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Georgia has something like this, but:

1.) You must pass the other required, mandated tests, which are much harder. The graduation tests are on a level approximately that of 8th grade. The End-of-Course-Tests are much, much more difficult. Fail one of those, you don’t get a variance.
2.) Attend ALL required tutoring sessions, twice a week, for up to 10 weeks before the test. You miss one session, you can’t qualify.
3.) Apply for a variance on the test and get approved. We had 4 last year take one.

In addition, they are now requiring more math and science for a diploma, and ALL special needs students must take a regular diploma. These are not watered down by any means, nor is getting a variance easy. What they are trying to do is put more of the onus of taking a diploma on the shoulders of the student.

We had 80 seniors not take a diploma because some simply did not go to the tutoring. If they had gone, they would have graduated. Of course there were other reasons too, but the tutoring was the main one.

In Virginia, to earn a standard diploma, a student needs to pass 4 English, 3 math (up to Alg II), 2 sciences, 2 history and 9 electives. Of the core classes, the student must also pass 6 SOL's, (standards of learning) 2 in English, 1 in science, 1 in history, and 1 'student-selected' in other words, any of the cores. The 2 in English are an 11th grade reading test and an 11th grade writing sample. The writing sample normally ends up being about 1-2 pages and the students are judged on 3 major areas of literacy. The writing sample is considered the most difficult to pass.

If the student does not earn 6 verified credits, the student does not receive a diploma. Now the systems will give tutoring sessions, and additional attempts to pass, but the hard cold fact is - if you fail, you fail. Every one that walks across the stage has at least 6 verified credits (with the exception of the special education students. They have other options, including a certificate of attendance for the low functioning ones). There is also an advanced diploma, which is much more involved and includes 9 verified credits and languages.

The SOL's can be pretty tough, depending on the grade and the subject. If anyone would like to look at them, google Virginia Department of Education and look for released SOL tests.