The state's estimated 86,000 high school seniors won't be prevented from graduating just because the governor shut down ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ schools through the end of the academic year.
Without dissent, the state Board of Education adopted an emergency rule Tuesday morning that bars school districts and charter schools from withholding academic credit or a diploma "solely because the student missed instructional time due to a school closure issued by the governor."
The rule also says that schools, in determining if a student meets the minimum course and competency requirements may consider whether that person has successfully completed the educational opportunities that were provided during the days the schools where shuttered. That can include both online instruction and independent study that may be through printed materials.
But the rule does have an escape clause of sorts if there is no ability to determine if a student actually has been doing anything while at home. In that case, schools can decide that a student has met the requirements if he or she "was on track to meet the minimum course of study and competency requirements prior to the school closure."
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As far as graduation ceremonies go, officials are leaving those decisions to local school districts.
Photos for March 27: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ gets by during coronavirus pandemic
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus, tattoos
The doors are still open at Sacred Art Tattoo on 1024 E. 6th St., as of Friday, March 27, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Seth Nadeau, left, and his son Anthony Nadeau get out of the house for a couple of game so horse under cloudy skies on the courts at Christ Church United Methodist, March 27, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Victoria Quintero, 5, holds her sign as her mother, Vanessa, waves to the teachers and administrators from John E. White Elementary School and Pistor Middle School during a Car Parade through the neighborhood on March 27, 2020. The teachers and administrators drove their cars through the neighborhood to say hello to their students from their cars.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Teachers and administrators from John E. White Elementary School and Pistor Middle School cheer and wave to their students during a Car Parade through the neighborhood on March 27, 2020. The teachers and administrators drove their cars through the neighborhood to say hello to their students from their cars.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Standing, Kai Morales, left, and his twin brother, Kristian, hold up their signs as Karim, 9, and their mother, Angelica, sit in the bed of the truck along W. Nebraska Street during a Car Parade on March 27, 2020. The teachers and administrators drove their cars through the neighborhood to say hello to their students from their cars.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Students of John E. White Elementary School and Pistor Middle School stand along W. Nebraska Street and wave to their teachers during a Car Parade on March 27, 2020. The teachers and administrators drove their cars through the neighborhood to say hello to their students from their cars.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Teachers and administrators from John E. White Elementary School and Pistor Middle School line up along W. Canada Street before the start of their Car Parade on March 27, 2020. The teachers and administrators drove their cars through the neighborhood to say hello to their students from their cars.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
The noted bull testicles on the statue outside Casa Molina at Speedway and Wilmot, usually painted in various schemes and wild colors, now sporting a surgical mask.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Pfc. Gustavo Escalera, of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Guard, waves in the next car to his station at the Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Community Food Bank on March 27, 2020. The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Guard has been activated to help the demanding need to fill and handout food boxes for people in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and five counties in southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Thirty troops arrived in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on Thursday and another thirty are expected. According to Spc. John Randall, the troops are here to fill in the gaps in logistics to help keep up the production of putting together and handing out food boxes.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Spc. Nicholas McCormick, of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Guard, waits for the next car to pull up at the Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Community Food Bank.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Spc. Emilio Maldonado, of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Guard, pushes a several bags down an assembly line at the Community Food Bank of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on March 26, 2020. The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Guard has been activated to help the demanding need to fill food boxes for people in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and five counties in southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Spc. Gabriel Molina, of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Guard, fills bags with food items on an assembly line at the Community Food Bank of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on March 26, 2020. The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ National Guard has been activated to help the demanding need to fill food boxes for people in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and five counties in southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Hoover Zhu, owner of Old Peking, poses for a portrait inside a closed Old Peking at Old Peking , 2522 E. Speedway Blvd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on March 25, 2020. Zhu closed Old Peking on Thursday March 25 due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Chef Du Liyuan makes a take out order at Chef Wang, 356 E. Grant Rd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on March 25, 2020. Chef Wang, a local Chinese restaurant, is open for take out but is considering closing due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Before Tuesday’s change in policy, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ residents traveling to New York had to quarantine for 14 days. New Jersey and Connecticut also removed their travel restrictions.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
An empty baggage carousel at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ International Airport, on March 26, 2020.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Wendy Fu, owner of Chef Wang, processes a take out order at Chef Wang, 356 E. Grant Rd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on March 25, 2020. Chef Wang, a local Chinese restaurant is open for take out but is considering closing due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Chairs tilted in on tables at La Cocina located at 201 N. Court Avenue, on March 26, 2020.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Sun sets over a dark and locked Hi Corbett Stadium, home to the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats baseball team, as the city begins its second week under COVID19 restrictions, March 26, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Downtown Congress Streets is mostly deserted just before 8 p.m. as the city begins its second week under COVID19 restrictions, March 26, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
The lanterns from the Reid Park Zoo's Asian Lantern Festival sit in a fenced compound after the zoo's closure ended the display weeks early as the city begins its second week under COVID19 restrictions, March 26, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Residents stay spaced while out getting some air and watching the Rillito River flow near Craycroft as the city begins its second week under COVID19 restrictions, March 26, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Jayden Simmons, right, 12, runs football drills with coach Bobby Rodriguez, owner of Jet Sports Training, at Silverlake Park, in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on March 25, 2020. Due to gyms being closed, Rodriguez is taking classes and training outside to parks with little to no equipment.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
A man wearing a mask watches traffic go by while waiting for the bus on N. Alvernon Rd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on March 25, 2020.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus
Gloves, a mask and hand sanitizer sit on the counter at Chef Wang, 356 E. Grant Rd., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on March 25, 2020. Chef Wang, a local Chinese restaurant is open for take out but is considering closing due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
