Student Navigates EBD System to Graduate, Highlighting Broader Educational Challenges
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Walter, a 19-year-old from St. Paul, Minnesota, walked in his high school graduation ceremony after navigating the public school system for students labeled with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (EBD). He is now completing a life-skills program to earn his diploma while working as a personal care attendant. His story illustrates the experiences of roughly 300,000 students nationwide who carry the EBD label, a category linked by research to higher risks of incarceration and lower adult self-sufficiency.
Facts First
- Walter, a 19-year-old from St. Paul, walked in his high school graduation and is completing a life-skills program to earn his diploma.
- The EBD label is given to students who struggle with emotions or behaviors and is the only special education category not requiring a specialist's diagnosis.
- Research indicates students labeled EBD are more likely to be incarcerated and less likely to be self-supporting as adults.
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) entitles students with disabilities to free public education and requires an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
- Educational approaches for EBD students have shifted with federal administrations, from attempted mainstreaming to a stated desire for more state control.
What Happened
Walter, a 19-year-old from St. Paul, Minnesota, attended Central Senior High School and was sent to River Bend Education Center, a public school for students labeled with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (EBD). During his senior year, he was suspended for one week after a fight in the gym. In June 2025, he walked in Central Senior High School's graduation ceremony. To earn his diploma, he must complete a checklist at Journeys Secondary School, a St. Paul public school for students labeled EBD that supports students until age 22 and focuses on life skills like credit card usage and apartment hunting. Walter currently works as a personal care attendant.
Why this Matters to You
If you have a child in public school, they are part of a system where more than 15% of students nationwide qualify for special education. The criteria for the EBD label—which includes an "inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships" and "a pervasive feeling of unhappiness"—could be applied broadly. This label, which does not require a medical diagnosis, may shape a student's educational path and future opportunities. Research suggests students with this label face statistically higher risks of negative life outcomes, which could have long-term societal implications. The approach to educating these students may shift depending on federal policy, potentially affecting how your local school district allocates resources and supports students.
What's Next
Walter is working to complete the Journeys Secondary School checklist to formally earn his high school diploma. His case manager, Eric Paquette, will likely be involved in this process. At a policy level, the current administration's desire to shift more educational control to states could lead to changes in how the EBD category is implemented and supported, potentially creating more variation between states.