From: "Suzanne Heath" To: "Becky McMahon" Subject: Re: Special Education Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 12:06 PM I don't see how he can graduate if he is still 1-2 credits short of the graduation requirements. It would be nice if he could walk with his class on graduation day and then have the missing instruction over the summer. Do not accept a lesser "diploma" just to get something. He needs a regular diploma. I am sure that Pinkerton's prerequisite for English 4 is English 3. I doubt the school followed its own protocol by enrolling him in the two classes concurrently. Have you asked the school district to provide instruction over the summer so that he can be taught the required material? What is the school district's plan? If you feel the best thing would be just to end the process as soon as possible, look into having your son transfer the credits he has earned to the North Atlantic Regional High School and getting his diploma from there. Many home schoolers do this, as well as other students who have situations similar to your son's. You can read about the process and requirements here-- website http://www.narhs.org/nars/ high school services http://www.narhs.org/nars/HSServices.html graduation requirements http://www.narhs.org/nars/HSRequirements.html high school handbook http://www.narsdiploma.com/downloads/handbook_complete.pdf They require 4 English credits, but they may be flexible in how they are earned. Sue Heath ----- Original Message ----- From: Becky McMahon To: sueheath@wrightslaw.com Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 10:24 AM Subject: Special Education Hi Sue Heath: My son is a senior at Pinkerton High school. He was coded Special Ed.: emotionally unable to deal with the school situation because of depression and anxiety. His Spec Ed. counselor enrolled him in two English classes this year. Jr. English, because he failed last year, and Sr. English concurrently. I knew he wouldn't be able to handle both English classes at the same time and he didn't. He aced the Jr. English class (the second time through), but failed the Sr. English miserably. He doesn't have enough credits to graduate with his classmates which I think is a shame. He is missing 1 or 2 credits. Shouldn't he be able to graduate with his classmates as a Special Ed student? He wasn't able to accomplish the courses as set up by his IEP which wasn't entirely his fault. His teachers were very ununderstanding and unbending towards his inability to keep up with his peers. I also think he should be able to take summer school classes in the summer at the towns expense so that he doesn't have to return to Pinkerton in the fall as a senior again. Is there any validity to this? Please let me know your thoughts and if you know of someone who can help me. Rebekah G. McMahon 6 Fairway Dr. #336 Derry, NH 03038