The federal government sets minimum requirements for how states measure the number students who graduate from high school. This count can include alternative pathways to a high school diploma. This report from the Education Commision of the States outlines three common approaches states take to providing alternative pathways to graduation outside of a regular high school diploma, which include:
- Offering two or more courses of study under a single diploma;
- Adding endorsements or seals to the standard diploma; and,
- Providing one or more diploma options above the standard diploma.
This report is a useful resource for examining how students in different states can achieve a high school diploma.
