Bill Text: NJ S459 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Prohibits a student from participating in high school graduation ceremonies unless the student has completed all graduation requirements.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-13 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [S459 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2012-S459-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 459

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

215th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Prohibits a student from participating in high school graduation ceremonies unless the student has completed all graduation requirements.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

  

An Act concerning the participation of students in high school graduation ceremonies and supplementing chapter 7C of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The board of education of a school district shall prohibit a high school student from participating in commencement ceremonies with the student's graduating class unless the student has completed all graduation requirements, including the successful completion of the High School Proficiency Assessment or the Alternative High School Assessment.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires the board of education of a school district to prohibit a high school student from participating in commencement ceremonies with the student's graduating class unless the student has completed all graduation requirements, including the successful completion of the High School Proficiency Assessment or the Alternative High School Assessment.

     High school students must pass either the High School Proficiency Assessment or the Alternative High School Assessment as a condition to graduating in order to measure whether they have gained the knowledge and skills identified in the core curriculum content standards.  In the 2009-2010 school year, the number of high school students in the State who failed to pass the Alternative High School Assessment significantly increased due to changes in the structure of the exam.  In that year, many school districts permitted high school students who did not pass the High School Proficiency Assessment or the Alternative High School Assessment to participate in commencement ceremonies with their graduating class.