PROVIDENCE — Eight districts and a state-run school have failed to meet the state’s more rigorous high school graduation requirements that go into effect for this year’s senior class, the state Department of Education announced this week.

Letters went out Tuesday notifying school officials that they did not receive approval for the new diploma system.

Failure will not affect the districts’ or the school’s ability to confer diplomas for the next few years. Districts have been given a grace period until 2012 to come into compliance with the state’s new regulations governing high school diplomas.

However, failure to receive preliminary approval from the state indicates that a quarter of Rhode Island’s school districts — 8 of the 32 with high schools — are lagging in their efforts to adapt to the more challenging graduation system.

In addition to completing 20 courses and taking the state standardized tests in 11th grade, the new diploma system requires that students show they have mastered key concepts and skills through a combination of portfolios, senior projects and end-of-course exams.

Eight districts — Burrillville, Cranston, Cumberland, Exeter-West Greenwich, North Smithfield, Providence, Tiverton and Woonsocket — and the Rhode Island School for the Deaf were informed that the state Department of Education had “withheld preliminary approval” of their graduation requirement plans.

In every case, the problem was the districts’ failure to “align” coursework and student projects to grade-level expectations established by the state, said Roy M. Seitsinger Jr., director of secondary school reform.

“The major issue was lack of alignment with the expectations, and then also issues of access and opportunity — that means, did districts do enough in terms of scheduling and curriculum to ensure that all students had access to classes that are aligned with the system?” Seitsinger said.

Adapting to the more rigorous standards has proven a particular challenge to districts that have not had a consistent, high-quality curriculum in place. In some high schools, such as the state-run School for the Deaf, individual classroom teachers decide what is taught, so aligning each course to state standards is difficult and time consuming. Providence, the state’s largest school system, has no consistent high school curriculum, and many schools even use different textbooks for similar courses.

Exeter-West Greenwich High School, classified as high performing for the past three years, does have a curriculum, said Principal Denise Boule. Teachers there began phasing in senior projects in 2002 — a year before the Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education announced they would be required of all schools within five years, Boule said.

“We have really tried to embrace the diploma system because many of us firmly believe in students demonstrating their proficiency in multiple ways, and my staff has worked very hard,” Boule said. “We have spent four years on this, but people have to realize this … changes the way you look at student work and assess it. You are not just having students pass one test and from that assume they have the knowledge. You are asking them to take part in multiple assessments.”

The high school’s obstacle to approval, Boule said, is that the Department of Education wants it to more closely align end-of-course exams to state standards. They are doing so and hope to be approved in late April.

Peter McWalters, state commissioner of education, said he will approve the districts and School for the Deaf as soon as they can demonstrate they have complied.

In addition to information about portfolios, senior projects and end-of-course exams, districts must submit documentation that they are providing adequate support so students and teachers can adapt to the new system, and that they have communicated clearly with their communities about the graduation requirements, through meetings and newsletters.

Districts have known the changes were coming since January 2003, when the Regents approved the new diploma system.

The state Education Department began providing free training to hundreds of teachers and administrators three years ago, and asked districts to periodically submit updates on their progress in complying with the new regulations. By last summer, the department knew some districts were lagging and would struggle to comply by the December deadline.

Some school districts, officials said, were better equipped to adapt to the new requirements, while others suffered from a lack of personnel or resources to start the time-consuming, difficult work. Other districts struggled with poor access to computers and the technical expertise needed to develop portfolios and senior projects, which has delayed their progress.

For the moment, there are no penalties for districts that fall behind. Education officials say they will work closely with districts over the next two years to ensure the new diploma system is in place and is rigorous.

In 2010, districts that have complied with the new regulations will be allowed to confer “Regents approved” diplomas; districts not in compliance will be able to still give out their present diplomas. By 2012, districts will only be allowed to award Regents diplomas; those not in compliance will not be allowed to grant any type of diploma.

REPORTER’S QUERY

Are you overwhelmed or well prepared for senior projects? This year, for the first time, most high school seniors have to complete two of three options — end-of-course exams, portfolios or senior projects — to receive their diploma. We want to hear from students, parents and teachers about their experiences with the new system. Are students feeling overwhelmed or well-prepared? Do parents understand the new system and think the portfolios and projects are meaningful? Do teachers think they have received enough support to create the new assessment tools and grade them?

Please send your comments and concerns and whether you would be available for an interview to education reporter Jennifer D. Jordan, (401) 277-7254, jjordan@projo.com

jjordan@projo.com