Teen wins fight to attend school

June 30, 2009 - 9:34am

ROCKVILLE, Md. - What does it take to enroll a kid in school? For one teenager, it took two years, a court fight and a Facebook campaign.

"Most kids that age -- 14 -- they can't wait for summer vacation. This boy, he can't wait to get in school," says Patrick Hoover, the attorney who led and won the fight to get 14-year-old Jeffrey Sukkasem a slot in a Montgomery County classroom.

The school system claimed Sukkassen, whose parents live in Thailand, didn't meet residency requirements. But Jeffrey, who was born in California, lives with a guardian.

School officials wanted the family to pay $14,000 in tuition.

Montgomery County reversed its stance after publicity about the case. But school officials declined to comment on the specifics of the case.

Janis Sartucci, an activist, who led a fight to help Jeffrey says she received a call from the state department of education Friday after having contacted the govenor's office.

Jeffrey, who spent the past two years teaching himself at home and at the public library, will be able to attend class in fall.

"Now he will at last be able to enroll in school and, hopefully, pursue his dream of attending the Air Force Academy someday," says Hoover.

ROCKVILLE, Md. - What does it take to enroll a kid in school? For one teenager, it took two years, a court fight and a Facebook campaign.

The school system claimed Sukkassen, whose parents live in Thailand, didn't meet residency requirements. But Jeffrey, who was born in California, lives with a guardian.

School officials wanted the family to pay $14,000 in tuition.

Montgomery County reversed its stance after publicity about the case. But school officials declined to comment on the specifics of the case.

Janis Sartucci, an activist, who led a fight to help Jeffrey says she received a call from the state department of education Friday after having contacted the govenor's office.

Jeffrey, who spent the past two years teaching himself at home and at the public library, will be able to attend class in fall.

"Now he will at last be able to enroll in school and, hopefully, pursue his dream of attending the Air Force Academy someday," says Hoover.

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