Annual graduation requirement waived due to coronavirus

Much to the dismay — or delight — of high school seniors across Idaho, all senior projects are now considered complete.

"I am quite excited about senior project being considered complete," Coeur d'Alene High senior Marissa Johnston said Thursday. "I already have so many other things to stress about since I'm graduating this year. While I'm not happy about why it was taken away, I'm relieved that a huge stressor is off of my shoulders. Now all I have to focus on is online classes and graduating from my phone with possibly no prom."

Students will receive a “pass” grade and credit for their senior projects. The Idaho State Board of Education waived the project requirement for the class of 2020 when it ordered public school closure. High schools may offer ways to celebrate seniors who completed their projects.

"This year's seniors have worked hard on their senior projects and completed the senior paper portion of the project during the first semester," said Coeur d'Alene School District spokesman Scott Maben. "The ongoing restrictions on gatherings will prevent them from being able to finish and present senior projects as scheduled this spring. Therefore, school districts are allowing seniors to receive full credit for the senior project requirement so they are able to graduate on time."

Seniors will still graduate if they're on track to graduate and receive a passing grade for the courses taken in the second semester. This means between the student’s scheduled classes this spring (including any scheduled credit recovery courses) and the student’s accumulated credits as of the end of first semester, the student would meet the credit requirements for graduation. The civics test is still a graduation requirement per state law.

Most seniors have already passed that assessment. The district will communicate and work with seniors who haven’t.

The Coeur d'Alene School District is unsure how commencement ceremonies will be affected. The Lake City High Senior Ball is tentatively scheduled for May 2. The CHS Senior Ball is tentatively set for May 23.

Visit www.cdaschools.org/faq for more school closure FAQs.