StateDefined Alternate Diplomas Implementation and Considerations Sheryl Lazarus

State-Defined Alternate Diplomas: Implementation and Considerations Sheryl Lazarus & Martha Thurlow (NCEO) Jamie Wong (Louisiana Department of Education) Kristin Wright (California Department of Education) 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 1

2019 OSEP Leadership Conference DISCLAIMER: The contents of this presentation were developed by the presenters for the 2019 OSEP Leadership Conference. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (Authority: 20 U. S. C. 1221 e-3 and 3474) 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

States with Alternate Diplomas WA ND MT VT MN OR ME WI SD ID WY MI NE IL NV UT CO NY IA KS IN PA OH WV MO KY CA SC MS TX LA RI MA DE NC AR NM CT NJ VA TN OK AZ NH MD AL GA AK FL HI 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Alternate Diploma Names State Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi Nevada New Hampshire Tennessee Utah West Virginia 4 Name of Alternate Diploma Alternate Pathway to Graduation Alternative/Alternate Pathway to a High School Diploma Alternate Diploma Alternative Diploma no information Alternate Academic Diploma (AAD) Alternate Diploma 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

ESSA Language on State-Defined Alternate Diplomas • Definition of “state-defined alternate diploma” included in Sec. 8101. Definitions • Specifically designated for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities assessed using the alternate assessment aligned to alternate academic achievement standards 5 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

ESSA Language, cont. The state-defined alternate diploma must meet three requirements: ü Standards-based ü Aligned with the State requirements for the regular high school diploma ü Obtained within the same period for which the State ensures the availability of a free appropriate public education under section 612(a)(1) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U. S. C. 1412(a)(1) 6 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

ESSA Language, cont. • PLUS, the state-defined alternate diploma must meet the implied condition of being state defined! 7 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Implementation Timelines State Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi Nevada New Hampshire Tennessee Utah West Virginia 8 Graduating Class 2020 2018 2022 no info 2019 2021 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Exit Exam Requirements State Louisiana 9 Alternate Diploma Alternate Assessment Regular Diploma EOC Mississippi EOC (Alternate) EOC Nevada EOC Alternate Assessment 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Pathways to a Louisiana High School Diploma Students with Disabilities Jamie Wong 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 10

Graduation Pathways for High School Students There are two primary graduation pathways that students in Louisiana can choose to follow. TOPS University Diploma Courses: English = 4 Units Math = 4 Units Science = 4 Units Social Studies = 4 Units Health/Physical Education = 2 Units Foreign Language = 2 Units Arts = 1 Unit Electives = 3 Units Students earning a diploma through this pathway have the necessary requirements for admission to a 4 year college or 11 university. Jump Start Career Diploma Courses: English = 4 Units Math = 4 Units Science = 2 Units Social Studies = 2 Units Health/ Physical Education = 2 Units Jump Start Career Education = 9 Units *Earn an industry-based credential Students earning a diploma through this pathway have skills to directly enter the workforce or apply to a community or technical college.

Pathways for Students who take the Alternate Assessment Students who meet the alternate assessment participation criteria require extensive modification to their curriculum and their assessment is aligned with the Louisiana Connectors for students with significant cognitive disabilities. During the 2014 -2015 school year Louisiana developed an aligned pathway to a Louisiana high school diploma for students with significant cognitive disabilities to ensure that every student who entered a Louisiana high school had an opportunity to pursue a diploma. 12 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Pathways for Students who take the Alternate Assessment Students who take the alternate assessment can earn a Louisiana high school diploma through the Jump Start pathway by meeting an aligned set of expectations that are tailored to their unique needs. Jump Start Career Diploma Courses (applied or Carnegie courses): English = 4 Credits Math = 4 Credits Science = 2 Credits Social Studies = 2 Credits Electives = 2 -4 Credits Career Preparation = 7 -9 Credits 13 Assessments: LEAP 2025 while not required, assessments are taken if the student is enrolled in the course ACT (not required) A student who takes the alternate assessment may be awarded a diploma when they have met all pathway requirements including evidence that there is a plan for the student to successfully transition away from services provided by the school system. The diploma awarded will look identical to a regular high school diploma and the student’s transcript will identify whether the student took Carnegie unit courses or applied credit courses.

Accountability Impact The Every Student Succeeds Act established an alternate diploma option which provided Louisiana an opportunity to revise the accountability system and reward the accomplishments of students with significant disabilities who successfully complete their course of study. From Louisiana Policy Bulletin 111 Louisiana School, District, and State Accountability System: “Students assessed using the LAA 1 or LEAP connect shall be included in the graduation rate for the year in which they graduated or the year in which they exited after at least four years in high school with no subsequent re-enrollment by October 1 of the following academic year. Students who are not exited will be counted in the year that they reach the age of 22. ” 14 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

California Kristin Wright 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 15

Discussion Questions • What are the advantages and challenges of developing a state-defined alternate diploma for students who participate in alternate assessments? • What are the instructional implications, if any, of developing a statedefined alternate diploma? 16 2019 OSEP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

2019 OSEP Leadership Conference DISCLAIMER: The contents of this presentation were developed by the presenters for the 2019 OSEP Leadership Conference. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (Authority: 20 U. S. C. 1221 e-3 and 3474)