To graduate from high school, students often organize fundraisers, park cleanups or volunteer projects for the elderly.
Those projects have raised thousands of dollars for causes and have made a difference in the community - and could soon disappear.
The state probably will eliminate the high school graduation project requirement starting with the class of 2017, this year's eighth-graders. The move has area superintendents considering whether to abandon the projects or still require them on a district-by-district basis.
In March, the state Board of Education adopted an amendment that would eliminate the requirement. The change must still be officially adopted by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission before taking effect, according to the state.
"Eliminating this provision eliminates a mandate on schools and allows local districts to determine if a final project should be part of the district's graduation requirements," Tim Eller, Department of Education spokesman, said in an email.
Also in March, the state board adopted the final implementation schedule for the Keystone Exams, which are end-of-course assessments to show mastery of specific academic content. The exams will replace the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and will be required to graduate from high school.
Beginning with the class of 2017, the same students who may no longer be required to do graduation projects will be required to pass Keystone Exams in algebra I, biology and literature. A composition exam will be required for the class of 2019, and starting in 2020, students will also be required to pass a civics and government exam.
As educators prepare for the implementation of the Keystone Exam requirement, they are evaluating whether to keep a graduation project.
Abington Heights is considering several options, including a scaled-back project or keeping the course that aids students in the development of the project and accompanying paper, Assistant Superintendent Thomas Quinn, Ph.D., said.
Some projects are research-based, and others are community-service based or include career shadowing. Students write papers based on the project experience and also present their findings.
In Scranton, the district is looking at several options, including scaling back the project requirement, Superintendent William King said.
The projects are often beneficial to the community, and it helps build a sense of civic pride, he said.
"It's one of the few instances where they get to choose what their project is, and it's typically a project of extreme interest to them," Mr. King said. "Any time someone is motivated by something that interests them, it usually ends up being a high-quality project."
Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter