Graduation requirements for international baccalaureate program students waived.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dan Wolgamott

Minnesota districts can waive certain graduation credits for eligible students on track for IB DP/CP, to facilitate participation, with revocation if on-track fails.

Introduction and first reading, referred to Education Policy

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Summary of HF 5146 (2025-2026) — Minnesota

Purpose and intent

HF 5146 proposes a waiver mechanism related to high school graduation credit requirements for students participating in International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the bill would allow school districts or charter schools to declare that a student meets Minnesota’s graduation credit requirements if the student is on track to participate in an IB Diploma Program (DP) or an IB Career-Related Program (CP) and would be precluded from participating in those IB programs if required to complete an additional credit. In short, the bill aims to facilitate access to IB DP/CP by temporarily waiving certain graduation credits for eligible students.

Key provisions

Effective date: The new provision takes effect July 1, 2026.

Scope: Applies to all school districts and charter schools in Minnesota.

Eligibility criteria (new Subdivision 3, added to Minn. Stat. § 120B.024):

The student must be on track by the beginning of grade 11 to meet the requirements of an IB Diploma Program or IB Career-Related Program.
The student would be precluded from participating in the IB DP or IB CP if the student were required to complete a specific credit that would be waived under this provision.

Waiver mechanism:

Upon a parent/guardian-signed application, a district or charter school must declare that the student meets graduation credit requirements under subdivision 1 (the standard graduation credits) if the two eligibility criteria are met.

Revocation of waiver:

A district or charter school may revoke the waiver if the student is not on track to meet IB DP/CP requirements by the beginning of grade 12.
If the waiver is revoked, the student must complete the waived credit(s) to satisfy graduation requirements.

Oversight and administration:

The process is initiated by a parent/guardian-signed application.
The determination is made by the school district or charter school.

Who/what is affected

Students in Minnesota high schools who are enrolled in or eligible for the IB Diploma Program or IB Career-Related Program.

School districts and charter schools responsible for administering graduation credits and determining eligibility for the waiver.

Parents/guardians who must sign the application requesting the waiver for their child.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Implementation timeline: The waiver framework becomes effective July 1, 2026, with the 2026-2027 school year as the starting point for applying the policy.

Annual assessment: The waiver status can be revoked if the student is not on track by the start of grade 12 to meet IB requirements; otherwise, the waiver would stand.

Documentation: Requires an application process with parental/guardian signature.

Practical impact and considerations

Potentially increases access to IB DP/CP by reducing immediate credit requirements for eligible students.

Creates a conditional pathway to graduation credits tied to participation in IB programs, subject to ongoing on-track status.

Places responsibility on districts/charter schools to verify on-track status and manage revocation decisions.

Parents and students should monitor IB progress and credit requirements to avoid revocation of the waiver.

Note: This summary reflects the bill language as introduced, focusing on the stated waiver mechanism, eligibility criteria, and procedural aspects.