Credit Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
News & Announcements
Revised Emergency Guidelines for Locally-Awarded Verified Credits
On January 28, 2021, the Board of Education revised eligibility criteria and processes for the administration of locally-awarded verified credit due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. Please see the Board of Education's Emergency Guidelines for Locally-Awarded Verified Credits for details on locally-awarded verified credit options.
Credit Accommodations for the Advanced Studies Diploma
There is one credit accommodation available for the advanced studies diploma. This alternative for students to meet the world language requirement is available to students with an individualized education program (IEP) that specifies a credit accommodation for world languages.
§ 22.1-253.13:4. Permit a student who is pursuing an Advanced Studies Diploma and whose individualized education program specifies a credit accommodation for world language to substitute two standard units of credit in computer science for two standard units of credit in a world language. For any student that elects to substitute a credit in computer science for credit in world language, his or her school counselor must provide notice to the student and parent or guardian of possible impacts related to college entrance requirements.
- Sample Eligibility Form World Language Credit Accommodation for Students who have an Individualized Education Program and are Pursuing the Advanced Studies Diploma (Word)
- Credit Accommodations at a Glance (Word)
- List of approved Computer Science courses for World Language credit accommodations (Word)
Credit Accommodations for the Standard Diploma
Credit accommodations provide alternatives for students with disabilities in earning the standard and verified credits required to graduate with a Standard Diploma.
Credit accommodations for students with disabilities may include:
- Alternative courses to meet the standard credit requirements
- Modifications to the requirements for locally awarded verified credits
- Additional tests approved by the Board of Education for earning verified credits
- Adjusted cut scores on tests for earning verified credits
- Allowance of work-based learning experiences through career and technical education (CTE) courses
Credit Accommodations
Credit accommodations provide alternatives for students with disabilities in earning the standard and verified credits required to graduate with a Standard Diploma.
Credit accommodations for students with disabilities may include:
- Alternative courses to meet the standard credit requirements
- Modifications to the requirements for locally awarded verified credits
- Additional tests approved by the Board of Education for earning verified credits
- Adjusted cut scores on tests for earning verified credits
- Allowance of work-based learning experiences through career and technical education (CTE) courses
Permissible Credit Accommodations for Standard Credits
- Local school boards may deliver the Personal Finance course (3120) to include the 21 Work Readiness Skills (WRS) for the Commonwealth. This augmented course may be used to meet the Economics and Personal Finance requirement when the student has earned at least 3 standard credits in history and social science. Upon completion of the augmented Personal Finance course, the student may take the WRS assessment to earn the Board-approved WRS credential. This approach would satisfy the graduation requirements for economics and personal finance, history/social science, and the workplace credential.
- Parts I and II of certain required courses may be used to each earn a standard credit towards the total number required in the subject area. Students must complete both parts of the course in order to earn the standard credits. They may earn no more than three content area standard credits by taking these two-part courses. The remaining credit could be used as an elective credit.
Permissible Credit Accommodations for Verified Credits
- For students with credit accommodations, an additional or substitute test, approved by the Board of Education using the criteria in 8VAC20-131-110(C) may be used to earn verified credit. Refer to Substitute Tests for Verified Credit for the list of approved tests.
- Local school boards may offer the opportunity for the expedited retake of end-of-course SOL tests as provided in 8VAC20-131-110(D), with the exception of the English writing SOL tests. The criteria included in the guidance for “Expedited Retake,” should be followed; however, the narrow margin criteria for students who qualify for credit accommodations is defined as a scaled score of 350-374, rather than 375-399.
Locally Awarded Verified Credit Policy
Local school boards may award locally awarded verified credits to students with credit accommodations following the same criteria applicable to all students as provided in 8VAC20-131-110(B) of the Standards of Accreditation. To be eligible to earn locally awarded verified credits in English, mathematics, science, or history/social science, a student must:
- Pass the high school course,
- Score within a 375-399 scale score range on any administration of the SOL test after taking the test at least twice, and
- Demonstrate achievement in the academic content through an appeal process administered at the local level.
Students with credit accommodations earning a Standard Diploma are not subject to the limit on the number of locally-awarded verified credits that may be earned.
For more information on locally awarded verified credits, please refer to Credits for Graduation.
Special Permission Credit Accommodation
The special permission credit accommodation permits local school boards to award locally awarded verified credits in reading, writing, mathematics, science, and history/social science to certain students with disabilities that score below a 375 score on the SOL test, after taking the test at least once. To be eligible, a student must:
- Pass the high school course based on a non-modified curriculum,
- Score below 375 on the SOL test,
- Have a documented disability that presents a unique or significant challenge to the degree that the student is unable to demonstrate knowledge of the course content on the SOL test using available accommodations, and
- Demonstrate achievement in the academic content through an appeal process administered at the local level.
The decision to consider a special permission credit accommodation should be made through the IEP and/or 504 review process. School divisions must submit a Special Permission Credit Accommodation Form to VDOE for each student being considered for a locally awarded verified credit with a SOL scaled score below 375. The form must include documentation regarding the disability that prevents the student from fully demonstrating their knowledge of the course content on the SOL test despite having accommodations. This documentation should include evidence of the use or consideration of other credit accommodations and other substitute assessment options.
The special permission credit accommodation was added to provide those students with disabilities who previously might have used the Virginia Substitute Evaluation Program (VSEP) with a pathway to earn the necessary verified credits to obtain a standard diploma.
- Frequently Asked Questions (Word)
- Instructions for Eligibility Criteria Request (PDF)
- Eligibility Criteria Request Form for Special Permission Credit Accommodation for Locally Awarded Verified Credit (Excel)
- Eligibility Criteria Request Submission
Credit Accommodation Resources
Resources to assist special education directors, division directors of testing, school counselors, and Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams are available:
Guidance on the Use of Credit Accommodations
Sample Forms
- Sample Transition Individualized Education Program (IEP) Form (Word)
- Sample Eligibility Form (Word)
- Sample Eligibility Form World Language Credit Accommodation for Students who have an Individualized Education Program and are Pursuing the Advanced Studies Diploma (Word)
Additional Resources
- Credit Accommodations at a Glance (Word)
- Personal Living and Finances (3120) course materials, used as a credit accommodation, are available through the CTE Resource Center. This course may be used in lieu of Economics and Personal Finance (6120) for eligible students.
- List of approved Computer Science courses for World Language credit accommodations (Word)
- K-12 Computer Science Course Opportunities in Virginia
- Information about the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy and other Diploma Seals of Achievement requirements is available on the Diploma Seals page.
- Substitute Tests for Verified Credit
Comparison of Credit Requirements
While credit accommodations provide alternate pathways and flexibility, students receiving accommodations must earn the 22 standard credits and six verified credits required to graduate with a Standard Diploma. In contrast, only 20 standard credits and 0 verified credits are required for the Modified Standard Diploma.
Standard Diploma
| Subject or Course | Standard Credits | Verified Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 2 |
| Mathematics | 3 | 1 |
| Laboratory Science | 3 | 1 |
| History & Social Sciences | 3 | 1 |
| Health & Physical Education | 2 | 0 |
| Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education | 2 | 0 |
| Economics and Personal Finance | 1 | 0 |
| Electives | 4 | 0 |
| Student-Selected Test | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 22 | 5 |
- Board-Approved Career or Industry Credential: Required
- Virtual Course: Required
Modified Standard Diploma (for those students who entered the 9th grade prior to 2013-2014)
| Subject or Course | Standard Credits | Verified Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 0 |
| Mathematics | 3 | 0 |
| Laboratory Science | 2 | 0 |
| History & Social Sciences | 2 | 0 |
| Health & Physical Education | 2 | 0 |
| Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education | 1 | 0 |
| Economics and Personal Finance | 0 | 0 |
| Electives | 6 | 0 |
| Student-Selected Test | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 20 | 0 |
- Board-Approved Career or Industry Credential: Not Required
- Virtual Course: Not Required