With the exception of a small percentage, special education students are capable of meeting and need to meet the same standards as all students.  It is the obligation of the school to prepare the children for independent living, employment, and further education.  If they are to receive those rights they need a high school diploma that means the same for all children. Special ed kids may learn in alternative ways or in some cases need accommodations in order to show what they know, but they should not be taught down to or be treated with low expectations.  Special ed is not "general ed light", it is specially designed presentation with the expectation of the same outcome.

It begins at the primary level.  The new wave of excusing special ed kids from SOL exams through portfolios has totally relieved the elementary schools of their accountability in teaching kids to read and do math.  Kids who are 2 and three years behind in reading and math are passing advanced proficient on VGLA, but they are not being taught to read.  The high schools inherit them. Graduation and a diploma should mean something and it begins in the primary reading programs.  If kids leave 6th grade reading and computing on grade level they will graduate from high school.