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Commission on School Accreditation asks State Board to start rulemaking for early high‑school graduation
Summary
The commission voted to request that the State Board of Education begin the Administrative Procedures Act process to adopt State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.7, an Early Graduation Policy that would let local districts set procedures for students to graduate before completing eight semesters of high school.
The Commission on School Accreditation voted Tuesday to ask the State Board of Education to begin the Administrative Procedures Act process to adopt State Board Policy Chapter 36, Rule 36.7, an Early Graduation Policy that would allow local school districts to establish procedures for students who complete graduation requirements before finishing eight semesters of high school.
Commission staff said the policy would be optional for districts and designed to ensure early graduates have a documented plan for college or the workforce. "Early graduation is defined for this policy [as] a successful completion of all existing standards required by both state and respective districts prior to completing 8 semesters of high school work from the start of grade 9," presenter Wendy Clemons told the commission.
Under the proposal, local education agencies must adopt a district policy, establish an application process that places the student's postsecondary plan in the cumulative folder, and require parental or guardian consent for students younger than 18. Clemons said an approved application must be signed by the school counselor and the local high school principal so school staff are "aware that the student will graduate prior to their cohort."
The draft policy sets timing and minimum evidence for students seeking to graduate more than one semester early: applications due prior to the end of the first semester of the student's junior year and completion of at least one of the following before approval — documented readiness for gateway college courses (FAFSA/ACT concordance or comparable measure), an industry credential, at least nine hours of academic dual‑enrollment credit including Composition I and college algebra, passing scores on required end‑of‑course assessments, or completion of a credit‑bearing work‑based learning class or 140 hours of work‑based experience that could lead to sustainable employment.
Clemons also emphasized safeguards: a district may terminate an early‑graduation application at any time for academic, behavioral, or attendance concerns. The proposal directs districts to report early graduates to the Mississippi Student Information System (MSIS) using the appropriate withdrawal code (for example, C1) so students who meet requirements are not excluded from graduation‑rate calculations if coded correctly.
Commission Chair Pamela Manors called for a motion to send the proposal to the State Board of Education to begin rulemaking. The motion to submit the request was moved by Anthony Bryant and seconded by Dr. Carl Evers. The commission adopted the motion by voice vote; the chair announced, "The motion carries."
