Tell Superintendent Graff to let all of our students within 2.25 credits, the potential they can earn in summer school, "walk" in graduation this year!

In a year where we all have been through so much and our Seniors and their families missed out on so many milestones, have experienced loss of family members, violence across our city and country at the hands of police, and so much more, our students deserve to "walk" (stand because of Covid) for graduation this year.

This is the least we can do if we really want to support student Social Emotional Learning and equity in MPS.

Our district serves a majority of students of color and we know that because of systemic racism, this virus has disproportionally hit our BIPOC students and communities. Therefore, if Superintendent Graff moves forward with this plan, it will disproportionately impact our students of color.

Background Information

This guidance was sent out to staff and a warning letter will soon be sent out to students:

To walk in the graduation ceremony Students in the 12th grade must meet the following requirements to participate in the upcoming June graduation ceremony:

· The student must be within .75 credits of the total number of credits needed to graduate.

The .75 number is outdated and arbitrary.

We need to look at the whole child and the whole school year to decide who is "walking" in graduation.

This summer, students can participate in summer school and take 3 quarters per session (3 sessions). So potentially students could take 9 classes and earn 2.25 credits. Because all students can earn 2.25 credits in summer school, that number makes more sense when it comes to graduation ceremony requirements.

The policy below states that the Superintendent shall establish the minimum requirements to walk for graduation.  

https://mps.municipalcodeonline.com/book?type=policies#name=Regulation_5390A:_Eligibility_To_Participate_In_Graduation_Ceremonies

2A: The Superintendent, or Superintendent’s designee, shall establish the minimum requirements of credits earned, distribution of credits earned, and number of state mandated assessments completed successfully for participation in graduation ceremonies.

This is an easy fix.

Tell Superintendent Graff to let all of our students within 2.25 credits, the potential they can earn in summer school, "walk" in graduation this year!