Graduation Requirements and Diploma Options

What Families and Advocates Need to Know

This InfoBrief explores the importance of making informed decisions about diploma options, understanding the consequences of graduating with different types of diplomas as well as the need for youth, families, and Individual Education Program (IEP) teams to consider these issues early.

Graduation requirements and alternative diploma options must be understood by youth and their families in order to chart a pathway to earning a diploma that will not only be consistent with how the young person envisions their future, but also meaningful to employers and postsecondary educators. Due to the high dropout rate of students with disabilities and the resulting limited employment opportunities, it’s vital that youth with disabilities and their families have information about diploma options well before high school. Unfortunately, many times this issue isn’t given adequate consideration in transition planning and/or the youth and his family may not fully grasp the impact that this decision may have on the young person’s future education, earning potential, and employability.

In response to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act’s mandate of increased accountability, and concerns expressed by the business community that the high school diploma had little or no credibility as an exit credential, states have implemented graduation policies and requirements that call for:

• increased academic standards for all students
• state, and local district testing;
• development of exit exams linked to a student’s eligibility to receive a high school diploma; and,
• a focus on increasing student graduation rates.
  

These strategies are intended to increase the level of student learning and achievement essential to entering future adult roles.

States are also experimenting with an array of diploma options ranging from honors diplomas, to the standard diploma, to certificates of completion or attendance, etc. Some states offer special diplomas to students who take rigorous course work, achieve a high grade point average, or post high scores on state exams. In addition, some diploma options and certificates are only available for students receiving special education services. Included among these alternative diploma options are certificates of completion, IEP/special education diplomas, and occupational/vocational diplomas.

Alternative diplomas, however, are generally viewed as being based on less rigorous academic standards than standard high school diplomas. Many employers and colleges and universities therefore, do not view these diplomas as equal to a standard diploma.

Read the entire brief here.