Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Illinois State Board of Education Issues Guidance on Graduation Ceremonies

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 05/04/20

The month of May is usually filled with graduation ceremonies and end-of-the year celebrations for students’ accomplishments. The coronavirus has completely changed the way these rituals are executed.

The Illinois State Board of Education issued guidance for schools on how to hold these ceremonies. It’s up to local school boards and superintendents whether or not to have socially distanced graduation ceremonies.

The board strongly encourages districts to hold digital events and to use social media to highlight graduates with hashtags and messages. They encourage videos of graduates with short messages and recorded speeches by invited speakers which provides students with “a long-term memento.”

The board will allow in-person graduation events including “drive-in” and “drive-through” ceremonies. In both cases, students and their immediate family who are staying at home together should remain in their cars for the entirety of the ceremony.

Other acceptable ceremonies include an individualized ceremony at school where a student walks across the stage in their cap and gown and have their photo taken at a designated time. Restroom access or refreshments will not be available at facilities during ceremonies.

Another example is school officials visit each graduate’s home while remaining outside and at least six feet away to congratulate each graduate.

In all cases, the board’s recommendations include no person-to-person contact during the ceremony and that all people outside of the car wear a face mask or covering.

Read more detailed guidance here.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • University of Mary Washington Selects Builder for New Theater, Dance Facility

    The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., recently announced that it has selected construction and development firm Skanska to lead a series of renovations and upgrades to fine arts facilities, according to a news release.