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Students and parents say exam-exemption policy and suspension process disadvantage chronically ill and disabled students
Summary
A student with a 504 plan and multiple parents told the board the district's exam-exemption rules and lack of a short-term suspension appeal process unfairly penalize students with chronic illness and disproportionately affect marginalized students.
During public comment on June 2, students and parents told the Wake County Board of Education that the district's exam-exemption policy and short-term suspension procedures can disadvantage chronically ill and disabled students and asked the board for clearer accommodations and an appeal process.
Penny Matsune, a freshman who said she is chronically ill and has an approved 504 plan, said the district's exam-exemption policy requires an A/B average and limits absences and tardies, which excludes some students with documented disabilities from exam exemptions. "Because this policy doesn't allow students like me who are disabled and chronically ill ... we aren't eligible to participate in this policy," Penny said, adding that her appeal to be exempted from exams was denied and that the denial required her to take additional exams.
Harilin Senna, a parent leader with Education Justice Alliance, urged the board to adopt a short-term suspension appeal policy, noting higher suspension rates for Black, Latino and students with disabilities in North Carolina and proposing an impartial review process, clear timelines, language access and public tracking of suspension data.
Board members acknowledged the concerns. Vice Chair Hershey asked staff (including Dr. Hill) to follow up with the students and families after public comment; Miss Rice and others emphasized the need for improved family engagement and clearer explanations of how school budgets and staffing decisions affect classroom offerings and student services.
Why it matters: Policies that condition academic privileges on attendance can have disparate impacts on students with disabilities or those who miss school for medical, athletic or family reasons. Parents asked for explicit accommodations and transparent appeal routes to ensure compliance with federal disability protections.
What comes next: District staff agreed to meet with students and families for follow-up; the board did not adopt a policy change or vote on the matter during the June 2 meeting.
