It is about to get tougher for Florida's special education students

From the Miami Herald

by Christoper O'Donnell

Hundreds of special education students in Florida could miss out on the chance to earn a special high school diploma if state officials move ahead with plans to raise the academic requirements to graduate from a work experience program.

The program, called Option II, is aimed at special education students who struggle in traditional classes. It allows them to swap school for a full-time job where they earn high school credits based on assessments by employers.

But tougher new graduation requirements, which include a 2.0 GPA and eight high school credits including two in math and two in reading or language arts, could be beyond the capabilities of many students with learning disabilities. If adopted, the new rules would apply to incoming ninth-graders beginning in the next school year.

Officials in Manatee say some students will miss out on a program that prevents teenagers from dropping out and instead gives them job skills, independence and a leg up into the workplace.

"For some, it's a last chance," said Roy Nelles, Manatee Option II coordinator. "Are we going to prevent these kids getting a special diploma just because they can't do academics? Some of them are great workers."

Only two of Florida's 67 school districts do not offer the program. The rule change will have little effect in some districts, including Sarasota County, that already have similar or more stringent entry requirements, state officials said.

In an email, Cathy Bishop, interim chief of the state Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, said the new rules will result in "students being better prepared to attain their post-secondary goals."

But preventing students from dropping out is more of a challenge for Manatee County schools.

The district is the only one in Florida required by law to keep students in school up to the age of 18, the result of a pilot program that was never extended to other districts but remains in effect in Manatee.

In other school districts, students can drop out from the age of 16. Manatee students younger than 18 who drop out of school wind up in truancy court.

Although not as valued as a high-school diploma, the special diploma offered through the program is recognized by some employers, community colleges and other training programs and gives students a sense of accomplishment, Nelles said.

Students in the program are required to find their own job. The companies must pay minimum wage or higher and employ students for at least 30 hours per week.

Osprey Biotechnics in Sarasota hired one Manatee County Option II student this school year.

The student, who has a learning disability, learned how to produce one of the company's products, a bacteria that eats grease.

"You couldn't ask for a better worker," said Tom Baldeschwieler, production manager.

Baldeschwieler said the company plans to help the student if he wants to continue his education and would consider hiring more students through the program.

"They learn a lot about math and science and production," he said.

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