1.    If after completing at least two years of high school, a student has failed to pass at least one-half unit from three subdivisions in subsection 1 of section 15.1-21-02.2, has failed to demonstrate proficiency in a standards-based grading system, or has a grade point average at or below the twenty-fifth percentile of other students in the district who are enrolled in the same grade, the student may request the student’s career advisor, guidance counselor, or principal meet with the student and the student’s parent to determine whether the student should be permitted to pursue an optional high school curriculum, in place of the requirements in section 15.1-21-02.2. If a student’s parent consents in writing to the student pursuing the optional high school curriculum, the student is eligible to receive a high school diploma upon completing the following requirements:

a.    Four units of English language arts from a sequence that includes literature, composition, and speech; b.    Two units of mathematics; c.    Two units of science; d.    Three units of social studies, which may include up to one-half unit of North Dakota studies and one-half unit of multicultural studies; e.     (1) One unit of physical education; or

(2) One-half unit of physical education and one-half unit of health; f.    Two units of:

(1) Foreign languages; (2) Native American languages; (3) Fine arts; or

(4) Career and technical education courses; and g.    Any seven additional units.

2.    If approved by the board of a school district or nonpublic school, a school district or nonpublic school may develop eligibility criteria or programmatic requirements to allow a passing score on the relevant portions of the GED assessment to receive credit for the corresponding requirements of subdivisions a through d of subsection 1.