Senate Bill Would Allow Special Ed Students To Walk With Their Classmates

OLYMPIA – In just a few short months, high school seniors across Washington will enjoy a rite of passage they’ve looked forward to for most of their lives – graduation. Often called “walking” by teenagers who look forward to their stroll across the stage to accept their high school diploma, it’s a moment shared among friends who have been classmates for years and their families. But for many Washington students receiving special education services, it’s a moment they are often denied. Most students are assigned an expected graduation year based on the year that they begin ninth grade, but students receiving special education services are assigned an expected year of graduation when they turn age 16 based on their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Because of their unique needs, many students with an IEP continue in high school beyond their fourth year, when their classmates are expected to graduate. State law allows students to stay in school until they are 21 years old, but many school districts prohibit students who are not actually graduating from participating in their classmates’ graduation ceremonies. To allow students receiving special education services to enjoy the pomp and circumstance of graduation with their friends, Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen, D-Eatonville sponsored a bill (SB 5450) to modify the requirements for participating in a graduation ceremony. The bill passed the by Senate on a unanimous vote last Friday, now goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration. “We’re not changing the actual graduation requirements,” Rasmussen said. “We’re just recognizing that there’s some red tape standing in the way of these kids enjoying an important part of growing up. This is a long journey for these kids, and this bill just helps make the future brighter for them.” The issue was brought to the attention of Rasmussen when she heard that Kevin Britt, a student in the Kent School District, had to obtain special permission to “walk” with his classmates in their graduation ceremony. “It’s surprising how many school districts say that students receiving special education services either cannot ‘walk’ or will have their services cut off if they do walk. That’s just wrong,” said Kathy Britt, Kevin’s mother. “I’m glad that the Kent School District decided to change its policy, but Kent is in the minority,” added Kevin’s father Howard, who submitted 18 letters of support from Kevin’s classmates and teachers during testimony before the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee in January. Key provisions of SB 5450 are that: Any student who is receiving special education or related services under an IEP would be able to participate in the graduation ceremony and activities after four years of high school attendance with his or her age-appropriate peers, and receive a certificate of attendance; Participation in a graduation ceremony and receipt of a certificate of attendance would not preclude a student from continuing to receive special education and related services under an IEP beyond the graduation ceremony; and Participation in a graduation ceremony and receipt of a certificate of attendance would not be construed as the student’s receipt of either a high school diploma or a certificate of individual achievement. The legislation, known as Kevin’s Bill, includes an emergency provision that would make it effective in time for this year’s graduation ceremonies.