Requirements Change For Alabama Diplomas

By Steve Alexander Reporter

Change involves high school exit exam Requirements Change For Alabama Diplomas

Published: Thu, May 08, 2008 - 8:49 pm

Steve Alexander

The Alabama Board of Education has voted to change the requirements for a high school diploma.
But the change is voluntary for this year.
In the past, seniors had to pass all five sections of the high school exit exam to graduate.
The change allows seniors to pass only three sections.
Two of the sections, however, have to be math and reading.
Randy McKinney, member of the Alabama Board of Education, says, "It will be a different type of diploma. It will be a credit-based diploma and it will be noted on their diploma, but they will still be able to get into a university. And the other three sections are science, social studies and language, so some of those students may never take another science class in their lives anyway."
Officials with the Mobile County School System say the school board is expected to vote at its meeting Monday afternoon on whether the change will apply to this year's graduating seniors.
They say if its approved, the change would affect about 80 students.
In Baldwin County, school officials say the change will apply to graduating seniors this year.
Terry Wilhite with the Baldwin County School System says, "There's a mad scurry going across Baldwin County right now, number one, to inform these students, and number two, to prepare for their graduation which begins, by the way, as early as Monday night."
Seniors still have to have the necessary credit hours to graduate.