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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Degrees of ability

More Oregon students opting for modified diploma system

Elizabeth Huskey, left, and Melissa Huskey graduated from Weston-McEwen High School with different degrees. (Associated Press)
Kate Whittle Pendleton East Oregonian

PENDLETON, Ore. – In 1992, Cynthia Huskey gave birth to identical twin daughters seven weeks premature. Melissa and Elizabeth Huskey spent their first few months of life in the hospital, and Elizabeth needed extra care for a ventricular heart defect.

“Her first year was just survival,” Cynthia Huskey said.

Today, the soft-spoken 19-year olds are healthy, energetic Weston- McEwen High School graduates.

The Huskey sisters are part of the second class of high school students to graduate under Oregon’s new multi-option diploma system.

Melissa Huskey graduated with a standard diploma and is starting her first year at Blue Mountain Community College; she hopes to someday transfer to veterinary school. Elizabeth Huskey holds a modified diploma, and in a few weeks she’s starting Certified Nurse Assistant training. She wants to help people in a nursing home.

In 2007, the Oregon Department of Education introduced a new diploma system. Today, students can graduate with a standard, modified, or extended diploma, or the alternate certificate. Some schools, including Pendleton, also offer an honors diploma for high-achieving students.

In 2010, 693 students graduated with a modified diploma, and 671 of those had disabilities, according to the Oregon Department of Education. That same year, 32,951 students graduated with a regular four-year diploma. Oregon Department of Education Secondary Transition Specialist Jackie Burr explained the intent is to encourage all students to go as far as they can.

The modified diploma allows students to have teachers alter their course instruction depending on their abilities. State universities don’t accept modified diplomas, but community colleges do. With a modified diploma, students can complete an associate’s degree at a community college and then transfer to a university.

As for the Huskey sisters, they feel happy with how the system worked.

“It would have been hard to graduate otherwise,” Melissa Huskey said. “I definitely recommend people with similar disabilities look into these options.”