Revised: _______________________


613.1 PARTICIPATION IN COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES (GRADUATION CEREMONY)


I. Background: It is a presumption that the students that “walk” across the stage, wearing a cap and gown are graduating members of the current senior class of that school. It is assumed that these “graduates” have completed the graduation requirements of that local district. Careful inspection reveals that there can be exceptions, and some students that are participating in the ceremony have not completed the graduation requirements and will not actually received their diploma. Schools should address these exceptions with policy to avoid conflict, poor public relations and possible litigation. Some exceptions and recommendations are as follows:

II. Credits, required classes and basic skills tests
Schools may require that all regular education students must accumulate the total credit requirement (24 in 2006) and pass all required classes in order to participate (“walk”) in the graduation ceremony. Many schools allow some tolerance by allowing participation despite being short of the requirement. In these cases the student “walks” across the stage but does not actually receive the diploma until the requirements are completed.

III. Windom will allow participation despite being .5 credit or one class short of the requirements. Additionally, students that complete all graduation class and credit requirements but failed to pass the basic skills test(s) would be allowed to “walk” but not receive a diploma.