To: Mr. Timothy Sippel, Principal - John Muir HS (Pasadena)
Let Brenda walk now!
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Brenda has met all high school graduation requirements except, she missed passing the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) by one point! Give Brenda her high school diploma when she confirms a score of 350 or above on the CAHSEE (she recently re-took the exam), but allow her to participate in her school's graduation ceremony now.
Why is this important?
As a parent and registered voter whose children currently attend local public schools, it is critically important to me that students are supported to the fullest extent and that the question, "What is in the best interest of the student?" is asked as decisions impacting students are made.
Our local school board policy (BP 5127, AR 5127) grants principals the authority to make an exception and allow a student to participate in a graduation ceremony when there is an unusual circumstance (missing the CAHSEE passing score by one point) and there has been "an occurrence beyond the control of the student." Brenda Mendez has spent all of her K-12 school years in PUSD schools that have been deemed under-performing (based on API scores, though progress has been made, no school that she has attended has achieved an API score of 800 or better) and that are largely segregated (all three schools that Brenda has attended lack diversity - both socioeconomic and racial). These are two things that are largely, if not completely, "beyond the control of the student" and could have led to a deficiency in how she performed on the CAHSEE exam (read more about how here -- http://blogs.kcrw.com/pressplay/2014/05/fault-lines-segregation-in-los-angeles-schools/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fault-lines-segregation-in-los-angeles-schools).
Through her recent advocacy efforts and based on her future educational plans, Brenda has demonstrated that she is committed to earning her high school diploma by achieving a passing score on the CAHSEE exam. Please make an exception for her and allow her to participate in the Muir HS graduation ceremony to take place on Friday, May 30, 2014 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Our local school board policy (BP 5127, AR 5127) grants principals the authority to make an exception and allow a student to participate in a graduation ceremony when there is an unusual circumstance (missing the CAHSEE passing score by one point) and there has been "an occurrence beyond the control of the student." Brenda Mendez has spent all of her K-12 school years in PUSD schools that have been deemed under-performing (based on API scores, though progress has been made, no school that she has attended has achieved an API score of 800 or better) and that are largely segregated (all three schools that Brenda has attended lack diversity - both socioeconomic and racial). These are two things that are largely, if not completely, "beyond the control of the student" and could have led to a deficiency in how she performed on the CAHSEE exam (read more about how here -- http://blogs.kcrw.com/pressplay/2014/05/fault-lines-segregation-in-los-angeles-schools/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fault-lines-segregation-in-los-angeles-schools).
Through her recent advocacy efforts and based on her future educational plans, Brenda has demonstrated that she is committed to earning her high school diploma by achieving a passing score on the CAHSEE exam. Please make an exception for her and allow her to participate in the Muir HS graduation ceremony to take place on Friday, May 30, 2014 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.