We the parents of students in the Provo school district agree with the opinion of the Supreme Court that education is a fundamental right and that all students must be allowed to attain as much education as they can possibly gain for themselves. We further agree with the court that the academic achievement a student attains is considered intellectual property that belongs to the student, and cannot be taken away based on school attendance. We agree with the court’s decision that parents are ultimately responsible for their child’s academic progress, and a parent’s authority must not be undermined by school officials. We therefore claim the right to excuse our student from school at any time and for any reason without our student’s academic progress being stolen, withheld, or tampered with in any manner by school officials. We agree with the Utah State Board of Education in that the academic grade must show the academic ability of the student in order to maintain its integrity. We further agree with the State BOE, and the court, that docking, or withholding student grades based on classroom attendance is arbitrary, unethical, and illegal, considering again, that the academic grade is considered intellectual property the student has earned. We want the students in the Provo school district to receive an accurate academic grade that shows the true academic progress of our students. We want the D grade reinstated so that students are not denied credit, for the same academic achievement in which their peers are receiving credit. We believe that given the nature of the public school system, students should be allowed to attain as much education as possible in the amount of time they are allowed to stay in the system. We strongly disagree with any policy that penalizes students for not achieving the academic level we desire for all students. We feel that the standard grading policy, including the D grade, is a fair and accurate grading system for all students. Students in the Provo school district must be treated as fairly as students in other districts across the nation when it comes to evaluating academic progress. We believe the student grade can only be determined by the teacher and student, given the understanding that a teacher is the only person in a position to determine an accurate and fair grade for the student. Parents and members of the school board should not interfere with this process.

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