Options for High School

Options for High School The COVID-19 crisis has brought many changes to the lives of high school students—no more lunchtimes with friends, no more giggling over the latest fashion trends, no more worries about who is in the in-crowd and who is not. Lots of our teens would trade sleeping late and extra screen time to have these things back again—who wouldn’t? For the youngster with sickle cell disease, these things may take a back seat to the struggle to simply, physically, get through the day. High schools in many parts of the country consist of several two-story buildings on many acres of land. Now that our high school students have been home for several weeks, it’s a good time to take stock of how they are doing. Although many will complain of boredom with the new on-line courses and the difficulty of understanding without being able to get extra help, parents of kids with sickle cell disease understand that this new educational setting may actually help their students succeed in high school. In many parts of the country there is an alternative to the regular high school, the options high school or continuation high school. These schools are often located on a small corner of the high school campus and are taught by credentialed teachers. Classes are usually limited to four hours a day, with much of the work being done in an independent study format. Students may work in small groups or on their own with the teacher providing guidance along the way. Options schools are often part of a dropout recovery program, since the students enrolled may have had attendance problems that make them potential dropouts. Right now you may be thinking, “That kind of program is not right for my child, I want him to go to his regular high school.” But now might be a good time to have a deep conversation with your student. Kids have been out of school for several weeks now, does your child seem physically stronger, is it easier for him to understand what is being taught now that he is not fighting the physical demands of sickle cell disease? As a patient advocate and former high school principal, I always suggest that parents have a discussion with their pediatrician. A review of your child’s medical history may shed some light on what may really be going on. Remember that sickle cell disease is often called sickle cell anemia because the sickled red blood cells don’t carry enough oxygen to the body. It’s not surprising then that young people with sickle cell disease have little energy. A big school with flights of stairs and six challenging classes can be challenging if you’re tired all the time. Before the next school year begins, parents might want to ask for an IEP or 504 meeting. Identify the issues of concern as you meet with teachers and counselors. Perhaps a four-hour day in the regular high school setting will help, but if a continuation school is the answer, it could give your child the opportunity for individualized instruction that can address the specific issues of students with sickle cell disease and lead to a more successful high school experience.   Nancy M. René Co-Founder, JVT Advocates Supporting Autism, Sickle Cell Disease, and K–12 Education Los Angeles, California