SHIVELY, Ky. (WDRB) — Starting next school year, Kentucky high school students with disabilities will graduate with upgraded credentials aimed at boosting their career prospects.
The change comes by way of House Bill 562, a newly enacted state law that creates an alternative high school diploma for students on a modified curriculum. It will officially take effect beginning in the 2027-28 school year.
Currently, Kentucky students who follow a modified curriculum rather than a traditional academic program graduate with only a "certificate of completion." Under HB 562, an estimated 4,500 students across the Commonwealth will instead be awarded a modified diploma — marking a major legislative shift to recognize their hard work and ease their transition into the workforce.
For Marjon Watson, the change is deeply personal. Her 10-year-old son, Jermaine, has Down syndrome.
"I have two other kids who don't have a disability and they're going to receive a diploma," Watson said. "And I would feel a way if they did all this work and they just got a certificate."
Watson has heard from other parents of older special education students about how much harder the job hunt becomes without a standard high school credential.
"Jobs do require at least a diploma," Watson said. "Our kids want to work, they want to be a part of society, just like people without a disability."
Troy Kolb, the director of special education for Bullitt County Public Schools, has witnessed those post-graduation struggles firsthand. He said the traditional certificate of completion frequently acts as an administrative barrier for young adults trying to enter the workforce.
"If the employment application states, 'Were you a high school graduate?' ... if you just have a certificate of completion, you may not be able to answer that in the affirmative," Kolb said.
Kolb emphasized that the modified diploma is not a shortcut. Rather, it is a formal recognition of the intense effort these students put into their education.
"Their graduation criteria will really be no less rigorous than a traditional high school graduate," Kolb said. "In fact, in many cases, it'll be much more rigorous."
Special education advocates said the bipartisan support for HB 562 reflects how critical the change is. Gov. Andy Beshear, who signed the bill into law, noted that students with special needs deserve all the opportunities the state has to offer.
Watson recalls the pride her son felt during his fifth-grade graduation and knows that receiving a real diploma will be an unforgettable milestone for him.
"I just think about when he did his fifth-grade graduation and he ran across for a piece of paper," Watson said. "So his excitement for a diploma, I know, is going to be different and more valued than a certificate."
For now, Watson is focused on watching her son complete middle school first.
Meanwhile, school districts are preparing for the transition. Bullitt County Public Schools officials said they anticipate adjusting their curriculum to align with the new state standards so students can earn their modified diplomas when the law takes effect.
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