<div class="byline">Ann Powers Editor</div> MINERAL WELLS—The pomp and circumstance of graduation is a milestone and Mineral Wells school board members want to ensure seniors enjoy it, even if it’s uncertain whether they qualify – yet. Due to the Texas Education Agency’s redesign of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness program, some STAAR End-of-Course exam scores won’t be available until approximately May 31. Mineral Wells High School commencement is scheduled May 26. This timeline could prevent a few students from walking the stage who have met all the graduation requirements, except knowing if they passed a retest of a STAAR exam. Graduates must successfully earn 22 or 26 credits based on their graduation plan, have a 90% attendance rate, and pass three out of the five state tests. Students are allowed to retake the exams if they don't pass. Not wanting to rob them of a potentially key moment in their lives, trustees unanimously approved a resolution temporarily suspending the test result provision for the 2022-23 school year during a special meeting on May 19. It applies to students who have taken the exams and are waiting for their scores. “The grading schedule is wonky because they redesigned STAAR,” Superintendent Dr. John Kuhn said. “We would just hate for a kid to have passed the test and not get to walk and then find out they passed the test later and would’ve been eligible if we would’ve known in time.” STAAR results aren’t expected to be delayed next year, Kuhn added. School officials said the students won’t be singled out and will appear as any other graduate. None of the high school’s graduating seniors receive diplomas at the commencement ceremony. Those are delivered later.
