Education Council of DC Reminder: Graduation Requirements Flexibility

Monday, January 18 - Monday, January 25, 2021

Contact: Justin Tooley   Justin.Tooley@dc.gov  

Sponsored by: Education Council of the District of Columbia

The Council approved emergency legislation providing flexibility from graduation requirements for the 2020-21 school year. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the emergency legislation and it will be effective until Wednesday, March 17, 2021. The law takes the following actions:

• Waives the community service requirement for a senior who would otherwise be eligible to graduate from high school in the 2020-21 school year; and
• Waives the Carnegie Seat Time requirement of 120 hours of classroom instruction for the 2020-21 school year to students in an LEA with an approved continuous education plan.

This flexibility is the same provided to graduates in the 2019-20 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. LEAs may make diploma decisions based on these flexibilities at this time.

Temporary legislation awaits Council action that will extend this flexibility beyond March 2021; this legislation awaits a second reading and action by Mayor Bowser. For questions, please contact Justin Tooley, deputy chief of staff, at Justin.Tooley@dc.gov.