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Graduation projects: One system opts out

Catawba County Schools ends requirement; Newton-Conover, Hickory to keep initiative

WHAT THE PROJECTS REQUIRED

• A six- to 10-page research paper

• 15 hours on their product

• A portfolio

• An eight- to 10-minute oral presentation

• 15 hours with a mentor

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: June 18, 2009

HICKORY - The N.C. General Assembly recently passed a law stating that high school seniors won't be required to complete a graduation project for the next two years.

Rising seniors shouldn't celebrate too soon.

Just because the state passed this law doesn't mean the local school districts can't require it. A provision in the law specifically states, "local boards of education may, however, require their students to complete a high school graduation project."

The law removes the requirement while the Program Evaluation Division of the General Assembly studies the cost and effectiveness of the graduation project. The results of the study will be finished and reported by July 1, 2010. The graduation project cannot be a requirement for high school graduation prior to July 1, 2011.

One of the biggest complaints about it is the cost to run a background check on every person who will be a mentor to seniors. Working with a mentor is a required component of the graduation project.

Catawba County Schools, Newton-Conover City Schools and Hickory Public Schools all required their juniors to start the graduation project this year.

Catawba County Schools

Juniors did an abbreviated version of the graduation project this year, with a three- to five-page research paper, at least five hours on their product, a portfolio, five hours with a mentor and a five-minute oral presentation.

Catawba County Schools is the only system in Catawba County that will not require its rising seniors to complete the graduation projects they started by the time they graduate. It will adhere to the state recommendations, and restart the project with the junior class in fall 2010, according to a release from Catawba County Schools.

"Assuming the study is completed and found favorable, we'll re-instate the graduation project in the fall of 2010," said Cheryl Frye, director of secondary education for Catawba County Schools.

Instead of the graduation project, the school system will continue to follow its writing plan. For freshmen, this entails expressive personal narrative; cause and effect papers, definition papers and an annotated bibliography for sophomores; research papers for juniors; and a six to 10 page research paper for seniors.

Catawba County Schools also will "work to refine our program based on the input of this year's pilot class" during the yearlong suspension of the graduation project, according to the press release.

Newton-Conover City Schools

Newton-Conover City Schools plans to continue as scheduled, requiring its rising senior class to complete a graduation project to graduate, said Superintendent Barry Redmond.

"We still feel that it's a great experience and plan to proceed," he said. "I know the government is saying to do away with it, but we still feel that it's worthwhile."

The school system had its juniors take a class this year to help them with research topics, presentation skills, how to cite sources and other things. All juniors also were required to complete a research paper.

Hickory Public Schools

Hickory Public Schools will require seniors to complete a graduation project to graduate, but it will not be exactly like what the state required, said Ann Stalnaker, director of curriculum and instruction.

This year, the juniors were asked to select a topic for their graduation project and write the research paper portion of it. Stalnaker said the incoming junior class will still have to do that.

What the rising seniors will have to do next year to complete their graduation project is what has changed.

"Finding mentors and paying for their background checks is the big concern for the state," Stalnaker said. "It costs us about $35 per background check. To do a background check on a mentor for each person paired with a senior would cost about $8,000 total."

To get around the cost, Hickory Public Schools will keep the graduation project, but eliminate the mentor aspect of it.

"We're keeping the project, because there's a lot of good in it. It will still re-enforce research skills, public speaking and writing," Stalnaker said. "I hate to lose the mentoring aspect, though."

Without a mentor, which would add more depth to the project, she said, students will have to find another avenue to develop a project. Stalnaker said the school system is still figuring out the best way to do that.

"Seniors will still have the paper, which they did as juniors, the portfolio, the presentation and the product. The product is just a question mark right now," Stalnaker said.