Differences between High School and College |
Public High School |
College* |
| Free and appropriate education guaranteed by law | No guarantee of college by law |
| Obligation by school to seek out and identify students with disabilities | No obligation to seek out and identify students with disabilities. |
| Obligation to evaluate students for disabilities | No obligation to evaluate students for disabilities |
| Must develop an Individual Educational Program (IEP) for students with disabilities | No obligation to develop special programs for students with disabilities |
| Must alter courses if necessary | No obligation to alter courses |
| Class sizes may often be small | Class size may often be large |
| Usually many tests and quizzes | Fewer smaller tests but longer examinations |
| Students get support in budgeting their time and planning their school work | Students are usually on their own to budget their time and plan their work |
| Students' progress is monitored by school staff during semester | Students must monitor their own work |
| School will seek out students to apply modifications | Students must self-identify and seek out their own modifications. |
| Must alter program and courses if necessary | No obligation to alter courses or program |
| Must provide waivers and substitutions if necessary | No obligation to provide waivers and substitutes |
| Assignments are more structured | Assignments are less structured |
| Extra credit work may be allowed | Not much extra credit work |
| Right to due process hearing if not in agreement with school | Right to grieve but no obligation to have hearing |
| Family and faculty support often available | Family and faculty support may not be as accessible |
| Courses last at least 18 weeks | Courses usually last 14 weeks |
| Teachers trained to teach | Faculty might not have trained to teach |
| Instruction modes may vary a lot | Instruction modes are often lecture, particularly in large classes |
| May be allowed to retake or redo tests | May not be allowed to take or redo tests |
*These are broad general differences but for further information the students should check school, department policies, state and federal laws, recent law cases and seek school and legal counsel for further clarification. There are large difference between colleges and universities, private and public institutions, between departments in different schools and colleges and state and federal laws. I am not a lawyer or a school administrator and I waive responsibility if any of the information is incorrect.
This list was adapted from Counseling
Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities by Michael Koehler and Marybeth Kravets
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