Maryland school leaders waive some graduation requirements for high school seniors

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The Maryland State Board of Education voted Tuesday to waive the requirement that high school seniors pass state tests in order to earn a diploma.

State graduation tests will be suspended for the first time since they were put in place in 2009 because the state has cancelled all testing this spring and closed schools until the end of April in response to the new coronavirus pandemic. State leaders shut schools on March 13 as the cases of COVID-19 infections rose.

During a normal spring, high school seniors would need to pass American government, Algebra I and English 10 in order to earn a diploma. Those students who can’t pass the test can opt to do a project that is overseen by a teacher. Students also were required to take the Maryland Integrated Science test, although not pass it. The requirement to take the exam was lifted as well.

Seniors also won’t have to complete service learning hours, usually defined as volunteering in the community, in order to get a diploma this year. And the board voted unanimously to provide waivers for some of the hours needed to complete courses for career technology education students who are getting certifications to become nail technicians, cosmetologists and barbers...

https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-graduation-requirements-waived-20200414-6kculyujdbfezfmyvwbafs2gom-story.html