House Bill 91

Project Graduation

Beginning January 1, 2019, Dekalb County School District will no longer order diplomas for House Bill 91 graduates. The law retroactively eliminates the Georgia High School Graduation Test as a requirement for students who took the test between 1994 (when the test was established) and the present. State Board Rule in 2011 eliminated the test as a requirement for graduation, but that elimination did not extend to students who had already taken the test.

Statement from Superintendent Woods:
“I applaud and thank Chairman Brooks Coleman, members of the General Assembly and Governor Deal for passing and signing House Bill 91. While in 2011 the State Board of Education eliminated the test as a requirement for graduation, it did not extend to students who were unsuccessful on the test prior to that time. House Bill 91 makes it possible for those students to finally obtain their high school diploma so they can move on to a brighter future. Those who completed all of the requirements for graduation except for passing one test on one given day now have the opportunity to go on to some form of post-secondary education, where they can obtain skills needed to have a great quality of life and be contributors to our society.”

Contact Information

House Bill 91 was signed into law on March 30, 2015 by Governor Deal. The law provides that students shall no longer be required to earn a passing score on any graduation tests to earn a high school diploma.

Yes, according to House Bill 91, students no longer are required to earn a passing score on graduation tests to earn a diploma.

Eligibility will be based on the graduation requirements in effect when the student first entered ninth grade.

The entire appeal process, from the time your completed application for review is submitted, can take at least ten weeks.

Beginning January 1, 2019, Dekalb County School District will no longer order diplomas for House Bill 91 graduates. Graduates may contact Jostens at 1-706-691-9359 or email Mark Peay at mark.peay@jostens.com to order their diplomas. The cost is $50, payable to Jostens. This cost is at the expense of the applicant. The timeframe for receiving your diploma can take up to four weeks. Please confirm with Jostens the length of time it will take to receive your diploma.

Yes, any student who was a ninth grader during the year of 1981 and beyond and did not receive a high school diploma solely because of the failure to complete graduation test requirements is eligible to complete the petition. All required credits must have been earned.

Diplomas will be issued with the printed name of the former student as it was listed in the official file/student record upon exiting the school district.

Yes, former students of the DeKalb County School District may request a diploma through House Bill 91 by completing the required petition and submitting with a copy of photo identification.

No, according to the guidelines, all graduation credit requirements must be met to be eligible to receive a high school diploma.

Former students of the DeKalb County School District may request a diploma through House Bill 91 by completing the required petition and submitting the document with a copy of photo identification to:

DeKalb County School District
Administrative and Instructional Complex
ATTN: Project Graduation 2015
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, Georgia 30038

Beginning January 1, 2019, Dekalb County School District will no longer order diplomas for House Bill 91 graduates. Graduates may contact Jostens at 1-706-691-9359 or email Mark Peay at mark.peay@jostens.com to order their diplomas. The cost is $50, payable to Jostens. This cost is at the expense of the applicant. The timeframe for receiving your diploma can take up to four weeks. Please confirm with Jostens the length of time it will take to receive your diploma.

Important Information for Students Who May Qualify for the Local Diploma/Graduation Appeal Form

  • The law is effective for any student – currently or previously enrolled – who has met all graduation requirements except passing any of the graduation tests (Georgia High School Graduation Test, Georgia High School Writing Test, Basic Skills Test). The law extends back to the first administration of the Basic Skills Test in 1981.
  • Governor Nathan Deal signed House Bill 91 (HB91) on March 30, 2015.