My sister has realized.... finally

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

how some school districts feel about our kids

So I always tell my sissy all about the girls at school and the difference btwn them and their learning style. She gets it. ( I hope LOL) She reads the IEP's and I try to inform her of all the really important stuff she needs to know if i'm not able to do it someday.

OMGoodness, she went to a school meeting last week and called me at 8:30 pm just fummmming mad. Mad!

She says that this school is now going to have three different diploma's.

Regular
Modified
and......
a certificate of attendance for the Special Ed kids.

Huh?

Ohhh she was mad. Asking what I knew of this. I haven't heard a word. She was saying this lady told the group that the school will tell the parents what kind of diploma they will give the child in the fth grade.

The 5th grade

She was going on and on about no one will tell her what kind of diploma her kid and Brooker can get. She will tell the school what kind of diploma the kids will get!! She was sooooo not happy with this lady. Go sissy!!!

Now, I will go to the next meeting at the end of the month and hear this for myself. What a bunch of bolderdash!!!

Do any of your school districts have this sort of diploma thing?

[michellew]

We have a Certificate of Completion for kids who cannot pass the graduation requirements, including Algebra and the state high school exit exam. We don't have a specific time when we determine if a student will be able to graduate or not, but the IEP teams start looking at this in middle school. My daughter will get her Certificate and walk graduation with her peers. This doesn't really bother me since she can participate in everything the typical kids do, and even go to junior college if she wants to.

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Thx Michelle. I'd never heard of such an arrangement. I think this is different from what sister says. This certificate is different b/c they can't go on to higher learning and it's not even the equilavent to a GED. Here the modified is for the kids who can't pass the state tests. I'm curious to hear this lady speak and see if just maybe my sissy had her mad ears on and quit listining after that LOL

We'll see

[momofrussell]

Um, sounds normal sounding to me I think that is what they offer here too. And I think the "they will let parents know by 5th grade" comment probably stems from knowing by 3rd grade on the IEP if they will be taking regular or adaptive assessments.

So, for Russell his IEP has said from his IEP in the 3rd grade that he will take the Map-A testing and not the regular MaP test. "A" is for adaptive and only so many kids qualify for that adaptive and if not they take the regular yearly state wide assessment tests.

THEN, along with that, Russell's goals have benchmarks.....these two things can set a precident early on in a child's life to say what kind of diploma he is going for. Russell will be getting a "Certifcate of Completion" I think our state calls it...but same as your Cert Of Attendance you have listed. That said, he will still be able to walk with his peers and graduate. I am not sure if we have a "modified" diploma or not....but we have a diploma and cert of completion.

Part of it is for "higher learning" because technically to get into college you need to show the classes you took and your GPA and ect.... but I don't think it's the only reason.

This is why I tell parents to fully understand how their goals are written and understanding what assessments the district is wanting your child to take (yes, it's marked on the IEP). Some will have benchmarks on a child's IEP goals and not fully explain to a parent that those benchmarks start the precident in 3rd grade for what path you could be heading come your HS years and graduation. That is why they took out the benchmark requirement on the IEP's in the IDEA 2004.

Personally, for us, we don't care what diploma Russell gets, only that he is included with his peers come graduation. To me that's most important.

A.

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Thx A. I called it in to my trainer and tried my best to explain what I knew the the story. She said almost the exact same thing. I explained it to my sister like that and she understood. I too can understand the concept of such a thing. I knew I shoulda just asked you first

I still don't like the fact that the school will decide. Not on my watch Not about my kid

[momofrussell]

Well, I don't think the school technically decides.....the IEP team decides what path a child might be heading down. That's why this is something lots of parents don't know or understand and should. IF you don't know or understand all this stuff, then by default they guide you the way they see fit (ergo they make the decision)....but technically it should be a discussion with the IEP team around age 8 or 3rd grade.

I am glad you called to clarify and explained to sissy. This is one of the reasons my sister, mom or MIL could not do the education piece of things LOL Actually sounds like your sis has it more together and understands more, it would be a big task with loved ones....so Regan gets the job

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

I better get sissy to understand a little. Mary just couldn't do it and my neice is still to young. When neice gets older she will also be coming to meetings. She is Brooks biggest fan and i know she will stick up for her. She has their life all planed out already. Neice will be a vet and Brook is her assistant. Neice says Brook will live w/ her so neice can drive them to work. Its actually very cute how neice at 12 yr old has her act together and is planning for her future Now, if some of that would rub off on Mary....ugggg.