There is a growing demand by our society and legislature to educate all students equitably in an inclusive general education setting. Societal trends vary as time progresses, but this does not eliminate the growing debate regarding diploma options, exit requirements and future career planning for high school graduates. What does a future look like for a special education student who graduates without a recommended diploma? Who is responsible for career planning? How do we ensure that transition plans are developed and implemented? Post-secondary opportunities require advanced preparation from grade school throughout high school. College and career readiness is a growing theme among the field of education. Does this inadvertently impact decisions regarding career planning for special education students who graduate with a non-college preparatory high school diploma? How is the availability of post-secondary opportunities impacted by diploma status upon completion of high school? [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]