Alabama seniors no longer have to fear dropping out of high school because they failed passing all parts of the exit exam.
In Montgomery on Thursday, the State Board of Education adopted the first choice diploma.
The major changes include: All students must apply for the advanced endorsement diploma. However, students can still get their high school diploma if they pass at least three of five parts of the exit exam.
The crowd at Thursday morning’s State Board of Education meeting approved of its unanimous decision to make changes to the diploma and exit exam requirements.
"We came to express our desires and hope that they would realize that taking the test doesn't prove anything other than you're taking the test," said Tom King, a Shades Valley High School parent.
Tom and Della King were among the half dozen parents who urged the board to approve the changes.
The King family went to Montgomery to speak on behalf of their son who failed the social studies part of the exit exam by just two points. But thanks to the board's action today to make it effective immediately, the King’s son will graduate with his class this month.
"So that means that now, our son will be able to graduate, where as before, he wouldn't have been able to graduate because of those two points," Della King said.
Students who are on track to receive an advanced endorsement diploma will still have to pass all five parts of the exit exam. But those who struggle with it will now be eligible for a credit-based diploma, ensuring all students have the opportunity to graduate from high school.
"And I think it's going to be a wonderful tool to entice more, especially high-tech companies to come to Alabama, because we're going to have a work force waiting on them." State Superintendent Dr. Joseph Morton said.
Many parents also complained that students don't know which parts of the test they failed. They could then zero in and study a particular subject such as history, English or math.
Dr. Morton said he will address that with the exit exam committee.
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