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The EEOC issued an informal discussion letter about how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to qualification standards for jobs. If requiring a high school diploma, employers must remember to carry out two steps.

First, demonstrate that a high school education is a job-related requirement. Meaning, the job can not be efficiently performed by someone without a high school diploma.

Second, determine if the individual who did not earn a high school diploma due to a learning disability can efficiently perform the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

If the applicant is able to perform the essential job functions, the employer can not screen out the disabled applicant despite their inability to meet the high school diploma requirement.

The EEOC clarifies any misunderstandings with Questions and Answers concerning this topic.