Brief Description: Authorizing high school diplomas to be issued to persons who left high school before graduation to serve in the United States armed forces.

Sponsors: By Representatives Roach, McDonald, Morrell, Rolfes, Kelley, Skinner, Orcutt, Priest, Takko, Conway, Appleton, Newhouse, Haler, Moeller, VanDeWege, McCune, Roberts and Springer.

House Committee on Education
Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education

Background:

School districts are authorized to issue a high school diploma to a person who:

• is an honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the United States;
• was scheduled to graduate from high school from 1940 through 1955; and
• left high school before graduation to serve in World War II or the Korean conflict.

Eligible veterans who hold a high school equivalency certification may still receive a diploma, and diplomas may be issued posthumously.

To obtain a high school diploma, a veteran, or a person acting on behalf of a deceased veteran, must complete an application form and submit discharge papers that verify the veteran's military service and honorable discharge. Applications may be submitted to the high school the veteran would have graduated from, a high school in the veteran's local community, or a high school with which the veteran has substantial ties.

Summary:

School districts may issue high school diplomas to all honorably discharged veterans who left high school before graduation to serve in World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam era.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0

House   97   0
Senate   49   0

Effective: June 12, 2008