Special Ed Twins Get OK for Buchanan Graduation

By Anne Dudley Ellis, The Fresno Bee, Calif.

May 29–Twins Alyssa and Amanda Reta will join in graduation ceremonies at Buchanan High School after all.

The Clovis Unified school board Wednesday unanimously voted to make an exception for the sisters and six other special education students who did not pass the high school exit exam but otherwise were on track to graduate. The students will receive letters of recommendation, not diplomas.

“I’m just ecstatic,” said Michael Reta, the twins’ father. “But what I want to make sure is they have a policy so this doesn’t happen again.”

The Reta sisters, who are developmentally disabled, attracted statewide attention after their father earlier this month accused the Clovis Unified School District of unfairly barring his daughters from ceremonies to be held Wednesday. The family had already purchased announcements and Alyssa and Amanda had gone to graduation practice when they learned they wouldn’t be able to participate. The girls said they were devastated.

Officials with the California Department of Education said Clovis Unified was “out of compliance” by not letting the twins participate, citing provisions in the state education code allowing special education students to be part of ceremonies.

The Reta sisters were swept up in statewide confusion among high schools about a new requirement that special education students must pass the California High School Exit Examination to get a diploma.

Ed Amundson, chairman of the special education committee for the California Teachers Association’s state council, said the question whether students affected by the new rule should be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies “is cropping up everywhere.”

Some districts, Amundson said, have not relented. Given the state requirement in those cases, he said: “If I were a parent, I would be filing a lawsuit.”

Amundson said the sisters’ plight became well known among special education teachers statewide as schools struggled with special ed students not participating in ceremonies.

In many school districts — including most in the central San Joaquin Valley — the exit exam requirement for special education students did not change graduation ceremony plans. Most districts allow all students to participate in ceremonies if all they are lacking is a passing score on the test.

But Clovis Unified has a strict policy about graduation ceremonies: Only those who earn a diploma may participate.

The district tries to accommodate special education students by allowing them to choose another course of study — vocational or life skills — instead of pursuing a diploma. If students complete those requirements, they can walk in graduation ceremonies, even though they didn’t earn a diploma.

But in the case of the Reta twins, the family chose to have them pursue a diploma. Earlier this month, they found out they had not passed the math portion of the exit exam, despite many tries, and would not graduate.

But after discussing the efforts of the Reta sisters and the other special education students in closed session Wednesday, the board announced it would waive requirements and allow them to walk in graduation ceremonies.

The board has not decided to change its written policy, said district spokeswoman Kelly Avants, but the exceptions for special ed students Wednesday “create a pattern for students that [the board] could consider annually without compromising expectations.”

Avants said the district wants to maintain the high standards that “make it unique,” but also recognizes the accomplishments of special education students may need individual attention.

Jill Larson, a consultant with the state Department of Education’s assessment, evaluation and support unit, said it’s illegal for the district to bar special education students from participating in ceremonies.

Avants said district officials are still conferring with state officials on that matter.

Amanda and Alyssa said after Wednesday’s meeting that they were thrilled to be able to participate in graduation ceremonies.

“I’m just happy I will get to graduate with my friends,” Amanda said.

Parents of a Clovis High School special education senior who also will now get to join in commencement said it was the right decision.

Parent Rey Calderon Sr. said: “These kids, they deserve it.”

The reporter can be reached at aellis@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6328.

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