LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE GUIDE

Transcription

1 REFERENCE GUIDE TITLE: NUMBER: ISSUER: Issuance of Diplomas or Certificates of Completion for All Eligible Grade 12 Students with Disabilities DATE: Jaime R. Aquino, Ph.D. Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Sharyn Howell, Executive Director ROUTING Schools Serving Grade 12 Students with Disabilities Instructional Superintendents Instructional Directors Special Education Service Center Administrators Counseling Coordinators School Site Administrators Staff Working with Students with Disabilities Clerical Staff PURPOSE: MAJOR CHANGES: BACKGROUND: The purpose of this Reference Guide is to provide school site administrators, special education teachers, and other staff working with students with disabilities at the secondary level with information regarding the eligibility requirements and required procedures for the issuance of a high school diploma or certificate of completion to eligible students with disabilities. Not applicable. As part of a District-wide effort to increase high school graduation and completion rates for all students, as well as improve the accuracy of student graduation and completion data in the District s Student Information System (SIS) and student cumulative files, the is assisting all District-operated schools serving grade 12 students with identifying and preparing certificates of completion for eligible students with disabilities. Every student who has been identified as having met the eligibility criteria must receive a certificate of completion or diploma unless the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team determines that a student has not met the applicable criteria. The has sent schools preprinted certificates of completion for eligible students. Per California Education Code, section 56390, students with an IEP can earn a certificate of completion by meeting any one of the following conditions: Satisfactory completion of 230 credits of a prescribed alternative course of study as identified on the student s IEP; or Satisfactory achievement of his/her IEP goals and objectives during high school as determined by the IEP team; or Satisfactory high school attendance, participation in the instruction prescribed in his/her IEP and achievement of the transition goals and objectives. Page 1 of 3

2 REFERENCE GUIDE BACKGROUND (cont.): Per District policy, students with an IEP earn a diploma if all of the following requirements are met: Complete required coursework; Earn a minimum of 230 credits; Attempt to pass the math and English portions of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE);* and Meet non-course requirements (computer literacy, select career pathway, service learning). *Although students with disabilities must take the CAHSEE, they do not need to pass it as a condition to receive a diploma. PROCEDURES: Principals are requested to do all of the following: 1. Make sure the preprinted certificates of completion that were sent to their school by the are issued to each eligible student;** 2. Assign a knowledgeable staff member to ensure that year-end data is appropriately entered into the SIS. Please refer to Attachment A: Directions for Entering Appropriate Year-End Flags, Leave Codes and Descriptions for Grade 12 Students with an IEP in the Student Information System (SIS) for detailed instructions; and 3. Ensure that IEP teams are aware of the appropriate IEP process (Attachment B) that must be completed for all grade 12 students eligible for a diploma or certificate of completion. **IMPORTANT NOTES: Students earning a certificate of completion may also qualify for a diploma if they have met diploma requirements. Students who are expected to meet diploma requirements this school year should be awarded a diploma. A certificate of completion and/or diploma should be issued within the timeframe and guidelines of issuance as established by the school site. Students with disabilities who qualify for a certificate of completion are eligible to participate in one graduation ceremony and any school activity related to graduation in which students of similar age without disabilities would be eligible to participate. Students who earn a certificate of completion may continue to pursue a diploma and are eligible to continue receiving special education services through 21 years of age. Students with disabilities who earn a diploma have completed their high school education. Page 2 of 3

3 REFERENCE GUIDE PROCEDURES (cont.): RELATED RESOURCES: ATTACHMENTS: ASSISTANCE: The is mailing a Letter to Parents (Attachment C) to the home address of each eligible student to (a) congratulate them on their accomplishment, (b) notify them of their right to continue receiving special education services through the age of 21, and (c) inform them that they are eligible to participate in a graduation ceremony and any school activities related to graduation in which students of similar age without disabilities would be eligible to participate. Modified Consent Decree Special Education Policies and Procedures Manual BUL : Graduation Requirements for the Graduating Class of 2016, dated June 25, 2012 REF : Dropout Identification and Intervention for Secondary Students with Disabilities, dated October 24, REF : CAHSEE Exemption and Waiver Process for Students with Disabilities, dated May 9, REF : Secondary SIS Instructions for Year-End Processing for Single Track Schools and Options Schools, dated June 1, REF : Secondary SIS Instructions for Year-End Processing for Year-Round Schools, dated June 1, Graduation Data Entry Procedures, Secondary SIS Training Materials Attachment A: Directions for Entering Appropriate Year-End Flags, Leave Codes and Descriptions for Grade 12 Students with an IEP in the Student Information System (SIS) Attachment B: IEP Team Responsibilities Attachment C: Sample Letter to Parents For assistance or further information, please contact Aaron Jeffery, Coordinator, District Office of Transition Services, at , or via at aaron.jeffery@lausd.net. Page 3 of 3

4 ATTACHMENT A DIRECTIONS FOR ENTERING APPROPRIATE YEAR-END FLAGS, LEAVE CODES AND DESCRIPTIONS FOR GRADE 12 STUDENTS WITH AN IEP IN THE STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (SIS) Page 1: Directions for Year-End Flag Coding of Grade 12 Students with an IEP Earning a Diploma Page 2: Directions for Year-End Flag Coding of Grade 12 Students with an IEP Earning a Certificate of Completion Directions for Year-End Flag Coding of Grade 12 Students with an IEP Earning a Diploma Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) who graduate with a diploma should be coded in the SIS as follows: 1. Student has completed all course and credit requirements and passed the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). These students should be coded with a year-end flag of A. This will translate to a leave code of L7 with reason code 90; or 2. Student has completed all course and credit requirements, but took the CAHSEE with a modification and has an I code in SIS ID01 (Field 432 and 437). If the student scored 350 or higher on the CAHSEE, they are eligible for a waiver. The school must notify the parent that the student is eligible for a CAHSEE waiver. After the parent submits the request for a CAHSEE waiver to the school, the school must file for a CAHSEE waiver through the Student Testing Unit. Once the CAHSEE waiver is approved, the Testing Unit will change the I to a W, and the school will change the year-end flag to Reason Code A. This will translate to a leave code of L7 with reason code 90; or 3. Student has passed all course and credit requirements but has not passed one or both parts of the CAHSEE. Beginning in the school year, students with disabilities were exempted from meeting the CAHSEE requirement as a condition of graduation. These students should be coded with a yearend flag of S. This will translate to a leave code of L7 with reason code 96. Page 1 of 2

5 ATTACHMENT A DIRECTIONS FOR ENTERING APPROPRIATE YEAR-END FLAGS, LEAVE CODES AND DESCRIPTIONS FOR GRADE 12 STUDENTS WITH AN IEP IN THE STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (SIS) Directions for Year-End Flag Coding of Grade 12 Students with an IEP Earning a Certificate of Completion Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) can complete high school with a certificate of completion under any one of the following conditions: 1. Satisfactory completion of 230 credits of a prescribed alternative course of study as identified on the student's IEP; or 2. Satisfactory achievement of the student's IEP goals and objectives during high school as determined by the IEP team; or 3. Satisfactory high school attendance, participation in the instruction prescribed in the student's IEP, and achievement of the objectives of the statement of transition services. All students with an IEP who are in their fourth year of high school and are earning a certificate of completion should be coded with a year-end flag of C if they are not returning the following school year and R if they are planning to return the following school year. Students with an IEP who previously received a certificate of completion and are still enrolled beyond their fourth year of high school and are not planning to return the following school year should be coded with a year-end flag of T. The C year-end flag will translate to a leave code of L7 with reason code 92; the T year-end flag will translate to a leave code of L7 with reason code 95. STATUS YEAR-END FLAG LEAVE CODE LEAVE REASON YEAR IN SCHOOL RETURNING NEXT YEAR Prior completer (previously earned Certificate) T* L th or more No Eligible for Certificate R N/A N/A 4 th or more Yes Eligible for Certificate C L th No *To be used for students who received the C year-end flag in prior years. Page 2 of 2

6 ATTACHMENT B IEP TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE OF A DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION TO ELIGIBLE GRADE 12 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IEP teams are responsible for ensuring that the appropriate IEP process is completed for all grade 12 students with disabilities eligible for a diploma or certificate or completion. The table below provides additional information: Row Eligible for: Student Graduation Status Need Final IEP and Summary of Performance (SOP) 1. Diploma Student must exit this school year Yes, Required 2. Certificate of Completion Student plans to voluntarily exit this school year Yes, Required 3. Certificate of Completion Student plans to continue in current program next school year No, Not Required 4. Certificate of Completion Student plans to continue in a different District program next school year (e.g., Independent Study, Community Day School, Continuation School, Center for Advanced Transition Skills, Career/Transition Center) No, Not Required* *Annual IEP meeting should be held to document change of placement. Page 1 of 1

7 ATTACHMENT C MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MÓNICA GARCÍA, PRESIDENT TAMAR GALATZAN BENNETT KAYSER MARGUERITE P. LAMOTTE NURY MARTINEZ RICHARD VLADOVIC STEVE ZIMMER JOHN E. DEASY, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools Administrative Offices Los Angeles Unified School District SELPA/ 333 S. Beaudry Avenue, 17 th Floor Los Angeles, California (213) FAX: (213) SHARYN HOWELL Executive Director April 26, 2013 PARENT OF: [FIRST, LAST] [ADDRESS LINE] [ADDRESS LINE 2] RE: CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION Dear Parent: I am pleased to inform you that your child, [FIRST, LAST], has earned a Certificate of Completion. All grade 12 students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion if they have met one or more of the following conditions: (a) satisfactory completion of 230 credits; (b) satisfactory achievement of their IEP goals and objectives during high school as determined by the IEP team; or (c) satisfactory high school attendance, participation in the instruction prescribed in their IEP, and achievement of the transition goals and objectives. Students with disabilities who qualify for a Certificate of Completion are eligible to participate in a graduation ceremony and any school activity related to graduation in which students of similar age without disabilities would be eligible to participate. All District students may participate in one graduation ceremony. Students who earn the Certificate of Completion may continue to pursue a Diploma and are eligible to continue receiving special education services through 21 years of age. Congratulations to your child for earning a Certificate of Completion. This is a significant accomplishment and an important first step in ensuring a successful future. The Certificate of Completion will be issued by your child s school within the timeframe and guidelines of issuance set by the school. Normally, this would take place at the end of the spring semester. If you have a question that cannot be addressed at the school, please contact the District Office of Transition Services at Sincerely, Sharyn Howell c: Principal, [SCHOOL] Aaron Jeffery, Coordinator, District Transition Services The teachers, administrators, and staff of the Los Angeles Unified School District believe in the equal worth and dignity of all students and are committed to educate all students to their maximum potential.