special education kids and IEPs.Why some get No diploma?

Question

From what I hear a lot of kids with Learning disabilities who are in special ed or in IEPs end up leaving high school
with a certificate of completion.With that they can not move
on to higher education or even get a half decent job.
Another question is What is being done to bring these LD
kids up to grade level.
In my time you were just passed on without mastering
your math and reading skills.

I had a learning disability.I am now 47 and there was not much help in my time.I fell
through the cracks.I got my GED in 1989
and I still find it unbeleivable.Yes I passed it
on the first try.

Answer 1

Hi, NCLB is supposed to be addressing this very problem and more because there are kids who get diploma's who cannot pass simple tests for employment at local retail stores.

The reality is that in a mandatory/compensatory public education system NOT everyone is going to finish the system with the same abilities. It is unrealistic to expect that EVERY student is going to progress and achieve "grade level" or "graduation requirements".

To speak to your posting -- LD students make up the largest number of students receiving special education services. The last number I saw was approximately 85% of all IEP's are LD students. If you are 12th grade and reading on an eighth grade level, this is a reality for many students and many are at even lower grade levels for reading. I do not care how much you teach, tutor, and torture these kids they are not likely going to be able to pass the GRADUATION STANDARDIZED TEST even with accommodations.

Now, if the higher ups and politicians could actually understand the reality. These kids would be tested on their reading level, and then given a VERBAL GRADUATION TEST - MOST LD kids have reading disabilities, which affect them from K-12. Mostly their self-esteem is crushed. This is also tragic, seeing how MANY of these children and teens are RIGHT on TARGET when evaluated using VERBAL TESTING measures. LET them listen and respond verbally. Sure it may take longer to administer and assess, but their LISTENING COMPREHENSION is usually at or above grade level.

Everyone is different and accepted is the biggest joke in education...because unless you can pass the standardized tests taken just like everyone else then as a student you just don't make the grade.

We used to have a society that had many jobs for persons who's hands and physical skills were better than their reading and math skills...that society no longer exists. BUT these people do still exist, and they need to be given a chance to succeed without having to fit an academic mold that truly can only apply to a limited percentage of the population.

I once worked with a third grade student, who was LD. He was often in trouble in "regular ed classes" and even in his sped class. I was told to give him his Friday spelling test. I did it the way I was told to give it to him. Say the word. Say the word in a sentence. Say the word again. THIS WAS HELL for this KID. He's trying to think; I am telling a sentence. Wait I did not hear the sentence. I made that letter wrong, Oh no, what was the word. Oh no I am gonna fail.....HE IS DONE.

Now, the next week I tell the student lets take your test. I do it my way. Completely oral. GUESS WHAT HE GOT a 100%. I said the word. Let him decide if he wanted more...a sentence or repeat. He orally spelled the words right back to me. Normal, no but he can spell. Now, work from here with the student. Build his confidence, then start getting him to write one word let him spell it orally and then write the word. Test him using his best ability, not his weakest.

I am passionate about how we preach everyone is different and acceptance and tolerance - then we use standardized tests and standard curriculum to teach our students. What a joke!

Answer 2

Certificate of completion is usually for individuals who are not able to complete the requirements of the state for eligible graduation. This does not mean they do not have skills to get a job. The IEP has transtion services that begin at age 14. This transition plan starts to describe the abilities of the student and how they can be trained to enter into the workforce.

A person's ability is basically what gets them a job. Some people in special education are severely impaired cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically. LD kids do have to face stringent testing due to No Child Left Behind. Unfortunately, these tests tend to really have a negative impact on the child. Standardized testing for LD kids is quite stressful and might not be an adequate assessment. Unfortunately, the alternative assessment in most states is for significantly impaired individuals and not appropriate for LD kids. Kids with learning disabilities might never completely catch up...that is why they have an IEP (individual educational plan)....this meets their needs and helps them to achieve as much as they can. Passing without mastering reading, writing and math is a thing of the past.

Answer 3

First, you have to have an IEP nowadays to receive special education services, it is required. Second, kids are "moved" up to the next grade, but that does not mean they "passed". That is indicated in teacher reporting now. Often kids are recommended for being held back, and parents will not allow it. Also, no child is supposed to be held back more than twice, because the age differences become too pronounced (peers need to be with their peers). The job market is becoming more and more difficult to navigate, period, because we are losing blue collar positions, and expecting much more intellectually from those entereing the work force. Just because a child gets special education services, does not mean a magic pill that cures the problem. A lot of factors enter into the picture...and being left behind is often a compilation of those factors...not because a teacher or parent fails the student. I have some students that I work with after school on my own time, and it is still not enough to help them catch up or pass. But, I keep trying, because I will not have an attitude of giving up. We are all worth it.

Answer 4

I am one of the special ed kids myself, the same thing happened to me at 16 they tried to integrate me into mainstream only 2 hours of the day and it was obviously not working I was getting D's and F's. When my mother tried to get me back into the special ed school full time they said that once a child has been mainstreamed even for one or two classes they can't go back. So the only other choice I had was to leave and drop out. I am now 21 with a 4th grade math level and so on. My only choice now to get a diploma is to go to an adult education school and have them place me where I am at. But what I found out is that if I am not up to a 7th grade level by the end of the school year they can only give me an elective credit for the work. So basically as you can see we special ed kids are screwed throughout life. I dont know if the no child left behind thing is working for special ed but something needs to be done cause I will bet that majority of drop outs are us.

Answer 5

Some students with more severe learning disabilities are deemed unable to catch up to grade level. Because they are not able to meet the state's minimum requirements to graduate high school, they are issued a certificate of completion. This generally allows them an additional period of time in which they may attend high school beyond the age of 18.
These are generally students with other issues besides a learning disorder.
An IEP, or Individualized Educational Plan, is basically an outline of modifications a student may require. It lists the goals of the individual student in priority order. These are typically re-assessed at least once a year.

Answer 6

Maybe they get a certificate instead of a diploma because they aren't on the same level and have done the same things for requirement for graduation. Just an idea.

In the one public school that I taught in, the special ed department wasn't meeting much of the state requirements, either for the kids already placed or for placing those that needed placement. The LD kids had a long-term sub who, herself, was an LD kid in school and didn't have a degree. She was basically a warm body to baby-sit. Something should be done, but I don't know what.

Answer 7

An IEP...individual educational plan is just that... a plan of action for the student. The IEP lists the student's strengths and weaknesses. In the state of Florida, at age 14, there is also a tranistional plan required, so that professionals ie ESE teachers, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech Pathologists, Support Coordinators and parents can help plan for the future of the student. All these professionals working together help the student perform at his/her highest potential. Keep in mind alot depends on the severity of the disability in which the student has.

Answer 8

No Child Left Behind probably has a lot to do with this. Children with LD should be able to do the work and graduate with a regular diploma from high school. Now everyone must pass the state mandated tests, no exception.