The Indiana Department of Education is considering making significant changes to Indiana’s high school diplomas. The Arc of Indiana has submitted public comments regarding how proposed changes would impact students with disabilities. Following is a summary of our comments and a link to our full comments. You can also read WFYI’s report here: Advocacy group says flexibility needed for students with disabilities in new diplomas.
Proposed High School Diploma Changes
Diploma options need to be accessible to students with disabilities so they have the supports they need to earn a high school diploma and achieve career and life goals. Yet, this proposal substantially limits diploma options for students with disabilities.
The Arc of Indiana strongly requests that the state reassess proposed changes to Indiana’s high school diploma options to ensure students with disabilities have the necessary access, supports, and services to earn a high school diploma. In addition, students need opportunities to petition for a waiver or exceptions to many of the proposed requirements and opportunities to petition for options to meet the requirements in new ways.
Following are key concerns:
To earn either the GPS or a GPS Plus diploma, students must choose one of three paths – Enrollment Ready for students who plan to go to college, Employment Ready for students who plan to pursue careers right after high school, and Enlistment Ready for those who plan to join the military. Most students with disabilities have a condition that disqualifies them from military service, thereby eliminating one of only three paths to earn the GPS or GPS Plus diploma.
While an Alternate Diploma is potentially available for students with disabilities, under federal requirements it is only available to students with significant cognitive disabilities and is limited to no more than 1% of all students enrolled in special education programs. The Alternate Diploma is extremely limited in who can earn it and is not an option for most students.
We are concerned by the rigidity of the Career and Postsecondary Readiness requirement. Out of the 8 options listed to achieve this designation, three of them are specifically for individuals who plan to go to college. Many students with disabilities receiving special education services will not pursue college. One of the options is for individuals who plan to pursue military enlistment. Again, most students with disabilities are prevented from engaging in military service due to their disability. Three of the options are career focused, but rely on federal apprenticeship programs, advanced CTE programs, or industry recognized certifications or credentials. Many careers do not fit in those three categories. Many students with disabilities may have valuable job skills but cannot meet these requirements.
As written, the Work Ethics requirement demands a 94% attendance rate without exception and without accommodating excused absences. Many students with disabilities, and many students who have health conditions requiring 504 Plans, will have difficulty achieving this requirement. If a student misses 11 days of school in an entire school year, they cannot achieve the 94% attendance rate. Students with disabilities and students with other health conditions often have several doctor and therapy appointments to get the appropriate medical treatment they need for their condition. The 94% attendance requirement may prevent these students from earning a diploma, despite academic prowess, simply because they have or are treating a medical condition. Students can also face unforeseen circumstances. Students should not be denied a diploma simply because they develop mononucleosis, cancer, or other health conditions during their sophomore year of high school, preventing them from achieving the 94% attendance rate. The Work Ethics section also requires a student to achieve a 3.0 grade point average when entering 11th grade. While this is certainly a threshold to aspire to, a student should not be denied a diploma because they do not have a 3.0 GPA.
Regarding work-based opportunities, to assist students with disabilities seeking career pathways, businesses providing work-based learning opportunities need to know how to work with and support students with disabilities. Funding should be provided to support school staff that can provide that expertise, assistance, and support to employers and students. Students will need transportation to engage in work-based opportunities. Students with disabilities may need accessible transportation, and as they may be less likely to drive than their non-disabled peers, they may require transportation supports. A lack of transportation should not prevent a student with a disability from engaging in work-based opportunities which could ultimately prevent their graduation with a diploma.
Proposed High School Diploma Changes_The Arc of Indiana Public Comments