Officials mull opening up diploma options for special needs students

Lynbrook, East Rockaway superintendents react

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After being pressured by a group of about 25 Long Island parents, state education officials are signaling their willingness to expand the options available to students who are not able to earn a Regents diploma, but who have otherwise demonstrated their academic competence.

The parents’ concerns centered on the Career Development Occupational Studies, or CDOS “Commencement Credential.” Many students who receive a CDOS find that employers have never heard of it, which makes it almost impossible to obtain basic retail or manual labor employment.

“When we voted to put CDOS in, it was supposed to take the place of a diploma,” Roger Tilles, Long Island’s board of Regents representative said, “but the word didn’t get out to employers, schools [or] the military.”

Dr. Melissa Burak, the superintendent of Lynbrook schools, said she would be in favor of adding more options. “We fully support the idea of using work readiness credentials, and any and all alternatives to allow students to obtain a local diploma,” Burak said. “Until a formal plan is adopted, we will continue to assist students in passing all mandated Regents exams.”

East Rockaway Superintendent Lisa Ruiz also said that she would like to look into changes, but is not prepared to make changes to the diploma options at this point. "After a careful review, we may look to create changes in the future; however, no specific plan is in place at this time," she said in a statement.

Chalkbeat, an education news non-profit reported that MaryEllen Elia, the state commissioner of education, spoke to the Board of Regents, “I think what we need to look at is the opportunity of saying … ‘Can the completion of the CDOS sequence, be an appropriate end to receiving a local diploma?’” she asked.

According to Newsday, Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa said, “Tomorrow, we are absolutely starting discussion of the diploma issue.”

Tilles told the Herald that he and Chancellor Rosa are the biggest proponents of a change that would, in his words, “beef up” the CDOS, potentially by rewarding a local diploma, rather than a certificate, to students who complete CDOS requirements. Local diplomas haven’t been the norm “since at least 2005,” he added, which is when Tilles began his role as a Regents board member. He said that the original intent of the Regents tests were to enable policy officials to compare schools.

Since then, the Education Department has been taking steps to expand diploma options for students. Last year, they created the superintendent’s waiver, which allows local superintendents to award diplomas to students who cannot obtain Regents diplomas, but who demonstrate their competency in other ways, by sticking to individualized education plans designed in conjunction with parents, teachers, and administrators. Tilles said that over 800 students received local diplomas last school year under this new program.

In responding to concerns that some have expressed about lowering standards, and “watering down” the value of a diploma, Tilles said it would only be a problem, “if the CDOS didn’t require demonstrating a certain level of competency.”

But he said he had a more pressing concern. “I want to make sure districts don’t track kids into the CDOS who should be pushed into attempting the Regents diploma.”

It will take more than discussion to move forward with the reform that some parents are asking for. Tilles said it would require an action by the Regents. He added that he expects the issue to be put on the agenda by September or October, and that if it does not meet too much opposition, he hopes that it will be approved in time to benefit students graduating in 2018.