Principals, teachers and high school seniors will no doubt be watching what the Maryland State Board of Education does this week to help special education students and those learning English as their second language who haven't yet passed all four High School Assessments. Passing the four end-of-year-tests is now required for those students in this year's senior class to get a diploma. Because only 83 percent of students in the grade have passed the tests or have met the requirement through a minimum score, state officials are now considering a mechanism that would allow students who are only taking the tests for the first time this year to graduate.

We will get the details at the board meeting Wednesday afternoon.