Minneapolis educators show support for policy change to allow more students to walk at graduation

Some Minneapolis educators are pushing for a district policy change that would allow more students to walk at graduation ceremonies this spring.

On Tuesday, they presented a petition that includes 1,100 signatures calling for looser credit requirements students must meet to walk at the ceremonies.

Those teachers argue this is a racial equity issue.

"This disproportionately affects our BIPOC students in Minneapolis," Kelsey Clark, a licensed school counselor, said. "We already know that there is an achievement gap and this shows that. Why would we not be able to do this?"

The school board took up the issue Tuesday night but a vote was not reached.

Members also talked about additional ceremonies after students have a chance to catch up on their missing credits.

"We’d certainly welcome the opportunity to provide a summer graduation … because we know we’re going to have students wanting to continue and complete those credits in the fall, and so we could look at a mid-year graduation and celebration for them as well," Ed Graff, superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools, said.

Minneapolis Public Schools will start their graduation ceremonies on June 10.

Some school districts move forward with plans for graduations and proms