NCEO Synthesis Reports: Earning a High School Diploma through Alternative Routes (#76)

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Part of the NCEO Synthesis Reports series.

Author(s)

Martha L Thurlow, Mai Vang, Damien Cormier

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Description

A report based on a study examining the alternative routes to passing the high school exit exam that were available during the school year 2008-09 to students to earn a standard high school diploma. It examines alternative routes in the 26 states with active or soon-to-be active exit exams, and documents the alternative routes available for all students and those specifically for students with disabilities. Earning a standard diploma has increased in importance during the past several years. Not only is it a document that improves postschool outcomes, but it also has become a part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) accountability system at the high school level--with the required graduation rate including only those students who have earned a regular/standard high school diploma or higher. Complicating matters in several states is the addition of an exit exam requirement to the traditional coursework requirements. The addition of a testing requirement to other requirements for earning a standard diploma is a challenge for students who do not perform well on assessments. Many, but not all, of these students have disabilities.

Details

Date

June 2010 

Type

Report 

Edition

Number 76

Publisher

National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)