‘ 1. Completion of college application; financial aid application. Except as provided in subsections 2 and 3, in addition to the requirements of this chapter and the system of learning results established in section 6209, in order to receive a diploma, a secondary student must complete a federally accepted free application for federal student aid and complete and submit at least one application to a college, university, other postsecondary educational institution or certificate program to assess eligibility for financial aid.
2. Exceptions. A student is not required to comply with subsection 1 if the student submits verification that:
A. The student is enlisting in the United States Armed Forces;
B. The student has secured a job or internship;
C. The student has attended an orientation session for an apprenticeship or training program; or
D. The student has been accepted at a college, university, other postsecondary educational institution or certificate program.
If a student’s parents or legal guardian refuses to complete the free application for federal student aid, that student is not required to complete the free application for federal student aid. High school guidance staff, as defined in section 15672, subsection 11, in consultation with the principal, may allow a student to submit a completed application to the high school guidance staff rather than to the college, university, other postsecondary educational institution or certificate program.
3. Waiver. A student, with the consent of that student’s parents or legal guardian if the student is younger than 18 years of age, may petition the superintendent for a waiver from subsection 1.’