WHICH
DIPLOMA IS RIGHT FOR ME?
It’s never too early to plan for your diploma. Learn about the options available and discuss your goals with your parents and teachers. As a team, you can choose the best diploma option for you, based on your goals and abilities. Read on to learn more about the diploma options available in Florida.
Click
below for information on the diploma and certificate options available to
students in the state of Florida.
Special
Diplomas (Option 1 and Option 2)
Earning
a Diploma by Passing the GED Tests
Pluses
and Minuses of Diploma Options and Certificates of Completion
The Standard Diploma
The
standard diploma (regular diploma) is
the type of high school diploma earned by most students who graduate from
Florida high schools. All students,
including students with disabilities, may earn a standard diploma if they meet
the requirements set by the state and local school district.
The following are state requirements for a standard diploma, however,
each school district may choose to set higher requirements.
Check with your school counselor to find out what you need to do in order
to earn a standard diploma in your district.
Keep in mind that accommodations
may be provided for basic courses and tests to meet the needs of students with
disabilities. Accommodations change
the way a student learns, but not what
the student is expected to learn.
State Graduation Requirements for a Standard Diploma
| In order to graduate with a standard diploma, a student must: |
|
* Note: Students entering high
school as freshmen in the fall of 1999 will be required to earn 15.5 hours in
required subjects and 8.5 hours in elective credits.
**
Level 1 courses have lower requirements than most other high school
courses.
Special
diploma options
offer choices to students with disabilities who are unable to meet the
requirements for a standard diploma. The
state provides general guidelines for special diploma options. More specific requirements are set by each school district.
Two
special diploma options are available for students with disabilities.
All school districts in Florida must
offer Special Diploma Option 1. They
may choose to offer Special
Diploma Option 2. Check with
your school counselor to get specific information about these options.
State Graduation Requirements for Special Diploma Option 1
| In order to graduate with Special Diploma Option 1, a student must: |
|
State Graduation Requirements for Special Diploma Option 2
| In order to graduate with Special Diploma Option 2, a student must: |
|
With
careful planning and monitoring of progress, the majority of students with
disabilities will earn a standard or special diploma. However, some students may complete the required high school
courses but be unable to meet all of the graduation requirements for a diploma.
These students may receive a certificate of completion.
A certificate of completion is not
a diploma. It certifies that a
student attended high school but did not meet all graduation requirements for a
diploma.
Two
types of certificates of completion are available:
A regular
certificate of completion may be given to any student pursuing a standard
diploma who passes the required courses in high school, but is unable to pass
the High School Competency
Test (HSCT) or achieve the required grade point average.
Students with disabilities who are
eligible for a regular certificate of completion have the option of graduating
with Special Diploma Option 1 instead.
A special
certificate of completion is available to students with disabilities who are
unable to meet all of the graduation requirements for a special diploma.
The special certificate of completion certifies that the student passed
the required Exceptional Student Education courses in high school, but was
unable to master the Student Performance Standards for Exceptional Student
Education or the Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma.
Earning
a Diploma by Passing the GED Tests
Students
who have not earned a standard diploma in high school may attempt to earn one
(or its equivalent) by passing the Tests
of General Educational Development (GED). Preparation classes for the GED tests are offered through
local adult education programs. Contact your local school district office for
information on testing in your area.
Pluses and Minuses of Diploma Options and Certificates of Completion
| Option | What it Certifies | Pluses and Minuses |
| Standard Diploma | Certifies that the student has met the state and district requirements for a standard diploma (course work, test scores, and grade point average) |
+ Recognized by employers +
Accepted by vocational schools and colleges +
Recognized by military recruiters - Higher standards may make attainment difficult for some students |
| Special Diploma Option 1 | Certifies mastery of ESE Student Performance Standards or Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma and district courses |
+
Is a high school diploma +
Recognized by employers +
Student may continue to work toward a standard diploma -
Many not be accepted by vocational schools -
Not usually accepted by community colleges
(may allow provisional enrollment) - May not be accepted by military recruiters |
| Special Diploma Option 2 | Certifies mastery of employment and community survival skills |
+
Is a high school diploma +
Student may continue employment after graduation +
Student may continue to work toward a standard diploma -
Not available in some school districts -
May not be accepted by vocational schools -
Not usually accepted by community colleges (may allow provisional enrollment) - May not be accepted by military recruiters |
| Certificate of Completion | Certifies that the student passed the required courses in high school but was unable to pass the High School Competency Test (HSCT) or achieve the required grade point average |
+
Student may continue to work toward a standard diploma -
Not a high school diploma -
May not be accepted by vocational schools -
Not accepted by community colleges
(may allow provisional enrollment) -
Not accepted by military recruiters - Not recognized by employers |
| Special Certificate of Completion | Certifies that the student passed the required ESE courses in high school, but was unable to master the Student Performance Standards or Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma |
+
Student may continue to work toward a standard diploma -
Not a high school diploma -
May not be accepted by vocational schools -
Not accepted by community colleges
(may allow provisional enrollment) -
Not accepted by military recruiters - Not recognized by employers |
The
information presented here was gathered from Diploma Decisions for
Students with Disabilities (ESE #10521), a free publication from the
Florida Department of Education (DOE). Visit their web-site at http://www.firn.edu/doe/commhome/
or call (850) 488-1879.