The waiver process to allow high school seniors with “extenuating circumstances” to bypass a new graduation requirement is illegal, according to the Maryland Association of Boards of Education.

The process, which the state school board enacted last month, outlines that local superintendents will determine which students qualify for the waiver, and appeals from parents who disagree with local school chiefs’ decisions will go to State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick. But the school boards association says state law requires local school boards to hear appeals of local superintendents’ decisions.