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How to Advocate for Yourself While in the Dual Enrollment Program

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You’re not just in high school anymore!!!

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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As A Dual Enrollment Student

As a participant of the dual enrollment program you are primarily responsible for your academic outcomes. Being able to communicate your need for services is imperative in college. Knowing the difference between services in high school and college is essential.

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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As A Dual Enrollment Student

Keep in mind that even with campus support, your academic success depends on how well you take responsibility for your own education, including taking initiative to achieve academic excellence. Take advantage of any available supports and services as soon as you encounter academic difficulties.

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Who is considered a student with a disability?

A student who has been identified through an eligibility determination process in need of:

  • special education services under IDEA, or;
  • meets criteria under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and in some cases;
  • those who have an Individual Health Care Plan

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Key Identifiers of Disability Laws

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Individuals with Disabilities Act

(IDEA K-12)

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

(PK-12)

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -Amended 2008

(College Level)

An educational law that provides additional services and protections to students with disabilities that are not offered to students without disabilities through documentation on an IEP

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A civil rights law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities, public and private, that receive federal financial assistance

A civil rights law to prohibit discrimination solely on the basis of disability in employment, public services, and accommodations

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Who has the responsibility?

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Responsibility for the following:

IDEA*

Section 504

ADA

Public School/K-12

College/

University

Locating, evaluating and identifying students with a disability

✓

✓

✗

Providing a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

✓

✓

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✗

Monitoring of student progress and effectiveness of accommodations/services

✓

✓

✗

Paying for education without guarantee of success

✗

✗

✓

*Students with an IEP are supported under IDEA

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Who has the responsibility?

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Responsibility for the following:

IDEA

Section 504

ADA

Public School/K-12

College/

University

Related Services (e.g., Speech, Occupational Therapy,Physical Therapy)

✓

✓

✗

Curriculum Modification

✓

✓

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✗

Accommodations to curriculum delivery

✓

✓

✓

Potentially impact grading scale

✓

✗

✗

*Students with an IEP are supported under IDEA

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Disability Support in PGCPS

  • Students with disabilities are entitled to a “Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)”
  • IEP or 504 Plans drive all services and accomodations

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  • Included parties: SPED Teacher(s)/Chair, Professional School Counselors, Parents and Students (disability support is not limited to those persons listed)

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Disability Documentation

  • An IEP or 504 is developed by sources to identify and support identified disabilities
    • This may not be sufficient documentation for a college/university to document a disability
    • Colleges/universities set their own reasonable standards for documentation requirements
  • CALL YOUR COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY to identify what they require. Documentation may need to be prepared by an appropriate professional (e.g., medical doctor, psychologist, diagnoticsitican)

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Responsibility Shift

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High School

College

Parent or school initiates the disability determination process

Student initiates contact with the Disability Service Office

Parent/Guardian collaborate for services/accommodations/

supports provided

Student advocates for their own needs

School staff ensure service and accommodation provision

Student seek and advocate for accommodation

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Where do you start?

Advocate from the start by informing your college/university about your disability during the registration process.

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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In college, a student will need to learn to advocate effectively for themself by learning...

    • about themselves
    • their disability
    • and the laws that ensure their rights

Most colleges will not speak to the parent/guardian of a student about services. They will only speak to the student.

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Where do you start?

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  1. Provide the Disability Services Office with documentation
  2. Complete the student intake form available on most school’s website
  3. Schedule an appointment with the Disability Service Office to register for services and request/discuss possible accommodations
  4. Continue to meet with your advisor each semester to request accommodations for each class

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Accommodations in College

  1. Communicate with professors to review accommodations in alignment with the syllabus
  2. Self-advocate with professor for appropriate accommodations for each assignment
  3. Check-in with school based counselor or case manager to complete a DSS Services Procedure form
  4. Accommodations are not retroactive

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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When a student with disabilities enrolled in a dual enrollment program is receiving academic accommodations in their PGCPS high school courses that impact whether or not that student is actually meeting college-level academic standards for college credit

Remember . . .

  • Under the ADA, colleges may not discriminate on the basis of disability. But they have the legal right to uphold legitimate academic standards and performance expectations, and to deny accommodations that result in a fundamental change to those standards or expectations.
  • To earn college credit, students with disabilities must meet those same academic standards and performance expectations with or without an accommodation.

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org

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Disability Student Services Contacts

Prince George’s Community College

Disability Support Services

Lanham Hall, Room 101A

Phone: 301-546-0838

Email: dss@pgcc.edu

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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS • www.pgcps.org