A new policy that would provide flexibility for students receiving class credit to pursue independent study or other alternative forms of instruction was approved during Tuesday’s Mathews County School Board meeting.

Under the new policy, which was considered during the meeting in the Mathews High School media center, students would have to seek a waiver of the 140-clock-hour requirement to receive credit for independent study, as well as courses that have fewer than 140 clock hours of instruction or for students that have demonstrated achievement via national or international assessments.

The school board spent a large portion of Tuesday’s meeting coming up with specific criteria on how to administer the program. The maximum number of credits that can be earned through this waiver program is seven, board members decided. “This can be changed. This is not set in stone,” said board member Ginger Richards, who suggested the policy could be adjusted next year onc...