School District of Colfax
Bylaws & Policies
 

5460.01 - DIPLOMA DEFERRAL

Social graduation is an opportunity for students with individualized education programs ("IEPs") to participate in high school graduation ceremonies without obtaining an official diploma. Students with IEPs who have completed all academic requirements for high school graduation, but who have not yet completed their transition-related IEP goals may be eligible for social graduation. Students may participate in social graduation only upon the recommendation of their respective IEP teams. If social graduation is recommended, the student may engage in all aspects of the graduation celebration (e.g., wearing a cap and gown; sitting with the graduating class; having his/her name printed in the program and read aloud at the ceremony; walking across the stage to receive a faux diploma). Instead of receiving an official diploma, however, the student will receive an unsigned diploma or a certificate of participation.

The determination of whether social graduation is recommended for any particular student will be made on an individual basis during the first semester of any year in which the student’s chronological peer group is eligible to receive a high school diploma. The IEP team may raise the issue, or the student and/or his/her parent may raise the issue. The IEP team members should consider whether social graduation is appropriate to further the student’s progress with regard to IEP goals. The team may also consider any objectives the student will be required to accomplish before s/he is eligible to participate. Finally, the team should determine additional arrangements or preparations, if any, that will need to be made to enable the student to participate in the ceremony. If the team determines that social graduation is recommended, the District Administrator shall be notified. The IEP team makes the final decision with regard to social graduation, in accordance with the student’s IEP goals, Federal and State laws and regulations and Board policies. Students for whom participation in graduation ceremonies is precluded for disciplinary issues (when the discipline was not a manifestation of the student’s disability) or nonpayment of school fines may not participate in social graduation.

After participating in the ceremony, the student is expected to continue working on his/her IEP transition goals and objectives. The student will also continue to receive services to address his/her transitional, vocational, and/or independent living skills as delineated in his/her IEP. An official high school diploma will be granted to the student when the IEP team determines that the transition goals have been met.

© Neola 2012