x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com
x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com
Received: from mail pickup service by IQ12 with Microsoft SMTPSVC;
	 Tue, 29 Sep 2015 01:57:53 -0400
thread-index: AdD6e8f0sHuBkO12Rpy8ailE7WQgoQ==
Thread-Topic: Occupational Diploma 
From: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
To: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
Subject: Occupational Diploma 
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2015 01:57:53 -0400
Message-ID: <493CE16AE74D4D2A8104D4060921E5CC@IQ12>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000
Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
Importance: normal
Priority: normal
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 29 Sep 2015 05:57:53.0857 (UTC) FILETIME=[C8164B10:01D0FA7B]

<APP>CUSTOM
<PREFIX>Mrs</PREFIX>
<FIRST>Sara</FIRST>
<MIDDLE>L</MIDDLE>
<LAST>Samuel</LAST>
<SUFFIX></SUFFIX>
<TITLE></TITLE>
<ORGANIZATION></ORGANIZATION>
<ADDR1>110 Sigmon Dr</ADDR1>
<ADDR2></ADDR2>
<CITY>Mauldin</CITY>
<STATE>SC</STATE>
<ZIP>29662</ZIP>
<EMAIL>ssamuel.mk2011@gmail.com</EMAIL>
<PHONE_H>864-967-9752</PHONE_H>
<PHONE_B>864-525-7767</PHONE_B>
<ISSUE>EDUC</ISSUE>
<SUBJECT>Occupational Diploma </SUBJECT>
<CUSTOM1>71.12.23.102</CUSTOM1>
<MSG>
Hello. My name is Sara Samuel and I would like to address a concern that I have concerning the Occupational Diploma vs the High School Diploma. My son Jerry Wendell Samuel II received his Occupational Diploma from Mauldin High School in 2012, but has had difficulty in receiving his GED. It is now 2015 and he is still pursuing it. He's been very depressed to the point he wants to end it all because he feels that all his friends are now in college and he's still trying to get there. He feels as well as myself that this law, while great for many, was a slap in the face for so many more who had to still require 24 credits to get the Occupational Diploma only to find out that these credits were not the same credits to receive the high school diploma. It is so sad that so many of our students are in these learning disability classes or self-contained classes that should not be. We as a state has   failed so many of our students because we now expect them to acquire a GED when they've never been exposed to the subjects required. Wow!!! So whose to say the students who didn't have to take the HSAP is better equipped or more knowledgeable than the Occupatational Diploma students?   
I really hate to see my son who has so much to offer, continue to be held back, paying out money re-taking test only to wait two months after failing to be able to take it again. 
This has caused so much pain for me and my family to watch him become so depressed and feeling that he's a failure.
Governor Haley if you can help my son in any way please do so. Or please help me to understand. It would be really great if you would grant him his high school diploma and allow him to move on. However, I know that there are rules. He's really trying to finish this program and I'm continuing to encourage him. But please hear my heart as a mother pleading for her son's happiness. Thank you for responding.

Sincerely,

Sara Samuel
</MSG>

</APP>