KEARNY BOARD OF EDUCATION                                         File Code:   6171.6

Kearny , New Jersey    07032

Policy

 

 

                 EXEMPTION OF EDUCATIONALLY HANDICAPPED PUPILS FROM

                 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ACCORDING TO

                                             N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.12 and N.J.A.C. 6:8-7

 

The Kearny Board of Education hereby adopts the following policies and procedures for the written approval of the chief school administrator, exemption criteria, annual reporting of pupils graduated under special education, special review assessment process, receipt of diploma, and graduation exercises and related activities, in reference to high school graduation requirements for educationally handicapped pupils;

 

1.   Written Approval of the Chief School Administrator

 

A classified handicapped pupil must meet all state and local high school graduation requirements in order to receive a State endorsed high school diploma unless exempted in his or her Individualized Education Program and with the written approval of the chief school administrator.  The chief school administrator shall indicate written approval on the Classification and Individualized Education Program Conference Report and shall delegate said responsibility to Director, Special Services who shall indicate written approval on the respective Annual Review/Revision, Re-evaluation Conference Report and/or Individualized Education Change Form(s) and such other documents or instruments used to indicate exempted status.

 

2.  Exemption Criteria

 

A classified handicapped pupil shall be exempted from the High School Proficiency Test and demonstration of mastery of the curriculum proficiencies if it can be demonstrated that his or her individualized education program is characterized by goals and objectives which do not include the range of High School Proficiency Test skills and curriculum proficiencies or if the pupil would be adversely affected by taking the High School Proficiency Test.  The basic plan of the individualized education program shall include, but not be limited to, a description of exemption from regular education program options or State and local graduation requirements which includes a rationale for the exemptions.  Reasons why the individualized education program goals and objectives do not include the proficiencies measured by the High School Proficiency Test and the requirement to demonstrate mastery of curriculum proficiencies for pupils exempted from the requirements.  A statement of the alternate proficiencies as replacements for the high school proficiencies for pupils exempted from the High School Proficiency Test and curriculum proficiencies.  The individualized education program shall identify which alternate proficiencies must be achieved by the educationally handicapped pupil to qualify for the State endorsed diploma issued by the school district.  For pupils who would be adversely affected by taking the High School Proficiency Test, “adversely affected” means that a pupil would suffer an extreme and pervasive emotional reaction by taking the test, such as extreme depression.  Those pupils exempt due to being “adversely affected” would be required to demonstrate mastery of the High School Proficiency Test skills through the Special Review Assessment (SRA) process.

 

EXEMPTION OF EDUCATIONALLY HANDICAPPED PUPILS FROM HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ACCORDING TO N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.12 and N.J.A.C. 6:8-7      File Code 6171.6      Page 2

 

 

 

3.  Annual Reporting of Pupils Graduated Under Special Education

 

Annually, not later than September 30, the chief school administrator shall report at a public meeting to the district board of education and the Commissioner of Education the number of pupils graduated and the number of pupils denied graduation from the prior twelfth grade class based on the provision of this chapter.  The chief school administrator shall include in the annual report the number of pupils graduated under the special education and special review assessment procedures.

 

4.  Special Review Assessment Process

 

Classified handicapped pupils who have not been exempted from the proficiencies or have performed below the State minimum levels of pupil proficiency on one or more areas of the State mandated High School Proficiency Test shall participate in the Special Review Assessment (SRA) process.  The SRA evaluation team for classified handicapped pupils shall include a member of the child study team not having direct responsibility for the pupil, i.e., someone other than the case manager, and three certified teachers not currently instructing the pupil who have knowledge of special education, such as teachers of the handicapped who do not have direct responsibility for the pupil.

 

The SRA evaluation shall include, but not be limited to:

 

a.   Performance on state tests (including all retests);

b.   Performance on locally selected tests;

c.   Performance on course work;

d.   Practical demonstrations of specific skill mastery which occurs either in or               outside of school but which are not part of course work;

e.   Formal interview with the parent(s);

f.    Formal interview with teaching staff;

g.   Guidance counselor and/or psychologist review, as appropriate;

h.   Visual, auditory and/or medical date or appropriate;

I.    Examination of credit and curriculum performance; and

j.    Examination of pupil proficiencies in other areas.

 

5.  Receipt of Diploma

 

A pupil who attends a school other than that of the school district of residence which is empowered to grant a diploma shall have a choice of receiving the diploma of the school attended or school district of residence.

 

6.  Graduation Exercises and Related Activities

 

Educationally handicapped pupils meeting the standards for graduation according to N.J.A.C. 6:28-4.8, shall have the opportunity to participate in graduation exercises and related activities on a nondiscriminatory basis.