Kaneland to award diplomas to life-skills students; cabinet to study retroactive recognition
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Summary
District staff proposed, and the board discussed, changing practice so students in life-skills instruction receive a diploma after four years of high school instead of a certificate of completion. The board asked the cabinet to examine how any retroactive recognition would work.
Kaneland staff told the board the district will begin awarding diplomas to students who participate in the district’s life-skills instruction program after four years of high school, replacing the previous practice of issuing certificates of completion.
Miss Eggleston presented the proposal and said historically these students—about 1 percent of a graduating class—received certificates of completion. "Moving forward, Kaneland will be awarding these students with a diploma acknowledging their accomplishments in the same way as their typically developing peers," she said, noting the change aligns the district with surrounding districts and will be reflected in the student handbook and Kaneland High School course guidebook.
Board members expressed support for the policy change. One board member asked whether the change could be applied retroactively; Miss Eggleston said the cabinet had not decided on retroactivity but would discuss options and report back. The board expressed the sense that the cabinet should develop an implementation approach and return a recommendation; the discussion required no formal board action that night.
The change is intended to promote equity and to recognize the accomplishments of students in life-skills instruction. Staff will work with the cabinet to define whether, and how, diplomas might be issued for past graduates and to update district handbooks and guidance.