JAY – The School Committee has drafted a revised policy on participation in the high school graduation ceremony.

It is set for review by a committee comprised of school personnel, students, parents and School Committee member Marga Hutchinson on Jan. 28 and a final recommendation at the School Committee’s February meeting, Chairwoman Mary Redmond-Luce said.

Under the Requirements for Participation in the Graduation Ceremony, graduation exercises will include those students who are eligible for a diploma prior to the ceremony as certified by the principal.

No student who has completed the requirements for graduation shall be denied a diploma as a disciplinary measure. A student may be denied participation in the graduation ceremony when personal conduct warrants the exclusion of the student, the policy states.

Students with extenuating circumstances that make them ineligible to participate in graduation under this policy may request a review of the personal circumstances by the building principal and the superintendent of schools.

The request to participate in a walking capacity during the ceremony may be considered, granted or denied by the principal and superintendent.

Requests shall be considered up to one month before the date of the graduation ceremony.

“In no instance will a diploma be given to students who do not meet credit and other requirements for graduation,” the policy states. “Suspended or expelled students are not eligible to participate as graduates or walkers.”

In one of the initial policies being proposed, there was allowance for a student not eligible for a diploma but one credit shy of their program and in good disciplinary standing to participate in the ceremony.

That language does not exist in the new proposal.