District creates early-graduation policy requiring application, postsecondary plan and readiness criteria

The Jackson Public School District Policy Review Committee on June 10 considered a new Early Graduation policy created to meet a Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) requirement aligned to rule 36.7. The draft sets application procedures, eligibility criteria and review steps for students who wish to graduate before completing eight semesters.

Marsha Thomas, assistant superintendent for high schools, told the committee MDE required districts to establish a consistent early graduation process and that the district’s draft defines early graduation as completing required coursework and standards prior to eight semesters. The policy requires an application and specifies eligibility criteria intended to ensure students have an actual postsecondary plan — for work, college, military or other structured next steps — rather than leaving school without a plan simply because they have accumulated credits early.

Eligibility requirements in the draft include meeting minimum graduation requirements and earning a traditional diploma with an endorsement (such as a CTE endorsement, JROTC endorsement, an academic or distinguished endorsement), making clear that a bare traditional diploma without endorsement is not sufficient. Additional criteria include meeting ACT college-readiness benchmarks in ELA and math, completing the FAFSA, earning a Silver score on ACT WorkKeys or a CTE credential, completing dual-credit coursework, passing end-of-course exams and completing at least one Carnegie unit of work-based learning. The draft allows limited exceptions: students who will turn 18 by Dec. 1 of the current year, students retained in prior grades, or students facing documented hardship may be considered; hardship determinations are subject to administrative review by assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent or superintendent (or designee).

The policy also states an application can be terminated if a student’s grades, attendance or behavior decline. Thomas said the district had 11 students graduate early this year but many more requested early graduation and were denied because they had not met the requirements or lacked postsecondary plans. Committee members connected the policy to the district strategic commitment to ensure each scholar has a postsecondary plan and recommended the district emphasize counseling and planning during implementation. No formal vote was recorded at the committee meeting; staff invited questions and said the draft would be presented with clarifications as it moves toward full board consideration.