ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A new Florida law eliminating Certificates of Completion for some students with disabilities has left thousands of families concerned about their child’s future opportunities, particularly regarding access to specialized vocational training programs.
HB 1105 was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May. It requires all students to receive the same high school diploma, abolishing the long-standing certificate of completion system that many students with disabilities have relied upon.
“Usually when you have a major policy change like this, State Department of Education likes to host public meetings, give opportunities for feedback from both internal and external stakeholders. And that really didn’t happen at all in this process,” says Amy Van Bergen, whose son has Down syndrome.
The change is already raising questions about access to post-secondary vocational programs, many of which specifically require a certificate of completion for admission.
Van Bergen’s son, Wils, currently works at the Davey Law Group in Maitland, where he spends four hours every Thursday shredding papers and scanning documents. He secured this position after completing high school and attending a vocational program at the University of North Florida.
“The program that he attended at UNF, he could not have attended if he had had a standard diploma,” Van Bergen explains. “The way that the program was set up, it was based on this special diploma track.”
The abrupt implementation of the law has left many families and educational institutions scrambling to adapt. Parents are particularly concerned about current students and upcoming graduates.
“There probably won’t be guidance for at least a year. So what happens to this year’s graduating class?” Van Bergen questions.
The Florida Department of Education, responding to concerns about the policy change, emphasized its focus on broader opportunities for students with disabilities.
According to the department, “Florida’s focus is to equip students with disabilities to leave high school prepared for college, career and independent living rather than with a certificate that limited their future options.”
“During the 2025 Legislative Session, House Bill 1105 amended section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, removing the certificate of completion. The State Board of Education voted to amend Rule 6A-1.09963, Florida Administrative Code, based on the new legislative changes. Florida’s focus is to equip students with disabilities to leave high school prepared for college, career and independent living rather than with a certificate that limited their future options.
It is important to clarify that Florida has expanded diploma pathways for all students, including students with disabilities. With these pathways, Florida’s graduation rate for students reached 89.7% for 2023-24 school year and has increased year-over-year. Only 2% of students in this cohort received a certificate of completion.
Florida law provides multiple pathways to receive a standard diploma, ensuring students earn meaningful credentials upon completing high school:
A standard diploma through the traditional 24-credit option, with supports and accommodations as needed.
An academic and employment-based diploma option, which allows students to earn credit through a combination of academic coursework and employment experiences.
A standard diploma through alternate academic achievement standards and alternate assessment, with modifications, supports and accommodations, which is available for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
An 18-credit Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning Pathway (ACCEL) with a focus on core academic content areas.
An 18-credit career and technical education graduation pathway for students to receive additional career preparation prior to graduation.
In Florida we are proud to be the Education State, and prioritize successful outcomes for ALL of our students, including students with disabilities."
Press Secretary Nathalia Medina of the Florida Department of Education