608 Cider Press Loop #20
Joppa, MD 21085

My daughter is behind in Math & Reading due to her being diagnosed with a learning disability in March of 2023.... I requested a team's meeting back in 2021 due to me seeing signs if something wrong. I expressed over and over to them that my child needs an IEP plan or even a 504 plan. They are no help. They do not want to accept the responsibility of my child being behind because they are blaming me for attendance and attendance is not the case my child missed 12 days throughout in entire school year due to Flu & Strap Throat Twice. Come to find out I am not the only parent that's fighting for help. My child is entering th 3rd grade and still no improvement and she's constantly being taught and remind at home. She can't grasp basic concepts hence of the learning disability come in AT.

I attended JHS in 1998-2002. It's very unfortunate to see how things have changed in a negative direction. While my son had great support from the staff his four years he attended. He should have not graduated. It was given to him. Did he do work yes! And when he actually applied himself, he did great but in the four years he failed both 9th and 11th grade. He was short one credit from the credit's needs. Since the pandemic the school system are using this as an excuse and exception to push kids through even if they have not academically met their markers. I did sign a waiver and knew that he was being handed something that wasn't fully earned, and he took advantage of it because he knew that he was still going to pass. He also missed just about half of his 12th grade year to personal issues but there are students who never failed any classes or grades, had all their credits didn't miss many days of school and they are the ones who deserved to graduate. I feel like my son was also pushed through. He is a very smart bright child but did not apply himself. 20 years ago, if you failed you were held behind. Ignoring their failures are not doing them any favors. It's doing way more harm than good. If they are not pushed and are handing everything without earning it, we are setting them up for failure. They need and should be held accountable for their actions. I do appreciate the staff supporting my son and seeing the good in him but in reality, he should not have graduated on time.

This school is very bad environmentally but academically they try to set students up for success