I’m a caseworker in Michigan who works with a student that just started the 9th grade. She has been getting special education services and has been placed on a certificate track for high school graduation instead of a diploma. Her parent doesn’t agree with this, but the school expresses that because she is reading at a second grade level in the 9th grade she will not be able to get a diploma. What type of resources are out there in Michigan for a student like this who has a least four years to improve, and can this decision by the school be forced on the parent and student?
First, thank you for advocating on behalf of this student. This is not the first case of a child being sent the certificate track because of a learning disability.
Relative to services for her, here is a provider list for Michigan. My colleague in my private practice, Dr. Lauren Katz, worked with a young lady who did improve but for whom school was so hard that the family decided to put together a home schooling program for her. Additionally, Dr. Katz is working with a man who, at age 40, is not a reader, and she is teaching him to read.
So, this young woman can definitely get help and learn. She will need a good assessment to baseline her skills and then a systematic program of therapy from a person with a track record of working with similar-age students. Relative to whether the school can force them into this direction, I recommend a conversation with Calvin and Tricia Luker, who have an advocacy practice. They could provide direction on that front. You can tell them I referred you.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance. Hopefully these leads will get you going in the right direction.
