Wake County high school juniors who are waiting on final word from the Board of Education on graduation project requirements will need to wait until the next meeting of the board’s Committee of the Whole to get an answer.
The State Board of Education citing difficulties by school systems across the state in implementing the new requirement that was to be put in place for the graduating class of 2010 has put implementation on hold. There’s a bill before the state legislature to eliminate the graduation project completely.
All Wake County board members were at the board’s Student Achievement Committee meeting today where the graduation project was discussed. Based on state guidelines that do not allow credits or grades being awarded for a graduation project, WCPSS administrators recommended following the state’s action of not requiring the graduation project for 2010, but recognizing students who complete their project.
While the Student Achievement Committee agreed to move forward this recommendation for discussion by the full board in the next Committee of the Whole meeting, board members expressed their commitment to continuing the graduation project, possibly in a modified form, for the future.
Kevin Hill, board vice-chair, said there is real value in the graduation project and he likes the way it supports the 21st century skills students need.
Board member Beverley Clark said the board needs to determine what it wants students to learn through the graduation project and set its own requirements without waiting for the state. Clark suggested the board establish a modified graduation project, possibly for the Class of 2010.
Board member Patti Head agreed the board should make its own requirement, possibly making it voluntary for 2010 and a graduation requirement for 2011.
Board member Eleanor Goettee encouraged finding a way to move forward with the graduation project for 2010, possibly considering it as an independent study for the Class of 2010.
Lori Millberg, chair of the Student Achievement Committee, said she liked the idea of the graduation project not being required for 2010 because some WCPSS schools are ahead of others in implementing it. She wanted to find some incentives that would encourage students already in the process to continue their work.
WCPSS administrators suggested that students in the Class of 2010 who complete the graduation project be recognized with a special chord and marking on their transcript. Board chair Rosa Gill suggested considering additional incentives for completion of the graduation project. She asked if schools might consider completion of the project as another way for seniors to earn exemption from final exams.
Three WCPSS high schools already required students to complete projects. Southeast Raleigh High has a graduation project and Broughton High and Garner High have International Baccalaureate personal projects. The board agreed those three schools should continue forward with the requirements they have in place.
The graduation project allows students to investigate an area of their interest and would require them to complete a project about which they would write an extended paper and make a presentation.