Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

School Year 2022-2023

All students, including students with disabilities, are encouraged to work toward the highest diploma option available. Students with disabilities should have access to academic experiences required to earn a Regents diploma throughout high school. The following diplomas are available to students with disabilities upon graduating from high school:

• Advanced Regents diploma
• Regents diploma
• Local diploma

Students who do not earn credits or have Alternate Assessment Testing, will receive a certificate upon completing school. The certificate is called A Career Development and Occupational Studies Certificate (CDOCS).

The Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Credential is a certificate that indicates that the student has the knowledge and skills necessary for entry level employment. It is available to students with IEPs who participate in standard assessment as either an endorsement to a diploma or a standalone exit certificate. It is not available to students who are alternately assessed using the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA).

The Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential (SACC) is a certificate available only to students with severe cognitive disabilities who are eligible to take the students who are alternately assessed using the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) and have attended school for not less than 12 years, excluding Kindergarten. This credential must be accompanied by a summary of the student’s levels of achievement in academic and career development and occupational studies.

For more information on the requirements for graduation use this link:

NYC DOE Graduation Requirements