Fellow classmates and I in the University of New England’s master’s program in social work felt compelled to write in order to commend Gov. Baldacci on his proposed changes to the national No Child Left Behind law.

By seeking changes, the governor is taking a bold stance in saying that the national standards do not account for the differences in the state of Maine from the rest of the nation.

Specifically, he deserves respect and praise for one of his proposed changes that states that the national proposal should “clarify the decisions about high school diplomas for students with disabilities will be informed more strongly by a student’s Individualized Education Plan.”

With the large number of students with disabilities who are preparing to graduate from Maine’s high schools, basing the decision to give these students a diploma based on the criteria in their IEP instead of the mainstream – and national – standards is an excellent idea. These children are already stigmatized; there is no need to further stigmatize them by giving them a “lesser” diploma.

Melissa Coleman, Lewiston

Kimberly Laberge, Wilton

Julie Herrick, North Waterboro

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