1. (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act.

2. (b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

   1. (1) ACCS. The Alabama Community College System.
   2. (2) ADULT EDUCATION. Education programs provided through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System and its approved network of providers.
   3. (3) DEPARTMENT. The State Department of Education.
   4. (4) LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY. A county school system or city school system operating public primary and secondary schools.
   5. (5) NONTRADITONAL HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OPTION. An alternative pathway for earning a high school diploma developed through adult education.

3. (c)

   1. (1) The ACCS, in collaboration with the State Superintendent of Education, shall establish a nontraditional high school diploma option for students who are 18 years of age or older and who have withdrawn from high school before graduating pursuant to Section 16-28-3.1, as a means for those students to earn a high school diploma.
   2. (2) The ACCS shall develop, implement, and continually evaluate the effectiveness of the nontraditional high school diploma option program to ensure that the curricula of the program is aligned with public high school diploma requirements. The ACCS shall also oversee the management and control of each nontraditional high school diploma option program offered.

4. (d)

   1. (1) The ACCS, through its network of community and technical colleges, shall work with local education agencies throughout the state to implement the nontraditional high school diploma option at the local level. Local education agencies shall actively promote the availability of the nontraditional high school diploma option to at-risk juniors and seniors. Additionally, the Adult Education Division of the ACCS, in conjunction with the department, shall oversee a statewide awareness campaign to ensure that students, parents, and educators throughout the state are informed about the opportunities and supports available through this program.

   2. (2) Adult education providers approved by the ACCS and public high schools may enter into agreements regarding student participation in nontraditional high school diploma options which include, but are not limited to, the following:

      1. a. Location and manner of instructional delivery including, but not limited to, in-person, virtual, or a hybrid.
      2. b. Reasonable accommodations for participants.
      3. c. Appropriate support services for participants.

5. (e)

   1. (1) A student who withdraws from high school and, within one year after withdrawing, enrolls in a nontraditional high school diploma option program may not be counted as a dropout for purposes of the graduation rate calculations of his or her high school on the State Report Card.
   2. (2) The ACCS, in collaboration with the department and local education agencies, shall track program participation, student retention, and high school diplomas awarded through the nontraditional high school diploma option to measure the effectiveness of the program. Commencing on January 1, 2026, and each January 1 thereafter, the Chancellor of the ACCS shall submit a summary of the information tracked to the Chairs of the House and Senate Education Policy Committees.
6. (f) Students who earn a high school diploma through the nontraditional high school diploma option are eligible for admission to any two-year or four-year institution of higher education in the state; provided, however, each institution shall maintain the ability to set its own admission requirements.

7. (g) The Board of Trustees of the ACCS and the State Board of Education may adopt reasonable rules to implement this section including, but not limited to, the following:

   1. (1) Allowing an increase to the credit ratio for completion of postsecondary level instructional curricula related to career readiness, career pathways, and integrated education and training correlated to industry recognized credentials.
   2. (2) Utilization of Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, known as the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, and Measurable Skill Gains indicators as referenced by the United States Department of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to accelerate the achievement of a high school diploma.
   3. (3) Agreed upon state strategies to reduce the dropout rate by using the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System network of providers as the primary option of choice for students who have withdrawn from high school to complete a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.

(Act 2025-326, §1.)