Dear Members of the Board of Education:

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 forVirginia 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 daughter who is struggling with a developmental delay whom I pray will be graduating from high school and moving on to be a productive member of our community.  I believe we need to strive to make needed adjustments to our school system to allow for our children to meet the goals needed to graduate and work in our communities.  

• 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 potentials, 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.

Sincerely,  

Deanne McNulty

304 Yale Drive, Alexandria, VA 22314