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Families urge passage of bill allowing posthumous and memorial diplomas
Summary
Sponsors and family members described HB 12-74, which would allow local school systems to award standard, posthumous honorary, and in memoriam diplomas to deceased students who meet eligibility thresholds; witnesses told personal stories about the meaning of diplomas to grieving families.
Delegate April Miller presented House Bill 12-74, which would authorize local school systems to award a standard high school diploma, a posthumous honorary diploma, or an in memoriam diploma to deceased students who meet specified eligibility criteria. The bill requires local systems to determine credit thresholds and that diplomas be awarded only upon written request by a parent, guardian or next of kin.
Several family members spoke in support. Sean Johnson, father of a son who died by suicide in 2019, said a posthumous diploma presented by his son’s school "told my family that living does not entirely stop when someone dies" and described it as a meaningful symbol of inclusion. Liz Vickers, who lost a child at age six, described an honorary diploma as a way to honor a child's place in the community and called the measure a small but important gesture for grieving families.
Sponsor April Miller noted the bill received favorable input from MSDE and the State Board and said the diplomas would be ceremonial and not count toward graduation-rate calculations. Committee members asked clarifying questions about eligibility thresholds and whether diplomas could be included in official statistics; witnesses emphasized that posthumous diplomas are ceremonial and meant to support family healing.
The hearing concluded without a vote.
