ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s estimated 86,000 high school seniors won’t be prevented from graduating just because the governor shut down schools statewide through the end of the academic year.
But there were only questions — and no immediate answers — about to how to make up the loss of nearly a third of the academic year for students in the lower grades.
Without dissent, the state Board of Education adopted an emergency rule Tuesday 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.â€
The rule also says that schools, in determining if a student meets the minimum course and competency requirements, may consider whether the student has successfully completed the educational opportunities — online or printed — that were provided while schools where shuttered.
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If it cannot be determined whether a student actually has been doing anything while at home, the school 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.â€
What that can include, the rule says, is whether the student was passing all of his or her courses. Also acceptable would be passing scores on locally or nationally administered academic assessments.
That decision ultimately would be made by local school officials.
And the rule spells out that when schools determine that students are entitled to academic credits and to graduate, that they get their transcripts and diplomas “in the same manner†as if there had not been a closure.
Kathy Hoffman, the state superintendent of public instruction and a member of the board, told Capitol Media Services after the meeting that her aim and that of the board is to ensure that students are given the benefit of the doubt and get to graduate, even if they didn’t do any work at all since schools were shuttered on March 16.
“There are definitely situations across the state where students are not going to be able to access high-quality curriculum, whether that’s because they don’t have the ability to get online, or they’re sick, or their family’s sick,†she said, saying there are “so many unique circumstances.â€
“I definitely would not encourage anybody to stop trying or stop working to access high-quality instruction and curriculum,†Hoffman said. “I just think we need to be honest that there’s going to be situations in which students don’t have the ability to meet all the typical expectations we would have during a normal school year.â€
Students and their parents urged board members through email to tell high schools to delay but not cancel graduation.
Yoly Martinez said that seniors have worked hard for years while helping families and holding a job at the same time.
“It would be cruel if we do not find a way to celebrate their success thus far in their lives,†she wrote. “For some, it may even leave a mark saying all you’ve worked for tirelessly in the past years means nothing.â€
She suggested a ceremony where each student got only two tickets with a requirement “to keep the social distancing.â€
A senior at Mountain Pointe High School in Tempe, whose name was redacted from the public version of the email, said students have been waiting 12 years — or, as she put it, 105,120 hours — to walk across the stage.
“Please let the seniors have this one thing, to see the teachers who changed their lives and to walk across with the friends they stressed about grades with, and the friends and family who pushed them to be great to get to that stage,†the email reads.
How graduations will be celebrated, however, is being left up to local school districts.
Board member Armando Ruiz said he believes that most high schools will find an “innovative way to celebrate graduation.â€
Hoffman agreed, saying she has spoken with some school superintendents about finding creative solutions.
For example, she said, one superintendent is looking at bringing in students one at a time, having each record a video message. Those messages then would be compiled into a graduation video.
Graduation ceremony arrangements have not been determined in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s largest school district, TUSD, said spokeswoman Karla Escamilla. The governing board will discuss options, including possible postponement, at its April 7 meeting.
In Marana, Superintendent Doug Wilson said the district is looking for alternative ways to celebrate and acknowledge student milestones like promotions, end of year celebrations and graduation ceremonies.
“While much remains uncertain right now, one thing is for sure: We are seeking out new ways to stay connected and together,†he said. “We will get through this.â€
Other ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥-area school districts are also taking graduation arrangements under consideration.
“NO EASY SOLUTIONâ€
High school graduation aside, Ruiz separately worried about the larger effects the shutdown will have on students.
“It’s going to take from three to five years for kids to catch up,†he said. Ruiz was particularly focused on students in the lower grades — and particularly from families who lack access to the internet. He figures that category could equal about 170,000 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ children who do not have access to remote learning.
“I’ve heard people say you can do packets,†Ruiz said, sending home materials. But he said that’s not an answer.
“Parents are often ill-prepared to teach their kids at home,†he said.
For example, he said, there are children who come from homes where the parents speak only Spanish and lack any way of getting help.
“This is going to be an ongoing challenge for our state,†Hoffman said. “There’s no easy solution to make it up.â€
Aside from working with business leaders, the schools chief said the state can make this a priority for the use of federal funds it expects to get.
“This will definitely be a multi-year project,†she said. “It’s not something we can fix overnight.â€
In adopting the rules for graduation, board members declined to consider several suggestions for alterations.
In a filing with the board, a group of school superintendents wanted a requirement to keep community colleges, universities and other post-secondary institutions from revoking already-issued admission letters which were contingent on successful completion of the school year.
Hoffman, however, said the board does not regulate these institutions and has no legal right to direct what they do.
They also suggested — and the state board did not consider — a “better but not worse†grading policy that allows students to use the time schools are closed to not only take advantage of learning opportunities but also make up missed work or retake exams. That would allow teachers at the end of the school year to update grades, but only to improve them and not to lower them.
Board members in their discussion did not explain their decision not to consider those recommendations. But Hoffman said that doesn’t mean the concerns were being ignored, saying the board still could take up these issues at a regular meeting.
“Today my intention was to prioritize and take care of some of the high-need areas,†she said.
Photos for March 27: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ gets by during coronavirus pandemic
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
On Twitter: @azcapmedia. Star reporter Danyelle Khmara contributed to this story.