Authorizes school districts to award alternate high school diploma to certain students with disabilities.

S4456

SENATE, No. 4456

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JUNE 15, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

SYNOPSIS

���� Authorizes school districts to award alternate high
school diploma to certain students with disabilities.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning high school diplomas, supplementing P.L.1979,
c.241 (C.18A:7C-1 et seq.), and amending P.L.2008, c.19.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� (New section) a.� A
school district may issue an alternate diploma to a student who meets the
definition of a student with the most significant cognitive disabilities and
who participates in the New Jersey Alternate Assessment Program beginning in
the 2027-2028 school year.� An alternate diploma shall be standards-based,
aligned with the requirements for a State-endorsed diploma, and obtained by the
end of the school year in which a student turns 21 years of age.

���� b.��� The receipt of an alternate
diploma shall not terminate the right of a student with an Individualized Education
Program (IEP) for a free appropriate public education under State and federal law
until the end of the school year in which the student has reached the age of 21.�
The IEP team shall determine subsequent courses and services for students who
receive an alternate diploma.

���� c.���� Students participating
in the New Jersey Alternate Assessment Program shall not be precluded from
attempting to meet the requirements for receipt of a State-endorsed diploma,
and participation in the New Jersey Alternate Assessment Program shall not
determine a student�s educational setting under the �Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act,� 20 U.S.C. s.1400 et seq.

���� d.��� Students who meet the
requirements for an alternate diploma may be counted for purposes of
calculating and reporting the State adjusted cohort graduation rate.

���� e.���� A student may be
awarded an alternate diploma upon completion of the following curriculum units
or sets of competencies that meet the credit requirements for high school
graduation established by the State Board of Education at N.J.A.C.6A:8-5.1et
seq.:

���� (1)�� Language Arts - four
units or sets of competencies based on alternate academic achievement standards
to consist of reading literature, reading informational text, writing, speaking
and listening, and language in the following courses:

���� (a)�� English 1 Alternate;

���� (b)�� English 2 Alternate;

���� (c)�� English 3 Alternate; and

���� (d)�� English 4 Alternate;

���� (2)�� Mathematics � three
units or sets of competencies based on alternate academic achievement standards
to consist of numbers, quantities, algebra, functions and statistics,
probability, and geometry in the following courses:

���� (a)�� Math Alternate 1;

���� (b)�� Math Alternate 2; and

���� (c)�� Math Alternate 3;

���� (3)�� Science � Three units or
sets of competencies based on alternate academic achievement standards to
consist of laboratory biology and life science, and other laboratory and inquiry-based
science in the following courses:

���� (a)�� Science Alternate 1;

���� (b)�� Science Alternate 2; and

���� (c)�� Science Alternate 3;

���� (4)�� Social Studies � Three
units or competencies based on alternate academic achievement standards to
consist of United States history, United States government, and New Jersey
history in the following courses that reflect the provisions of N.J.S.18A:35-1
and N.J.S.18A:35-2:

���� (a)�� Social Studies Alternate
1;

���� (b)�� Social Studies Alternate
2; and

���� (c)�� Social Studies Alternate
3;

���� (5)�� Arts � One unit or set
of competencies which may include, but is not limited to, courses in visual and
performing arts;

���� (6)�� World Languages - One
unit or set of competencies in world languages or student demonstration of
proficiency;

���� (7)�� 21st Century Life and
Careers � One unit or set of competencies in 21st century life and careers, or
career technical education;

���� (8)�� Financial, Economic
Business, and Entrepreneurial Business Literacy � One-half unit in financial,
economic, business, and entrepreneurial business literacy;

���� (9)�� Technological Literacy �
Technological Literacy consistent with the New Jersey Student Learning
Standards and integrated throughout the curriculum; and

���� (10) Health, Safety, and
Physical Education � Health, safety, and physical education that reflects the
provisions of N.J.S.18A:35-5, N.J.S.18A:35-7, and N.J.S.18A:35-8.

���� f.���� Courses aligned with
the New Jersey Student Learning Standards may used as a substitute for a
corresponding course required for an alternate diploma.� Other courses may be
substituted as determined by the State Board of Education.

���� g.��� The State Board of
Education, pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of this section.

���� 2.��� Section 2 of P.L.2008,
c.19 (C.18A:7C-5.2) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2. a. The board of education
of a school district and the board of trustees of a charter school shall permit
a student who has been classified as eligible for special education programs
and services pursuant to chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and
whose individualized education program prescribes continued special education
programs beyond the fourth year of high school to participate in commencement
ceremonies with his graduating class and to receive a certificate of attendance
,
or an alternate diploma if the student has met the requirements of subsection
e. of section 1 of P.L.�� , c.�� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature
as this bill) as applicable
, provided that the student has attended four
years of high school.�
In the case of a student who is pursuing an alternate
diploma but has not yet met the requirements for the alternate diploma after
four years of high school, the student shall have the option to participate in
commencement ceremonies with the student�s graduating class or with the
graduating class of the school year in which the student meets the requirements
for the alternate diploma.

���� b.��� Nothing in this section
shall be construed to preclude a classified student from receiving a
State-endorsed

high school diploma when the student satisfactorily completes his
individualized education program and has met appropriate graduation
requirements.

(cf: P.L.2008, c.19, s.2)

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately and shall first be applicable to the 2027-2028 school year.

STATEMENT

���� This bill authorizes school
districts to award an alternate diploma to students who meet the definition of a
student with the most significant cognitive disabilities and who participates
in the New Jersey Alternative Assessment Program.

���� New Jersey�s Alternative
Assessment is the Dynamic Learning Maps which is an assessment of English language
arts, mathematics, and science skills aligned to New Jersey standards for
eligible students with significant cognitive disabilities.� Under this bill, a
school district may award a student who is participating in the Alternative
Assessment Program an alternate high school diploma.� An alternate diploma will
be standards-based and aligned with the credit requirements for a
State-endorsed diploma.� An alternate diploma must be obtained by the end of
the school year in which the student reaches the age of 21.� If the student
earns the alternate diploma prior to the time the student reaches the age of 21,
the receipt of the alternate diploma will not terminate the right of a student
with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for a free appropriate public education
under State and federal law.� The IEP team will determine the subsequent
courses and services for the student until the end of the school year in which he
or she reaches the age of 21.

���� The bill outlines the subject
area graduation competencies that must be achieved by the student to earn the
alternate diploma.� These competencies track the subject area high school
graduation standards required for receipt of a State-endorsed high school
diploma but will be based on alternate academic achievement standards.� The
bill provides that courses aligned with the New Jersy Student Learning
Standards may be used as a substitute for a corresponding course required for
an alternate diploma.� Other courses may be substituted as determined by the
State Board of Education.