The Modified Standard Diploma is intended for certain students who have a disability and are unlikely to meet the credit requirements for a Standard Diploma. Eligibility and participation in the Modified Standard Diploma program shall be determined by the student's Individual Education Program (IEP) team after the student's eighth grade year. There are no verified credit requirements for the Modified Standard Diploma. The requirements for a student to earn a diploma shall be those in effect when the student enters the ninth grade for the first time.

The student who has chosen to pursue a Modified Standard Diploma shall also be allowed to pursue the Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma at any time throughout their high school career. The student may not be excluded from courses and tests required to earn a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma.

Beginning with the 9th grade class of 2000-01, students pursuing the Modified Standard Diploma are required to pass the 8th grade Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in both English (Reading, Literature, and Research) and mathematics to meet the literacy and numeracy requirements for this diploma. Students who were in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades in the 2000-01 school year are required to pass the Literacy Passport Tests (LPT) to meet the literacy and numeracy requirements for the Modified Standard Diploma.

English 4
Mathematics* 3
Laboratory Science** 2
History and Social Science*** 2
Health and Physical Education 2
Fine or Practical Arts 1
Electives**** 6

Total 20

* Cources completed to satisfy this requirement shall content from among applications of Algebra, Geometry, Personal Finance, and Statistics.

** Courses completed shall include content from at least two of the following: applications of Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.

*** Courses completed to satisfy this requirement shall include one unit of credit in U.S. and Virginia History and one unit of credit in U.S. and Virginia Goverment.

**** Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 1999-2000(class of 2003) and beyond, courses to satisfy this requirement shall include at least two sequential electives.