More than 2,200 ninth-graders from 45 public schools have signed a pledge to pursue the Hawaii State Board of Education‘s advanced Step Up — or Board of Education Recognition —Diploma, available for the first time to the graduating class of 2013.

Students are signing up in response to a statewide campaign to promote the program. The Board of Education Recognition diploma will be given to students who complete more advanced coursework than the standard requirements in math, science and writing, in addition to completing a senior project.

The purpose of the diploma is to encourage higher student achievement among Hawaii’s high-schoolers. The deadline for eighth- and ninth-graders to submit their pledge forms is May 31 this year. To learn more.

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