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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Wright, Jennifer (OFB-FK) [mailto:JenniferN.Wright@ky.gov] <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, May 01, 2012 11:07 AM<br><b>To:</b> Smith, Chris H (OFB-FK); Jessee, Allison F (OFB-FK); Ann Smits; Becky Cabe; Bess Douthitt; Bill Deatherage; Monterosso, Bill (OETCO-FK); Cathy Jackson; McNabb, Cora L (OFB-FK); David Lawson; Don Gerard; George Stokes; Gordon-Brown, Gerry (CAP-FK); Gerry Rader Slusher; Jim Shaw; ki4vjd@gmail.com; Kay Mathis; Kim Zeigler; Michael Freeholm; Dahmke, Mitch; Shirley, Patrick B (Education Cabinet); Paul Wiese; Paula Wiese ; Nesbitt, Richard (OFB-FK); Roger Schaf; Sharon Fields; Sharon Fields (Home); Matthews, Soraya - Division of Learning Services; Deeley, Stephen P (OFB-LV); Susan Ament; Hammons, Twyla S (OFB-SS)<br><b>Subject:</b> FW: Gov. Beshear signs legislation allowing alternative high school diplomas for students with disabilities <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>FYI<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Governor's Communications Office (Gov Office) <br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 30, 2012 1:02 PM<br><b>Subject:</b> Gov. Beshear signs legislation allowing alternative high school diplomas for students with disabilities <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='margin-left:-28.55pt;border-collapse:collapse'><tr style='height:137.3pt'><td width=952 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:475.85pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:137.3pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><img width=108 height=108 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CD26CF.B3AF5370"></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Commonwealth of Kentucky</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:16.0pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Office of the Governor </span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style='height:55.1pt'><td width=14 style='width:.1in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:55.1pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=536 valign=top style='width:268.1pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:55.1pt'><p class=MsoNormal><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=180 valign=top style='width:1.25in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:55.1pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b>Contact:</b><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=221 valign=top style='width:110.55pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:55.1pt'><p class=MsoNormal><b>Kerri Richardson</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>502.564.2611</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>502.330.6633</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Terry Sebastian <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>502.564.2611<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>502.229.6130<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoListParagraph align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoListParagraph align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Gov. Beshear signs legislation allowing alternative high school <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoListParagraph align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>diplomas for students with disabilities <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b>CECILIA, Ky. (April 30, 2012)</b> – Governor Steve Beshear, joined by students and school officials, today signed a bill that will benefit students with disabilities by allowing them to earn an alternative high school diploma. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>“We know how important it is that every student receives an education, and how important it is to high school students that they be rewarded with a diploma for their hard work when they successfully complete their studies,” Gov. Beshear said. “This new legislation recognizes that students with disabilities have the same desire to earn a high school diploma as their peers do. This makes that possible for them.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Previously, such students could earn only a certificate of attainment if they are considered ineligible for statewide assessments.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Senate Bill 43, which passed unanimously in the House and Senate, allows for an alternative high school diploma for students with disabilities whose individualized education program indicates the student cannot participate in the regular statewide assessments. The Kentucky Board of Education will develop regulations outlining the requirements for the alternative high school diplomas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'>Sen. Dennis Parrett, of Elizabethtown, the bill’s sponsor and parent to a student who will benefit from the bill, joined Gov. Beshear, school officials and students for the signing held at Central Hardin High School in Cecilia.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“I am proud of the fact that is my first bill to become law,” Sen. Parrett said. “But I am particularly honored that this bill will allow our special needs students throughout the state to receive a formal high school diploma when they walk across the stage on graduation day, as opposed to a Certificate of Attainment.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“We have been supportive of Senate Bill 43 since Sen. Parrett introduced it. All students who work hard to satisfy the requirements of a course of study deserve a diploma,” said Hardin County Schools Superintendent Nannette Johnston. “A diploma is the way we traditionally recognizes completion of a secondary level of education. It awards achievement and signifies the beginning of a new chapter in life. A diploma leads to other degrees, certifications and vocations. If a special needs student performs the work that has been set out before them in their course of study in a satisfactory manner, then that student deserves a diploma just like any other student.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>###<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>Follow Governor Beshear on Twitter </span><span style='color:blue'><a href="http://twitter.com/govstevebeshear" title="http://twitter.com/govstevebeshear
blocked::http://twitter.com/govstevebeshear
blocked::http://twitter.com/">@Govstevebeshear</a></span><span style='color:black'>, read the Governor’s personal notes on his blog at </span><span style='color:blue'><a href="http://blog.governor.ky.gov/" title="http://blog.governor.ky.gov/
blocked::http://blog.governor.ky.gov/">http://blog.governor.ky.gov/</a></span><span style='color:black'>, and view his video commentaries at </span><span style='color:blue'><a href="http://www.youtube.com/governorbeshear" title="http://www.youtube.com/governorbeshear
blocked::http://www.youtube.com/governorbeshear">http://www.youtube.com/governorbeshear</a></span><span style='color:black'>.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>