2005 California Education Code Sections 51450-51455 Article 5. Golden State Seal Merit Diploma

51450.  The Golden State Seal Merit Diploma is hereby established as
an honors diploma to recognize high school graduates who have
mastered the high school curriculum.  The Golden State Seal Merit
Diploma shall be awarded jointly by the State Board of Education and
the Superintendent of Public Instruction to each qualifying high
school student.
51451.  A student who meets the following requirements shall qualify
for a Golden State Seal Merit Diploma:
   (a) The completion of all requirements for a high school diploma.
   (b) A demonstration of the mastery of the curriculum in at least
six subject matter areas, four of which shall be mathematics, English
language arts, science, and United States history, with the
remaining two subject matter areas selected by the student.
51452.  The State Board of Education shall determine and adopt,
based upon the recommendations of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, the following:
   (a) The means by which students may demonstrate mastery of the
curriculum.  For subject matter areas included in the Golden State
Examination (Article 5 (commencing with Section 60650) of Chapter 5
of Part 33), that examination shall serve as the means by which
students may demonstrate mastery of the curriculum.  For other
subject matter areas, the means may include, but shall not be limited
to, any subject matter examinations deemed appropriately rigorous by
the board.  For this purpose, the board may designate examinations
administered by or under the auspices of the State Department of
Education, or examinations produced by private providers or local
educational agencies, that are supervised and administered under
conditions that are deemed adequate by the board.
   (b) Student performance standards or achievement levels that
demonstrate mastery of the curriculum.
51453.  Under the policy direction of the State Board of Education
and the administrative leadership of the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, the State Department of Education shall do the
following:
   (a) Ensure that the results of the Golden State Examination are
sent to school districts in a timely manner and work with providers
of other examinations to provide timely information to school
districts on students who have met the performance standards so that
school districts can efficiently maintain student records and
identify pupils who meet the requirements of the Golden State Seal
Merit Diploma.
   (b) Prepare and distribute to school districts an appropriate
insignia to be affixed to a student's diploma and transcript
indicating that the student has been awarded a Golden State Seal
Merit Diploma by the State Board of Education and the Superintendent
of Public Instruction.
   (c) Consider whether it would be appropriate and feasible to
provide any additional awards to recipients of the Golden State Seal
Merit Diploma.
51454.  Each school district that confers high school diplomas shall
maintain appropriate records in order to identify students who have
earned a Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, and shall affix the
appropriate insignia to the diploma and transcript of each student
that earns a Golden State Seal Merit Diploma.
51455.  (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that no fee or other
cost be charged to any pupil pursuant to this article.  However,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, a school district
receiving funds pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 54000)
of Part 29 may expend any portion of those funds to pay for all or
part of the costs of one or more examinations pursuant to this
article that are charged to economically disadvantaged pupils.
   (b) An economically disadvantaged pupil means a pupil from a
family that receives Aid to Families with Dependent Children.