1. NCEO Assessing Educational Results: Tough Issues for Students with Learning Disabilities Martha L. Thurlow NCEO University of Minnesota Facing Tougher Graduation Requirements 350 Elliott Hall 75 East River Road Minneapolis, MN 55455

2. NCEO Using Tests to Determine Graduation Alabama Arizona Florida Georgia Hawaii Indiana Louisiana In 1999, 20 states had graduation exams Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia But more are on the way! Watch for them.

3. NCEO Exit Documents* *Data from 1998/99 Survey 31 24 12 13 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 CertificateIEP DiplomaHonors Diploma Other Exit Documents Number of States

4. NCEO Diploma Options Standard Diploma + Single Set of Criteria Multiple Criteria Certificate Options Achievement Attainment Etc. IEP Diploma

5. NCEO Each option has advantages and disadvantages

6. NCEO Standard Diploma + Single Set of Criteria Some Advantages: Key to post-secondary institutions Meaning is clear - only one set of criteria Some Disadvantages: Learning styles not recognized Consequences may be unacceptable - large #s without exit document

7. NCEO Standard Diploma + Multiple Criteria Some Advantages: Recognizes learning styles More students will get diploma Some Disadvantages: Less quality control on knowledge and skills of graduates Results in non-standard sets of knowledge and skills among students with same diploma

8. NCEO Certificate Options Some Advantages: Maintains integrity of standard diploma requirements Provides options for those not meeting standard requirements Some Disadvantages: Little is known about the consequences of these for post- secondary schooling or employment

9. NCEO Special Education Diploma Some Advantages: Recognizes that students with disabilities may be working on different standards** Some Disadvantages: Flags those students receiving special education services ** But, should LD students be working on different standards?

10. NCEO How Are LD Students Performing on Graduation Tests? State A LD: 24.8% Passed HI: 42.5% Passed SI: 28.7% Passed State B LD: 22% Passed VI: 58% Passed SI: 51% Passed

11. NCEO Critical Considerations 1.What are the requirements to earn a standard diploma? 2.Do any accommodations that a student needs make him or her ineligible to earn a standard diploma? 3.If a student takes an alternate assessment, can he or she earn a standard diploma? NOTE: If a student receives a standard diploma, the student is no longer eligible for special education services. Parents must be aware of this decision.