (2) has an IEP or 504 plan and, if applicable, (3) the student’s disability category.
Students who move to a transition program for students experiencing disabilities without first being awarded a modified Oregon Diploma or an Oregon Extended Diploma.

Oregon Department of Education

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E-3: Are there changes to what districts must report to ODE? Yes. SB 992 (2023) updated ORS 339.520, impacting the annual reporting requirements for students who withdraw prior to graduating. Previously, school districts and public charter schools were already reporting similar information annually to ODE, based on ODE’s requirements. Under the updated requirements, codified in ORS, school districts and public charter schools must report the following: • Students who are awarded a certificate of attendance after grade 12, • Whether the student: (1) has a disability, (2) has an IEP or 504 plan and, if applicable, (3) the student’s disability category. Additionally, districts and public charter schools must now be prepared to report on students who move to a transition program for students experiencing disabilities without first being awarded a modified Oregon Diploma or an Oregon Extended Diploma.

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SB 992: On-site Access to Appropriate Resources and Courses

Prior to SB 992, statute required districts and public charter schools to ensure that all students have on-site access to the appropriate resources to achieve a high school diploma, a modified diploma, an extended diploma or an alternative certificate.

With the implementation of SB 992, districts and public charter schools are required to ensure that “all students have on-site access to the appropriate resources and courses to achieve high school diplomas, modified diplomas and extended diplomas at each high school in the school district or at the public charter school”.

Oregon Department of Education

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SB 992 amended statute so that, in addition to on-site access to appropriate resources, districts and public charter schools are now required to provide on-site access to courses to achieve a diploma. Additionally, ensuring access to on-site resources and courses to achieve an alternative certificate was removed. And, because the certificate of attendance is not a diploma and does not count for graduation, there is no requirement for ensuring access to resources or classes to achieve a certificate of attendance.

E-5: Does every public charter school need to provide all diploma options and their requirements? Yes. Public charter schools must ensure that students have access to the appropriate resource

F-1: Does the requirement to ensure all students have on-site access to the appropriate resources and courses to achieve graduation apply to students ages 18-21 that are attending a transition program that is not on the high school campus? No. ORS 329.451(13)(a) applies to high schools, and there is no requirement for off-site transition programs to provide these resources and courses. However, access to all courses and resources must still be available to each student to achieve an Oregon Diploma, a modified Oregon Diploma, and an Oregon Extended Diploma and courses to achieve an Oregon Diploma, a modified Oregon Diploma, or an Oregon Extended Diploma.

E-2: Does access to online courses and electives count as a high school’s on-site access? There is nothing in ORS 329.451 that precludes using online courses for high schools and public charter schools required to provide on-site access. However, for a student experiencing disability as defined by ORS 343.321, whether an online class is synchronous or asynchronous, and the number of online courses a student is taking, can make a difference when calculating the number of hours of meaningful access being provided for the purposes of Abbreviated School Day Programs.

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Regular Full Time Attendance

Certificate of attendance criteria includes “regular full-time attendance for at least four years beginning in grade nine”.

Oregon law does not define the attendance rate criteria for receiving a diploma, nor does it offer a definition of “regular full-time attendance”.
School districts and public charter schools need to determine the criteria for “regular full-time attendance” and may wish to revise school district policies to support the uniform implementation of this requirement.
Review “Section G” in the Certificates for School Completion: Questions and Answers Related to the Implementation of SB 992 document for information that may help in determining a student’s eligibility.

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Other Considerations for School Completion

Students can continue working toward another graduation option after they receive the modified Oregon Diploma, Oregon Extended Diploma, or a certificate of attendance.
Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements cannot receive a certificate of attendance. However, a school district could elect to provide a different participatory document in cases where a student has not met requirements but would like to participate in the high school commencement.
Students that receive a certificate of attendance may participate in the high school graduation ceremony.

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D-3: Can a student continue working toward another graduation option after they receive the modified Oregon Diploma, Oregon Extended Diploma, or a certificate of attendance? Yes. A student can continue working toward another graduation option after receiving a modified Oregon Diploma or Oregon Extended Diploma, or towards a graduation option after receiving a certificate of attendance. Students who are eligible for special education are allowed to continue their enrollment in high school beyond the typical four-year period as long as they have not reached 21 years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year. Within that age range, students who are eligible for special education can remain enrolled until they obtain an Oregon Diploma.

B-2: What if a student is not able to meet the criteria for any Oregon diploma or the certificate of attendance requirement of ‘full-time attendance for at least four years’ due to their disabling condition? Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements cannot receive a certificate of attendance. However, a school district could elect to provide a different participatory document in cases where a student has not met requirements but would like to participate in the high school commencement.

E-1: Can a student with a certificate of attendance participate in the high school graduation ceremony? Yes. Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 329.451(12)(a)(A) requires that the student who receives or qualifies to receive a certificate of attendance shall be offered the option of participating in the high school graduation ceremony with the class of the student, such as the school year in which the student receives the certificate of attendance.

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School Completion Resources

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