But state says district is wrong to keep special ed girls out of the ceremony.
Clovis Unified has said it will bar twins Alyssa and Amanda Reta from participating in graduation ceremonies at Buchanan High School because they have not earned a diploma -- but a state official says the district is wrong.
The Reta sisters, who are developmentally disabled, are caught up in statewide confusion among high schools about a new requirement this year that special education students pass the California High School Exit Examination to receive a diploma, said Jill Larson, a consultant with the state Department of Education's assessment, evaluation and support unit.
In 2006, the state began requiring students to pass the exit exam, or no diploma -- but had exempted special education students until this year. A handful of special education students in the Clovis Unified School District last year received diplomas because of the exemption, said spokeswoman Kelly Avants.
State law still allows students to participate in graduation ceremonies even if they don't earn a diploma. For example, Fresno Unified and Central Unified school districts award students with certificates of completion at graduation ceremonies, if all they are missing is success on the exit exam.
But Clovis Unified considers graduation ceremonies a "privilege, not a right," Avants said.
She said the district's philosophy has been: "To allow participation in graduation for someone who is not getting a diploma is not doing that child any favor."
Michael Reta, the sisters' father, took their case to the Clovis Unified school board Wednesday, where some members were sympathetic and asked that the issue be brought back at the May 28 meeting for a vote. Board member Susan Walker said perhaps the district was being "too rigid with the rules."
Larson, with the state Department of Education, said the district will be "out of compliance" if it doesn't allow the sisters to walk in graduation ceremonies.
But the district stands by its policy of not allowing students -- special education or not -- to partake in graduation if they have not met diploma requirements, Avants said.
Clovis Unified's strict stance toward the exit exam and graduation is unusual in the central San Joaquin Valley, where most districts allow students to participate if they have completed all other requirements except the exit exam.
Avants said the district tries to accommodate special education students by allowing them to choose other courses of study -- vocational or life skills -- instead of pursuing a diploma. If the student completes those requirements, they are allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies, even though they did not earn a diploma.
But the Reta family chose to have their daughters strive for diplomas. When they realized last week that they would not pass the exit exam in time, it was far too late to switch their goals to the vocational or life skills certificates.
The sisters should not be penalized for attempting the more difficult path, said Francesca Codianni, their aunt: "They need to get credit for what they have accomplished."
Reta said announcements had already been purchased for the June 4 graduation from Buchanan High when the family received word last week that neither girl had passed the math portion of the exit exam. They would not be allowed to participate in ceremonies.
The sisters had attempted to pass the test several times since they were sophomores. They have passed the language arts portion and fulfilled all other graduation requirements.
Alyssa and Amanda Reta, 18, were born with developmental disabilities and have struggled with school all their lives, Michael Reta said. They have taken special education classes since they were young.
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