16 NCAC 06D .0506 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

(a) To graduate from a public high school in North Carolina and be issued a high school diploma by the governing body of a public school unit, a student who has been identified as a child with a disability in accordance with Chapter 115C, Article 9 of the General Statutes and whose IEP team has determined cannot satisfy the standard state graduation requirements set forth in 16 NCAC 06D .0503 shall satisfy the requirements set forth in this Rule. The requirements for each student are determined by the school year in which the student first enrolls in Grade 9.

(b) A student who first enrolled in Grade 9 in the 2020-2021 school year shall earn a total of 22 course credits, including the following:

(1) Four course credits in the content area of English and language arts, which shall consist of:

(A) English I;

(B) English II;

(D) English IV.

(2) Three course credits in the content area of mathematics, which shall consist of:

(A) Introduction to Mathematics;

(B) NC Math I; and

(3) Two course credits in the content area of science, which shall consist of:

(A) Biology; and

(B) Applied Science

(4) Two course credits in the content area of social studies, which shall consist of:

(A) One course on founding principles of the United States, which shall be either American History: Founding Principals, Civics, and Economics; or Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy; and

(B) Economics and Personal Finance.

(5) One course credit in the content area of health and physical education, including completion of instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation ("CPR") as provided in G.S. 115C-81.25(c)(10). The governing body of a public school unit shall provide appropriate accommodations in accordance with the student's approved IEP.

(6) Six course credits occupational preparation education, which shall consist of:

(A) Occupational Preparation I or Employment Preparation I: Science;

(B) Occupational Preparation II, or Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1A and Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1B;

(C) Occupational Preparation III or Employment Preparation III: Citizenship 2A and Employment Preparation III: Citizenship 2B; and

(D) Occupational Preparation IV or Employment Preparation IV: Math.

(7) Four elective credits in career and technical education.

(c) A student who first enrolled in Grade 9 in the 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, or 2025-2026 school years shall earn a total of 22 course credits, including the following:

(1) Four course credits in the content area of English and language arts, which shall consist of:

(A) English I;

(B) English II;

(D) English IV.

(2) Three course credits in the content area of mathematics, which shall consist of:

(A) Introduction to Mathematics;

(B) NC Math I;

(D) Employment Preparation IV: Math, including 150 of the work hours required by Subparagraph (d)(1) of this Rule.

(3) Three course credits in the content area of science, which shall consist of:

(A) Biology;

(B) Applied Science; and

(4) Four course credits in the content area of social studies, which shall consist of:

(A) Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy;

(B) Economics and Personal Finance;

(C) Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1A, including 75 of the work hours required by required by Subparagraph (d)(1) of this Rule; and

(D) Employment Preparation II: Citizenship 1B, including 75 of the work hours required by required by Subparagraph (d)(1) of this Rule.

(6) Two additional course credits occupational preparation education, which shall consist of:

(A) Employment Preparation III: Citizenship 2A, including 75 of the work hours required by required by Subparagraph (d)(1) of this Rule; and

(B) Employment Preparation III: Citizenship 2B, including 75 of the work hours required by required by Subparagraph (d)(1) of this Rule.

(7) Four elective credits in career and technical education.

(d) In addition to completing the course credits listed in this Rule, the student must complete the following:

(1) 600 work hours consisting of the following:

(A) 150 hours of school-based vocational training with activities and experiences that align with the student's postsecondary plans;

(B) 225 hours of community-based vocational training; and

(C) 225 hours of paid employment or 225 hours of unpaid vocational training, an unpaid internship, paid employment at a community rehabilitation facility, or community service.

(2) A career portfolio.

(3) Any other objectives identified in the student's IEP.

(e) In determining whether a student who is the child of a military family has satisfied the requirements established by this Rule, the governing body of a public school unit shall consider and comply with all requirements of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, codified at G.S. 115C-407.5.

(f) The governing body of a public school unit shall award a Graduation Certificate to a child with a disability who does not earn a high school diploma by the age of 22 or who completes the requirements of this Rule except for the 225 hours of employment identified in Part (d)(1)(C) of this Rule. The student shall be allowed to participate in high school graduation exercises.

History Note: Authority G.S. 115C-12(9c); 115C-12(9d); 115C-81.5; 115C-81.25; 115C-81.45; 115C-81.90; 115C-83.3; 115C-83.31; 115C-83.32; 115C-106.3;

Eff. December 1, 1999;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2005;

Readopted Eff. January 1, 2025.