AB 714: Graduation & Academic Access

Assembly Bill (AB) 714 Home | Graduation & Academic Access | English Language Development (ELD) Requirements | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

California law provides various supports designed to assist newcomer students in achieving graduation from high school and accessing the standard instructional program. These include options such as certain graduation requirement exemptions, credit transfer guidance, and access to academic courses. The information below provides an overview of these available supports.

Potential Graduation Requirement Exemptions

Education Code (EC) Section 51225.1

Newcomer students may be eligible for exemptions from local graduation requirements. This ensures that students who have experienced educational disruptions have a path to graduation.

Provisions for Newcomer Students:

• Potential Exemption from Local Graduation Requirements:
  Newcomer students who are in their third or fourth year of high school are exempt from additional local coursework requirements beyond the state's minimum, unless the local educational agency (LEA) finds the student can reasonably complete them by the end of their fourth year of high school.
• Fifth-Year Option:
  If the LEA finds that the newcomer student can complete local graduation requirements within a fifth year, the LEA must:
• Consult with the student and their educational rights holder of the option to remain for a fifth year;
• Explain how this decision may affect post-secondary education opportunities;
• Provide information about transfer opportunities available through California Community Colleges.
• Timely Notification:
  Within 30 days of enrollment, schools must notify potentially eligible students and their educational rights holders about:
• The availability of the exemption;
• Whether the student qualifies for the exemption.
• Voluntary Participation:
  Students are not required to accept the exemption and, if otherwise entitled to remain in attendance at the school, may choose to complete additional coursework to meet local graduation requirements.
• Non-Revocation of Exemption:
  Once granted, the exemption cannot be revoked and remains applicable even after the student no longer meets the definition of “newcomer pupil.”
• Complaint Procedures:
  Perceived violations of this section can be addressed through the Uniform Complaint Procedures (California Code of Regulations, Title 5 [5 CCR] 4600, et. seq.), which allows appeals to the California Department of Education (CDE).

Transfer of Credits

EC Section 51225.2

This section ensures that newcomer students receive appropriate credit for work completed at other schools, including schools in a country other than the United States.

Provisions for Newcomer Students:

• Credit Transfer Requirements:
• LEAs must issue, and new LEAs must accept, full or partial credit for coursework satisfactorily completed at a previous school, including schools in other countries.
• The transferring LEA is responsible for providing an official transcript that includes:
• All full and partial credits and grades earned, including details on days of enrollment or seat time.
• Credits and grades listed separately for each school and LEA to clearly indicate where they were earned.
• A complete record of the pupil’s seat time, including both period attendance and days of enrollment.
• The receiving LEA must transfer these credits and grades onto its official transcript for the pupil.
• Timely Credit Issuance:
• If the receiving school or LEA is aware that the transcript from the transferring LEA may be missing certain credits or grades, it must contact the prior school within two business days and request the credits be issued.
• The prior school is required to issue and provide the requested credits or grades within two business days of the request.

Access to Academic Courses

EC Section 60811.8

Newcomer students who are identified as English learner (EL) students must be provided access to the school’s standard instructional program.

Provisions for Newcomer Students:

• Access to Enrollment: EL students cannot be denied access to:
• Core academic classes (English, math, science, social studies)
• Courses required for promotion or graduation
• Courses required for college admission
• Advanced courses (e.g., honors, advanced placement)
• Full Course Load: EL students are entitled to enroll in a full schedule of academic classes.
• Newcomer Exceptions: Temporary placement in specialized newcomer programs is allowed only if:
• It addresses academic gaps and
• Prepares the student to fully participate in standard coursework as soon as possible.
• No Requirement for Native Language Courses: This statute does not require schools to create courses in languages other than English.
• Applies to All School Types: This applies to traditional public schools, charter schools, and state special schools.

Related Resources

The following information is available under the Enrollment tab on the CDE Newcomer web page.

Guidance on Placement of English Learners

Transcript Evaluation Guidelines for Immigrant and Newcomer Students