Florida phases out certificates for students with disabilities

WIMAUMA, Fla. — The Florida Department of Education recently voted to eliminate certificates of completion for students with disabilities. The certificates were an alternative to diplomas for those students who could not meet graduation requirements.

The vote was to move forward with the implementation of House Bill 1105, which instructs education leaders to create new guidance about adult education and post-secondary options for those students by the next calendar year.

Luz Gaona, the speech-language pathologist at Southshore Bilingual Therapy, says this change is a setback for the children they serve.

“If any of them were to seek some type of employment, this is going to be hindering that opportunity for them,” she said.

Employees at the center help students with disabilities learn skills they can use both at school and beyond.

“All different kids, all different goals and all different things that they’re working on,” Selena Cadwallader, a certified occupational therapy assistant, said. “There’s something beautiful about kids learning to do things on their own and being able to be a part of this society that they maybe could not have been prior.”

Many families look forward to their children earning a certificate of completion. They will now have to work around the change to eliminate them as education leaders work to establish a new program.

The center says they’re now focused on how they can support parents who may be unaware of the changes.

“(We are) educating our parents on the importance of attending (Individualized Education Program) meetings and asking questions,” Gaona said.

In the meantime, Gaona and her team will continue to advocate for education opportunities for all.

The high school graduation requirements for students with disabilities will also be revised to update definitions and permissible course substitutions.