In general.... yes. Higher level proficiency, in fact.
But there are different KINDS of diplomas... representing different realities. And some students will NEVER score above 6 th grade in Reading and math.
One wouldn't want to deny a HS diploma to a student w. Down Syndrome who went to HS, worked hard, attended regularly, thru grade 12 . ( To age 21 in most cases.)
In NYS, kids like this are awarded "IEP Diplomas". These are in fact HS diplomas but incorporate the term ( IEP) in the language on the document. An employer or post-HS ed admissions officer will understand that the iep diploma does not carry as much educational "weight" as a community ( sometimes called a "local"
diploma. Other states may have a different arrangement.
In NYS also, some gen ed kids get "local diplomas" and some "Regents diplomas". Regents diploma kids took and passed certain NYS tests that have earned them the weightier. "Regents Diploma".
Also... it's a little simplistic to think in terms of a single "reading " level or a single "writing" level. Reading is many things: Vocabulary, Comprehension, Decoding, etc. My son is graduating this year from an LD school in NJ and his reading levels ( plural )are all over the place ; i.e above Grsde 6 in some reading domains , below in others.
This is a common and familiar pattern w. dyslexic kids. It is important to recognize that this has to do w. the nature of the handicapping condition; not the efficacy of the teacher or of the school. ( He's graduating with what NJ calls a "local".... not "iep"... diploma. Even though my son has an iep.)
How do you feel about it?
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