diploma tracks for sped. students

Georgia has eliminated tech prep diplomas and are now requiring that every student receive a college prep diploma. This change began last year with the 9th grade class. In my district this has caused students with severe deficits to be placed in college prep classes they are not academically prepared for. Due to requirements placed on the county by the state department, the county is pressuring teachers to no longer offer a continuum of placement. The only students not participating in full inclusion are the SID/PID (IQ below 40)students. All other categories of exceptionality must be in the inclusion environment. They are being told that these students must be in the inclusion environment and they cannot receive a special education diploma because they no longer exist in the county.

Students with significant delays in reading, writing, and math are being placed in the inclusion environment in which they are unable to be successful in. Parents are being told that this is the only option for their children since the state does not offer any other diploma tracks. Teachers are being directed to simply "accommodate" them in these classes. The accommodations required for students with such low ability level significantly compromises the curriculum standards that are mandated by the state for these classes. These significant modifications that are being implemented in the classroom will not be afforded to these students on high stakes testing such as the high school graduation test and end of course testing. These tests have strict guidelines to ensure the integrity of the results. The unfortunate outcome of the significant classroom accommodations these special education students received is they will not be prepared to take the high school graduation test which is required to receive their diplomas.

These students need to particpate in coursework that will give them skills they need for future employment. It is highly unlikely these students will attend college. Why should they be placed in a college prep. program when that is not the appropriate track for their needs?

It appears that the focus in Georgia is the physical placement of these students (inclusion), the label of their diploma track (college prep), and not the best interest of these students. What has happened to the continuum of placement options mandated by IDEA? How can students receive vocational/technical skills when the state has eliminated those diplomas? Has special education in Georgia lost its focus on the best interest of these students?