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SACRAMENTO — Disabled students will not be able to use calculators, audiotapes and other aids when taking the state’s new high school exit exam under new rules the state Board of Education approved. 

Passing the exam will be required to earn a diploma, beginning with the class of 2004. 

Federal law allows students with learning disabilities or impairments to use special accommodations to keep up with unimpaired classmates. 

Students can work under an individualized education plan that details what help is allowed, including extra time on tests. 

Board members voted Thursday to disallow some of the accommodations for the state’s exit exam. Other accommodations are still allowed, including special furniture or lighting, or large print or Braille versions of texts. 

The exclusions were limited to calculators on the math portion of the test and audio presentations for the English portion, said Phil Garcia, board spokesman. 

The nonprofit Disability Rights Advocates in Oakland sued the state Department of Education in federal court in May on behalf of disabled students who say the exam will disproportionately deny them diplomas. 

The state board asked for a simplified version of a new waiver system to consider at next month’s meeting. 

In California, 600,000 students are enrolled in special education.