SPECIAL EDUCATION

Introduction

Students with disabilities who meet minimum graduation requirements shall receive a regular diploma. In certain instances, because of the special needs, students will not receive credit through completion of regular education courses. Some students will require an alternative curriculum to meet their individual needs as specified by their Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Transition Plan (ITP). The following course outline for special education has been developed to enable school staff to substitute special education classes for regular education classes in order for students to earn required credits needed for graduation. (This procedure is in accordance with Special Education Comprehensive Plan, Appendix A, Item C.)

The following course designations will be utilized only when a student with disabilities requires an alternative curriculum in lieu of a regular education course. A "rule of thumb" is that when a special education teacher is responsible for assigning the student's grade, the special education course descriptions outlined below would apply. All secondary schools are required to utilize the special education course descriptions. It is permissible, however, to specify (after the general course description) further class course delineations; e.g., Fundamentals of English 1, 2, 3 or 4 (depending on year); specifically, AVP Consumer English, etc.

Further, please keep in mind that some students with disabilities will spend more years in school than typical students because of their special needs. As a result, students could feasibly earn far beyond the forty-four required credits necessary for graduation. Although this is permissible, students should not earn all of their required credits in designated areas prior to the time of anticipated graduation. Therefore, it may be necessary for students with disabilities to take a number of courses as electives.

Finally, students with disabilities, as regular students, should be assigned to a grade level. Inasmuch as some students may be required to remain in school through their twenty-first birthday because of their unique needs, such students will necessarily spend more than one year in the 12th grade and/or receive services through a transition program.

Refer to the specific course content area through which the special education class is offered.