Are high school graduation requirements ableist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Lots of kids with IEPs graduate at a far below average reading level. The school isn't going to just keep them around forever, or deal with a whiny parent arguing FAPE, so they just pass them. Hence the problem. IDEA created as many problems as it solved.

[Anonymous]

Oh I know. Let's lower our standards even more.

[Anonymous]

Should a diploma be earned or just something you're given for showing up once in awhile?

[Anonymous]

Algebra is very easy, especially now that they have lowered standards. A person who can't pass the algebra exam should not have a high school diploma. They can take the GED instead.

[Anonymous]

Parent here of a kid with an IEP. If a kid had severe learning issues, I'm going to assume for sake of argument that one is place for a major learning issue like the OP described.

At every IEP meeting, I get the alternative diploma options for students who aren't going to be able to get a standard level diploma.

A kid with dyscalculia is going to have trouble with not just math, but also with chemistry, physics, economics, etc. Disabilities don't isolate specifically to one subject, so the original question is not realistic in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Even to get blue collar jobs you need basic math skills.

[Anonymous]

Life is ableist. Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even to get blue collar jobs you need basic math skills.

This. Same with executive functioning skills. Students who miss 40 days of school per year or wander the hallways instead of attending class and turn in no work should not be allowed to graduate. The lowest level of jobs requiring unskilled labor won't hire or keep them if they don't show up and make no effort to complete the work.

[Anonymous]

It's important that Jeff blocks teachers from commenting. Teacher stories are to crazy no to coverup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Algebra is very easy, especially now that they have lowered standards. A person who can't pass the algebra exam should not have a high school diploma. They can take the GED instead.

You shouldn’t be able to get a GED with basic algebra. An employer should know if they are hiring someone intellectually disabled. A diploma or GED is supposed to mean you have basic skill level in reading and math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Algebra is very easy, especially now that they have lowered standards. A person who can't pass the algebra exam should not have a high school diploma. They can take the GED instead.

You shouldn’t be able to get a GED with basic algebra. An employer should know if they are hiring someone intellectually disabled. A diploma or GED is supposed to mean you have basic skill level in reading and math.

*without

[Anonymous]

Of course they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even to get blue collar jobs you need basic math skills.

This. Same with executive functioning skills. Students who miss 40 days of school per year or wander the hallways instead of attending class and turn in no work should not be allowed to graduate. The lowest level of jobs requiring unskilled labor won't hire or keep them if they don't show up and make no effort to complete the work.

Completely agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

That’s why East Asian countries have so much poverty. They deem too many kids unworthy of an education. And what is dyscalculia? Is that a brain related disorder?

[Anonymous]

OP, how has your dyscalculic child been remediated? I have a child with dyscalculia whom we put in a special Ed school from 2nd grade thru 8th and also supplemented with Made for Math (google this company) and she can do the requirements for HS graduation. It is freaking hard and we were on financial aid at this school, but it really is necessary to hit these kids heard early and often to restructure their brains to be able to do these things.

So, I am wondering how your child was treated in early years?