Graduating high school in 4 years, yes or no?

[Debi]

In my daughter's 4th grade IEP meeting I asked the question, "Will my daughter be able to take longer than 4 years to get her general education diploma if she needs longer? Will my daughter be able to earn high school credits toward a general ed diploma if she takes remedial/special education class time?" No one knew the answer to those questions.

I'm not complaining, they are elementary-level. But I would like the question answered. Even though she is beginning 4th grade the IEP team who told me a few months ago that she is "essentially on grade level" is now stating she is below grade level. In my planning for next year and each year after that my primary goal is to ensure by the time she is a freshman in high school she will be able to earn enough credits to graduate high school. If anyone could offer me guidance/advice I would appreciate it.

[Cathy McCaughan]

As long as she eventually passes the classes and Gateways, she will earn a regular ed diploma. Legally, you can keep her there until she is 21, but if you ask around, you'll learn that at age 18, you'll start getting "suggestions" that she graduate with whatever diploma she has earned and move forward. Also, high school summer school will be 8 half days spent on Plato doing remedial work, but not for class credits.

[granma2]

Summer school is NOT 8 half days on Plato. It is a regular program offered at different high schools each summer. I believe it was at Central last year. It's regular classes. According to the KCS website, it will be at Fulton this year from May 27- July 22. At the website you can download all the information you need. It costs $120 per credit unless you are on fee waiver, in which case it's free. It's open to any students I believe.

[Cathy McCaughan]

8 half days on Plato IS what special ed students are offered in the summer. Debi is trying to make sure the plan for her daughter with an IEP includes earning a regular ed diploma.

[granma2]

You're saying they would be rejected at Fulton this summer? I'm not sure I believe that. Perhaps you would have to provide transportation (as a regular ed student would), and perhaps you would have to pay the fees (as a regular ed student would), but I think it's unlikely they would be denied a class. Do you know that for sure?

[Cathy McCaughan]

I am not saying that. I am sure that admission to for-credit, summer classes is done on a case by case basis. I was only stating what is offered to special ed students for summer learning. Plato is over-used in regular classes and under-used in non-traditional settings. I always wondered why students couldn't use it before school, after school and weekends to earn core credits so that school hours could be spent on classes that require labs, discussions and kinesthetic learning.

[Ginevra]

Seconding this:

"I always wondered why students couldn't use it before school, after school and weekends to earn core credits so that school hours could be spent on classes that require labs, discussions and kinesthetic learning."

Why is this resource not utilized to the fullest possible extent? It could help to provide much more flexibility to individual students, and to their families who are trying to assist them. If we have it available, why not make it widely available according to need and motivated interest?

[Darlene Hunter]

I would not say that summer school is open to all students. Students that need to get recovery credits usually have first choice. My daughter tried to be allowed to take Goverenment and Econ. online this summer so that she did not have to take 9 classes next year. Unfortunately each school is only alloted so many spots for online classes and she couldn't take it.

[granma2]

Recovery credit and summer school are two different entities. Summer school is at Fulton High School this summer. Your child can take new classes only if she has a certain GPA and meets certain requirements. If she has failed a class, she may repeat it in summer school. If your daughter wants to take government and econ and has a high GPA, she may be able to do that at Fulton. Check with her school or check on the website.

[Darlene Hunter]

Been there done that. She can not take it. For the record her current GPS is 4.273, it will go up when this semester is finished.

[Debi]

Thanks again for the info. We have been offered a Ridgedale ESY again. It won't come close to working with her academically so I don't know what I'll do.