Undivided Resources
Event Recap

3 of Your Biggest Questions About Modified and Alternate Curriculum Answered


Published: Feb. 22, 2022Updated: Aug. 12, 2024

Many districts push families toward an “alternate curriculum” when students are as young as second grade (or younger!). But what is it, exactly, and when do curriculum modifications in an IEP amount to an alternate curriculum? Does curriculum modification or an alternate assessment prevent your child from receiving a diploma? How do alternate assessments or modified curriculums fit into the new pathways to a diploma that are opening up for students with disabilities?

According to the TIES Center, there should be no such thing as an alternate curriculum. As they put it in this brief, “alternate curriculum” should not mean that the student has alternate content standards: “U.S. Department of Education regulations explaining how IDEA should be implemented state that the general education curriculum is ‘the same curriculum as for nondisabled children.’” In other words, “all instruction [should start] from the same content standards, regardless of the student’s disabilities. However, the expectations for how much a student will master of the grade-level general education curriculum can be modified.”

We talked to Dr. Caitlin Solone (education advocate, teacher-educator, and Academic Administrator for the Disability Studies program at UCLA) about the questions parents should ask when it comes to alternate and modified curriculum. Here are the top takeaways from our discussion!

What does alternate or modified curriculum look like?

Dr. Solone says that ideally, modified curriculum gives a child with significant support needs access to the same academic standards as their peers but at their developmental level. Watch this clip for some great examples of what this could look like in a classroom:

How can parents approach IEP goals with alternate or modified curriculum?

With so many grade-level standards to keep track of, it's easy for parents to get overwhelmed when developing IEP goals to help their children meet those standards. Dr. Solone advises parents working with their IEP team to focus on the most important skills their children will learn. Check out this clip for some examples of what that looks like in practice:

How can we make inclusion work for kids who need a modified curriculum?

Some schools handle inclusion very well, but the reality is that many special education classrooms have no curriculum (they are usually either skills-based or goal-oriented), and many districts are not properly trained to provide a meaningful, standards-based modified curriculum. So, how can we make inclusion work for students who require a modified curriculum? Hear Dr. Solone's answer in this clip.

Dr. Solone gave plenty of other great advice during our live event to help parents understand alternate or modified curriculum and how to address it in their IEPs and in the classroom. If you missed the event or want to review what we learned, you can watch the full recording here!

Alternate routes to getting a high school diploma are also on the horizon in California for students with disabilities. The new work group, "Alternate Pathways to a High School Diploma," is advocating for school districts across the state to only require minimum requirements for graduation.

To learn more about new pathways to a diploma for students with disabilities, check out our article!

Contents


Overview

What does alternate or modified curriculum look like?

How can parents approach IEP goals with alternate or modified curriculum?

How can we make inclusion work for kids who need a modified curriculum?
Blue asterisk
Liney circle
Join for free

Save your favorite resources and access a custom Roadmap.

Get Started
Tags:

Author

Brittany OlsenUndivided Editor

An editor and cartoonist who loves using words and images to simplify and share ideas. She has ten years of experience as a copy editor and lives near Portland, Oregon. She often spends her free time going on nature walks with her dog or trying new bread recipes.

Reviewed by Meghan O'Dell, Undivided Writer and Editor

Contributors Dr. Caitlin Solone, Education advocate, teacher-educator, and Academic Administrator for the Disability Studies program at UCLA


Promise Image
Each piece of content has been rigorously researched, edited, and vetted to bring you the latest and most up-to-date information. Learn more about our content and research process here.
A Navigator is your Partner at each turn
Every Undivided Navigator has years of experience supporting families raising kids with disabilities or parenting their own. Partner with an Undivided Navigator for a free Kickstart to learn first hand what support feels like!
tick-icon
Expert-driven content, guidance, and solutions.
tick-icon
Member events and office hours with real answers, plus access to our private parents' group.
tick-icon
Priority to begin a free Kickstart of the Undivided Support System with a dedicated Navigator.
“It’s so helpful to have one place that you can go to get many answers.”–Leeza Woodbury, with Navigator Kelly since 2020
*Currently offering Navigator Kickstarts to residents of California