Special education students left out of high school graduation program feel ‘discriminated’
Families demanded answers after six California special education graduating students weren't included in their high school's graduation program.
Months of anticipation turned to disappointment when six California special education graduating students noticed their names were not included in their high school's graduation program and their diplomas were not ordered in time for the ceremony.
Wearing his blue button-up shirt and a red bow tie to match his school's pirate-themed colors, Joseph Sanchez-Muñoz attended his San Leandro High School graduation on June 9, "super excited to make my family proud," he told NBC News.
As a student living with a rare disease after surviving cancer as a baby, graduating from high school is a milestone that holds extra significance for Joseph and his family.
But after learning he and five other special education were excluded from the graduation program, he "felt sad, depressed," Joseph, 18, said.
"I felt discriminated," Joseph's mom, Elena Muñoz, told NBC News. "Why were the kids not in there? Is it because they're special ed kids? Why did they leave them behind?"
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