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Board revises graduation policy to allow district diplomas for some HSED students (retroactive to 2024–25)
Summary
The Bangor School Board approved revisions to policy 5460 to permit awarding a Bangor district diploma to students who complete an HSED but do not meet community-service hours, with the change applied retroactively to the 2024–25 year; the board emphasized that participation in commencement still requires community service hours.
The Bangor School Board approved revisions to policy 5460 that create a "Bangor district diploma" pathway for some students who complete an HSED (High School Equivalency Diploma) but do not meet the district’s community-service hours required for a standard Bangor High School diploma. The board voted to make the policy changes effective for the 2024–25 school year.
Rick, who introduced the proposal, said administrators had tried multiple outreach methods — certified mail, phone calls and emails — to help students complete required service hours. He said the proposed approach preserves the special nature of commencement while allowing the district to count some students as completers for reporting purposes. “When they finish their HSED, they have their equivalency… the thought was if they don't finish community service, they can't go through our ceremony, but we could give a district diploma,” Rick said.
Supporters argued the change balances recognition of student effort with the district's expectation that community service is part of the Bangor diploma. Administrators reported that four students were on an alternative pathway this year; two completed HSED and the district’s requirements and two did not. Board members discussed the potential effect on graduation-rate reporting and confirmed the district would maintain the community-service requirement for participation in the ceremony.
A board member moved to approve the attached revisions to policy 5460 and make the changes effective for the 2024–25 school year; the motion was seconded and carried.
The action changes district policy language to distinguish a Bangor High School diploma (regular pathway with community-service hours) from a Bangor district diploma for certain alternative-pathway completers. The board directed staff to apply the revised policy to the 2024–25 year and to continue outreach to students and families about requirements for ceremony participation.
