I am a Virginia resident and a strong supporter of our public schools. I appreciate the Board's efforts to make graduation rates a priority for Virginia high schools, but given the importance of producing graduates ready for college, work, and life, I'm writing to ask that you take a stronger stand.
I have a 12 year old boy with Autism. I am very concerned that he must achieve a standard high school diploma. Most colleges will only accept this for entry. He needs more help than others and I suspect it will take him longer to graduate but he must not be pushed through with a lesser diploma.
If my son is to be a productive tax-paying member of society he must achieve a standard diploma and not a modified or other sub-par altnerative diploma.
The goal must not be to make our schools diploma factories but to make well educated productive members of our society.
Please increase the target for the graduation index to at least 90 points, OR adjust the graduation and completion index so that it gives schools more points for Standard and Advanced Diplomas and fewer points for all alternative diplomas and other credentials.
Virginia’s students need to receive appropriate supports to reach their potential, and schools and the Commonwealth as a whole will benefit from incentives to provide the needed supports.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope you'll do all that you can to increase the number of students who successfully graduate ready to fulfill their greatest potential.
