Computer Science Waivers

Process Map

Step 1

After the 20th day of school, Office of Computer Science (OCS) will solicit lists of students eligible to waive the CS graduation requirement from Central Office IB and CTE departments.

OCS will provide lists of students eligible to receive CS Waivers to schools.

Criteria for CS Waiver eligibility for CTE, IB, and Advanced/Honors students can be found in the FAQ section of this page.

Step 2

Schools will verify that:

  • All students on the list are eligible to waive the CS graduation requirement.

  • No students on the list have successfully completed the CS graduation requirement.

  • No students were omitted from the list who are eligible to waive the CS graduation requirement.

Schools may submit requests (via Google Form) to:

  1. Remove students who are ineligible to waive the CS graduation requirement from the list.

  2. Remove students who have successfully completed the CS graduation requirement from the list.

  3. Submit requests for CTE, IB, and Advanced/Honors students who need a CS Waiver but do not appear on the list.

Step 3

OCS will review each CS Waiver request, approve or deny it, and send the results of those reviews to each school.

Schools will have an opportunity to appeal CS Waiver requests that are denied (via Google Form).

OCS will review each appeal, approve or deny it, and send the results of those reviews to each school.

OCS will send the final list of students whose request for a CS Waiver has been granted to Instructional Support (IS).

Instructional Support (IS) will indicate the CS Waiver on each student’s transcript by the end of Junior year.

FAQ

Who is eligible to waive the CS graduation requirement?

IB Students

Students marked in Aspen as IB DP or IB CP. No other IB designations are eligible.

CTE Students

Students who will have successfully completed 2 credits in a single CTE pathway by the end of Junior year.

Advanced/Honors Students

Students pursuing advanced coursework required by a college or university.

All requests to waive the CS graduation requirement must be submitted in a student’s Junior year.

If a student does not complete their course of study in CTE or IB, will their waiver be revoked?

OCS will revoke previously approved CS Waivers only if requested in writing by a school.

How should a student pursuing Advanced/Honors coursework apply for a waiver?

Students seeking a CS Waiver to pursue advanced coursework will apply and submit official documentation from a college or university (school websites are acceptable) as part of Step 2.c.

What is the timeline for the process?

October 31

Completion of Step 1

November 30

Completion of Step 2

January 31

Final CS Waiver lists sent to Instructional Support

End of Junior Year

CS Waivers will be indicated in Aspen by Instructional Support

What if a student transfers schools after they request a waiver, but before decisions are announced?

If a student transfers during the CS Waiver request process, the results of their CS Waiver request will be communicated to their new school.

If a school believes a student’s CS Waiver request was denied in error, can the school appeal?

If the school disagrees with the OCS decision to deny a CS Waiver, the school will have an opportunity to appeal OCS’s decision in Step 3 (via Google Form).

Are CTE students not enrolled in CTE classes junior year still eligible for a CS Waiver?

Yes. All eligible CTE students (see FAQ #1) may waive the CS graduation requirement. Use Step 2.1 to request CS waivers for students who are not on the list provided by OCS.

What if my school cannot designate an IB student as DP or CP in Aspen?

Schools should work with Aspen support to get access to all of the IB designations