States are increasingly allowing high schools to move away from traditional course-seat-time requirements for graduation and allowing competency-based assessments, grade point average, class rank, and course rigor as indicators that students are ready for college.
A report released last week by the Education Commission of the States, reviews the trend toward greater flexibility in how students demonstrate proficiency.
As of this school year, 47 states have set minimum high school graduation requirements, according to the ecs. Of those, 18 or more are completely or partially aligned course requirements for high school graduation with state- or systemwide college-admission standards.
A growing number of states are offering competency-based assessments for students to show their content mastery, the report says. And some districts now require students to provide a portfolio of their work to reflect their learning.
The ecs notes that some higher education institutions have expanded admission requirements to recognize such alternative indicators.
