Cobb revises graduation policy after Sprayberry HS exclusion

The Cobb Board of Education on Thursday approved a policy revision for graduation procedures involving special-needs students. Sprayberry HS graduate excluded from commencement speaks out

The new policy was spurred following the exclusion of several Sprayberry High School seniors from graduation ceremonies in May.

They received their diplomas in advance and were forced to wait in a hallway and were escorted out of the Kennesaw State University Convocation Center before the event had concluded.

The parent of one of the students, Ashlynn Rich, publicly complained and Superintendent Chris Ragsdale offered a formal apology in June.

The Cobb County School District said the problem was not over policy, but due to an employee decision to separate the special-needs students from the rest of their classmates.

Ragsdale said that the new process will “[ensure] there are no misunderstandings, and no employee is making a decision without the clear input of a parent or guardian of a student with an exceptionality.”

Rich, who has Down’s Syndrome, was an honor student and varsity athlete at Sprayberry and also spoke to the school board in June protesting what happened to her.

“Graduation is a special moment and I wanted to share it with my friends, just like everyone else,” she said. “I don’t want any other student to go through what I did.”

The updated policy provisions call for all students to have a graduation participation plan, and for parental consent/approval before graduation takes place:

“All students who have met requirements for graduation will be provided the 30 opportunity to fully participate in the school commencement, regardless of any 31 temporary or permanent impairment or disability. If an impairment or disability 32 exists, the parent/guardian shall be provided with options for the student to 33 participate in the least restrictive manner possible.”

1. Participation Plan:
- a. Each student with a temporary or permanent impairment or disability shall 36 have a participation plan including details about where the student will be 37 seated, and accommodation(s) required.
- b. Parents/guardians shall be provided a copy of the participation plan and 39 sign/approve the plan prior to the commencement ceremony.
2. Communication:
- a. Parents/guardians shall be provided information regarding venue 42 accommodations prior to the ceremony.
- b. Information regarding accessing the venue, including information about 44 accessible parking areas and routes from the parking lot to the seating area 45 shall be provided to parents/guardians.

(You can read the policy in full by clicking here).

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