Governor Nathan Deal signed House Bill 91 into law on March 30, thereby creating new code section, O.C.G.A. §20-2-281.1. This law provided that students shall no longer be required to earn a passing score on any graduation tests to earn a high school diploma. The law also contains additional details and requirements regarding the ability of students no longer enrolled to petition the local board of education for a diploma and a requirement for local school systems to advertise the availability of this opportunity for students whose sole reason for not receiving a high school diploma was due to not passing any part of the graduations tests.

Beginning April 15, 2015, Valdosta High School’s Guidance Department will begin accepting petition forms from students who enrolled in the 9^th grade after July 1, 1981, satisfied all course requirements and who met the following conditions:

• no longer enrolled in a Georgia public school;
• was denied graduation solely for failing to achieve a passing score on one or more portions of the Georgia High School Graduation Tests or its predecessor or the Georgia High School Writing Test or its predecessor;
• meet the eligibility requirements for a high school diploma pursuant to O.C.G.A. §20-2-281.1 based upon the year the student entered the 9^th grade for the first time.

If petitioners meet these conditions, they can complete a one-page petitioner form. The completed and signed petitioner form along with a scanned/copied image of a government issued identification can be delivered or mailed to Valdosta High School, Attn: Records (Petition), 4590 Inner Perimeter Road, Valdosta, GA 31601 or emailed to cwright@gocats.org. The petitioner’s cumulative school record will be reviewed to determine if all requirements have been met. Petitioners will be notified regarding the final status of the petition. If all requirements have been met, information will be included regarding diploma pick up.

For more information please contact the VHS Guidance Office at (229) 333-8540.