NYS Public School in the wrong?

[parkks713]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? (New York State)

I am a student of NYS I am now ending my fourth year of school, this year has been a rough year for me with sorting out my sexuality, discovering that I have ADHD, and furthermore dealing with my anxiety and depression. The school has been pushing a GED on me since the day I turned 16, I have struggled year in and year out to really do my best but somewhere along the line each year I have lost track and slipped under. We are now trying to sort out a way for me to graduate this year, I am capable of doing the work but the school is pushing an 'attendance law' on me telling me that I do not have enough seat time to graduate. Is this legitimate? Much of my absenteeism is due to doctors appointments and sickness, I have brought in notes for all of these things (the school conveniently lost these) what should i do?! Many teachers are shocked by the schools behavior and have told me never before has a student been treated this way.

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? (New York State)

Hello, my name is Keegan Parker. I am a student of Plattsburgh Senior High School I am now ending my fourth year of school, this year has been a rough year for me with sorting out my sexuality, discovering that I have ADHD, and furthermore dealing with my anxiety and depression. The school has been pushing a GED on me since the day I turned 16, I have struggled year in and year out to really do my best but somewhere along the line each year I have lost track and slipped under. We are now trying to sort out a way for me to graduate this year, I am capable of doing the work but the school is pushing an 'attendance law' on me telling me that I do not have enough seat time to graduate. Is this legitimate? Much of my absenteeism is due to doctors appointments and sickness, I have brought in notes for all of these things (the school conveniently lost these) what should i do?! Many teachers are shocked by the schools behavior and have told me never before has a student been treated this way.

**A: yes it is. Read the school policy manual. You may be able to use ADA.

 

[Banned_Princess]

I'm sure someone with legal knowlege will be along to help you, but I would really advise that you remove your name from your post.

Remove her name and location from your post too!!!

 

[Banned_Princess]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? (New York State)

The school has been pushing a GED on me since the day I turned 16, I have struggled year in and year out to really do my best but somewhere along the line each year I have lost track and slipped under.

We are now trying to sort out a way for me to graduate this year, I am capable of doing the work but the school is pushing an 'attendance law' on me telling me that I do not have enough seat time to graduate. Is this legitimate?

Much of my absenteeism is due to doctors appointments and sickness, I have brought in notes for all of these things (the school conveniently lost these) what should i do?!

Many teachers are shocked by the schools behavior and have told me never before has a student been treated this way.

If you have not attended enough school for any reason, they can in fact hold you back from graduating.

What makes you think any different?

Whats wrong with you putting your identifying information in public *Anonymous* forums? Do you tell strange men who mysteriously IM you your address and phone number too?

 

[cbg]

It astounds me, the number of people who assume that they are exempt from attendance policies as long as they bring a doctor's note.

They are not. I promise them.

 

[lealea1005]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? (New York State)

I have brought in notes for all of these things (the school conveniently lost these) what should i do?!

I agree with cbg. Bringing in a Doctor's excuse does not automatically constitiute an excused absence.

However, to answer your question above....There is documentation for each time you saw your Doctor for illness (and probably a copy of each excuse they gave you) in your medical record. Call them and ask if they could list the dates of the illnesses/your visits, or copy the excuses, for you. They may charge a fee to do this.

 

[ecmst12]

Even if the absence was excused, you still have to meet the legal/school guidelines for graduation. Look forward to summer school.

 

[Humusluvr]

Let me show an example:

At the High School I taught at, students had to be in attendance (actually, physically in school) 90% of the time. Our school had two 90-day semesters. Once a students had 9 EXCUSED absences (with a doctors note or ill) they could not miss any more school, or they would be put on a "make up schedule," where they had to come for afterschool or Saturday programs to make up 4 hours per day of what they missed (anything over 9).

So, for example, let's say you missed 20 days of school EXCUSED. 11 days would need to be made up - so 44 hours of make up time would be assigned.

Now, let's say you missed 20 days UNEXCUSED. You would be required to make up all 20 days. 8 hours per day - 160 hours.

These are not just school rules, these are State laws in order for the school to be accredited. Most states have a similar 90% rule. The reason the school may be pushing you for a GED is they know you will never make up the time (you may have a history of attendance problems or they can forsee them). If I were you, and if you are unwilling or unable to make up your time, take the GED. Or, they may make you take another whole senior year.

Good luck to you.

 

[xylene]

GED is good enough

In New York State public schools, you must have attended a certain number of days in a school year.

Period.

Excuses do not matter.

Unexcused absences are a disciplinary matter internal to the school and varies to the district.

What does not vary is the requirement to have attended a minimum number of days.

It is too late in the school year to even come close to making those days up.

If you are too sick to attend school, then the school will come up with alternative education, but you can not avoid the minimum requirement and if you have not met them you can't graduate, even if you were sick. You can be penalized for things that are not your fault.

Honestly, the schools offer to get you on a GED track and help you succeed in that is much more than the have to do at this point. While you have valid feelings of being dinged, you should consider that GED as a sound option at this point to move you past high school and into the workplace or higher education.

At this point the school could basically cut you loose and not care about your GED. You still look like a dropout to their school report card, so helping you get a GED is a pretty unselfish and not cynical thing for their part, so try to look past your feelings of pain. You may be imagining the persecution more than you realize.

 

[Zigner]

GED is good enough? I have to disagree...a GED is NOT a high school diploma by a long shot.

 

[xylene]

Hs

GED is good enough? I have to disagree...a GED is NOT a high school diploma by a long shot.

GED.

Good Enough Diploma

A clever truism to some, a badge of honor to others.

Getting a GED is a way to move past a lousy environment and on into new adult options like work, community college, trade school, or even a 4 year institution and a beyond.

Pathways that are truly or virtually barricaded to those who have merely dropped out or failed out of a high school regents track curriculum.

 

[frylover]

Remove her name and location from your post too!!!

Sorry.....forgot about that. Wasn't sure how to do that so I just deleted my post so his unedited one would disappear, too.