TASTE OF TRIUMPH : WOMAN SNAGS LONG-SOUGHT DIPLOMA.

Byline: Beth Barrett Daily News Staff Writer

The words on the LAUSD diploma Shirley Berkovits received Tuesday were the standard ones for district grads.

But, between the lines was a different story - one of perseverance - for the nearly 20-year-old special-education student who spent about six years studying and taking tests over and over until she successfully completed the necessary credits a couple of months ago to earn her diploma.

``This is the best day of my life,'' Berkovits declared, amid friends and family who watched the ceremony at the Dubnoff Center, one of about 100 nonpublic schools contracted by the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide an education to students who need individualized programs.

So far this year, the Los Angeles Unified School District has issued 67 diplomas to special-education students in the nonpublic schools, with more anticipated after summer school, said Bernie Rubalcava with the LAUSD's Division of Special Education.

``The wording is identical,'' Rubalcava said. ``The students must show they can meet the same requirements for graduation as their public school peers.''

Under state and federal equal access laws, special-education students can take their tests in small-group settings with more time than regular education students, using tools like calculators. But, they cannot be given the answers by their instructors.

``As long as the youngsters complete the material at the expected level, they are entitled to the diploma, the same as you or I,'' said Steve Mark, a district administrator assigned to the implementation of a federal court settlement to overhaul the district's special-education programs.

In many cases, it is an uphill struggle - despite all the extra counseling and one-on-one attention that costs the district about $22,000 per student, compared with about $4,300 for public school students, district officials said.

Berkovits, for instance, was born with a heart defect that resulted in bouts where she turned blue from lack of oxygen, possibly contributing to her learning disabilities, said her father, Mike Berkovits.

Her public middle-school years were marred by constant teasing by classmates and frustration over her homework, she said.

When she was 13, her mother died, her father said.

``But, I never thought I'd quit,'' Berkovits said.

She didn't consider stopping even after repeatedly failing tests required for graduation - six or seven times by her count.

``She said, `I'll try again,' '' said her older brother, Issac Berkovits, a Woodland Hills resident who often helped his younger sister with her homework.

Then about a month ago, Berkovits was with one of her counselors at school when she learned she'd met all the requirements for a diploma.

``I just jumped up and down,'' she said.

The Dubnoff Center, a 48-year-old private, nonprofit service agency that provides education and residential services to children and teen-agers with special developmental needs, also presented Linda Estrada with a high school diploma from the Pomona Unified School District on Tuesday.

In many respects, Berkovits is like any other teen-ager - happy to be free of school. Yet, she also has been forced to confront high school and the decision to complete it in a more serious vein.

``If I'd quit, I would always have regretted it,'' she said.

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PHOTO (color) Shirley Berkovits gets a graduation hug. Thespecial-education student struggled for 6 years to get her high school diploma.

Phil McCarten/Daily News