A change is being made to state law allowing school districts to set the graduation date at any time during the year.

Under current law, a local or regional board of education must wait until at least April 1st to set a firm high school graduation date, making sure there are at least 180 days of class.  Prior to April 1st, the board may set a firm graduation date making sure there's 185 days scheduled in the school calendar the board adopted for that year.

The new law, approved in the final days of the legislative session, allows a board to establish, at any time in the school year, a firm graduation date.  The bill also specifies that school boards can set their calendars to begin school on any day before or after Labor Day.