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Recession Hits Students Who Need Jobs for Diploma

Montgomery, Ala.

For some high school seniors, landing a job means more than extra cash for the movies or the mall — getting a paycheck means a chance to graduate.

Yet many schools that place special education students in paid jobs leading to so-called "occupational diplomas" are finding their work cut out for them: soaring joblessness means restaurants, small businesses and retailers that for years provided jobs to students with disabilities are increasingly hard-pressed to help in a sour economy.

"Times are different than they've ever been," said Butch Starnes, director of a career technical center who regularly places students in...