Selecting the Highest, Most Appropriate Diploma/Exit Option!

1. Selecting the Highest, Most Appropriate Diploma/Exit Option! Diploma/Exit Option

2. Diploma Options in Alabama • Alabama High School Diploma with or without career/technical, advanced career/technical, or advanced academic endorsement • Alternate Adult High School Diploma • Alabama Occupational Diploma • Graduation Certificate Diploma/Exit Option

3. Alabama High School Diploma Diploma/Exit Option

4. Alabama High School Diploma • 4 credits English Language Arts (Grades 9-12) • 4 credits Mathematics (including Algebra I, Geometry, and two additional mathematics credits) • 4 credits Science (including Biology, a physical science, and two additional science credits) • 4 credits Social Studies (Grades 9-12, courses specified in the Course of Study) • 1 credit Physical Education • 1/2 credit Health Education • 1/2 credit Arts Education • 1/2 credit Computer Applications (may be waived and added to the elective requirement, making a total of 6 elective credits) • 5 1/2 credits Electives 24 credits total Diploma/Exit Option

5. Alabama High School Diploma Prepares students for many post-school options: • Accepted by postsecondary institutions • Accepted by the military • Accepted by employers Diploma/Exit Option

6. Alabama High School Diploma with Endorsements The Alabama High School Diploma may also be earned with the following endorsements by meeting the academic requirements for each endorsement: • Career/Technical • Advanced Career/Technical • Advanced Academic (The Career/Technical endorsements are optional for school systems) Diploma/Exit Option

7. Requirements for General Education Courses “The Alabama Courses of Study prescribe the content that is to be followed for each course in meeting the requirements for the Alabama High School Diploma. In order to earn credit that can be applied toward obtaining the AHSD, the content that is prescribed in the applicable Alabama Course of Study must be taught.” (SDE Memorandum, May 17, 1996) Diploma/Exit Option

8. Accommodations vs. Modifications “When course content is modified, the student is not pursuing the required content standards. When accommodations are made for the student with disabilities, the content standards are the same.” (Preparing for Life, 2000) Diploma/Exit Option

9. Accommodation • Strategies applied to lessen the impact of the disability in the teaching/learning environment. • Example: student is required to complete only 15 of the 25 multiplication problems, covering all the same content; or more time is allowed to complete the work. …changing the way the content is presented or measured. Diploma/Exit Option

10. Modification • Changes made to the course content. • Example: in a math assignment of 25 multiplication problems, the student with disabilities is working on addition problems. …changing (or omitting) content that is presented. Diploma/Exit Option

11. Accommodations vs. Modifications • Accommodations in secondary coursework will not prevent the student from receiving course credit. • Modifications are allowed for students who do not intend to earn course credit for the applicable diploma. In order to earn general education credit that can be applied toward obtaining the AHSD or occupational diploma credit that can be applied toward obtaining the AOD, the content that is prescribed in the applicable Alabama Course of Study must be taught. Diploma/Exit Option

12. Alternate Adult High School Diploma (*Except with waiver for student who has earned AOD credits) Diploma/Exit Option

13. Alabama Occupational Diploma Diploma/Exit Option

14. AOD Program Requirements • Academic requirement – A minimum of 24 units of credit - may be earned in either general or special education classes • Work training requirement–Grades 10, 11, and 12 • AOD Portfolio containing evidence of satisfactory performance in meeting both the academic and work-training curriculum requirements Diploma/Exit Option

15. Alabama Occupational Diploma • 4 credits English • 4 credits Math • 4 credits Science • 4 credits Social Studies • 2 credits Career/Technical Education • 1 credit Cooperative Education (12th grade) • 1 credit Coordinated Studies • 1 credit Physical Education • 1/2 credit Health • 1/2 credit Fine Arts • 2 credits Elective • 24 credits total Diploma/Exit Option

16. Alabama Occupational Diploma • Available to students with disabilities as defined by IDEA • Is a State Board of Education approved diploma • Students who earn an Alabama Occupational Diploma can return to school and receive special education services until (a) they exit with an Alabama High School Diploma, or (b) they turn 21. Prepares students for many post-school options: • Accepted by many employers • Accepted by the Alabama College System in degree programs with an ACT of 16 • Accepted by the Alabama College System in certain non-degree programs • May be accepted by the military on a case-by-case basis Diploma/Exit Option

17. Graduation Certificate Diploma/Exit Option

18. Graduation Certificate • Available to students with disabilities as defined by IDEA • Certifies earning required credits or passing graduation exam or completion of the Individualized Education Program (IEP). • Students who exit with the Graduation Certificate can return to school and receive special education services until (a) they exit with an Alabama High School Diploma, or (b) they turn 21. Prepares students for their post-school transitional goals: • Not generally accepted by postsecondary institutions • Not generally accepted by military recruiters • May not be accepted by some employers Diploma/Exit Option

19. Select the Highest, Most Appropriate Option! Diploma/Exit Option

20. Functional Transition Assessment Information Use these types of information to determine transition goals for employment and community living, proposed diploma/exit option, least restrictive environment, and special education services: • Communication Skills • Career Interests and Aptitudes • General Aptitude • Independent Living and Community Skills • Interests and Preferences • Motor, Physical, and Health • Past Educational Performance/Academic Skills • Past Performance on Standardized Testing • Pre-employability, Employability and Vocational Skills • Self-determination Skills • Social and Emotional Skills Diploma/Exit Option

21. All of these decisions should be made in conjunction with each other! • Transition Goals for Employment and Community Living • Proposed Diploma/Exit Option • Least Restrictive Environment • Special Education Services Diploma/Exit Option

22. Selecting the Highest, Most Appropriate Option • Understand the Diploma Options • Consider the student’s functional transition assessment information • Identify highest, most appropriate diploma/exit option, least restrictive environment, and special education services • Regularly monitor progress (weekly/monthly) • Make adjustments as necessary (adjust services before you lower LRE or diploma/exit option) Diploma/Exit Option

23. Content Area Resource AOD Functional/Life Skills General Education (Tutorial) (Special Education) (Special Education) (Remediation) w/ or w/out accommodations w/ or w/out modifications High School LRE ContinuumSample w/ or w/out accommodations w/ or w/out modifications Diploma/Exit Option

24. Content Area Resource AOD Functional/Life Skills General Education w/ or w/out accommodations (Tutorial) (Special Education) (Special Education) w/ or w/out modifications (Remediation) w/ or w/out accommodations w/ or w/out modifications High School LRE ContinuumSample Diploma/Exit Option

25. General Education AOD Functional/Life Skills Content Area Resource w/ or w/out accommodations (Tutorial) (Special Education) (Special Education) w/ or w/out modifications (Remediation) w/ or w/out accommodations w/ or w/out modifications High School LRE ContinuumSample Diploma/Exit Option

26. General Education Content Area Resource Functional/Life Skills AOD (Special Education) w/ or w/out accommodations w/ or w/out modifications w/ or w/out accommodations (Tutorial) (Special Education) w/ or w/out modifications (Remediation) High School LRE ContinuumSample Diploma/Exit Option

27. General Education Content Area Resource AOD Functional/Life Skills (Special Education) w/ or w/out accommodations (Tutorial) (Special Education) w/ or w/out modifications (Remediation) w/ or w/out accommodations w/ or w/out modifications High School LRE ContinuumSample Diploma/Exit Option

28. Content Area Resource AOD Functional/Life Skills General Education (Tutorial) (Special Education) (Special Education) (Remediation) w/ or w/out accommodations w/ or w/out modifications High School LRE ContinuumSample w/ or w/out accommodations w/ or w/out modifications Diploma/Exit Option

29. Plan Now for Life After High School! Diploma/Exit Option