The purpose of the Legislation Committee is to keep you abreast of what is happening on the local and state level.  Below is a sample of a letter and a file is attached where there are other letters regarding changes to the diploma.  Please have all your units and parents sign and send  copies of these letters.

To:           Dr. John B. King Jr., Commissioner of Education

FROM:

RE:           ELIMINATION OF THE LOCAL DIPLOMA AND RCT EXAMINATION FOR                                                                STUDENTS ENTERING NINTH GRADE IN 2011

DATE:

Dear Dr. John B. King Jr.,

I am a concerned parent contacting you regarding the recent change in diploma offerings by the NYSED.

As you are undoubtedly aware, under current Regulations of the commissioner of Education [8NYCRR § 100.5 (b) (7) (VI)], students with disabilities who entered grade nine in or after September 2001, and who failed one or more of the required Regents examinations, could earn a local diploma either by (a) passing the corresponding RCT; or (b) achieving a score of 55-64 on any Regents examination required for graduation.  Although students with this profile may continue to earn a local diploma through the 55-64 pass score option, the RCT safety net option was discontinued at the commencement of the 2011-2012 academic school year.  Thus, students with disabilities who entered grade nine in September 2011, and who fail one or more of the required Regents exams, will no longer be able to take the RCT(s) in order to earn a local diploma. The local diploma is also no longer an option for students who entered grade nine in September 2011. There are now only two diploma options: The Regents diploma and the IEP diploma.

Eliminating the RCT exam and the local diploma was an egregious error on the part of the NYSED. Students with disabilities should have the option to obtain a local diploma, in the event that they cannot pass the Regents exam(s). This change will most certainly affect the general education student as well; not all students can pass the Regents examinations, whether they are a special education or a general education student. The IEP diploma should not be their only other alternative.

I am asking to please reconsider this change. The RCT exam and the local diploma must be viable options for students graduating in 2015 and beyond.

Sincerely,

SEPTA Advocacy (ZIP 51 KB)
Various letter formats from SEPTA

zip file: This is a "zip" file (a compressed data file), and you will need a data compression utility such as WinZip to open it. Download the free utility - click here.

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