My husband was told as a freshman in high school (1998) that he had ADD (the school made him take a test) and they put him in IEP. He was told all throughout high school that he was getting a standard diploma and that IEP was just a program to help. He said that at one point he was given the option to take the track to get his advanced diploma. One of his childhood friends was in the same program and was just as shocked to learn that the school basically lied to both of them and their parents in explaining what exactly IEP is.

He went on to the Marines and is eligible to use his VA Benefits to pay for college. He is now 27 and applied to a local community college. He was accepted but when he submitted his transcripts they called him and told him they wouldn't accept them because he was in IEP. The more I look into IEP is seems to basically be a certificate of attendance.

Here are my questions: What do we do? Are there any technical schools or colleges that accept a IEP? Did he just spend 4 years in high school for nothing? Are there laws requiring schools to inform the parents what IEP is? He and his friend and both parents said the school said that they would still get standard diplomas and that they were just smaller classes that they would be in. Also, can a school diagnose ADD? He never when to a doctor for it- never had medicine. The P standing for Program is infact misleading. Shouldn't it be an IEC- and Individualized Education Certificate? These kids walk away from high school with no hopes of going to college unless they get their GED!

Please share any experiences with this and what you did. Thank you so much for any help/advise.

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