Certificate of completion in public schools vs. High school diploma/GED
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Anonymous
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Our child is in 9th in public. Despite an IEP since second grade and years of top notch tutors, therapists etc, he is years behind in reading and writing. His non-verbal IQ is high average.
Over the years, he applied to private schools for language based LDs but was always rejected for being more than two years behind. He has worked his tail off and is a great, organized, responsible kid. His teachers comment that he is one if their hardest working, responsible well behaved kids but he reads and writes at a third grade level. The outside tutoring and therapists/writing specialist have been multiple times a week for years. We've done everything that educational consultants have advised but it appears that this certificate of completion is 100% worthless. We just found out that it is very likely that he will NOT receive a high school diploma at the end of 12 grade. It will be impossible for him to get all of the required classes and pass all the tests required for the diploma in his last 3 years. Instead, he'll get something Called a certificate of completion. The certificate of completion is not even as good as a GED. You can not even get into a trade school with this certificate. Trade schools require at least a HS diploma or GED. It is likely that he won't pass a GED due to his reading/ writing issues. What do people do with no diploma or GED? This stinks because his non- verbal IQ is high average and he is a great, funny, charming handsome person who is very capable in every area except written expression. Does anyone know what a person such as this is supposed to do? Without the HS diploma or GED, he is basically unemployable and can't get into a trade school or community college. It stinks to attend school for 12 years and walk away without enough to qualify for a job at McDonalds. |
Anonymous
| He should be able to add more years to HS if you think he would be able to complete the requirements. I know several students who lengthen HS in order to be able to graduate. When you say his writing is at a third grade level, would that be different if he dictated it? How does he do with audio books? |
Anonymous
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Hi OP - I am sorry that your DS is in this position. Its a sad statement of our public school system.
that said, here is something you might find helpful. You may have already investigated these options. http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/can-college-high-school-diploma-ged-4100.html http://www.studentadvisor.com/questions/do-you-have-to-have-a-high-school-diploma-or http://www.ehow.com/facts_5002339_jobs-high-school-diploma-ged.html http://classroom.synonym.com/kind-trade-schools-dont-require-high-school-diploma-9435.html |
Anonymous
| Certain special ed students are entitled to stay in school until they turn 21. Transition planning should also be part of his IEP. |
Anonymous
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The only things that terminate a child's right to special education are: a regular diploma OR turning 21.
Do not let the school system push your child out at age 18 with a certificate-they are cheating him out of three years of specialized services, including transition services. Contact an advocate or attorney for more guidance. |
Anonymous
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It depends on what you want for your child and your goals ultimately. The fact that your child has worked very very hard is not a certificate vs. diploma issue. My child is bright and hard working and yet we have her on a certificate track. Why? I don't see her as employable ultimately due to her extreme disabilities. She is getting the same academics in the certificate track but she is not constantly tested and stressed and she has the advantage, as a PP noted, of staying in the school system until age 21 instead of leaving after HS graduation, and of receiving transition to work services (for disability work such as workshops and work programs).
It requires thinking about what your child's needs and goals are. |
Anonymous
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OP, my kids IQ is average and low average in one area.
Yours is high average at least in one area. The school tried to pull this with me too. I told them no way in hell. My kid is graduating this year. Do NOT let them pull this. If you let the, do it, they will do it. Because they want your kid out. The kid is only in 9th grade. Plenty of time to graduate with a regular diploma, on time. School just needs to step it up. |
Anonymous
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OP - I read your post before I dropped my daughter off to volunteer and came back and started out by looking at Diploma options in the State of Virginia which you can find at Virginia+Diploma Options for Students with Disabilities 2015. - Bottom line is that if any high school student has an IEP and is working under the goals of his/her IEP that one should qualify for and Individualized Education Diploma. I understand that as a Certificate of Completion it would not represent a regular high school diploma. HOEWEVER, a- You want to always keep his IEP in force so that as mentioned above you can develop an educational plan that will go beyond the typical high school 4-year program as appropriate. b- Thus, despite whatever grades your son may have or lack of credits, when he completes his educational sequence following his IEP goals, he ought to receive an IEP Diploma or perhaps called Special Diploma. In my estimation this diploma more accurately reflects his ability and the effort which he has made despite his disability to meet educational goals. A Certificate of Completion in my opinion can denote simply "a seat holder" that a school division has done all it could to just keep in school to keep dropout rates lower. - Transition Goals as mentioned in earlier posts will be the driving force guiding your son's IEP, and I would strongly urge you to not just look at goals in the typical academic sequence. - It sounds as if you have been able to give him all of the advantages to try to bring his language arts skills up. You are correct to note that being at least two years of reading/writing skills below grade level that private school might not accept him because research shows that students with this gap are usually not able to comprehend ccourse materials presented on grade level in other subject areas. However, since he is just in 9th grade and could even repeat some courses if needed some questions: a- Have you had him evaluated for processing disorders or how he learns - meaning is he a visual or auditory learner? Also an evaluation done to see if assisted technology devices using a computer might help him in the area of composition and testing. b- If as it would appear his auditory skills might be stronger, have you ever asked to have access to Reading Ally - formerly Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic at https://www.learningally.org/ to see if having his classroom materials on tape might help him? c- The idea of his being able to have all testing done orally also sounds reasonable. - On gaining reading skills, my personal experience has been with a daughter with a moderate cognitive disability - meaning a solid IQ of 55, but with scattered subskills in reading at times in the 60s or even a 70 here and there over the years. What it showed was she was a visual learner and with a good memory was going to be able to read. And today she could read and get a good idea about what I am typing in on this board. The key point for me was that the appropriate reading program was used with her class early on, and I made sure that it was continued up to early high school years for her self-contained class. It was called Distar or SRA - a direct indtructional method and based very much on phonic. I wonder if your son has had more than one reading instruction approach and perhaps could still benefit from finding or returning to the one that works best for him. - Back to Transition goals - While you are correct to worry about the doors that will be closed to your son if he does not have a high school diploma or a GED, I do think that you need to realize he can have up through age 21 to continue to reach educational goals - which if the need be could also include some vocational assessment and training. Getting an assessment of his skills and interests might open up a non-traditional, but still lucrative career option in a trades field. - Beyond High School - If despite all efforts and suggestions, his academic performance does not measure up to him obtaining the credits for a Standard High School diploma, then I would also seek to give him a broad base array of opportunities through volunteer work, summer jobs or internships to explore different sectors of the work world, especially the business world if he should show an interest in that arena. Why - because you would not need to necessarily have a degree to own and run your own business. He may well just be a bright, intelligent young fellow who if you can develop good people, customer service and soft work related skills could still find his niche in the business. world. Money that you might put aside for a sibling's college education might be in the future directed towards a small business for him. - Community College - I have mentioned in other posts that one should not discount the options of going there. And in our area there is a very strong community college which offers non-credit certificate programs in various aspects of job skills. You might just research if there are any kinds of certificates which do not need a high school diploma to take and find a job in. For example the area of viticulture is strong here or wine making. - The agency that may be most important to serving your son in the future will be the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). This was formally the Department of Rehabilitative Services. In our area the agency has a counselor assigned to each high school. You might look into it now as well as what the broad range of all courses are at your local high school. Given the idea of continuing maturation, there is time to still find a way to perhaps more evenly match your son's language arts skills and abilities. I do think if he finds school a struggle that giving him other opportunities to be with his peer and enjoy these years is very important through sports, volunteering, a part-time job etc. |
Anonymous
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OP - One thing I forgot to mention is that the DMV now has accommodations for those taking the Learner's Permit written driving test. I do believe that it can be administered orally. This might be very important to investigate ahead of time for your son. I have also seen in other boards that there seem to be friendlier places to go for DMV testing over others. It goes without saying that if your son can get his license like his peers that it will do wonders for his self-esteem and open doors. |
Anonymous
He can take longer to graduate than the standard 4 years if that's what he needs - it's in IDEA. Certificates are worthless. |
Anonymous
Does she see herself as employable? Does she want to graduate? I sure as hell hope the answers are yes and no. |
Anonymous
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Thank to everyone for your helpful, informative and supportive posts. The school system has failed us terribly and the constant battle has been a nightmare. Kids like mine are often forgotten and easily fall thru the cracks. Our school systems consider them collateral damage. It is shameful.
Responses like yours mean a lot and remind us that there are people who value kids like mine. What ever happens in his years at scho, I hope he runs into people like you all when building an independent (ish) life of his own. (: |
Anonymous
Thank you for your interest. I think we have this covered. |
Anonymous
How can you know with the information you don't have? The PP knows the circumstances. |