At the April 11, 2024, State Board of Education (SBE) meeting, the Board adopted rules that modify the Graduation Requirements Emergency Waiver (GREW) for students graduating in the 2023-2024 school year whose education was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The adopted rules allow school districts to waive the graduation pathway requirement with certain limitations, in addition to permitting a waiver of up to one credit requirement.

Specifically, the rules:

• Allow authorized school district to waive the graduation pathway requirement for individual students graduating in 2024 provided that the district has not also waived a core course requirement in the same subject for that student.

For example:

• If a student is granted a waiver of up to one math credit, then the student must meet a graduation pathway option in math but may have the graduation pathway requirement in English waived. 
• If a student is granted a waiver of up to one English credit, then the student must meet a graduation pathway option in English but may have the graduation pathway requirement in math waived.
• If a student has no credits waived, or if a credit is waived in a subject other than English or math, then the student may have the pathway requirement waived in both English and math.
• Note: the ASVAB and CTE pathways address both English and math, so a student completing either of these pathways would not need a waiver of the pathway requirement. A student granted a credit waiver in English or math may not receive a waiver of the ASVAB or CTE pathway.

In addition, state law requires specific conditions to be met in order for waivers to be granted. For more information, see these resources:

• Rules
• Emergency Waiver Program Webpage
• FAQ
• Graphic summary

New rules go into effect a month after the rules are officially filed, so districts may plan on being able to use the waiver, but should not grant waivers to individual students until after mid-May.

Important Note: The Graduation Requirements Emergency Waiver (GREW) is being phased out. This is the last school year when graduating students may be granted emergency waivers due to COVID-19 disruptions. This emergency waiver program will not be available in the 2024-25 school year.