Parents and students are celebrating over the N.C. Board of Education's decision to delay the Graduation Project Requirement for high schoolers. But state education officials say the celebration may be premature.

Despite the board's decision, Dr. Bill Harrison, chief executive officer of the state's public schools, sent a letter Friday to local superintendents, urging them to stay the course and keep the Graduation Project requirement in place. Harrison said about 50 percent of school systems across the state already have a senior project or graduation project requirement. The decision to delay the state mandate by one year was a response to systems that are struggling to get programs going.

"It's really been a mixed reaction out there, we've had an awful lot of schools and school systems that support it 100 percent, and want us to stay the course," he said. "And then we have an awful lot that want us to go in a different direction."

The Graduation Project, introduced in 2006, was intended as a way for students to participate in a long-term project that would prepare them for college or the workforce. The state guidelines said the project should include a research paper, a project and a presentation. But many students and parents were frustrated by the lack of direction they received from local school districts.

Brenda Nichols's daughter is an 11th grader at Enloe High School.

"Although my daughter had done the research paper, we still had a lot more to do on [the project]," said Nichols. "I think because they really didn't know what to do with the graduation project, it's a good thing they have another year in which to iron out all the kinks."

Other parents and students who submitted on-line comments to MyNC.com weren't so charitable.

"The information and rubrics they've provided us with are, in short, completely useless," wrote Katie, a sophomore.

Alana Selby wrote, "It's just ridiculous that even if a student with a GPA of 5.0 won't graduate if they don't do this project! Everyone hates this project!!

The academic impact was an issue for Kelley Taylor as well, who said, "Students need every available minute they have to focus on their coursework, not extra projects that won't be considered for college acceptance."

The decision could have been an effort to forestall legislation in the N.C. General Assembly to eliminate the requirement altogether. Bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate. Sen. David Hoyle, sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, said the requirement is an "unfunded mandate" for local school systems.

"I'm not opposed to a senior project, just to the way it was implemented," he said. "I think we've got to provide the resources."
Hoyle said he believes the bill would pass in the Senate, but is willing to wait before pushing it through.

"I think I could pass it. I have found no opposition from anyone," he said. "All I've gotten is kudos from around the state, people calling to say good work."

Harrison said one overlooked benefit of the mandate is the potential to eliminate two of the standardized tests students take - the 10th grade writing test and the computer skills test - with a more "authentic assessment" of students' skills.

"What this project is is a process, and not something that we sit down, over the course of two or three days and write this paper, but it's something that we build to," he said.

Harrison will meet with legislators in the coming week to discuss possible compromises, but said he does not want to see the project eliminated. Hoyle said he plans to get more feedback from the public and from educators to bring more issues and concerns to the table.