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Graduates' Rights to Wear Tribal Regalia
Graduates' Rights to Wear Tribal Regalia
(Reflecting 2026 Amendments to California Education Code Section 35183.1)
(Reflecting 2026 Amendments to California Education Code Section 35183.1)
New legislation, Assembly Bill 1369, was passed, amending Section 35183.1 of California Education Code and is now in effect.
The verbiage below is directly from a letter sent to county and district superintendents, charter school administrators, and high school principals from Tony Thurmond, California Department of Education State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Rob Bonta, California Department of Justice Attorney General dated April 23, 2026:
"As amended, Section 35183.1 allows students to wear 'traditional tribal regalia or recognized objects of religious or cultural significance, as determined by the pupil and the pupil's family, as an adornment at school graduation ceremonies or related school events' (emphasis added). Additionally, Section 35183.1 has been amended to provide that local education agencies (LEAs) shall not require either '(1) a preapproval process for a pupil' to exercise their right to wear an adornment; or '(2) a pupil to wear a cap if the cap is incompatible with the adornment.' (Ed. Code Section 35183.1, sudb. (b).)
"Section 35183.1 also revised the definition of 'adornment,' which is now defined as '[s]omething attached to, worn with, or worn in place of, the cap customarily worn at school graduation ceremonies' or '[s]omething attached to or worn with, but not replacing, the gown customarily worn at school gradaution ceremonies.' (Ed. Code, 35183.1, subd (d)(1)(A)-(B).) 'Cultural' is defined as the 'recognized practices and traditions of a certain group of people.' (ID., subd. (d)(2).) Per Section 35181.1, an LEA retains discretion and authority to prohibit such an item only if the item 'is likely to cause a substantial disruption of,or material interference with, the ceremony.' (Ed. Code 35183.1, subd. (c).) It is important to be mindful of these amendments to the law given that some of the changes, such as the prohibition of preapproval processes, may require a change to school policies and procedures that were in place as recently as last graduation season."
To Earn a Diploma
To Earn a Diploma
Meet all graduation requirements in BP 6146.1 (e.g. 44 credits in required courses)
Meet the district adopted UC “a-g” graduation requirements
Maintain an overall academic WGPA of 2.0 or higher in grades 9-12
To Attend Prom & Senior Activities
To Attend Prom & Senior Activities
Clear all applicable senior year attendance infractions (absences and tardies) three weeks before the last day of school. Attendance infractions include tardies, truancies, unverified absences, and unexcused late arrivals/ early leaves.*
Maintain a cumulative senior year average of 2.0 or higher in citizenship*
No suspensions during senior year.*
No significant behavior concerns during senior year, including but not limited to hate violence, harassment/ intimidation, repeated classroom removals, senior pranks, or other serious conduct concerns.*
Can be appealed
To Walk in Graduation
To Walk in Graduation
Meet the expectations of one of the diploma pathways or certificate of completion
Clear all applicable senior year attendance infractions (absences and tardies) three weeks before the last day of school. Attendance infractions include tardies, truancies, unverified absences, and unexcused late arrivals/ early leaves.*
Maintain a cumulative senior year average of 2.0 or higher in citizenship*
No suspensions during senior year.*
No significant behavior concerns during senior year, including but not limited to hate violence, harassment/ intimidation, repeated classroom removals, senior pranks, or other serious conduct concerns.*
Complete all online (Edgenuity)/ CCAP or other courses needed to meet graduation requirements
Can be appealed
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