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Diploma Options
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| To make sure your child leaves high school with a diploma, it is important to plan for the type of diploma he or she will earn. It is appropriate to start thinking about graduation options when your child begins elementary school, as elementary school lays the foundation for future years. The diploma option selection occurs in the 8th grade (if not sooner). |
The following provides information about making diploma choices in middle school and beyond. The decision to take a course of study leading to a particular type of diploma must first be addressed at the Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting conducted during your child's eighth grade year (or the year your child turns 14). This IEP meeting (and the ones that follow in high school) is called a transition IEP meeting. This is because the meeting deals with issues related to making the transition to adult life after school. Diploma decisions, which are made by the IEP team including the parent, are part of the written transition IEP.
Pinellas County offers several options regarding the type of diploma your child may earn when graduating from high school. The options are as follows:
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The Standard Diploma
This is the type of diploma earned by most students who graduate from Florida high schools. All students, including exceptional education students, are entitled to earn a standard (regular) diploma. To do so, they must meet the following graduation requirements set by the state and Pinellas County:- Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
- Students must take and pass all parts of the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT) or be determined eligible for an FCAT waiver. In order for the FCAT graduation requirement to be waived, the IEP team must meet during the student's senior year to determine whether or not the FCAT can accurately measure the student's abilities, taking into consideration allowable accommodations. To be considered for a waiver, a student must meet the following requirements:
- be identified as a student with a disability, as defined in section 1007.02(2), Florida Statutes
- have an individual education plan (IEP)
- be a senior or a student with disabilities who remains enrolled seeking a standard diploma for whom the FCAT is the graduation test
- have demonstrated mastery of the grade 10 Sunshine State Standards
- have taken the Grade 10 FCAT with appropriate, allowable accommodations at least twice (for example, once in grade 10 and once in grade 11) or, if not continuously enrolled in public school in Florida, at least once during each year of enrollment in grades 10, 11, or 12
- have participated in intensive remediation for the FCAT Reading and/or FCAT Mathematics, if passing scores were not earned, and have participated in the March FCAT administration during the senior year
- be progressing toward meeting the state's 24-credit/course and 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) requirements and any other district requirements for graduation with a standard diploma.
Should the IEP team determine that the FCAT does accurately measure the student's ability and the test should not be waived, then the student may:- remain in school until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22
- exit with a certificate of completion
- graduate with a special diploma.
The FCAT, which is part of a statewide testing program, is first administered in the student's 10th grade year, but may be retaken in junior and senior years.
- Students must earn the required number of credits in specified areas. Please contact your child's guidance counselor for specific information regarding credit options.
- Please note that accommodations may be provided for basic courses and tests to meet the needs of students with disabilities (modifications, or changes to the course content may not be made). Advantages of this option are that it is recognized by employers and military recruiters and accepted by vocational schools and colleges. A disadvantage is that it may be difficult for some students to attain.
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The Special Diploma
Special diploma options are available for students with disabilities who are not able to meet the requirements for a standard diploma or require coursework to support the development of functional life skills. Students who have been properly identified as specific learning disabled, emotionally handicapped, educable or trainable mentally handicapped, deaf or hard-of-hearing, physically or language impaired, or profoundly handicapped are eligible for a special diploma upon meeting the following graduation requirements:Graduation Requirements for Special Diploma Option 1
In order to graduate with Special Diploma Option 1, a student must: - Earn the minimum number of course credits defined by the school board. Courses may be earned in basic, vocational, or exceptional student education classes. Please contact your child's guidance counselor for specific information regarding credit options.
- Master the Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma at the levels specified by the IEP team: independent, supported, participatory.
- Have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Advantages of a special diploma are that it is a high school diploma and is recognized by employers. Students may continue to work toward a standard diploma until age 22, if that option is appropriate. Disadvantages are that a special diploma may not be accepted by military recruiters or vocational schools and is not usually accepted by community colleges.Graduation Requirements for Special Diploma Option 2
Requirements for this diploma option are based on mastery of a set of competencies developed for each individual student related to employment, vocational training, and community living. In order to graduate with Special Diploma Option 2, a student must: - Be successfully employed in the community for a minimum period of one semester, at or above minimum wage, or be enrolled in PTEC on a full- or part-time basis along with being successfully employed.
- Achieve all annual goals and short-term objectives related to employment and community competencies in the transition individual education plan (IEP).
- Demonstrate mastery of competencies in his or her employment and community competencies training plan.
- Have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
- Earn credits in these areas:
Language Arts | | .5 credit | Mathematics | | .5 credit | Career Preparation | | .5 credit | Vocational/OJT/Electives
| | 22.5 to 27.5 credits (depending upon whether the student is attending a school that offers 4 or 6 periods per day) |
- Master the required Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma at the levels specified by the IEP team: independent, supported, participatory.
Advantages are that a special diploma is a high school diploma. The student may continue employment after graduation and may continue to work toward a standard diploma if this option is appropriate. Disadvantages are that a special diploma may not be accepted by military or vocational schools and is usually not accepted in community colleges. |
Please Consider:
- Check with your child's guidance counselor for more specific information about graduation requirements.
- Contact your child's ESE teacher to discuss diploma options in depth.
- The standard diploma offers your child the most options following high school. However, the high requirements for a standard diploma may make it difficult for some students to attain. The special diploma may be a good alternative for these students. This decision is made by the IEP team.
- Students may acquire a Florida high school diploma by passing the Tests of General Educational Development (GED). Passing these tests enables students to demonstrate that they have the knowledge and skills usually acquired through attending four years of high school. Please check with your child’s guidance counselor for more information about the GED.
- Involve your child in discussions about diploma options and requirements.
- Although special diploma students do not need the FCAT to graduate from high school, all special diploma students in 9th and 10th grade must take a designated alternate assessment that evaluates their mastery of Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma.
- Students can change their diploma option if necessary. Moving from a standard to special diploma is easier than the reverse process. Moving from a special to a standard diploma would probably lengthen the time the student needs to graduate because the missing diploma requirements would have to be met.
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