1/3 of kindergarten class banned from promotion ceremony because of school policy
Kindergartener Sierra was banned from her promotion ceremony at John Cabrillo Elementary School.
SACRAMENTO, CA - A third of the kindergarten class at John Cabrillo Elementary school are banned from participating in an end of the year promotion ceremony.
"It breaks my heart," Maria Peterson said.
Peterson's daughter Sierra, 6, will move on to the first grade, but without the pomp and circumstance.
It's the school's policy that any kindergartner who misses more than 10 days of school can't take part in the ceremony.
Sierra has been absent 21 days.
"It's because of fever and illness and because of our car issues," Peterson explained.
It's not a new policy. Parents, including Peterson, have known about it since the beginning of the school year.
A total of 17 kids were banned from the promotion ceremony.
Peterson has reached out to the Sacramento City Unified Schools District, but officials there stood by the principal's policy.
"We have to have a culture shift at some of our schools," District Spokesperson Gabe Ross said. "Which is to reinforce at an early age that you have to be in