Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma. Technical Assistance Paper.

This paper is intended to assist school districts in Florida in the implementation of the 1999 Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma. First, the specific state rules related to student performance standards, course descriptions, and graduation requirements are cited. Twenty-five questions and answers present the guidelines, which address: (1) general aspects (such as what a special diploma is, what the Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma are, and what areas these standards address); (2) implementation timelines (when the standards go into effect, standards for students who entered high school prior to 1999-2000, and time limits for achieving the standards); (3) state/district assessments (eligibility for exemption from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and alternate assessment); (4) levels of functioning (levels of functioning for the standards, responsibilities of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team regarding levels of functioning, and use of assistive technology); (5) documentation of achievement (documentation by the IEP of expected levels of functioning, measurement of attainment of the standards, and achievement documentation by teachers. A list of expected levels of functioning is attached. (DB)