Do high school special ed students in your school graduate with a regular diploma, certificate, or what?

Question

Attention: Special Education Teachers

I moved from another state where I taught middle school sped. I am now teaching high school special education. Do sped students in all states get occupational diplomas or certificate? I'm not asking about EMR students. I'm asking about a student with a learning disability in reading or math. The guidance counselor at my school says if sped students have modifications or acommodations in there classes then they can't have a regular diploma b/c they aren't doing the same work as a regular student is. Is this how it is in your school? If I place these students on regular diploma then administration will be on me because of state testing. I don't know how to help these kids but I feel they are being treated unfairly. Can you sped teachers please enlighten me on the way it works in high school sped? I was told I set my standards to high for sped students and should realize that they aren't going to get regular diploma's. Is this how it is?

Answer 1

My son is in special education. In his IEP I have him working for his diploma, not a certificate. So far he is doing ok. He has to attend summer school every year, due to not passing his ISTEP. However, I feel as a parent that it is important for him to get a regular diploma then a certificate. I also feel that it is unfair for him to be required to pass the ISTEP, since he is a child in special education. If he didn't need special ed, then I would understand. However, he can not understand the basic information in the school work in class, what makes the government think that he could in the ISTEP? I have fought this for years and failed.

Answer 2

I think they get a hug and a safety pop.

Answer 3

They most definitely receive a regular diploma. The accommodations and modification's are in place to ensure that they receive an equal education in the least restricted environment. I am shocked that someone would tell you that you set your standards too high. Where are you teaching? This person is unaware of special education law and probably the guidelines of your school and district. You can't deny these students a diploma and the modifications are in place to ensure that they reach this goal, along with their fellow classmates. They would have to fail their coursework with the modification's in place and be held back in order to not receive a diploma. To deny them this would mean a serious lawsuit. Talk to your administrators, not the guidance counselor. If you need support, go to a district special education coordinator. They will be unbiased and have vast knowledge of special ed. law. They can also clarify this for your guidance counselor. I am so outraged! How absurd Good luck to you and keep those standards high!

Answer 4

This exact thing happened to my little brother he is a senior this year

When he was a sophomore me and my mother attended his yearly meeting with his counselor principle and teachers they informed us that he had to pick if he was going to get a regular diploma or a some type of certificate that would not be useful out of the state and is not technically a diploma

The problem if he decided to go for regular diploma and could not pass state testing then oh well

But lets face it my brother would never pass state testing -he has a learning disability

And to be honest with you I think the school system were I’m from is part of the problem

My brother is stuck in a room full of children who cant speak English and a lot of trouble makers that the other teachers in the school cant deal with  so my brothers and the children who legitimately need to be in special edd do not get the education they should be because of these other kids

Sorry I just got a little carried away but to be honest there is not much you can do

I commend you for your work I know you must go to school longer but get paid the same as a regular teacher

Answer 5

In my state the only students to receive an Occupational diploma are the students in that program (it is a very low number). I teach students in resource and inclusion settings that have learning disabilities, but they still graduate with a regular diploma. These students are not on track to attend a 4 year college right out of high school, but many go to a 2 year or choose to go to work. In NC we test everyone, except those that are exempt according to their IEP. These are generally those students that have more severe mental disabilities,ESL students, and students with Learning Disabilities that  cannot participate even with accommodations.These students are assessed using alternative types of assessments. Most of my students in regular classes have some sort of accommodation or modification, but this is to help them in the class by leveling the playing field. The do the work and show that they understand the material and they can pass and receive the credit. It would  be unfair to say that just because they have extra time or read aloud that they aren't doing the same work. I hope this helps.

Answer 6

they get a reg diploma.   Sometimes they just stay at the highschool after they graduate though

Answer 7

In Kansas, they get a regular ed. diploma if they attended regular classes. Class within a class is what we call it here, they do the same work, maybe just chunked or 10 problems instead of 20, but the do the same standards and get the grade they earn. If they are in pull out, then they get a certificate of completion.

Answer 8

I think a person with autism might be better suited to answer this question than a teacher would. First, sorry, but where in the heck are you teaching school? It is nonsense to me that if you have a high functioning AS student that unless they have extremely huge modifications; in a way to such that they can't be left without a good level of support, then they should be getting a regular high school diploma. I just graduated high school in Colorado with a regular diploma and am a very high functioning student. In my area the only kids that receive a certificate of completion instead of a diploma are extensive needs students. Let me define just what extensive needs students are. These are kids who are purely mentally retarded. Most of these kids have never talked and never will because they have more than just autism. These are the kids that have Cystic Fibrosis, Down Syndrome, etc. They are in a condition so terminal that they have adults constantly surronding them, pushing them in wheelchairs, feeding them at lunchtime, etc. I have accomodations and modifications just like every student ranging from extensive needs, to moderate needs (my area), or mild needs (kids who have social disorders, ADD, ADHD, etc.) I was in mainstream classes for over 65% of my days. Unlike other kids I don't have modifications that allow me to just drop a class and go into the resource level. I actually have to show that there is a significant problem. I do not have a paraprofessional that follows me to class and writes down my assigments for me. I take my own notes, do the assignments, etc. This is how it should work in most areas. Sorry but you are teaching in a bad area that obviously does not know disabled students very well. Tell the teachers to learn kids better.

Answer 9

in illinois...they get the same diploma as non special education students

Answer 10

In New Mexico, we have 3 graduation pathways.

1- Reg- just like anyone else, they pass the graduation exit exam , pass all their courses required

2- Career Readiness- they took all their courses and passed them, did not pass all portions of the graduation exit exam and are not college bound

3- Ability- for the EMR students mainly (don't know much on this one, as I work with students on 1 and 2).  

I know that on 1 and 2 they get the same diploma.

Answer 11

That's against federal law. And highly unethical. It's so sad to think that these kids will be held back their entire lives based on the prejudice of the school personnel.

The kids in our school district get their diplomas based on one thing, how well their parents advocate. I'm not kidding. A parent who isn't educated in IDEA law is going to go in and do whatever the school says. A parent who is educated and willing to go in and fight will get modifications as well as a regular diploma. They are doing the same work, only with modifications. Those modifications do not change the knowledge that the children have, nor do they change the perseverance of the child.  This is my personal experience, with several teens in our town.

Answer 12

i took honors english and history, regular science classes but i seriously sucked at math and they stuck me sp.ed for it... i graduated with honors. my diploma is just like anybody elses. it's not even noted on my transcripts that i had sp.ed math, it just says the course name... i mean, it may be different from me, i had an option to leave the class for tests and finals b/c i could use my notes and the other kids couldn't. but our sp.ed teachers were just in the class with us with the regular teacher... kinda like an aid? it was pretty cool, they didn't really single us out and they helped anyone who stuck a hand up if the regular teacher was busy. i seriously doubt i would have graduated without the help :) you're doing good work, don't give up on your kids :D