Students Provided Additional Options for Graduation

March 20, 2014

JACKSON, Miss. – Beginning this school year, students who take end-of-course subject area tests have additional options to meet graduation requirements through approved alternate measures.

The State Board of Education recently approved a new policy that establishes several options for students who have failed to pass an exam in the Subject Area Test Program (SATP) after taking the test two times. The options range from a minimum ACT score in the subject area to national certification in a career and technical field. Students can earn national certifications that will lead to work opportunities and/or credit.

“The Board felt strongly that we should provide options for students who lacked passing scores on one or more subject area tests if the student is able to demonstrate readiness to transition to college or the work force through other assessment measures,” said Dr. Wayne Gann, Board chairman.

The following options are available for the subject area tests in Algebra I, Biology I, English II, and U.S. History:

1. Obtain a score of 17 or higher in the specific subject area on the ACT. 
2. Earn a C or higher in an entry level, credit-bearing dual enrollment/dual credit /college credit course. 
3. Obtain an Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) score of 36 plus one of the following:
   1. Earn a CPAS (Career Planning and Assessment System) score that meets the attainment level assigned by Federal Perkins requirements.
   2. Earn an approved Industry Certification as specified in the Career Pathway’s Assessment Blueprint and outlined in Appendix A-5 in the current edition of the Mississippi Public  School Accountability Standards.
4. Obtain the Silver Level on the ACT WorkKeys plus one of the following:
   1. Earn a CPAS (Career Planning and Assessment System) score that meets the attainment level assigned by Federal Perkins requirements. 
   2. Earn an approved Industry Certification as specified in the Career Pathway’s Assessment Blueprint and in Appendix A-5 in the current edition of the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards.

While it is possible that a student will meet one of the options listed before taking the subject area test, the policy states that a student is eligible to use any of these options once he or she has failed to pass any required end-of-course subject area test twice.

Additional information about the new graduation options can be found a www.mde.k12.ms.us/3804.

Media Contact: 
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706 

Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519