Navigating Alabama Pathways and Diplomas
The future. College. Jobs. Curriculum. Figuring out which pathway allows your student to be the most independent can be a challenge without all of the information.
Cindy Rysedorph, department head and resource teacher at Mountain Brook High School, gives parents insight and practical information to help their student choose the correct pathway for them.
WHEN does the IEP team typically make a decision about pathways?
This is usually done prior to the 9th grade year as credits begin accruing at this time.
WHAT are the 3 different pathways in Alabama?
General Education pathway, Essentials pathway, and AAS pathway
General Education Pathway
Essential Courses + General Education pathway: We have had students who come up as 10th graders and end up having to pick and choose which three essentials courses they can take and still end up with a regular diploma. This has been the best model because it gives them freedom with maybe an English Class or a Math class that is beyond their capability. For those students who are all Essentials when they come up to 10th grade - it is not a problem. It is just for those students who want to aim for a regular diploma but just want to do the math only route. We have only had a couple like this and one had to switch to Essentials from regular and stay another year. Essentials pathway is FOUR + Essentials classes. Students that take THREE Essential classes can still remain on the Regular Diploma or General Education Pathway.
ESSENTIALS PATHWAY
Why Essentials: The Essentials Pathway does follow the state standards for academics but these are modified so these courses do not move as fast as the regular diploma courses. Students are responsible for only learning a portion (say 75-80%) of the state standards which makes the course more manageable. The focus of the Essentials Checklist are the three required Career Tech credits which focus on career readiness. As an FYI for what type of child does Essentials...we have more and more of our Essentials students who just don't love school and do not want to stay. So, very few of our Essential students are those that stay until they are 21. They graduate with their class and are finished because that is their choice.
Graduation Year: During their final year, Essentials students have to complete the regular Career Co-Op requirements which is 140 hours of paid (or volunteer) work instruction. The state department changed paid to volunteer or internship experience a few years ago when the economy took a down turn. Whether or not it is paid or voluntary is fine - but students have to be able to pass certain independent work requirements.
After Graduation: The Essentials Pathway was designed for students who want to go straight into the work force upon graduation (thus the Co-Op requirements). Some of our students have gone on to a two year college and gotten an Associates Degree (i. e. Jeff State - culinary school) or a trade school to learn a trade. However, only a few of our Essentials Students have gone on to a four year college - because that is not what the Essentials Pathway prepares them to do. The bottom line for any student (including ours with IEPS) getting into a community college or a four year college (Montevallo, UAB, Jacksonville State, Auburn, etc....) has traditionally been the minimum requirement for ACT score. We have had some of our Essentials students make 16-19 on the ACT and depending on which two year (or four year) college they pursue, it comes down to that score. Also, taking into account, what math courses, etc... they have had and how prepared are they for the required freshman math course at their community or four year college. We have had students (especially in math) who have not been able to pass that math course at the college level and have had to do a lot of interventions and tutoring. Even after that, they just weren't able to pass the course and had to move on from the college type environment.
Alternate Achievement Standards (AAS)
What is AAS: Students are not held accountable to the same standards as their peers. They work from a different set of standards.
When or why students go to AAS: We have had students at the high school who did have to move from the Essentials Pathway to the Alternate Achievement Pathway because they were either unable to complete coursework at the level of the Essentials Diploma OR they were not able to complete the Co-Op requirements for working independently. Because they were unable to work unsupervised or without intervention and support (after going through the work components training and classes which are on the fourth attachment) they had to change pathways. This has also happened to several students who were put on Essentials in 9th grade and just could not manage the level of the academics (especially in math and reading) and had to change to AAS. We have students now who are able to participate in an Essentials English class but not the Essentials Math class and that is okay - we always put the students in the classes that they are academically able to handle. So, we have have several AAS students in Essentials English or Essentials Science
After Graduation: Students on this pathway can stay in school until the age of 21, if they choose to. We have had students finish on the Alternate Achievement pathway and get good jobs and after years of working at the job, they are still there and happy and have maintained long term job security.
So, to sum up each of the Pathways outcomes:
Regular: 2-4 year college and beyond OR straight to work
Essentials: Straight to work or a trade, 2 year college, Associate's Degree (if ACT scores allow admittance into a community college)
AAS Pathway: Supported employment, Independent Work or Adult Program (such as the Exceptional Foundation - if requirements are suitable)
Quick video that also sums up the pathways: https://app.animaker.com/animo/SBdQtqaUmPl15GhL/
For even more resources, check out Alabama State Department of Education website