By Betsy Finklea
Did you successfully complete the required number of credits to graduate from high school but then failed the exit exam and was denied your diploma?
If so, then by petitioning the school district, you may be able to still receive your diploma if you meet the requirements. Lynn Liebenrood, Dillon District Four’s Director of Student Services, discussed the ACT 155 Diploma Procedures at the District Four Board of Trustees meeting on Monday. According to Liebenrood, the General Assembly approved the removal of the exit exam as a graduation requirement with the Class of 2015.
The exit exam is also known as the BSAP or HSAP test. The removal of this requirement is retroactive to the graduating class of 1990. Liebenrood said a person no longer enrolled in a public school who was denied graduation solely for failing to meet the exit exam may petition the local board to determine his or her eligibility. The person must meet the unit/credit requirements and will have to have the full number of credits to qualify.
For people graduating between1990-2000, the number of credits required to graduate was 20. The unit requirements were:
English/Language Arts – 4.0
Mathematics -3.0
Natural Science -2.0
U.S. History and Constitution-1.0
Economics – 0.5
U.S. Government -0.5
Other Social Studies -1.0
Electives -8.0
Total-20.0
For people graduating between 2001-2014, the number of credits required to graduate is 24. The unit requirements are:
English/Language Arts-4.0
Mathematics -4.0
Science-3.0
U.S. History and Constitution-1.0
Economics-0.5
U.S. Government-0.5
Other Social Studies-1.0
Physical Education or Junior ROTC -1.0
Computer Science (including Keyboarding)-1.0
Foreign Language or Career and Technology Education-1.0
Electives -7.0
Total -24.0
Liebenrood said that people who believe they are eligible to receive their diploma must come in person to one of the high school guidance offices in Dillon or Lake View or the Technology Center and fill out a form and present an ID. All petitions must be filed by December 31, 2015. Liebenrood said she has already received two requests and one inquiry. While it is not known exactly how many people this will affect, it is estimated that it could be as many as 200 to 250 people countywide.
