I really appreciate mail from parents. I try to answer each one. Yes, really. If I use the letter for a blog entry, I edit excessively to protect your confidentiality. This week, I would like to share a topic with you that is unfortunately way too common in high schools - Ways to decrease the possibility a special education student will drop out of high school.

A Parent Asks: "My high school student with a learning disability in math is considering dropping out of school after failing a grade several times. We're considering online classes, but I'm concerned it may not work. I'm not getting much help from my teen's school. Do you have any suggestions that can help?

Ann's Response: Thank you for sharing your concerns. I can see you are coping with a difficult situation. There are some things you may want to consider that may help. Some of these you may have already tried, but I hope I can help generate some new ideas with you.

1. Schedule an IEP meeting at your teen's school. You may also want to request that the district's special education administrator be invited. Share your concerns with the team and ask for their help in identifying some reasons your teen is not achieving. It could be that your teen's IEP is not addressing your teen's specific needs, that more support from the special education teachers is needed, or that additional tutoring or collaborative classes are needed.

Brainstorm ideas on how your teen's needs can be addressed. Is credit recovery an option? Could a special education instructor work with your teen at school on this online program? I agree with you that your teen probably will need help to complete an online program.

If you feel that your teen's lack of motivation is a significant factor in the learning problems, perhaps counseling or therapy could be included on the IEP as a related service.

2. Talk with your the school guidance counselor or school psychologist. Ask if there are support programs or counseling available to your teen to increase understanding of the importance of finishing school.

3. Perhaps your teen could become more active in career and technical education programs where there is more opportunity for hands-on learning and applied math. Many people with learning disabilities in math are more successful in classes where they can actually use their hands and see math concepts being used in action rather than relying on abstract reasoning and theory alone. This is especially true if your child is a visual and/or tactile learner.

3. Certainly, your teen will be uncomfortable facing another year of possible failure. You may want to explore area adult learning programs as an alternative, especially if your teen is seriously planning on dropping out. Adult education programs will likely have participants close to your teen's age, and some older students who are coming back to school because they have learned that they cannot better their lives without education. This can be a powerful message to your child that you alone may not be able to teach. There's nothing quite like learning from someone who has "been there."

Adult learning programs are also more flexible to accommodate your teen's pace. The adult education programs may be able to work with the school to help your child earn a standard diploma. If not, they can definitely help your teen earn a GED at least. People do go on to college and make successful vocational transitions with GEDs. Your school's guidance counselor should be able to help connect you with the area adult education programs.

Adult Education and High School

• Free Online Courses
• Adult Education and Stress Reduction
• Adult Education
• Adult Education and Special Education for Adults
• Distance Learning - Online College and High School