Forty-six students from the class of 2015 received a certificate of achievement rather than a diploma, and an as of yet undetermined number in 2016. However, these students can still earn their diplomas, but at their own expense.
The state law, which is set to expire on June 30, required the graduating classes of 2015 and 2016 to take the SAT, ACT or WorkKeys assessment as well as meet credit requirements in order to qualify for a diploma; otherwise, they would be given only a certificate of achievement.
The students who completed their credits but did not take one of those assessments can still receive a diploma by taking the SAT, ACT or WorkKeys at their own expense, according to a press release from the Department of Education and Early Development.
There are a few rules. Students must apply in writing to the school district that issued their certificate of achievement, submit a score report from a test vendor and pay the district’s fee, if any, to issue a diploma.
If a district administers the SAT, ACT or WorkKeys to its students, it must allow holders of a certificate of achievement to take the test at school if they meet registration requirements and pay any fees.
Students do not have to receive a particular score on the assessments to qualify for a diploma. But they must submit a score report from the test vendor.
The SAT and ACT tests cost about $55. The WorkKeys test costs about $22.
