Senator Phillips Announces Measure That Would Allow State To Award High School Diploma To Veterans Passes Senate

Senator Elaine Phillips announced today that the New York State Senate passed a bill that would honor military veterans by allowing the state to award them a high school diploma in recognition of the knowledge and experiences gained while in service.

“For so many veterans, service in the military was a comprehensive life experience that taught leadership, professionalism, responsibility and qualities that far exceed what can be learned in a classroom,” Senator Elaine Phillips said. “This measure allows us to fully honor the men and women who put their education on hold and embarked on a mission to protect and defend our freedom. It is the least we can do for those who have answered the call to serve our country.”

The bill, S.397B, would allow any veteran who has served this nation to be awarded a high school degree based on their knowledge and experience gained while in service.

Current law only allows veterans who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to receive diplomas from their school of attendance if they were unable to complete their high school education. This measure expands eligibility to cover additional generations of New Yorkers by allowing anyone who has been honorably discharged from active military or naval service to be awarded with a diploma if they did not finish high school.

The bill will be sent to the Assembly.