Waiver of High School Graduation Credits

• Requests will be made using the district’s form.
  • Waiver of High School Credits Request Form (January 8, 2025 - May 23, 2025). 
• Requests must be received by the RSD Secondary Education office no less than thirty days prior to graduation.

In determining whether to grant the request for waiver based on a student’s circumstances such as those listed in Policy 2418, the superintendent or designee will consider a variety of factors including:

• Unique limitations directly affecting the student as a result of the unusual circumstances;
• Whether the unusual circumstances were beyond the student’s control;
• Whether the unusual circumstances compromised the student’s ability to learn;
• The student’s efforts to cope with the unusual circumstances;
• Documentation provided by the student’s parents or guardians;
• Possible discriminatory effects on the student and/or possible disparate impact on a group of students if the waiver is not granted; and
• Significant decline in the student’s academic performance following the occurrence of the unusual circumstances.

In considering whether to grant the waiver, the Chief of Secondary Schools may consult with school staff who have knowledge of the student and with any person identified in the application as having knowledge of the student’s unique circumstances.

The superintendent or designee will provide a response to a request for waiver within ten (10) business days.

•  A response granting the waiver will include the number of elective credits that will be waived and notification that completion of the remainder of required credits is required for graduation.
• A response denying the waiver will state the reason(s) therefore, which may include, but are not limited to the following: 
  • The request was received within less than thirty days of graduation and does not concern a catastrophic event;
  • The request did not include sufficient information to justify waiver of high school graduation credit; and
  • The request was not based on documented or verifiable events that would justify waiver of high school graduation credit.

The superintendent or designee’s decision is final and will only apply to the student’s current graduation year. Providing the completed form does not automatically guarantee a waiver will be granted.