Graduation
Graduating from high school is an important milestone. As children with disabilities enter middle and high school, families question the impact of IEP decisions on high school diplomas, post-secondary education, and employment. Some families question whether their child taking the PASA will affect their diploma. In 2003, PA added pathways to demonstrate preparedness for graduation and parents often have questions on which pathway is most appropriate for their child. Families also have questions on the recent policy revision to age of IEP services (22 years of age)
Graduation Resources
Check out the following resources about the pathways to graduation.
Effective with the graduating class of 2023, Pennsylvania high school students have the option to demonstrate their postsecondary preparedness and meet statewide requirements through one of five Pathways to Graduation.
Learn About Pennsylvania High School Graduation Requirements!
This Toolkit offers guidance on Pennsylvania’s Pathways to Graduation, five alternative avenues for students to demonstrate postsecondary preparedness while satisfying statewide requirements, as well as information on other diploma options for students in specific situations.
Still have questions after exploring the resources below? Check the Professional Learning Schedule for upcoming virtual office hours or contact RA-EdGradRequirement@pa.gov.​
Commonwealth of PA Model of Local Educational Agency (LEA) Policies and Procedures