Changing the Finish Line: Implications of new graduation requirements in the School District of Philadelphia

Changing the Finish Line: Implications of new graduation requirements in the School District of Philadelphia


By: Sean Vannata, Anna Shaw-Amoah, Molly Pileggi, Molly Schlesinger, Theodore Wills, Roland Reyes, and Alyn Turner

October 2022

Beginning with the class of 2023, Pennsylvania high school students will need to demonstrate career or postsecondary preparedness to meet statewide graduation requirements and receive a diploma. The new graduation requirements, enacted in 2018 by Pennsylvania’s Act 158, are intended to codify high standards for all students and improve student achievement across Pennsylvania while also taking into account student strengths, interests, and career goals.

Changing Requirements in Pennsylvania for High School Graduation: A Research Brief on Pennsylvania Act 158

Changing Requirements in Pennsylvania for High School Graduation: A Research Brief on Pennsylvania Act 158

Beginning with the class of 2023, graduating Pennsylvania high school students will need to demonstrate career or postsecondary preparedness in addition to meeting existing statewide graduation requirements. Read our policy brief to learn about the history of this “high stakes” policy, how research shaped its evolution, and what researchers suggest are its implications for equity in Pennsylvania.

Recovering Credits in the School District of Philadelphia: High School Student Credit Recovery Utilization in 2018-19

Recovering Credits in the School District of Philadelphia: High School Student Credit Recovery Utilization in 2018-19


By: Molly Pileggi, Alyn Turner, Lindsey Liu, and Jason Fontana

November 2020

This study provides a snapshot of the district’s school-year credit recovery utilization—including eligibility, enrollment, and completion—using newly available data for high school students who entered the 2018–19 school year with a record of one or more failed courses.