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Differences between High School and College

Seeking accommodations at Macalester than in high school. Understanding the differences and learning how to navigate this process is critical to determining what is required to

High School

College

Education is a right and must be provided in an appropriate environmentEducation is not a right; students must meet the same admissions criteria as students without disabilities
The school system is responsible for identifying a student’s disabilityStudents must self-identify in order to obtain services and accommodations
Individualized Education Plans, IEPs, are in place to discuss the student’s progressNo annual review or IEP is held; students are responsible for monitoring their own progress
Many schools provide educational and psychological testing free of chargeOnce accepted to the college, the student must provide appropriate documentation of the disability
Course modifications are made in order to facilitate student successFundamental alterations of programs or curricula are NOT required