As anticipated, tonight the California Department of Education released guidance on grading and graduation requirements for students affected by school closures due to COVID-19. The guidance includes information on grading work through distance learning and alternative grading systems. With regards to the state’s minimum graduation requirements, the guidance provides that local educational agencies (LEAs) are expected to “enable students to complete state graduation requirements with needed flexibilities associated with the nature of assignments and mode of grading during any period of school closure.” However, CDE also notes that an LEA may request a waiver of the state graduation requirements from the State Board of Education for specific students.

Along with this FAQ, the CDE also posted guidance from the University of California, the California State University, and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities. Those documents, as well as a joint letter from the K-12 and Higher Education systems, are available here.

We are still waiting on additional guidance around child care and will send that out once it has been released.