BALTIMORE (Map, News) - High school seniors might soon be able to do a project to graduate instead of passing state tests, under a proposal state Superintendent Nancy Grasmick unveiled Tuesday.

Students who have completed school districts’ credit requirements and who have good grades and attendance but fail tests twice could instead complete a project in that subject area or areas they failed.

About 2,000 to 3,000 students across the state would fall into this category.

The lower the students’ test scores, the larger the project would have to be, said Ronald Peiffer, deputy state superintendent.

State Board of Education President Dunbar Brooks said he wanted to make sure the alternative project didn’t encourage students to take the High School Assessment less seriously.

“This will be rigorous, not something you can do overnight or in a week, but encompassing the entire senior year,” Grasmick said.

Education advocates questioned whether the so-called “Bridge Plan” helped students too late.

“Many kids won’t even make it to the 11th grade and may drop out because they are so discouraged after not passing the tests,” said Bebe Verdery, education reform project director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland.

A taskforce will decide more details if the State Board of Education approves the plan in October.

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com