Education Empowerment Action

Written by YMPowe

When school’s changes policies, student must adapt.  When Student B completed her junior year of high school, she realized that she had completed the necessary units and classes to graduate. 

Student B looked forward to spending her otherwise senior year away from high school and taking college courses at the nearby community college as a means to explore her interests and completing general education courses before transferring to a four-year college or university

Due to a policy change, students were informed that students would no longer be allowed to graduate early.  The school assumption was that  no student would be align to graduate early.  However, Student B was an exception to the rule. 

If Student B failed every class in her senior year, her grade point average would drop significantly, but she would have passed enough units and required courses to graduate from high school. 

The school also added an additional course that had to be taken in the spring of the senior year.  Student B’s fall schedule of classes for her senior year was filled with six blasé classes.  In addition, her spring semester schedule of classes would be filled with five blasé classes and a civic course.  Since she could not graduate early or take classes at the neighborhood community college, Student B felt that the next best option would be vocational education.

About quarter within the first semester, Student B was called into the principal office.  Student B sat quietly in the administration reception area as she waited for someone to tell her why she was called out of class. 

An office clerk informed Student B that she was truant in three out of six classes.  The office clerk informed Student B that she would probably be expelled from school.  Student B explained that she has only been absent when ill, and that she has doctor’s notes that explained her chronic illness.  As Student B was speaking, a counselor stated that according to their records, Student B had not attended one day of her first, second, and third period classes. 

Student B explained that she did not have morning classes on campus.  She attended vocational courses off campus in the morning.  The counselor informed Student B that she had not been approved to attend vocational courses.  He continued and stated that because of Student B’s truancy, she would be suspended, and if her truancy continued she would be expelled. 

Student B then asked them to explain the ability to be in two places at once.  She placed a three-ring binder onto the counter top.  She tapped on the clear enveloped cover of the binder with her one inch long Kelly green polished fingernail of her index finger.  Student B repeated her question, “How am I to be in two places at once?” 

The cover of Student B’s binder revealed an original schedule of classes that had been mailed to her home prior to the start of the school year.  The schedule confirmed vocational classes.  Student B then opened the cover of her binder where she tapped on the words “progress report”.  The progress report revealed her attendance and progress in the vocational course that she was enrolled. 

Angered and frustrated, Student B quietly closed her binder, placed it in her book bag, left the office, and returned to her afternoon graphic design class.

Student B was not suspended or expelled.  She graduated from high school on time, but she chose not to attend the graduation ceremony. 

If you have questions regarding this case, please contact us anytime! We look forward to hearing from you.