Dying Florida boy's family must prove he can't take FCAT
By Caroline Rowland, Reporter
ORLANDO --
A Florida mother is outraged she has to prove her son is dying so he doesn't have to take the FCAT.
News 13 first introduced you to Ethan Rediske in April 2013 after his mother was upset over the state's standardized testing laws that require him to take the FCAT, even though the 11-year-old has was born with severe brain damage and cerebral palsy.
Ethan's health recently took a turn for the worse and his mother, Andrea Rediske, had to bring in hospice care.
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UPDATE: The Rediske family says Ethan died Friday.
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The last few weeks have been the toughest. Andrea said she's helping to administer morphine and make Ethan's last days comfortable.
When she reached out to the Orange County School District to tell them what was happening, Andrea said the district told her she needed to provide more proof than that to exempt him from the FCAT this year.
In an email to News 13, Andrea told us instead of getting sympathy and compassion from the school district, she's being forced to waste time coming up with the written proof.
Andrea said she was appalled and claimed the district has even threatened Ethan's at-home teacher because she won't help prepare him for the testing.
Once again, Rediske reached out to Orange County School Commissioner Rick Roach:
I'm writing to appeal for your advocacy on our behalf. Ethan is dying. He has been on hospice care for the past month. We are in the last days of his life. His loving and dedicated teacher, Jennifer Rose has