Differences Between K-12 & Higher Ed

Applicable Laws

Comparison of Applicable Laws

K-12	College
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)	ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)
Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973	Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973
IDEA-Designed to promote success	ADA-Designed to ensure access

Self-Advocacy

Comparison of roles in advocacy

K-12	College
Student is identified by the school	Student must self-identify at designated office
Primary responsibility for arranging accommodations belongs to the school	Primary responsibility for arranging accommodations belongs to the student

Parent Role

Comparing Parental Roles

K-12	College
Parent has access to student's records and participates in the accommodation process	Parent does not have access to the student's records without student's written consent
Parent advocates for the student	Student advocates for self

Course Instruction

Comparing Course Instruction Expectations

K-12	College
Teachers may modify curriculum and/or alter pace of assignments	Faculty not required to modify curriculum, alter assignments, and/or deadlines
Student expected to read short assignments that are then discussed and often re-taught in class	Substantial amounts of reading and writing is usually required
Attendance monitored by the teacher	Student is responsible for attending class

Grades & Tests

Comparing Grade and Test Expectations

K-12	College
Modifications to test format and/or grading are acceptable	Grading and/or exam format are generally not available
Testing is frequent and covers small amounts of material	Testing can be infrequent and may be cumulative, covering large amounts of material
Teachers often provide reminders of assignments and exam due dates	Professors expect students to follow the course syllabus