SB 63

Board of Education; requirements for graduation with an advanced studies diploma; simultaneous completion of International Baccalaureate diploma and advanced studies diploma; approval of alternatives for certain credit requirements; regulations. Requires the Board of Education to permit any student who is simultaneously pursuing an advanced studies diploma and an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma to complete certain courses or sequences of courses required for an IB diploma, as approved by the Board, including substitutes for the Virginia and U.S. history and government courses and for the economics and personal finance credit requirement. The bill also directs the Board to grant a waiver from the training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators required for graduation to any student who (i) pursuant to his individualized education program or Section 504 Plan cannot successfully complete the training or (ii) after grade 10, transfers from a school or other education program that does not require or give credit for such training. Finally, the bill directs the Board of Education to amend its regulations to expressly provide that any student who completes the requirements to be eligible for the award of an IB diploma shall be deemed to have satisfied the course and credit requirements for graduation with an advanced studies diploma without having to complete any additional course or credit verification requirements.