Are high school graduation requirements ableist?

[Anonymous]

Let’s say a state requires all high schoolers to pass 10th grade level algebra exam before receiving a diploma, and there are no exceptions to this rule. Let’s say a student has severe dyscalculia and will never be able to pass the algebra exam, regardless of how much instruction or tutoring is provided or what accommodations are provided during the test. The student can pass the ELA and history exams with no problem. Many decent paying jobs, including custodian, security, chefs and even basic receptionist jobs require a high school diploma.

[Anonymous]

Most states have the option to do a project instead of the exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most states have the option to do a project instead of the exams.

OP here. Not all states do. Some school districts even impose stricter graduation requirements than the state they are in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s say a state requires all high schoolers to pass 10th grade level algebra exam before receiving a diploma, and there are no exceptions to this rule. Let’s say a student has severe dyscalculia and will never be able to pass the algebra exam, regardless of how much instruction or tutoring is provided or what accommodations are provided during the test. The student can pass the ELA and history exams with no problem. Many decent paying jobs, including custodian, security, chefs and even basic receptionist jobs require a high school diploma.

Ridiculous. The general curricular requirements should be universal. It's a pretty low bar as it is. Otherwise there is the GED, and please don't say that the math on there is also too hard. Respect the existence of some minimum standard. Achievement is not entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Speaking for Virginia only:

Special education students do not have to pass all the required SOLs to get the diploma. For one subject, if they fail within a certain range twice (original plus expedited retake), they can get the verified credit. A student with a severe math disability who could read and write fluently could use this option.

The reality is that we will teach intensive calculator tricks to get that kind of student to pass. You don't have to know any real math if you know how to manipulate desmos. You won't be able to get all of the questions, but you can get the 50% required to pass if you graph every single expression/equation and look for ones that match.

Beyond that, some states offer modified diplomas, some states offer portfolio assessments vs. standardized tests, some states have less requirements for diagnosed disabilities.

[Anonymous]

GED?

How do you get anything done if you spend your time worrying over hypotheticals?

[Anonymous]

The USA is the least ableist nation in the world, and by A LOT. Most educational system in the US are pretty lenient, in that they have workarounds for students with special needs, OP.

In France, my home country, the Baccalaureate requirements are strict and the bar to pass is pretty high. Same for A levels in the UK and the Abitur in Germany. Developed East Asian nations have excruciatingly high educational standards.

Wealthy democracies everywhere hardly have any accommodations for kids with special needs. It's only in the US that there is so much offered to that population.

My oldest, with ADHD, ASD and dyscalculia, benefited greatly from school accommodations. He was allowed DOUBLE TIME, which is mind-boggling to me, since in France all he would have gotten is one third extra time. He made it to AP Calc BC in 12th grade, BTW, with intensive tutoring for all of K-12.

[Anonymous]

At some point if you cannot do a portion of basic algebra 1, with a calculator, you should not be getting a full standard diploma. As far as I know, every state offers some sort of alternative for special education students who cannot access the required state standards.

[Anonymous]

No it’s “ableist” to have academic standards that must be met to get a diploma or GED. Now- it’s up to individual employers to decide the minimum qualifications necessary for the role they are hiring. If they say they want someone who has a diploma/GED then they are expecting the person they are hiring to be able to have those basic math, reading, writing skills.

[Anonymous]

Dyscalculia is not a real learning disability like dyslexia. It is an effect of having other issues like ADHD and dyslexia. There are ways to be successful in school and meeting all the grad requirements while having ADHD and dyslexia. Kids who cannot pass Algebra II should not be able to graduate just by claiming some fake disability. There are 7th graders who can pass that class, give me a break.

[Anonymous]

The ed industry seems to be part of the pharma drug industry. So drugs and tech is what passes as education.

[Anonymous]

I sure hope so. It used to kind of be the point.

[Anonymous]

There are lower-level diplomas. I got one in my state.

[Anonymous]

It’s the school’s duty to provide FAPE. If a student is doing the work and the school is properly supporting the work, the student should be able to pass. If I really thought my child might not graduate, I’d be making a stink in IEP meetings about getting adequate support.

But graduation requirements are well considered. Even some of the trades require proficiency with algebra I, not to mention finance and the sciences. It’s also a test of a student’s reasoning ability. Colleges and universities also have quantitative reasoning requirements, so exempting a student from high school math doesn’t really do her any favors.

We don’t say to kids with dyslexia “Shakespeare won’t be a part of your everyday life, so it’s ok not to read above a 7th grade level.” Rather, we expect anyone getting a post-secondary education to be able to access challenging literature and to analyze non-fiction and academic research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sure hope so. It used to kind of be the point.

This. Having a HS diploma used to say something about your knowledge and abilities. Not just your age.