Does anyone have a child in High School?

Can you tell me what their placement is? Are they working toward a Regent's diploma, or are in a life skills program? I just found out there is no option for an IEP diploma anymore, and if the special education children don't pass the Regent's exams, they don't get their diploma. Maybe I'm not understanding it correctly though.

My child will be starting high school next year, and I'm sure this will be discussed at our CSE meeting in the Spring, but just looking for info on how it works for other people.

Re: Does anyone have a child in High School?

I don't have a child in hs but I teach a hs life skills program. There will most def be a life skills program but the diploma they will get is called a skills and achievement commencement certificate. Just like the old iep diploma, students will not be eligible to attend college with this. But this diploma is for students who are taking the New York State alternate assessment. If your child has been taking state tests from third grade, they will most likely be in regents based classes. I think what you are referring to is that nys did away with the local diploma which is true. A local diploma and an iep diploma were two different things and one did not necessarily have to be in life skills classes for a local diploma.

Also this new skills and achievement diploma and the iep diploma was just a paper that stated they completed the requirements of high school. Not necessarily a diploma that could assist them in going to college. Most of the students I work with transition into programs with Acess-vr or opwdd after they graduate.

Does anyone have a child in High School?

I do not have a HS child but I am very concerned about this issues already and DD is only in K/1. From my understanding there is only the Life Skills Certificate and the Regents Diploma. If you want to get the Regents diploma you need to be on the testing track in school from 3rd grade and also pass the regents. I have heard conflicting stories on what a passing grade is on the regents exam for IEP students but regardless, they still need to pass the exam and also take the courses that is need for a regents diploma. This in my mind leaves a HUGE gap of kids, special needs and GenEd alike. If they do not pass the regents they do not graduate. The life skills certificate on paper does not seem like a bad option for some who are on the life skills track. It will list what skills they have learned in school and what their capabilities are. The main issue with the certificate is that is is not a diploma and the child will not be a HS graduate. They will not be able to get any type of job that requires a HS diploma, any federal or state job or go to college. IMO they did the whole community a disservice by eliminating the local diploma.

Re: Does anyone have a child in High School?

Thanks for the help. My son has been taking the State assessments since 3rd grade. He gets 1's and 2's on them. His report cards reflect decent grades because I think they are grading him more on effort than anything, along with homework, and extra credit (which I help him HEAVILY with). His does not do well on his quizzes or tests.

In all honestly, I don't foresee him going to college. He struggles a lot doing the school work, and always has. Like I said, he is dependent on his aide for a lot of help. So what would the point of the expense of college be? He would struggle all the way though and spend thousands of dollars and likely not even earn a degree. I know this sounds harsh, because every parent would like to see their child go to college, and even my family has gotten on me for saying this, but I know my son, I know his strengths and weaknesses, and I just know college won't be a good fit for him. At all.

I think it's ridiculous that a life skills program wouldn't result in some kind of high school completion certificate, thus teaching him skills to possibly get a job. But then can't get one because no diploma. It's like a catch 22 for these kids. So like I said before, he passes the regents or it's nothing

Is this only a NY thing? Have other states eliminated the local diploma also?

Oh, and also, I saw on our school's website that they need 3 foreign language credits. I know in middle school the children in special education weren't required to take a foreign language. Is this typically the same in high school? He gets speech, and can barely write in English, let alone in another language!

Message edited 1/20/2013 9:50:26 AM.

Does anyone have a child in High School?

Does your district have a Transition coordinator in the HS? They are the person that is really "up" on exactly what the IEP kids need for a regents diploma. I agree, alot of these kids get speech their entire school career and they are suppose to take a foreign language. So silly. Like you said, some kids don't need to go to college, that is true in our world as well as GenEd. College isn't for everyone but I don't think they should blindly take that option away from these kids. Honestly I would be happy if she was a hairdresser, a research scientist, or working in stop n shop as along as DD loves what she was doing. I just want her to have options.