The Maryland Pupil Attendance Register prescribes the withdrawal status for students. In general a student will be withdrawn when the student has completed a high school program, transfers to another school, or terminates the student's formal education. Graduate. A graduate is defined as a student who completes the student's program of study at the high school level and satisfies the graduation requirements for a Maryland High School Diploma or the requirements for a Maryland High School Certificate. A graduate includes a: Student receiving a diploma as a result of the completion of a State-approved regular or alternative secondary school; Handicapped student who cannot meet the requirements for a diploma and is awarded a Maryland High School Certificate. A graduate does not include a student: Leaving school and completing a GED or other State-approved high school equivalency program; Completing a program of study and time in grade but not meeting the basic skills testing requirements. Dropout. A student who terminates the student's formal education is a dropout. A dropout is defined as a student who, for any reason other than death, leaves school before graduation or the completion of a Maryland-approved educational program (including a special education program) and is not known to enroll in another school or State-approved program during a current school year. A dropout includes a student: Who drops out for the reasons as identified in the Maryland Pupil Attendance Register; Who leaves school and enters a program not qualifying as an elementary/secondary school; Of any age who drops out; From special education who drops out. A dropout does not include a student: Who dies; Out of school for temporary periods, for example, extended suspension, reinstatements of expulsion during the school year, or extended illness; Who transfers to another public elementary/secondary school, to another State-approved elementary/secondary educational program that continues the student's education, or to a nonpublic elementary/secondary school; Transferred to another public institution with an educational program; Placed at another grade level. Nontraditional Graduate. A nontraditional graduate is a student who leaves school (terminates/withdraws) but finishes a high school equivalency through the General Educational Development Testing Program or The Adult External Diploma Program. A nontraditional graduate includes all completers of a high school equivalency regardless of age. A nontraditional graduate does not include any student who has earned the Maryland High School Diploma or Maryland High School Certificate. Each local school system shall develop and implement a procedure to conduct an educational interview with all students who leave school before graduation, or with their parent or guardian, or all of the above. At a minimum, the interview should encourage the student to remain in the student's current school program or enroll in an alternative school program, verify the reason, or reasons, for a student dropping out of school, and ensure that the parent or guardian is informed.