Accountability

Any student who first enrolled in the ninth grade on or after July 1, 1981 and completed all course requirements except passing the graduation tests may apply to receive a high school diploma. Eligibility is defined in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-281.1.

A person who is no longer enrolled in a Georgia public school and who previously failed to receive a high school diploma in this state or was denied graduation solely for failing to achieve a passing score on one or more portions of the Georgia High School Graduation Test or its predecessor or the Georgia High School Writing Test or its predecessor may petition the local board of education in which he or she was last enrolled to determine the student’s eligibility to receive a high school diploma pursuant to this Code section based on the graduation requirements in effect when the student first entered ninth grade. Once the local board of education confers a diploma upon a student meeting such requirements, the local board shall transmit to the Georgia Department of Education in accordance with department procedures the number of diplomas awarded.

Please contact the school from which the student would have graduated and request a Diploma Request Form. A diploma can be issued after school officials confirm the petitioning student meets all remaining graduation requirements. For further assistance, contact Flor Rodriquez in the Whitfield County Schools Office of Assessment and Accountability at (706) 217–6734.

Requests are accepted year round, though students should note the best time to submit requests is between September and April during the regular school year. Expect longer response times when school is not in session. 

1) When did this law take effect? 
Answer: The law took effect upon the Governor’s signature on March 30, 2015. 

2) Which tests are included in the law? 
Answer: The law includes all subjects, forms and versions of the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies), Georgia High School Writing Test, and Basic Skills Tests (Reading, Mathematics, and Writing). These tests are inclusively referred to as “graduation tests” throughout this document. 

3) How far back does this law cover? 
Answer: The law covers all graduation tests, beginning with the Basic Skills Test which was administered to students who enrolled for the first time in grade 9 on or after July 1, 1981. 

4) What should a local school system do if a student currently enrolled has met all graduation requirements except for passing any of the graduation tests? 
Answer: The law states that on or after the effective date of the law, students shall no longer be required to earn a passing score on the graduation tests to earn a high school diploma if the student has otherwise met all state and local graduation requirements.

5) Can a student who is no longer enrolled in a Georgia public school, and did not graduate for the sole reason that he or did not pass all of the graduation tests, still receive a Georgia regular high school diploma? 
Answer: Yes, individuals no longer enrolled in a public school who were denied a high school diploma solely for not achieving a passing score on any of the graduation tests and met all other local and state requirements may submit a petition to the local school system to determine eligibility to receive a high school diploma under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-281.1. 

6) What should a student do if he or she moved from the school system where he or she went to high school? 
Answer: An applicant should make a petition with the school system where he or she last attended high school in Georgia. 

7) Who will determine when all of the graduation requirements have been met?
Answer: The local school system will make the final determination based on the state and local graduation requirements that were in effect when the student entered ninth grade. 

8) Does the law provide a sunset provision for petitioning the local board of education for a diploma? 
Answer: No. 

9) Can a special education student who was previously awarded a special education diploma or a certificate of completion only because he or she had not passed one or more sections of the graduation tests still be awarded a high school diploma? 
Answer: Yes, as long as all other state and local graduation requirements were met to qualify for a regular education diploma. 

10) Can an individual who earned a General Educational Development (GED) certificate and did not receive a regular education diploma solely for not passing the graduation tests submit a petition for a regular education diploma? 
Answer: Yes, if the petitioner was a student who previously failed to receive a high school diploma in this state or was denied graduation solely for failing to achieve a passing score on the graduation tests.  

11) Can an individual who subsequently earned a diploma from a private school and did not receive a regular education diploma from a Georgia public school solely for not passing the graduation tests submit a petition for a regular education diploma? 
Answer: Yes, if the petitioner was a student who previously failed to receive a high school diploma in this state or was denied graduation solely for failing to achieve a passing score on the graduation tests.