Can a high school expell you for bad grades?

[azure_infinity]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

My child is attending high school, she just turned 17 years old. She has rarely missed a day of school and has only been in minor trouble a few times (tardies or missed homework) However, she has terrible grades. She's in her senior year but does not have enough credits. She will have to attend high school a 5th year to graduate.

She was called to the principal the other day and (in essence) told that because she does not have enough credits to graduate this year, she is a waste of time and energy. He is going to expell her from school and she will have to enroll in night school to graduate...which costs $280 a semester...money I don't have.

Does a school district have the right to do this?

 

[Antigone*]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

My child is attending high school, she just turned 17 years old. She has rarely missed a day of school and has only been in minor trouble a few times (tardies or missed homework) However, she has terrible grades. She's in her senior year but does not have enough credits. She will have to attend high school a 5th year to graduate.

She was called to the principal the other day and (in essence) told that because she does not have enough credits to graduate this year, she is a waste of time and energy. He is going to expell her from school and she will have to enroll in night school to graduate...which costs $280 a semester...money I don't have.

Does a school district have the right to do this?

If your daughter is not putting forth the effort to meet the minimum requirements set forth by the school/distric/state, they are well within their rights to ask her to attend a school more geared toward her needs.

 

[azure_infinity]

I see. By "a school more geared toward her needs" do you mean that if she is expelled, I'll have to move so she can attend a different school? This is the only public high school within 25 miles.

I have two other children attending elementary in this district. It would be a shame to pull them out of school because their sister can't cut it.

 

[Antigone*]

I see. By "a school more geared toward her needs" do you mean that if she is expelled, I'll have to move so she can attend a different school? This is the only public high school within 25 miles.

I have two other children attending elementary in this district. It would be a shame to pull them out of school because their sister can't cut it.

No, I didn't say that you'd have to move. Have you spoken to the principal? Does this district have an alternative high school that she can attend?

Your two other children should not be affected because their sister is not doing well.

 

[commentator]

"Can't cut it" or "won't cut it?" If her problems with grades is lack of effort, then she is quite liable. If she has genuine learning disabilities, she should certainly have been found out and brought in for extra assistance before now. If she is just doing nothing to cooperate, though she tests out to have the capability to do the work, then the fault lies with her. Not you, but her. The reason she's making life bad for your family is her choice. I wouldn't move the other kids if they're successful students, I'd make her do whatever it is to obtain the education elsewhere, as in attending night classes.

She is getting dangerously close to being old enough to stand trial as an adult here, and it sounds as though she is simply not cooperating with your and the state's plans for her education. This means an alternative school or GED program may be her only choice.

 

[azure_infinity]

This is a very rural/farming community. There is a religious/private school about 10 miles from here but this is the only public school around.

As I mentioned, there is another town 25 miles away with a high school. I know they would accept her, but I would have to move to that district.

This school started doing this a few years ago. MI law says they must attend school to the age of 16. But this school has been systematically expelling students 16 and older with poor grades. Of course they wait until after census day to do so, so they can report a higher enrollment rate for funding. (That was Monday) I have a certified letter from the school waiting for me at the post office today. I fear what it says, that's why I'm here.

The school 25 miles away offers free night-school also, but my district is charging $280 a credit. It just seems like a scam to me.

 

[Banned_Princess]

Mine did back in the late 90's, me and all the other "underachievers" including my brother. sent us to alternitive hs's to get there district gpa's up, to get more federal funding. the whole school district, 10 schools from k - hs, got multi billion dollar upgrades since 99 when i graduated. and dont tell me tens of billions of dollars came from taxpayers either.

so yes.

 

[azure_infinity]

Thanks to all of you for the insight, it's appreciated.

And yes, she is intelligent and horribly lazy.

I am unemployed-like about 50% of the people in this community. I can't afford to pay for tuition, I can't really expect her to pay for it herself without employment opportunities(for her or myself), and I can't afford to drive to the next town twice a day to get her to night school.

I guess if they expell her, I'm stuck with it. It's a shame because none of the surrounding communities are conducted in this manner.

I'm thinking of going to the media. This school has a leaky roof/black mold growing in some of the classrooms. They are sharing textbooks among students in many subjects. All the while, they just bought a programmable digital sign for the front of the school, and a 36" plasma tv for the front enterance to advertise school news. And now they bought a billboard outside of town to advertise to passersby how great of a school they have. I just don't feel good about this.

 

[Antigone*]

I'm thinking of going to the media. This school has a leaky roof/black mold growing in some of the classrooms. They are sharing textbooks among students in many subjects. All the while, they just bought a programmable digital sign for the front of the school, and a 36" plasma tv for the front enterance to advertise school news. And now they bought a billboard outside of town to advertise to passersby how great of a school they have. I just don't feel good about this.

So when you go to the media, you are going to say. "I've got this daughter that is lazy and doesn't put any effort into her school work. She goes to school and has a great social life, but doesn't do any work, and they have the nerve to expell her. Can you believe that?"

Mom,

You and your daughter are both culpable for what she has made of her life so far. By going to the media you are continuing to remove the accountability from where it belongs ~ with you and her. If she wants her diploma know, she is going to have to earn it. It could have been easier, but apparently she doesn't like the easy way.

 

[azure_infinity]

Please don't flame me.

I'm not a mom. I'm a single father and for the last 4 years, have been trying to raise 3 daughters while their dead-beat mother lives the high-life somewhere else--not paying child support.

We don't have an easy life, but I'm doing the best I can. I have had many discussions with my oldest about carrying her weight. She doesn't have a social life, she's here in the home. She does her homework, she's aware that not even McDonalds will hire her without a diploma. She's more scared of this than I am. Teaching children accountability is a hard thing to do in this day and age--when the american way seems to be:"It's their fault!".

I'm just saying that I smell something strange about the way this school operates. If we can't negotiate with them for a reasonable education, then I'm not going to tolerate their obscure allocation of funding. There is something wrong with dropping all these kids by the way-side. I don't know what you can call it legally, but it's morally wrong.

 

[Banned_Princess]

Please don't flame me.

I'm not a mom. I'm a single father and for the last 4 years, have been trying to raise 3 daughters while their dead-beat mother lives the high-life somewhere else--not paying child support.

We don't have an easy life, but I'm doing the best I can. I have had many discussions with my oldest about carrying her weight. She doesn't have a social life, she's here in the home. She does her homework, she's aware that not even McDonalds will hire her without a diploma. She's more scared of this than I am. Teaching children accountability is a hard thing to do in this day and age--when the american way seems to be:"It's their fault!".

I'm just saying that I smell something strange about the way this school operates. If we can't negotiate with them for a reasonable education, then I'm not going to tolerate their obscure allocation of funding. There is something wrong with dropping all these kids by the way-side. I don't know what you can call it legally, but it's morally wrong.

Sorry DAD. I did not realize you were a man. if you read the first thing I said on the matter you will see that kids whos grades are bad are keeping the school from federal funding.

Put her in an alternitive HS. its easier anyway. nice local deploma is just as good as a regents.

 

[xylene]

Questions that didn't come up but is REALLY important to whether or not your daughter must be educated by the school for a 5th year

Will she be 18 years old during or before the super-senior year?

AND what level of standing do her credits put her at?

 

[azure_infinity]

Thanks xylene for replying.

She will be turning 18 during her super senior year. The first few years of HS were rough. Newly broken home and whatnot. She has been holding C's and above for the last year and a half. She won't need the entire year to graduate. This is why I don't understand this action.

Actually, though, you need not reply. I read over this thread and I am really not sure what to think about it.

@BP:
I'm an educated person but I came here because I'm not the slightest bit interested in law/have no working knowledge of it/never needed to. I have two degrees-mathematics and software engineering. I dropped out of high school, I'm ashamed to admit. But I went back and tested out. I received an honorary diploma because I scored so high on my GED tests. This is probably what my daughter will have to do. This is the answer I've accepted.

Forgive me for thinking out loud when I speculated going to the media. I see a crippled educational system and feel powerless to fix it. That's all. You people don't give me any encouragement, that's for sure.

Fact is, I would never think to treat people like some of you "professionals" have treated me in this forum. White trash, or whatever you want to call me, you, in spite of your education or social status, are an arrogant, ignorant troll. You give this forum a bad name, I don't want any more of your type of help.

 

[TheGeekess]

Mine did back in the late 90's, me and all the other "underachievers" including my brother. sent us to alternitive hs's to get there district gpa's up, to get more federal funding. the whole school district, 10 schools from k - hs, got multi billion dollar upgrades since 99 when i graduated. and dont tell me tens of billions of dollars came from taxpayers either.

so yes.

So, pray tell, where did you think it came from? The dollar fairy that is up in DC? Or do you think it came from the district printing office?

 

[Banned_Princess]

So, pray tell, where did you think it came from? The dollar fairy that is up in DC? Or do you think it came from the district printing office?

Federal funding, we were doing great in the 90"s... then bush came with his no child left behind crap... so yea, the government ... and taxpayers, but mostly the government.