High School Equivalency for Students with IEPs

Please bear with me as I step on my soapbox for a minute. This article, “To get a high school equivalency diploma, NYC forces students to give up special education services” (https://chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2019/08/21/225295/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cb_bureau_ny) was featured on the Chalkbeat newsletter. Essentially, students who have IEPs and are seeking an alternative path to attaining their high school diplomas have to sign a waiver stating that they are giving up the services they are required to receive in their IEP. This is ridiculous. It is very difficult to get a job without a high school diploma and the city has been punishing kids who are willing to put in the work to achieve said diploma by taking away their services?

The article did say that ” City officials have vowed to stop forcing students who enroll in Pathways to sign a waiver giving up services listed on their customized learning plans, also known as an IEP, which can mandate smaller classes, group counseling, or benefits such as physical therapy. ” However, “Still, city officials say they will not fully comply with students’ learning plans, especially if they require classes co-taught by a special education teacher and a traditional classroom educator or group counseling sessions.  The article did say that ” City officials have vowed to stop forcing students who enroll in Pathways to sign a waiver giving up services listed on their customized learning plans, also known as an IEP, which can mandate smaller classes, group counseling, or benefits such as physical therapy. ” Of course, the reason why is money. If they have to pay for ICT classes, that costs money. It costs money to hire counselors. But IEPs are also legal documents and I’m surprised that no parents or students themselves have come forward to complain.

If it is truly the city’s desire to provide students who are having trouble in traditional classrooms with alternatives to achieve their diploma, the city should be giving them every chance to succeed, including adhering to the requirements of their IEPs. Students have IEPs for a reason, and the city needs to honor that and take it into account when admitting or recommending students to these programs.