Chicago's Graduation Policy Doesn't Make the Grade

Getting a high-school diploma in Chicago, the third-largest school district in the U.S., will soon depend not only on your past grades but also on your future plans. The new requirement is well-intended, but the city's students will need a lot of help to fulfill it.

Starting in 2020, all the city's public high school seniors will have to present proof of a "post-secondary plan" in order to graduate. Under the policy, which was approved by the city's board of education in May, seniors will need to show that they've been accepted to college, landed a job or apprenticeship or plan to enlist in the military. Those who fail to do so will be denied a diploma, though the city says it will waive the requirement for students with "extenuating circumstances."