In the state of Tennessee, students who complete their education at a public high school can choose from four distinct types of diplomas. These alternatives include a standard high school diploma, an alternate academic diploma, an occupational diploma, and a diploma tailored for special education students. Each diploma type necessitates specific qualifications to be met and carries varying consequences in terms of the opportunities available to students after their high school graduation. The following sections provide a detailed overview of each diploma category, its corresponding prerequisites, and the resulting impacts.
Traditional High School Diploma
The conventional high school diploma, a well-recognized achievement, is granted to students who meet certain criteria:
Requirements:
- Completion of 22 credits in specified course subjects.
- Successful ACT or SAT exam completion if enrolled in a Tennessee public school during 11th grade.
- Satisfactory attendance and discipline records.
- Passing a U.S. Civics test prepared by the Local Education Agency (LEA).
Impacts:
- Enables access to traditional postsecondary options like 4-year colleges, community colleges, and applied technology colleges.
- Widely recognized by employers, making it a preferable option for employment.
Alternate Academic Diploma
Designed for students assessed through state alternate assessments, the alternate academic diploma acknowledges significant cognitive disabilities and factors into district graduation rates:
Requirements:
- Participation in high school alternate assessments.
- Achievement of prescribed 22-credit minimum.
- Progress on IEP with special education services and supports.
- Satisfactory attendance and conduct records.
- Completion of transition assessments measuring postsecondary education, employment, independent living, and community involvement.
Impacts:
- Must be earned within four years plus one summer; exceeding this timeframe excludes it from graduation rates.
- Similar eligibility limitations for traditional colleges.
- Possible attendance in specific applied technology programs.
- Potential application to inclusive higher education programs for those with intellectual disabilities.
- Indicates knowledge and skills for learning to programs and employers.
- Opportunity to earn both alternate academic and occupational diplomas.
- Pursuing both enhances academic and job readiness skills.
- Continuing special education services possible until turning 22 after earning the AAD.
Occupational Diploma
Catering to students pursuing a special education diploma and not on track for a regular diploma, the occupational diploma emphasizes vocational outcomes:
Requirements:
- Progress on IEP with special education services and supports.
- Satisfactory attendance and conduct.
- Completion of 2 years of paid or non-paid work experience, defined by the IEP team.
Impacts:
- Ineligibility for traditional 4-year colleges or community colleges.
- Access to specific programs within applied technology colleges.
- Potential application to inclusive higher education programs for those with intellectual disabilities.
- Continued pursuit of regular education diploma until age 22.
- Attractive to future employers due to required work experience.
Special Education Diploma
For students not on the path to a regular education diploma, the special education diploma is an alternative with specific requisites:
Requirements:
- Inability to fulfill requirements for a standard high school diploma.
- Satisfactory progress on Individualized Education Program (IEP) with special education services and supports.
- Adequate attendance and conduct records.
Impacts:
- Excludes eligibility for traditional 4-year colleges or community colleges.
- Permits attendance in some programs at applied technology colleges.
- Allows application to inclusive higher education programs for those with intellectual disabilities.
- Does not count towards a high school’s graduation rate.
- Often not recognized by employers.
Option to continue pursuing occupational or regular education diploma until age 22.