3 of Your Biggest Questions About Modified and Alternate Curriculum Answered

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Published: Feb. 22, 2022Updated: Apr. 4, 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 put your child on a certificate rather than a diploma track? 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’ (300.320(a)(1)(i)).” 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) during our Facebook Live event on February 10, 2022, 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?

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High School Graduation Options for Students with Disabilities

California’s New Pathway to a High School Diploma for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

What You Need to Know About IEP Accommodations and Modifications

Related Parent Questions

Parent Question

What does it mean when a student is on a certificate track?

Students working toward a certificate have significant cognitive impairments, take alternative assessments, and are unable to demonstrate subject matter competence in diploma track classes, even with accommodations and modifications.

Parent Question

Can my child opt out of standardized testing?

Generally speaking, if a student with significant cognitive impairment meets eligibility requirements to take alternate state assessments, districts are likely to recommend they do so.

Parent Question

Is it possible to be in general education if you need curriculum modifications?

It is possible to be in a general education class with a modified curriculum. Experts recommend that the student have an inclusion specialist (or a special education teacher) to help ensure that the student has the modifications and accommodations they need to be successful.

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

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.

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