Diploma Decisions for Students with Disabilities. What Parents Need to Know

Transcription

1 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities What Parents Need to Know Forida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptiona Education and Student Services Revised 2005

2 This is one of many pubications avaiabe through the Bureau of Exceptiona Education and Student Services, Forida Department of Education, designed to assist schoo districts, state agencies which support educationa programs, and parents in the provision of specia programs. For additiona information on this pubication, or for a ist of avaiabe pubications, contact the Cearinghouse Information Center, Room 628 Turington Bdg., Taahassee, Forida teephone: (850) FAX: (850) Suncom: emai: cicbiscs@fdoe.org website:

3 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities What Parents Need to Know Forida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptiona Education and Student Services Revised 2005

4 This product was deveoped by the Accommodations and Modifications for Students with Disabiities Project through the Learning Systems Institute, Forida State University, funded by the State of Forida, Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptiona Education and Student Services, through federa assistance under the Individuas with Disabiities Education Act (IDEA), Part B. Forida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptiona Education and Student Services Bambi Lockman, Chief Evy Friend, Administrator, ESE Program Deveopment and Services Lezie Cine, Supervisor, ESE Program Deveopment and Services Copyright State of Forida Department of State 1999, 2004, 2005 Authorization for reproduction is hereby granted to the State System of Pubic Education consistent with Section (1), Forida Statutes. No authorization is granted for distribution or reproduction outside the State System of Pubic Education without prior approva in writing.

5 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities What Parents Need to Know by Marty Beech Jan McKay Learning Systems Institute Forida State University Sara Pankaskie Department of Exceptiona and Physica Education University of Centra Forida

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7 Tabe of Contents Page About This Guide What Is the Purpose of This Guide?... 1 How Is This Guide Organized?... 1 How to Use This Guide... 2 Terms Used in This Guide... 2 Part 1: Dipoma Options in Forida Schoos Standard Dipoma Options... 3 Graduation Requirements for a Standard Dipoma... 4 Course Credit Requirements and Cassroom Accommodations... 5 Grade Point Average Requirement... 6 Assessment Requirements and Test Accommodations... 6 Extended Time for Meeting Graduation Requirements... 7 Specia Dipoma Options... 7 Who May Earn a Specia Dipoma?... 8 Graduation Requirements for Specia Dipoma Option Graduation Requirements for Specia Dipoma Option Certificates of Competion Earning a Dipoma by Passing the GED Tests Dipoma Options and Desired Post-Schoo Outcomes Empoyment Miitary Service Postsecondary Education Technica Centers Community Coeges State Universities in Forida Private Coeges and Universities and Pubic Universities in Other States Adut Day Training and Supported Empoyment Weighing the Pros and Cons of Dipoma Options v

8 Part 2: Choosing the Right Dipoma Tabe of Contents (Continued) Page Choosing a Dipoma An Overview Choosing a Dipoma and Panning the Course of Study Choosing between Specia Dipoma Option 1 and Option Strategies for Making the Best Dipoma Choice Reviewing Dipoma and Coursework Decisions Annuay Part 3: Panning for Graduation Year by Year Things to Consider in Eighth Grade Making the First Forma Statement about Dipoma Choice Deveoping a Pan for High Schoo Deveoping Sef-Determination Skis Exporing a Variety of Career Options Deveoping Schoo Surviva Skis Panning for Graduation in the High Schoo Years Part 4: A Note about the Future Staying Informed of Changes Panning for the Future Appendices Appendix A: Graduation Requirements for a Standard Dipoma Appendix B: Accommodations and Modifications Appendix C: The Sunshine State Standards for Specia Dipoma Appendix D: Acquiring a Dipoma by Passing the Tests of Genera Educationa Deveopment (GED Tests) Appendix E: Sampe Rating Scaes for Choosing between Dipoma Options Appendix F: Resources References vi

9 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities About This Guide What Is the Purpose of This Guide? This guide is designed for you, parents of students with disabiities. It provides information about types of dipomas avaiabe through the Forida pubic schoo system. Knowing about these options wi hep you make sure that the educationa program your chid participates in wi ead to an appropriate dipoma. The dipoma wi hep your chid achieve his or her goas for ife after high schoo. It s good to begin thinking about graduation options when your chid is in eementary schoo. The eementary schoo program ays the foundation for future years. By the end of midde schoo, you and your chid wi be asked to make more definite pans about dipoma choices. This is not a decision you wi have to make on your own. You wi be assisted throughout this process by schoo and district staff through the deveopment of the individua educationa pan (IEP). The dipoma choice is reviewed each year at your chid s IEP meeting. The type of dipoma that your chid is working toward may be changed. How Is This Guide Organized? This guide is organized into five sections to hep you understand the steps aong the path to graduation. Each section is briefy described beow. Part 1. Dipoma Options in Forida Schoos Part 1 describes high schoo dipoma options avaiabe through the Forida pubic schoo system. The requirements for each option are expained. This section aso addresses choices for students with disabiities who do not meet requirements for a dipoma. The pros and cons of each option are discussed. Part 2. Choosing the Right Dipoma Part 2 expains how to choose the best dipoma option for your chid. In this section, you wi earn about the roe you and your son or daughter pay as members of the transition IEP team. You wi find out how your input heps shape the choice of dipoma. Part 3. Panning for Graduation Year by Year Part 3 describes the steps to take each year, starting in the eighth grade, to ensure that your chid earns the dipoma that best meets his or her needs. 1

10 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities Part 4. A Note about the Future Part 4 describes how you can keep informed of changes regarding dipoma options and graduation requirements. Appendices The appendices contain additiona information to hep expand your knowedge and understanding of some of the topics discussed in the guide. How to Use This Guide This guide may be used in severa different ways. Reading the guide from beginning to end provides detaied information about dipoma options and graduation requirements. For a quick overview, you can read the charts that summarize the important points in each section. You may aso use the tabe of contents to ocate specific topics you want to know more about. Terms Used in This Guide It s important to become famiiar with the vocabuary used in Forida concerning dipomas and graduation requirements. These terms are printed in bod type the first time they appear in the guide. Expanations for these terms are provided in the content. Knowing these terms wi hep you participate more effectivey in transition IEP meetings. You wi better understand what is discussed. You wi aso be abe to use this information to make dipoma decisions. About This Guide 2

11 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities Part 1: Dipoma Options in Forida Schoos To make sure your chid graduates from high schoo, it s important to pan for the type of dipoma he or she wi earn. You wi need to hep monitor your son or daughter s progress toward that goa and assist schoo personne in making changes in the educationa program when needed. Forida offers a students options regarding the type of program eading to a high schoo dipoma. In this guide, you wi earn how students with disabiities may pursue a standard dipoma (a reguar dipoma) or a specia dipoma. Choices for students with disabiities who don t earn a dipoma in high schoo wi aso be discussed. In this section you wi earn about Standard Dipoma Options Specia Dipoma Options (Option 1 and Option 2) Certificates of Competion Earning a Dipoma by Passing the GED Tests Dipoma Options and Desired Post-Schoo Outcomes Weighing the Pros and Cons of Dipoma Options. Standard Dipoma Options The standard dipoma is the type of high schoo dipoma earned by most students who graduate from Forida high schoos. A students, incuding students with disabiities, are entited to try to earn a standard dipoma. To do so, they must meet the graduation requirements set by the State of Forida and the oca schoo districts. Beginning in the schoo year, students may choose from three different options for earning a standard dipoma: a traditiona, four-year 24-credit program a three-year, 18-credit coege preparatory program a three-year, 18-credit career preparatory program. Students shoud seect the dipoma option that best prepares them for education and career goas after high schoo. Students and their parents must receive information regarding 3

12 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities graduation options at the beginning of every schoo year between grades six and nine. They shoud make an initia seection during the student s eighth grade year, prior to the beginning of the student s first year of high schoo. The traditiona 24-credit program is the best choice for most students. It usuay takes four years to compete. The coege preparatory program and the career preparatory program are acceerated programs that can be competed in three years. Students who seect a three-year program shoud have the abiity and desire to pursue an acceerated program. These students shoud have a cear vision of their future goas and be mature enough to succeed upon graduation. (TAP No. FY , Forida Department of Education, Bureau of Schoo Improvement, September 2004). Graduation Requirements for a Standard Dipoma The Forida Legisature sets the genera requirements for a programs eading to a standard dipoma. This ensures that a students are abe to perform at a high eve when they graduate from high schoo. The genera requirements are described in the chart beow. (See Appendix A: Graduation Requirements for a Standard Dipoma on page 35 for a detaied ist of the requirements.) State Graduation Requirements for Earning a Standard Dipoma Traditiona 24-Credit Program Three-Year, 18-Credit Programs compete at east 24 academic credits compete 18 academic credits in in specified course work specified course work earn a cumuative 2.0 grade point earn a cumuative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scae average (GPA) on a 4.0 scae earn passing scores on the Grade 10 earn passing scores on the Grade 10 Forida Comprehensive Assessment Forida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Test (FCAT) Schoo districts may set additiona requirements for the 24-credit program. They cannot change the requirements for the three-year graduation programs. For exampe, the State requires at east 24 credit hours of course work for earning a standard dipoma through the traditiona program. However, in some schoo districts, students are required to earn as many as 32 credit hours for a traditiona standard dipoma. Check with your chid s teachers, guidance counseor, or oca schoo district office to find out if your district has additiona requirements for the traditiona program. Course Credit Requirements and Cassroom Accommodations The State requires students to earn a specific number of credit hours in certain courses for a standard dipoma. For exampe, a students working toward a standard dipoma must earn four credits in Engish and three credits in mathematics, incuding Agebra I or its equivaent. For credit towards a standard dipoma, the requirements for basic education 4

13 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities (reguar academic) courses cannot be changed. Students with disabiities are expected to earn the same things as nondisabed students. However, modifications can be made to requirements for career education (vocationa) courses, as appropriate. (See Appendix B: Accommodations and Modifications on page 37.) Some courses may be too advanced for your son or daughter. If so, your chid may be abe to use Leve I basic education courses to meet graduation requirements for required courses. Leve I courses are fundamenta courses that target ower skis. However, the use of Leve I courses must be approved in writing by the principa, the guidance counseor, and the parent. Leve I courses cannot be used to meet the requirement for Agebra I or its approved equivaent courses. To graduate with a standard dipoma, students must aso earn a specific number of eective credits. There are many choices of eective courses. Students may take basic education and career education courses for eective credits. Most ESE courses and a remedia and compensatory courses may ony be used for eective credits. These courses are used to suppement reguar courses or to deveop needed skis. The ESE vocationa courses for students with disabiities may be used to meet the 1/2 credit practica arts graduation requirement. Keep in mind that students with disabiities may be provided accommodations in basic education courses, career education courses, and tests. Accommodations may change the way a student is taught or tested. They do not change what the student is expected to earn. Exampes of Cassroom Accommodations for Students with Disabiities using adapted i nstruct i ona toos, such as a ca cu ator w i th en arged numbers ad j ust i ng t i me demands and schedu es, such as a ow i ng more t i me to finish assignments and courses mak i ng changes i n the earn i ng env i ronment, such as prov idi ng a work stat i on su i ted to a whee cha ir mak i ng changes to c assroom assignments or tests, such as read i ng sc i ence test quest i ons out oud The Individuas with Disabiities Education Act (IDEA) and Forida aws require that students with disabiities be provided accommodations, if necessary. Students who quaify as students with disabiities under Section 504 of the Rehabiitation Act of 1973 are aso eigibe for accommodations, if needed. The transition IEP team or the 504 pan team determines which, if any, accommodations your chid needs. This information is recorded on the student s IEP or 504 pan. Information about your chid s accommodations must be Accommodations and Modifications on page 37 for more information.) 5

14 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities Grade Point Average Requirement To earn a traditiona 24-credit standard dipoma, students must earn a cumuative 2.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scae for courses they have taken in high schoo. The cumuative GPA is the overa average of fina grades received in courses. If a student receives a fina grade of D or F for a course, the course may be repeated, according to state and district poicies. Ony the higher grade earned wi count towards the cumuative GPA. Check with your schoo board district office for information regarding oca grade forgiveness poicies. Assessment Requirements and Test Accommodations Students, incuding those with disabiities, must take the Forida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). The FCAT measures student achievement of a number of the Sunshine State Standards, which identify the knowedge and skis students are expected to earn. The FCAT tests reading, writing, mathematics, and science. It is given in grades three through eeven. Students must earn passing scores on the Grade 10 FCAT to earn a standard dipoma. Accommodations may be provided for the FCAT and for other State or district tests if a student with disabiities needs them. For exampe, a student with visua impairments may need to use a arge print or Braie version of the test. A student with motor impairments who can t write independenty may dictate the answers to a test proctor instead of writing them. Necessary accommodations are identified by the student s IEP team or 504 pan team. Each student s IEP or 504 pan must incude a statement of the testing accommodations the student requires, if any. Accommodations used with the FCAT shoud be simiar to those the student uses in the cassroom. Some accommodations used in the cassroom are not aowed on the FCAT, because they change what the test measures. For exampe, students are not aowed to use cacuators for basic computation on the FCAT mathematics in grades 3 through 6. If your chid is provided an accommodation in the cassroom that is not aowed on the FCAT, you must be tod about possibe consequences of aowing the student to use that accommodation in the cassroom. Such an accommodation can ony be used in the cassroom with your written consent. (See Appendix B: Accommodations and Modifications on page 37 for more information.) If students do not pass the Grade 10 FCAT, they may retake the test during reguary schedued testing times in the eeventh and twefth grades. Students who fai the FCAT wi receive remediation to hep them earn the necessary skis. They may aso take specia courses to hep them earn the skis tested on the FCAT. The IEP team shoud identify ways to hep the student pass the FCAT. For certain students with disabiities who have IEPs, a waiver may be considered for the FCAT requirement. A waiver can be granted if the IEP team determines that the FCAT does not accuratey measure a student s abiity, even with aowabe accommodations. The student must have attempted the FCAT at east twice, for exampe, once during tenth grade and once during eeventh grade. The IEP team 6

15 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities must document that the student has mastered the Sunshine State Standards tested on the FCAT. The student must aso have the required credits and cumuative GPA for graduation. Ony students who are seniors pursuing the traditiona 24-credit standard dipoma program are eigibe for an FCAT waiver. The decision regarding a waiver cannot be made before the twefth grade. Any student who has not achieved a passing score on the FCAT must receive intensive remediation. To hep evauate the effectiveness of the remediation and make sure that each student has had every opportunity to pass the FCAT, the student must participate in the March administration of the FCAT during his or her senior year. Extended Time for Meeting Graduation Requirements Students with disabiities who have not earned a standard dipoma may stay in schoo unti they are 22 years od. This aso appies to students with disabiities who have been awarded a specia dipoma, certificate of competion, or specia certificate of competion before age 22. The district must continue to offer services unti the student is 22 years od or unti the student earns a standard dipoma, whichever comes first. This poicy is incuded in the Individuas with Disabiities Education Act. Districts provide educationa services in different ways for students who stay in schoo unti age 22. Services and supports may be provided at the high schoo or at an off-campus ocation. Educationa programs may aso focus on preparing students for empoyment and adut ife. The transition IEP team decides on the best pacement for the student based on individua needs. Ask your oca ESE or adut education office about opportunities avaiabe in your district. Specia Dipoma Options Specia dipomas are avaiabe to students with disabiities who are not abe to meet the requirements for a standard dipoma. The State of Forida provides genera guideines for specia dipoma options. More specific requirements are set by each schoo district. Two specia dipoma options are avaiabe for students with disabiities. A schoo districts in Forida must offer specia dipoma option 1. They may choose to offer specia dipoma option 2. Most Forida schoo districts currenty offer specia dipoma option 2. Check with your oca schoo district ESE office to determine if option 2 is avaiabe in your district. 7

16 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities Who May Earn a Specia Dipoma? Specia dipomas are avaiabe to certain students with disabiities who have been propery identified as specific earning disabed emotionay handicapped educabe mentay handicapped trainabe mentay handicapped deaf or hard-of-hearing physicay impaired anguage impaired profoundy handicapped (profoundy mentay handicapped, dua sensory impaired, autistic, or severey emotionay disturbed). Students who are identified soey as visuay impaired or speech impaired are not eigibe for a specia dipoma. To be eigibe, they must aso have another identified disabiity. Graduation Requirements for Specia Dipoma Option 1 For specia dipoma option 1, students must earn the required number of course credits specified by the oca schoo board. The course credits may be earned by taking ESE courses and/or basic education or career education casses. Option 1 Students must aso master the Sunshine State Standards for Specia Dipoma. These standards refect modified, yet chaenging expectations for students with disabiities who are working significanty beow grade eve. A student with disabiities is expected to master each standard at a eve of functioning that is appropriate to the individua student. The transition IEP team wi determine the eve of functioning for each standard for your son or daughter. The Sunshine State Standards for Specia Dipoma have benchmarks at three eves of functioning. Independent Leve: Students are abe to perform the skis for each benchmark on their own. Supported Leve: Students require ongoing use of prompting or supervision in order to perform the skis for each benchmark. Participatory Leve: Students require extensive persona assistance to be abe to participate in activities of daiy iving. (See Appendix C: The Sunshine State Standards for Specia Dipoma on page 41 for additiona information.) 8

17 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities State Graduation Requirements for Specia Dipoma Option 1 To graduate w i th spec ia dip oma opt i on 1, a student must earn the m ini mum number of course cred i ts spec i fied by the distr i ct schoo board (Cred i ts may be earned i n basic educat i on, career educat i on, or except i ona student educat i on c asses.) master the Sunsh i ne State Standards for Spec ia Dip oma. Graduation Requirements for Specia Dipoma Option 2 Requirements for specia dipoma option 2 are based on mastery of a set of competencies identified for each individua student in a graduation training pan. The competencies are reated to empoyment and access to the community. The State graduation requirements for specia dipoma option 2 are isted in the box beow. These requirements are not based on course credits or mastery of the Sunshine State Standards for Specia Dipoma. However, some schoo districts may require certain course credits for graduation under option 2. Option 2 State Graduation Requirements for Specia Dipoma Option 2 To graduate with specia dipoma option 2, a student must be successfuy empoyed fu-time in the community for a minimum period of one semester, earning at east minimum wage achieve a annua goas and short-term objectives reated to empoyment and community competencies identified on the transition IEP demonstrate mastery of empoyment and community competencies specified in his or her graduation training pan. For option 2, the State requires a student to be successfuy empoyed fu-time, at or above minimum wage, for at east one semester. However, a schoo district may require a student to be empoyed for a onger period of time to ensure success. The specific goas, objectives, and competencies required for each individua student are panned by the transition IEP team. Additiona requirements may be identified by the oca schoo district. 9

18 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities Certificates of Competion With carefu panning and monitoring of progress, the majority of students with disabiities wi be abe to earn a dipoma. However, some students may compete the required high schoo courses but fai to meet a of the other graduation requirements. Students who are unabe to meet a graduation requirements may receive a certificate of competion. A certificate of competion is not a dipoma. It certifies that a student attended high schoo but did not meet a graduation requirements. Three types of certificates of competion are avaiabe. The reguar certificate of competion is avaiabe to any student who passes the required courses in high schoo but doesn t achieve the required GPA and did not pass the Grade 10 FCAT. Students must be in the traditiona, four-year 24-credit graduation program to receive a reguar certificate of competion. Students with disabiities who are eigibe for a reguar certificate of competion may aso choose to graduate under specia dipoma option 1. The certificate of competion Coege Pacement Test eigibe is avaiabe to any student who meets a of the requirements for graduation except passing the Grade 10 FCAT. This credentia gives the student expanded options for postsecondary education and empoyment after high schoo. A student who receives this certificate of competion is aowed to take the Coege Pacement Test and be admitted to either remedia or credit courses at a Forida community coege, depending on the test score achieved. Any student with a disabiity staffed into an exceptiona student education program who has eft high schoo without earning a standard dipoma or its equivaent may return to high schoo to further his or her education unti age 22. The student may work towards earning a standard dipoma, or its equivaent, or a certificate of competion Coege Pacement Test eigibe. The specia certificate of competion is avaiabe to students with disabiities who don t meet a graduation requirements for a specia dipoma. It certifies that the student passed the required ESE courses in high schoo, but faied to master a of the Sunshine State Standards for Specia Dipoma. Earning a Dipoma by Passing the GED Tests Students who have not earned a standard dipoma in high schoo may earn one in another way. Students may earn a State of Forida dipoma by passing the Tests of Genera Educationa Deveopment (GED Tests). Casses to prepare for the GED Tests are frequenty offered through oca adut education programs. In many schoo districts, the GED Exit Option Mode is avaiabe for high schoo students who are at risk of not graduating with their peer group. These programs are usuay provided 10

19 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities by oca high schoos and require students to be enroed in high schoo courses whie preparing for the GED Tests. Students who earn passing scores on the FCAT and the GED Tests are awarded a standard high schoo dipoma. Students who pass ony the GED Tests are awarded a State of Forida dipoma. The GED Tests consist of separate tests in five subject areas: Language Arts Reading, Language Arts Writing, Socia Studies, Science, and Mathematics. The tests are written on a ninth-grade reading eve. Students are required to determine content errors in written text on the Language Arts Writing test. They must aso write an essay. The mathematics test measures probem-soving skis in arithmetic, agebra, and geometry. In Forida, the GED Tests are avaiabe in Engish and Spanish. Specia editions of the tests are avaiabe in arge print and Braie and on audiocassette. Students with disabiities may receive appropriate accommodations when taking the GED Tests. Students must be at east 18 years od to take the GED Tests, uness they are enroed in the GED Exit Option Mode program. (See Appendix D: Acquiring a Dipoma by Passing the Tests of Genera Educationa Deveopment [GED Tests] on page 43 for more information.) Dipoma Options and Desired Post-Schoo Outcomes When making dipoma decisions, it s important to think about your chid s desired postschoo outcomes. What does he or she want to do after high schoo? Where and how does your son or daughter pan to ive or be empoyed? How wi he or she spend eisure time and engage in socia reationships three to five years after eaving schoo? Panning for desired post-schoo outcomes wi guide the transition IEP team when seecting the type of dipoma that the student wi need to meet these goas. The type of dipoma or certificate of competion wi have a direct impact on what doors are open to your son or daughter after high schoo. This section addresses the requirements for some of the post-schoo outcomes that your son or daughter may wish to pursue, incuding empoyment miitary service postsecondary education. As you read this section, be aware that there are often exceptions that can be made to genera poicies. You wi need to find out specific requirements for empoyment, the miitary, and postsecondary programs in your community. You can ask your chid s ESE teachers or guidance counseor for hep. You can ca miitary recruiters or admission offices of schoos yoursef. It is important to get answers to your questions before making any fina decisions regarding the dipoma your chid wi earn. Empoyment If your son or daughter pans to get a job right after eaving high schoo, you shoud 11

20 Dipoma Decisions for Students with Disabiities consider the foowing: A types of dipomas can ead to permanent empoyment. Successfu competion of a high schoo program is an important achievement. High schoo transcripts ist the courses and grades and whether or not the student was eigibe for graduation. Students working on specia dipoma option 2 are empoyed as part of their graduation training pan. They may be abe to stay in the same job when they graduate. Certificates of competion are not dipomas and are not thought of as dipomas by empoyers. Many students with certificates of competion are abe to get jobs. However, the type of empoyment may be imited to unskied jobs and opportunities for advancement may be restricted. Miitary Service The requirements for each branch of the miitary (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard) are a itte different. In genera, you shoud know the foowing: Acceptance into the miitary is based heaviy on the score the student makes on the Armed Services Vocationa Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The miitary requires a high schoo dipoma for admission. A standard dipoma is preferred. A State of Forida dipoma earned by passing the GED Tests may be accepted. However, a student may be required to meet additiona requirements such as a particuar score on the ASVAB. Specia dipomas may or may not be accepted for entrance into the miitary. When considering the miitary, aways check with your oca recruiters for up-to-date information. Admission standards may vary depending on the need for recruits. In addition, individua capabiities of the appicant may be taken into account. Postsecondary Education If your chid woud ike to continue his or her education after high schoo, there are many choices to consider. Your chid may consider programs offered at technica centers, community coeges, or four-year coeges. Your chid s interests, abiities, and earning goas shoud guide this process. Genera requirements for admission to postsecondary education programs are described beow. You shoud aso check with the individua schoo to determine oca requirements and identify avaiabe programs. Many postsecondary schoos provide specia services for students with disabiities. Contact a representative regarding your chid s specia needs. This person can answer your questions and assist your son or daughter in many ways. Students with disabiities in postsecondary educationa programs are egay entited to accommodations. Student needs are considered on an individua basis. In specia cases, a student with a disabiity may be eigibe for substitutions for certain admission requirements. 12