Graduation Procedures and Guidelines for MPE High School Graduation

MPE's Board of Directors will appoint the Board Graduation Committee to oversee the annual graduation of MPE seniors. The Committee will be functionally responsible for facilities, appeals, liaison with the graduation ceremony treasurer, ceremony (screening of speeches and pictures, colors, music for processional/recessional, etc.), policy confirmation/documentation, program, budget and recruiting of the Graduation Coordinator. 

A graduation committee of the students and their parents will be formed, and the parents are responsible for the final outcome of the decisions made. Because the graduation is representative of the homeschool community, it is required that parents attend one designated meeting to discuss conduct and behavior of the students during the ceremony. All unresolved problems are to be presented to the MPE Board Graduation Committee. 

MPE is a Christian organization, and all graduation ceremonies shall reflect those views as stated in the MPE by-laws. No other religious text will be read and no other gods prayed to during a MPE graduation ceremony. MPE will sponsor as many graduations as the committee decides is necessary as long as there is a minimum of five graduates participating in each ceremony. MPE will also provide up to $100 per graduate to assist in defraying the following costs of each graduation: facility, reception, and printed programs. The board will consider assisting with other costs that might present a hardship to the families of the graduates. All ceremonies will be coordinated through the same committee. 

Requirements to Graduate 

The family of each student wishing to graduate must have been a member of MPE since September 30 of the previous school year. This deadline shall be published in the MPE newsletter in June, August, September, and October. Seniors (or juniors considering early graduation) must declare their intentions to participate in a MPE graduation ceremony by October 1. 

A graduating senior (or a representative from his/her family) is expected to attend any and all meetings set by the committee unless excused by the committee chairman. A portion of the fees required of each student might not be refundable. If a student decides not to graduate with MPE, fees will not be refunded if they have already been included in payments made for any portion of a ceremony. 

If a student does not qualify initially to participate in a MPE graduation ceremony, appeals can be made in either written or verbal form to the MPE Board of Directors. The Board alone reserves the right to determine whether a student under special circumstances may or may not participate in a graduation ceremony. No appeals will be accepted after October 1. 

Dress Code 

One of the stated purposes in the MPE Graduation Ceremony Purpose Statement is: "Special care is to be given in the design of the ceremony to avoid any self-centered and inappropriate focus upon any individual graduate or parent by way of disrespectful attire…" In keeping with this policy, the MPE Board has established the following dress code guidelines for the graduation rehearsal and ceremony.

Young Men Graduation Rehearsal Business casual, i.e., Docker-type slacks, shirt with collar, shoes. No shorts, T-shirts, shirts with a logo on. No body piercing displays of any kind, including earrings. Hair neat and natural color (no purple, green, blue, etc.). No denim allowed.

Young Men Graduation Ceremony The same guidelines as for the rehearsal except as follows: Dress pants, dress shirt with collar and tie, dress shoes.

Young Ladies Graduation Rehearsal and Ceremony Dresses or skirts required at least knee-length or longer. No slits above the knee. No denim allowed. No strapless, spaghetti-strap, halter-top or see-through blouses or dresses. No cleavage or exposed midriff (including when arms are raised or bending over) No undergarments exposed. No body piercing displays other than pierced ears.

If a prospective graduate does not wish to abide by the MPE Graduation Dress Code, they are welcome to not participate. The graduation ceremony is a privilege, not a requirement or a right.