When the competency requirement for graduation was added to State Law, New Mexico added a provision that said if a student was ready to exit high school and had not completed all of the graduation requirements a certificate of completion would be issued instead of a Diploma of Excellence.
Leighann Lenti, Deputy Secretary of the New Mexico Public Education Department says a certificate of completion could be issued if a student is short of any graduation requirements, not just if they are missing their testing requirements.
“State Law actually requires that districts provide students with a certificate outlining what graduation requirements they’ve already met and what’s remaining if they haven’t fully graduated with a diploma,” Lenti said.
Many colleges will accept the Certificate of Completion as a pre-requisite for admission, but that is determined by the institution. Both New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico will accept it for admittance. However, according to NMSU’s Financial Aid Office, students are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid unless they have received a high school diploma.
Tim Hand, director of Assessment, Analysis and Research for Las Cruces Public School says they have been working with students and parents to make sure they are aware of all the implications.
“What we’ve advised parents and what we’ve advised students,” Hand said. “Is this really does differ from institution to institution. But we have been talking closely with NMSU and DACC, and our understanding is yes you can apply; yes the Federal funding is up in the air if you don’t have the Diploma of Excellence.”
Although students would not have access to Federal Financial Aid, they would still be eligible to receive a New Mexico Lottery Scholarship.
Lenti says that as part of the law, the certificate of completion will state which graduation requirements a student was missing in order to receive a Diploma of excellence.
“New Mexico Statute says that I can’t get a Diploma because I haven’t met the requirements laid out in Law, but my district shall give me a Certificate of Completion showing what I’ve already accomplished and what’s still left. So, I have that opportunity to maybe do a credit recovery program, so I can get my diploma in the next year, things of that nature.”
Lenti says students shouldn’t worry if they are unable to pass the PARCC test because they can complete their graduation requirements through the Alternate Demonstration of Competency.
“Even if you’re not proficient in PARCC after your first and second attempt, “ Lenti said. “You do then have those ADC opportunities to show you’re on grade level, so you can get that diploma.”
The ADC requirements are determined by each individual school district, so students should check to make sure they have completed all obligations.
