Dear:  Parents and Guardians of VESC Students

My name is Aaron Scheeley, I am forming the petition to re-instate the Varying Exceptional Self Contained (VESC) - Standard Diploma  Education program for Pinellas County. The federal (No Child Left behind (NCLB) Act) of 2001 is designed to ensure that children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. The program provides options to parents of students enrolled in schools that are in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring. The 2014-2015 school year, does not include the VESC program children with learning difficulties. The Pinellas County School Board discontinued the VESC Program. 

The Pinellas County Mission states the following, “The mission of the Pinellas County School Board is to provide the best opportunities for all students to succeed by adopting policies that ensure continual improvement of highest student achievement, safe learning environment and effective, efficient operation.” However, they discontinued the VESC program for children with learning disabilities. 

My child Adam Scheeley is diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome (22Q) which causes a severe Developmental delay/learning difficulties. There are currently No VESC Programs in Pinellas County.  During the physical school year of 2013 there was a trial VESC program that my son attended.   My son’s grades went from D’s and F’s in regular classes to A’s and B’s in the VESC program. My son is now in regular mainstream classes, He is failing in school because he is not in VESC classes. There are 100’s of other kids in the same situation.  With enough signed petitions, we the people can show the School District that our children need these special VESC programs. 
Thank  you

Aaron Scheeley