The Greenville County Occupational Diploma Program: Is it Working

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TheGreenville County Occupational
DiplomaProgram Is it Working?
The School District of Greenville County does not
discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex,
color, handicap, religion, or national origin in
its dealings with employees, students, the
general public, applicants for employment,
educational programs, activities, or access to
its facilities. For concerns, call the Legal
Counsel at 241-3549. 2008-2009
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Rationale

• Individuals with Disabilities Act 97 increased
  requirements for transition services beginning at
  age 14. (It is now age 13 in South Carolina)
• No viable diploma option for students in
  self-contained programs in Greenville County.
• District records indicated high attrition rates
  and low graduation rates for self contained
  students.

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Purpose

• The Greenville County Occupational Diploma (GCOD)
  is designed
• to provide a curriculum option for students with
  disabilities incorporating challenging academic
  and vocational standards.
• to meet the requirements stated in the
  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
  (IDEA) and correlate with South Carolina
  curriculum standards.

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Implementation Timeline

• September 14, 1999 Board approved concept of
  the Occupational Diploma
• December 14, 1999 Presentation to the Committee
  of the Whole
• January 11, 2000 Approval by Board
• August 2000 Implementation of the Occupational
  Diploma in 14 High Schools.

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Students with disabilities will have four options
concerning a program of study

• South Carolina State High School Diploma
• South Carolina State High School Certificate
• Greenville County Occupational Diploma
• Greenville County District Certificate

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Who Participates?

• IEP teams make decisions regarding participation
  in the OD program.

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Academic Components
Academic

• Occupational English
• Occupational Math
• Occupational Science
• Occupational Career Preparation (Social Studies)

Work
Portfolio
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Additional Requirements

• All students must
• meet the attendance policy requirements of the
  District.
• meet non-paid work training goals in the eleventh
  grade.
• and complete 360 hours of successful paid
  employment by the end of their twelfth grade
  year.

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Career Centers

• Special Education 10th Grade Rotation Program
• Career Development I (first semester)
• Career Development II (second semester)
• Career Rotation I (first semester)
• Career Rotation II (second semester)

Academic
Work
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Career Centers

• Special Education 11th and 12th Grade
  Self-Contained Students
• may be recommended to return to a regular
  education Career Center class.

Academic
Work
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Supported Employment

• Partnership between business and Greenville
  County Schools
• Provides businesses with a source of reliable,
  well-trained employees, while giving realistic
  vocational training and employment opportunities
  to students
• Offers extensive on-the-job training in the
  business establishment while the employee is
  attending school

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Supported Employment

• Partnership between business and Greenville
  County Schools
• Win-win for Student and Employer

Work
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Supported Employment
Work
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Occupational Diploma Portfolio

• Includes
• Academic Samples
• Training/Employment Evaluations
• Resume
• References
• Certificates/Awards
• Final Approval by School Administration

Portfolio
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Supported Employment and Training
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Accomplishments
Increase in the number of students staying in
school.
Information from EXCENT data.
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Graduates
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Graduates
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Occupational Diploma Graduation Requirement
Checklist

• Academic Requirements
• Training and Employment Requirements
• Portfolio Requirements

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WORK COMPONENT

• Students in 9th grade will participate in
  academics
• Students in 10th grade will participate in the
  Career Rotation program at the Career Centers.
• Students who do not attend a Career Center may
  participate in community-based experiences on
  campus or in the community, if appropriate.

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WORK COMPONENT

• Students in 11th grade will participate in
  community-based experiences with Job Coach
  assistance.
• In twelfth grade, students will complete all
  academic prerequisites and will be placed in
  competitive paid employment positions.
• The minimum requirement for a diploma is 360
  hours of successful paid employment.

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ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES

• The Occupational Portfolio consolidates all
  components of the curriculum and reflects the
  students skills as well as the extent to which
  he/she has completed requirements.

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SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURES

• Greenville Tech
• Check into Quick Jobs
• Students need to understand that earning the
  Occupational Diploma program diploma does not
  entitle them to attend universities, etc.
• Greenville Tech has continuing education courses
  

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SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURES

• Agencies/Changes in Course of Study
• Referral procedures begin during the second
  semester of the students 11th grade year.
• Teachers
• who have assessed a students academic
  performance,
• evaluated job performance, and
• concluded that the student may not be able to
  obtain an Occupational Diploma, should make a
  recommendation for change to District Certificate
  at the 11th grade IEP meeting.

Reminder
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Administration and Guidance

• Verify transcripts for units earned
• Compare transcript, SASI information, report
  card, attendance and IEP documentation to verify
  accuracy
• Approve all three components of the Districts
  Occupational Diploma Academic Credit,
  (transcript units, attendance, report card
  grades) Work Component (verification from
  District Job Coach) and Portfolio requirements
  (OD Requirement Checklist).

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End of Presentation
Created by and property of Greenville County
School District, Special Education Services,
October, 2008