In This Issue CA High School Exit Exam & Students with Disabilities September 21, 2009 A link to the CDE letter was inadvertently dropped from the previous sending of the September Special EDition. And there is so much confusion over the exit exam that we thought it important to resend this. CHANGE TO CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE Over the summer, the California Education Code changed to exempt eligible students from meeting the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) requirement as a condition for graduation.Students with IEPs or 504 Plans and who satisfy all other state and local requirements to receive a high school diploma are eligible for this exemption. These students will, however, be required to take the CAHSEE in 10th grade in order for their schools to satisfy the requirements of No Child Left Behind.Yet even without the CAHSEE, students with disabilities take many tests. If testing accommodations or modifications such as extra time, breaks, or a quiet location are what a student needs to show they know the material, build these into the IEP or 504 Plan early in a student’s education. The college board (SAT) requires that these be in the plan and that students regularly USE them before they will consider allowing them for college admission tests.The exemption will remain in effect until the State Board of Education either implements an alternative means of assessment to demonstrate that a student with a disability has achieved the standards measured by the CAHSEE or determines that no alternative assessment is feasible. For the complete August 25, 2009 letter from Jack O’Connell to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators, go to http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/cahseeABx4.asp UPCOMING DREDF WORKSHOPS REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. SPACE IS LIMITED. UNDERSTANDING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS An overview of the special education process, Section 504, and IDEA laws.Date: Second Monday of the month except July, August, & December Next offered: October 12, 2009 Time: 6:30 to 9:00 pm (Pizza included!) IEP CLINIC APPOINTMENTS Call to schedule a 30-minute appointment with a DREDF Education Advocate to discuss an issue around your child’s IEP or504 Plan. Bring IEP and other pertinent paperwork. You must attend our special education workshop (above) to qualify for this service. Date: Third Tuesday of every month Next offered: October 20, 2009Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (30 minute appointments) Where: DREDF, 2212 Sixth St, Berkeley, CA To register: Katie Keil at kkeil@dredf.org or 510-644-2555 ext. 227DREDF is a non-profit law and policy center for adults and children with disabilities. We operate a Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center to help families and others in the community get the information, training, and resources they need to advocate effectively for the education rights of children with all types of disabilities. Our Foster Youth Resources for Education (FYRE) program is dedicated to the educational needs of foster children and youth with disabilities, their caregivers, and others who support the needs of foster youth.We offer our services free of charge.Call 510-644-2555 or 800-348-4232 to contact an Education Advocate. Advocacy Tip Test taking should not create a barrier to student success. Acronyms The important ones for this post: CAHSEE— California High School Exit Examination IEP — Individualized Education Program (or Plan) Please visit our website for related articles& resources www.dredf.org Laws and Special Education www.dredf.org/special_education/law_and_special_edu.shtml Special Education Resources www.dredf.org/special_education/special_ed_resources.shtml Parent Training & Information Center www.dredf.org/programs/PTI.shtml Training Resources www.dredf.org/special_education/trainings.shtml Donate www.dredf.org/donate.shtml Combined Federal Campaign #11944 Changing the Present http://changingthepresent.org/ iGive www.igive.com Support DREDF when you shop. Contact Us info@dredf.or www.dredf.org 2212 Sixth St Berkeley, CA 94710 510-644-2555 800-348-4232 Copyright 2009 Send to a Friend Unsubscribe