EXTRA HELP
When Special Education
Goes Too Easy on Students
Parents Say Schools
Game System, Let Kids
Graduate Without Skills
By JOHN HECHINGER and DANIEL GOLDEN
August 21, 2007; Page A1
GREENPORT, N.Y. — On June 25, 2006, Michael Bredemeyer threw his tasseled cap in the air and cheered after getting his high school diploma. Two days later, his parents mailed the diploma back.
[More Data on Mainstreaming]
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Plus, read more about the challenges of integrating special-needs students, at WSJ.com/Mainstreaming.
Michael, now 19 years old, has learning disabilities and finished high school at a seventh-grade reading level, despite scoring above average on IQ tests. The Bredemeyers say he passed some classes because teachers inflated his grades and accepted poor work. By awarding him a meaningless diploma, they say, school officials avoided paying for ongoing instruction.
"I felt proud because he had worked so hard," says Michael's mother, Beverly, her voice breaking. "You don't want to take that away from him. [...]

Source: FindArticles – Search Alert – home schooling