Johnny Can't Read But He Can Graduate

At the open house the youngster’s teachers were effusive. “It’s a joy to have him in the class.” That’s what they say when a student beats low expectations. Yale and Stanford are not in his future, but we’re pleased because his future is much improved . He’s been in special education all his life, but he was able to pass half of California’s high school exit exam last year without accommodations. He says he wants to go to college, and we’ve started to look into programs designed for students with special needs.

Special education, by the way, is (another) government program that’s filled with perverse incentives. In the most recent article in its series, The Wall Street Journal covers the phenomenon of schools allowing special ed students to graduate without the requisite knowledge or skills. Parents are

disappointed not because their children are failing, but because they're passing without learning. These families complain that schools give their children an easy academic ride through regular-education classes, undermining a new era of higher expectations for the 14% of U.S. students who are in special education.

What’s not stated clearly in the article is that when a special ed student receives a regular diploma he no longer qualifies for government benefits. If our student were to fail the exit exam, he will receive a high school “certificate of attendance”, under which he can still qualify for benefits and go to college. But if he passes, he will be cut off, and we will have to bear the cost of his therapy and accommodations. We’ll support our student to fulfill his dream of graduating with the regular kids, but I can see why other parents would be conflicted with many thousands of dollars at stake.

© 2007 Stephen Yuen

Ms. B taught French to our older son as well.

[See here for a post on an earlier open house.]