My friend's children, ages 18 and 15, are way behind but instead of the school acknowledging the problem and providing help they have suggested that she consider homeschooling.
I advised her to make the school provide the help her kids need. It's the school's fault that it is just now coming to light that these kids who are both A students only read on a 6th grade level and do math on a 5th grade level.
How can you get to high school, make As in your subjects but can't test above 5th/6th grade? I think the school doesn't want these kids counted in the NCLB testing scores so they are recommending they be removed from the school. No kids, no low scores = no problem for the school, but life long problems for the kids.
PS. I don't find my friend blameless in all this, I can't figure out how her kids got to this state without her recognizing they were having trouble.
I forgot to add that I am a homeschooler and I support homeschool completely. I don't think my friend has the patience, desire or the will to homeschool. Her kids need help and the school is the only place they will get it that is if she can make them provide it. If she can't I fear for their futures.