SF5263

Purpose

• To allow certain students enrolled in International Baccalaureate (IB) programs to meet Minnesota graduation credit requirements without needing to complete every individual required credit, making it easier for them to participate in IB diploma or IB career-related programs.

Main provisions

• Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, districts or charter schools must consider a student as meeting graduation credit requirements if:
  • the student is on track by the beginning of grade 11 to complete the IB diploma program (IB DP) or IB career-related program (IB CP), and
  • the student would be prevented from participating in the IB DP or IB CP if they were required to complete a certain credit that would be waived.
• The school district or charter school must have the student’s application for the waiver signed by the student’s parent or guardian.
• A district or charter school may revoke the waiver if the student is not on track by the beginning of grade 12 to meet the IB DP or IB CP requirements.
• If a waiver is revoked, the student must complete the credit requirements under subdivision 1 (the standard graduation credit rules).

Significant changes to existing law

• Adds a new subdivision (Subdivision 3) to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 120B.024, creating a formal “Waiver for international baccalaureate program students.”
• Establishes a process where eligible IB students can be deemed to meet graduation credits early (by tracking toward IB requirements by grade 11) with the possibility of revocation if progress toward IB completion stalls by grade 12.
• Introduces an application mechanism (signed by a parent/guardian) for the waiver and ties eligibility to participation in IB DP or IB CP rather than to full completion of specific credits.

Relevant terms - waiver - graduation credit requirements - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 120B.024 - Subdivision 3 / Subd.3 - international baccalaureate diploma program (IB DP) - international baccalaureate career-related program (IB CP) - on track - beginning of grade 11 - beginning of grade 12 - precluded from participating - credit to be waived - district - charter school - application - parent or guardian - subdivision 1 - 2026-2027 school year