Students with disabilities in Florida are about to be left behind—and we cannot stay silent.

The Florida Board of Education recently voted to eliminate certificates of completion for students with disabilities who are unable to earn a standard high school diploma. These certificates have been a lifeline, offering validation, dignity, and a real pathway to employment and further education for students whose abilities don’t fit neatly into the traditional academic mold.

Without these certificates, many students—especially those with significant cognitive disabilities—will exit the school system with nothing. No diploma. No certificate. No formal recognition of years of effort and growth. And without that recognition, doors close. Job opportunities vanish. Access to vocational programs becomes nearly impossible. Students who already face overwhelming barriers will face even more.

Parents like Amy Van Bergen, whose son Will proudly used his certificate of completion to gain employment, are sounding the alarm. These aren’t just pieces of paper—they’re tools for inclusion, self-worth, and independence. Taking them away tells students with disabilities they don’t count.

The Florida Department of Education says this change is about focusing on alternative diploma pathways. But those pathways won’t serve every student—and they don’t replace the recognition and opportunity that certificates of completion offer now.

The state claims to champion the rights of people with disabilities. Yet this decision flies in the face of that claim.

We, the undersigned, demand that the Florida Board of Education reverse its decision and reinstate certificates of completion for students with disabilities. We urge the Board to work with disability advocates, educators, and families to expand—not eliminate—pathways that affirm the value and potential of every student.

Let’s make sure Florida’s commitment to inclusion is more than just words. Every student deserves a chance to be seen, celebrated, and supported.

Sign now to tell the Florida Board of Education: Don’t erase students with disabilities from our schools and their futures.