LD Blog

Fergus Falls (MN, US) schools personnel failed to explain to a student who was ineligible for recognition as a member of the school choir, and the local education agency is now legally obligated to provide special education awareness training for faculty members, according to a story by Sarah Horner of the Fergus Falls Daily Journal. Matt Solin, who has Learning Disabilities and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, apparently had not met the graduation requirements and, therefore, was not honored along with other graduating members of the school choir, despite his participation in the choir for four years.

It was not the first time Solin felt left out during his high school career. Solin said he was also excluded from a junior and senior choir trip to New York City because staff thought he might pose safety issues.

But he was not informed of his ineligibility until after he completed the fund raising required for the trip.

Mr. Solin filed a complaint with the US Office of Civil Rights, which apparently reached an agreement with Fergus Falls schools. The LEA must provide in-service training that is supposed to promote understanding of the rights of students with disabilities among high school staff members.

Link to Ms. Horner’s story.