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What is April Dunn Act?
What is April Dunn Act?
April Dunn Act (2014) is a law that allows eligible students to pursue a standard high school diploma by meeting standard graduation requirements through alternate means.
April Dunn Act (2014) is a law that allows eligible students to pursue a standard high school diploma by meeting standard graduation requirements through alternate means.
Gov. John Bel Edwards signed HB 848 into law, which renames Act 833 of 2014 as the April Dunn Act. April was a tireless advocate for people with disabilities and a dedicated staff member who served in the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs. She succumbed to complications from COVID-19 on March 28, 2020.
Gov. John Bel Edwards signed HB 848 into law, which renames Act 833 of 2014 as the April Dunn Act. April was a tireless advocate for people with disabilities and a dedicated staff member who served in the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs. She succumbed to complications from COVID-19 on March 28, 2020.
The Louisiana Legislature passed Act 833 in 2014 to provide a pathway to promotion and graduation for certain students with disabilities. After its passage, Louisiana joined many states in recognizing the role a student's Individualized Education Program has in determining outcomes.
The Louisiana Legislature passed Act 833 in 2014 to provide a pathway to promotion and graduation for certain students with disabilities. After its passage, Louisiana joined many states in recognizing the role a student's Individualized Education Program has in determining outcomes.
With Gov. Edwards' signature, the April Dunn Act became Act 1 of 2020.
With Gov. Edwards' signature, the April Dunn Act became Act 1 of 2020.
"Although April was not able to earn a high school diploma, that did not stop her from learning and helping others. Because of April, countless students with disabilities in Louisiana now have a pathway to earn a high school diploma," Gov. Edwards said. "She was a tremendous asset to our team and to the state of Louisiana. Her enthusiasm and passion for life made a difference in everyone she came in contact with, and her work improved the lives of all Louisianans, including those with disabilities. The April Dunn Act further cements her legacy as a tireless advocate, and I am honored to name Act 1 of 2020 after her. We mourn April's loss every day, but her infectious smile and advocacy live on forever in our hearts and minds. I ask everyone to please continue to keep April's family, friends and colleagues in their prayers."
"Although April was not able to earn a high school diploma, that did not stop her from learning and helping others. Because of April, countless students with disabilities in Louisiana now have a pathway to earn a high school diploma," Gov. Edwards said. "She was a tremendous asset to our team and to the state of Louisiana. Her enthusiasm and passion for life made a difference in everyone she came in contact with, and her work improved the lives of all Louisianans, including those with disabilities. The April Dunn Act further cements her legacy as a tireless advocate, and I am honored to name Act 1 of 2020 after her. We mourn April's loss every day, but her infectious smile and advocacy live on forever in our hearts and minds. I ask everyone to please continue to keep April's family, friends and colleagues in their prayers."
Working with a bipartisan coalition of legislators, advocates and stakeholders, April put a face to the issue that Act 833 addressed. She testified in support of the legislation and led the bill as it passed the legislature and became law.
Working with a bipartisan coalition of legislators, advocates and stakeholders, April put a face to the issue that Act 833 addressed. She testified in support of the legislation and led the bill as it passed the legislature and became law.
Alternative pathways to a diploma under April Dunn Act (2014) and the pathway for students assessed on Louisiana Alternate Assessment Level 1 (LAA 1) give students with disabilities opportunities to earn a high school diploma and develop and demonstrate skills necessary for successful post-secondary experiences. Effective local implementation of these alternative pathways is critical to student success. This guide will support administrators of Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with developing local policies and procedures for implementing alternative pathways to a diploma for students with disabilities.
Alternative pathways to a diploma under April Dunn Act (2014) and the pathway for students assessed on Louisiana Alternate Assessment Level 1 (LAA 1) give students with disabilities opportunities to earn a high school diploma and develop and demonstrate skills necessary for successful post-secondary experiences. Effective local implementation of these alternative pathways is critical to student success. This guide will support administrators of Local Education Agencies (LEAs) with developing local policies and procedures for implementing alternative pathways to a diploma for students with disabilities.
Consistent policies and procedures will help principals and teachers fully implement these opportunities and support all students in their pursuit of a diploma and post-secondary success. LEA administrators should create concrete, reliable procedures throughout their district that outline expectations for:
Consistent policies and procedures will help principals and teachers fully implement these opportunities and support all students in their pursuit of a diploma and post-secondary success. LEA administrators should create concrete, reliable procedures throughout their district that outline expectations for:
> Identifying eligible students
> Identifying eligible students
> Planning appropriate experiences
> Planning appropriate experiences
> Applying individual performance criteria to courses
> Applying individual performance criteria to courses
High School Culminating Credentials
High School Culminating Credentials
Diploma pathways in Louisiana include:
Diploma pathways in Louisiana include:
• TOPS University
• TOPS University
• Exit high school prepared to attend a 4 year college with opportunities to earn TOPS
• Jump Start TOPS Tech
• Jump Start TOPS Tech
• Exit high school with a credential that will prepare him/her for employment and/or to engage in additional postsecondary educational opportunities
• Within the Jump Start TOPS Tech pathway there alternate pathway options for students eligible under April Dunn Act and students who take the LAA 1.
Eligibility Clarification
Eligibility Clarification
Once a high school student meets April Dunn Act eligibility for an alternate pathway to graduation, he or she remains eligible throughout their high school experience.
Once a high school student meets April Dunn Act eligibility for an alternate pathway to graduation, he or she remains eligible throughout their high school experience.
• The student does not have to “re-qualify” each year.
• The student does not have to “re-qualify” each year.
• The April Dunn Act eligibility applies across all content areas, regardless of how the student met the criteria.
• The April Dunn Act eligibility applies across all content areas, regardless of how the student met the criteria.
• When and how to appropriately apply the alternate performance criteria option is made on at least an annual basis by the IEP team.
• When and how to appropriately apply the alternate performance criteria option is made on at least an annual basis by the IEP team.
• If the IEP team determines to apply the alternate performance criteria, the team will develop IEP goals and objectives aligned to the course/content area(s) in which the criteria is applied.
• If the IEP team determines to apply the alternate performance criteria, the team will develop IEP goals and objectives aligned to the course/content area(s) in which the criteria is applied.
Everybody is a genius.
Everybody is a genius.
But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree,
But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree,
it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.
it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
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