Disability Services in Dual Enrollment Classes

Congratulations on taking the first step to explore your future as a college student. At Cerritos College, we understand that the transition to Dual Enrollment courses can be both exciting and challenging, especially for students with disabilities. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all students, ensuring that those with IEPs, 504 Plans, or other disabilities can fully participate in our programs. This page is designed to guide you through the expectations, differences, and support available to ensure a successful journey through Dual Enrollment.

Welcome Parents

Facilitating Success

Dual Enrollment is a significant step for your child, and we understand that it's a big transition for both of you. You've guided them this far, and now it's time to learn how to be an equally fabulous co-pilot. We're here to help you facilitate their success as they enter college-level courses. To make this journey smoother, we've created tabs for you to navigate, starting with "Staying Involved," and ending with understanding privacy rights through "FERPA."

So many changes, and that begins with our preparation. Some self-reflection is a great way to start.

Ask yourself:

Know Your Child’s Goals and Aspirations: Understand what your child wants to achieve academically, personally, and professionally.

Facilitate Independence: Support your child's independence in achieving their goals. Growth can be uneasy. Setting them up with coping mechanisms is a great start. 

Enrollment in the Right Courses: Ensure your child is enrolled in courses that align with their future success. Make sure to ask them what success means to them. After all, they will be living in whatever they decide success will be for them in the long run. 

Role Modeling: Demonstrate attitudes and behaviors that reinforce your child's success. That includes how best to navigate challenges they may have to face. 

Teach Communication/Engagement: Guide your child on how to communicate with their school, teachers, and counselors independently.

Support Accommodations: Discuss helpful accommodations and understand the differences between high school and college accommodations.

Plan for Coping with Changes: Develop a plan for handling changes in academic expectations and independence.

Now that are taking college courses, what do expectations look like?  

  • Unmodified Curriculum: Course content remains consistent for all students, adhering to Title 5 of the California Education Code. Meaning, curriculum cannot be substantially modified and that incudes shortening assignments, providing flexibility with deadlines across all assignments, or re-taking exams due to a low score. 
  • Interactive Accommodation Process: Students applying to SAS must engage in the interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations, actively participating in the decision-making process. That means, as a parent, learning to be a co-pilot. 
  • Student Responsibility: While parents are welcome to support, it is the student's right and responsibility to request and manage their accommodation. Communication with instructors is also the student's prerogative. If you have questions about their progress in class it is best to have that conversation directly with them as Cerritos employees, including faculty, will be unable to share any specifics. 

Students applying to SAS must engage in the interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations.

What Does Involvement Look Like?

  1. Gather Materials: Help gather materials needed for the first meeting with a SAS Specialist. That include their IEP, 504 Plan, or other documentation that will better support their request for accommodations. 
  2. Create a List of Questions: Discuss past helpful accommodations and help create a list of questions prior to their New Student Intake.
  3. Encourage Independence: Acknowledge that the process is new but emphasize the growth that comes with learning and experiencing something new.

While parents are encouraged to offer support, it is the student's right and responsibility to request and manage their accommodations. Communication with instructors is also solely the student's prerogative. Take pride in their initiative, and remember that there is a supportive community with the same end goal, even if it appears different. 

FERPA Rights:

Student's rights and responsibilities under FERPA shift to the student.

Parental Involvement:

In a scenario where a student is enrolled in both high school and postsecondary institutions, these schools may exchange information. Parents retain FERPA rights at the high school when the student is under 18 and can inspect records sent by the postsecondary institution. While a FERPA waiver grants limited access to academic records, it does not authorize decision-making for the student. Decision-making includes, but is not limited to: academic accommodations, communicating with faculty or course instructors, requesting changes to approved accommodations, course selections, establishing educational goals, sharing of course schedules, etc.

SAS Information:

SAS will not provide information directly unless a FERPA waiver is in place, and please note, the information provided will be very limited. We understand the importance of parents, but remember – appointments and requests are required to come directly from the student.

welcome Students

My Roadmap to Success

Okay, so you’re fully informed, and you’re ready to jump into this whole dual enrollment thing feet first. But how do you make sure you’re successful?

The tabs located on this page are filled with tips from talks with older students who had already been through a dual program successfully. 

Not sure what to talk about at your first meeting? No problem. Here are some things to think about:

  • Generate a list of questions!

    • Example: Will my accommodations in college be the same as in high school? What are the differences? How should I prepare? How do I take the lead?

  • Think about what has been helpful for you in the classroom to complete allyour work.

    • Example: Consider the specific accommodations or support you've found beneficial.

  • Consider what resources you think will be helpful?

    • Example: Ask about supports and resources that have been helpful to other students. 

  • Take notes and check your understanding before leaving your first meeting.

    • Example: When are you supposed to send your letter of accommodation to your professors? (Hint: ideally 1-2 weeks before the semester starts).

    • Example: How do you send the letter of accommodation? (Hint: log into your SAS Student Portal located on the SAS website).

    • Example: Who is my Specialist? (Hint: write down the name of the person you met with or check your AAP, email, or call the front office to confirm).

Now that you are here, what do expectations look like?

Unmodified Curriculum:

Course content remains consistent for all students, adhering to Title 5 of the California Education Code. Which means SAS cannot substantially modify curriculum by making assignments less demanding, changing course requirements, and other factors required from all students. 

Interactive Accommodation Process:

Students applying to SAS must engage in the interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations, actively participating in the decision-making process. What if you find yourself in need of more support or want to discuss making changes to your accommodation's? You are to contact make an appointment to meet with your SAS Specialist as soon as possible.

Student Responsibility:

While parents are welcome to support you, it is important to remember it is your right and responsibility to request and manage all of your  accommodations. Communication with course instructors is also the student's responsibility.

Your time is your most precious resource. Use it wisely.

Some suggestions for you to consider:

  • Do your best to always go to class. Class time is an opportunity to demonstrate what you do and do not know. 
  • Connect the dots. Going to lectures also gives you the opportunity to draw valuable connections between what your professor chooses to teach in class and what your assigned reading says.
  • Check-in with your SAS specialist regularly. Your specialist is available to assist you if you have questions or concerns about your accommodations.

As soon as you possibly can, identify what resources would be helpful for you to access.

To get you started, you can begin to: 

  1. Ask your SAS Specialist or Counselor for advice, they always have great suggestions.
  2. When you’re in class, take good notes and make friends who you can study with.

Ask about SAS support classes, like the one taught by our SAS Specialist, Rachel Martinez:

A Supported-Learning Environment---learn the skills you need for college: Time Management, Study Skills, Organizational Skills, Goal Setting and Math Tutoring (based on availability). Open Entry-Open Exit, Non-Credit.

Now, this next tip is one that really has a lasting effect.

One essential key to success: always have an anchor - the person you go to for support, actions that ground your behavior that benefits your success, resources you can tap into, especially when it gets challenging. As you begin this journey, make sure to take the time and jot down those who have been in your corner along the way. Don't forget to reach out to those that have been there along the way with your and embrace those that will soon join in to make your journey a successful one. 

Manifest your success! Let’s review to make sure you checked all your boxes.

  • Dual Enrollment “to do” steps have been completed.
  • Online Application: Completed the SAS New Student Application online and uploaded your documentation where required.
  • Documentation Gathering: Obtain an electronic copy of your IEP or 504 Plan from high school. Other medical documentation establishing a disability is also accepted.
  • Expect an email from SAS in 1-5 school business days: Once you apply, SAS will send an email indicating when your New Student Intake will take place. This can even be done over Zoom for your convenience.
  • First Intake Appointment: I completed my first appointment with my SAS Specialist (discussed all things accommodations, academic supports, and letters of accommodation).
  • My Letter of Accommodation has been sent to my instructor(s) through the Student Portal.

Congratulations!

 

Remember, your journey at Cerritos College is unique, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Embrace the adventure, and let's make your college experience remarkable!

In college, students are considered independent therefore limiting parental involvement and placing the responsibility on the student to manage their own academic accommodations, decisions, records, schedules, and other aspects of student life.

Some things to keep in mind:

Change in Student Responsibilities

College Environment:

  • Students in college must initiate the request for services, providing documentation to verify eligibility, and arrange required accommodations through Student Accessibility Services. 
  • Student leads all communications with SAS, including discussing their academic accommodation and/or requesting changes to their accommodations. 
  • New learning environment; less structured and more self-guided.
  • No IEP and 504 teams. 

High School Environment:

  • More structured environment, family/peer support expected.
  • Familiar environment, daily routine often managed.
  • Familiar peer network from high school.
  • Parents lead the accommodation process and are part of the IEP Team. 
Before enrolling in a college course, students are encouraged to ask themselves:

Do I have the necessary skills?

  • Evaluate your reading and writing skills for college-level coursework.
  • Identify teachers, peers, or other that can support your progress. 
  • Explore how accommodations can enhance your success.

Am I willing to advocate for myself?

  • Take charge of your accommodations; communicate with SAS directly.
  • Prepare questions for your SAS Specialist; the meeting is your opportunity to shape your college experience.

Can I manage my time effectively?

  • Assess your schedule for the commitment required.
  • Identify resources and support networks to help manage your time.
Applying to SAS is easy!  Just follow these steps:
  • Documentation Gathering: Obtain an electronic copy of your IEP or 504 Plan from high school. Other medical documentation establishing a disability is also accepted.
  • Online Application: Complete the SAS New Student Application online and upload your documentation where required.
  • Intake Appointment: Expect an email in 1-5 school business days indicating when your New Student Intake will take place. This can even be done over Zoom for your convenience.
  • Accommodation Determination: At your New Student Intake, reasonable accommodations will be determined for your Dual Enrollment courses.

APPLY TO SAS NOW