69ý

College & Workforce Readiness Data

Data: How Is Coronavirus Changing States’ Graduation Requirements?

By Sarah D. Sparks — April 08, 2020 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Seniors this year are ending their school years amid concern, confusion, and closures, but states and districts are looking for ways to make sure they still successfully launch into their postsecondary education and careers.

Most states have so far changed at least some graduation requirements for the Class of 2020, from eliminating end-of-course tests and exit exams to allowing districts to lower the number of credits students need to graduate or the types of courses they must take. The map and chart below include specific flexibility states are adopting or considering with regard to hours, credits, testing, college dual-enrollment programs, and career-technical programs. In many states, local districts make the final decision on how to award diplomas, though here too, states do provide guidance.

Changes to State Graduation Criteria, Class of 2020

What Kind of Flexibility Do States Give?

While local districts have the most determination in deciding credits and mastery for awarding diplomas, many states have weighed in on particular areas, such as minimum credits, ways of demonstrating course mastery, and how to award credit for dual-enrollment. Click on the dropdown to compare states’ approaches on individual requirements, and check out the guidance tab for links for state documents.

Data Note

A state is considered to have “flexibility offered” if it has made approved changes to its graduation requirements specifically to compensate for pandemic-related disruptions to the Class of 2020’s diploma attainment. A state may make additional flexibility changes; the map will be updated to reflect this. To contribute data or information, please contact ssparks@educationweek.org.

See Also

EdWeek StateByState iStock GettyImagesPlus IMG (1)
Getty
States Coronavirus and Learning: What's Happening in Each State
Education Week Staff, April 3, 2020
1 min read
Christine Pappis, a senior at Newark Memorial High School in Newark, Calif., snapped this screenshot during a 5-hour video call during last Saturday night. Pappis said she uses FaceTime to keep in touch with her friends, since they are not only in school closures, but community lockdown; some of her friends tried to hang out and “ended up with a $400 fine.” The students, in order from top to bottom: Natalie Salcedo, Pifolau Denson, Samantha Gutiérrez, Sabrina Liaw, Christian Bowker (bottom left) and Pappis, bottom right.
Christine Pappis, a senior at Newark Memorial High School in Newark, Calif., snapped this screenshot during a 5-hour video call during last Saturday night. Pappis said she uses FaceTime to keep in touch with her friends, since they are not only in school closures, but community lockdown; some of her friends tried to hang out and “ended up with a $400 fine.” The students, in order from top to bottom: Natalie Salcedo, Pifolau Denson, Samantha Gutiérrez, Sabrina Liaw, Christian Bowker (bottom left) and Pappis, bottom right.

Source: State Web sites, guidance documents, interviews, and news reports.

Reporting & Analysis: Sarah D. Sparks

Visualization: Laura Baker

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
AI and Educational Leadership: Driving Innovation and Equity
Discover how to leverage AI to transform teaching, leadership, and administration. Network with experts and learn practical strategies.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School Climate & Safety Webinar
Investing in Success: Leading a Culture of Safety and Support
Content provided by 
Assessment K-12 Essentials Forum Making Competency-Based Learning a Reality
Join this free virtual event to hear from educators and experts working to implement competency-based education.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

College & Workforce Readiness The Way 69ý Offer CTE Classes Is About to Change. Here's How
The revision could lead to significant shifts in the types of jobs schools highlight, and the courses students are able to take.
4 min read
Photo of student working with surveying equipment.
E+
College & Workforce Readiness Even in Academic Classes, 69ý Focus on Building 69ý' Workforce Skills
69ý work on meeting academic standards. What happens when they focus on different sets of skills?
11 min read
69ý participate in reflections after a day of learning in Julia Kromenacker’s 3rd grade classroom at Old Mill Elementary School in Mt. Washington, Ky. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
69ý participate in reflections after a day of learning in Julia Kromenacker’s 3rd grade classroom at Old Mill Elementary School in Mt. Washington, Ky., on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. The Bullitt County district that includes Old Mill Elementary has incorporated a focus on building more general life skills, like collaboration, problem-solving, and communication, that community members and employers consistently say they want from students coming out of high school.
Sam Mallon/Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness Preparing for the Workforce Can Start as Early as 1st Grade. What It Looks Like
Preparing students for college and career success starts well before high school—and it doesn’t only involve occupation-specific training.
5 min read
Jenna Bray, a 1st grade teacher at Old Mill Elementary School in Mt. Washington, Ky., helps her student Lucas Joiner on an online learning assignment on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
Jenna Bray, a 1st grade teacher at Old Mill Elementary School in Mt. Washington, Ky., helps student Lucas Joiner on an online learning assignment on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. The Bullitt County district, which includes Old Mill Elementary, has incorporated a focus on equipping students with more general life skills—like communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving—that employers and community members consistently say they want from students coming out of high school.
Sam Mallon/Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness What the Research Says How Well Do Dual-Credit 69ý Do in College? A Look in Charts
New data show some students get more access—and more leverage—from taking postsecondary classes in high school.
3 min read
Illustration of students
Muhamad Chabib alwi/iStock/Getty