Circumstances Affecting Pomp: Policy Questions About Commencement
Commencement ceremonies are a capstone for students — and staff — who have worked for years toward graduation. They also raise questions for administrators, particularly about who may participate in commencement. Your policy manual has answers.
Legal Requirements
The Texas Education Code states that a student may graduate and receive a diploma if the student meets either of the following criteria:
- Successfully completed all state curriculum requirements, performed satisfactorily on applicable state assessments, and complied with financial aid application requirements
- Successfully completed an individualized education program (IEP) [see EIF(LEGAL), High School Diploma]
A student who has successfully completed the curriculum requirements for high school graduation but who has failed up to two end-of-course (EOC) assessments may receive a diploma by meeting additional requirements determined by the individual graduation committee (IGC). The student can either complete a project or prepare a portfolio of work samples in the subject area of the course that demonstrates proficiency in the subject area [see EIF(LEGAL), Individual Graduation Committee].
Districts are required by state law to allow an early graduate who has completed each course required for graduation to participate in graduation ceremonies at the time the student graduates [see FMH(LEGAL), Early Graduates].
State law also requires districts to issue a certificate of attendance to a student who receives special education services and who has completed four years of high school but has not completed the student’s IEP. Districts must allow a student who receives a certificate of attendance to participate in a graduation ceremony with students receiving high school diplomas. A student may participate in only one graduation ceremony under this provision [see FMH(LEGAL), Special Education Students].
Local Choices
Certificates of Coursework Completion
State law gives districts a choice about whether to issue a certificate of coursework completion to a student who has completed all coursework required for graduation but has not completed all EOC assessment requirements [see EI(LEGAL), Certificate of Coursework Completion].
Your district’s choice about certificates of coursework completion is at EI(LOCAL). About 44 percent of districts that provide high school instruction choose to issue certificates of coursework completion, while 56 percent do not.
Many districts that issue certificates of coursework completion are reconsidering this choice since the IGC’s authority allows a student to demonstrate mastery in up to two EOC subject areas. Districts may want to consider whether a student with a certificate of coursework completion is at a disadvantage in pursuing employment or post-secondary education.
Districts can decide whether a student who has received a certificate of coursework completion may participate in commencement ceremonies [see FMH(LEGAL), Certificate of Coursework Completion].
Your district’s choice regarding participation in graduation ceremonies for students who have completed coursework requirements but have not met applicable state testing requirements can be found at FMH(LOCAL). About 50 percent of districts that provide high school instruction allow participation while 50 percent do not.
Students in Disciplinary Placement
Districts also have choices regarding the participation in commencement of students who are in disciplinary placement.
The Texas Education Code prohibits students who are placed in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) for certain reasons from participating in school-sponsored or school-related activities. Your district’s student code of conduct should clearly communicate to parents and students whether a DAEP placement in the second semester ends on the last day of instruction, allowing a student to participate in graduation ceremonies and related activities, or if the DAEP placement continues through graduation and the student is not allowed to participate.
District may also limit a student’s participation in graduation activities, particularly speaking roles, for violating the student code of conduct. Your district’s student code of conduct should specify these limitations. Most districts prohibit students from having speaking roles at graduation if they have engaged in any misconduct during the semester immediately before graduation that resulted in an out-of-school suspension, removal to the DAEP, or expulsion. Please note, however, that TASB Legal Services and Policy Service recommend against disqualifying a student from local graduation honors, such as valedictorian or salutatorian, for misconduct.
Additional Information
For more information related to graduation and commencement, see:
