Yesmarianni Negron was supposed to graduate from Florida Technical College today. Instead, she was dismissed from the school.

  • More than a dozen Florida Technical College students dismissed
  • School says their high school is not accredited by an agency
  • El Redentor Educative Center says it's been in operation for 20 years

She's one of more than a dozen students kicked out of FTC before graduation because of what college officials say are questions regarding the status of the students' high school diplomas.

“He just told us we cannot finish what we’re studying. That’s really messed up,” Negron said.

Negron was in a year-long cosmetology program. But now, FTC will not let her in the classroom because the school will no longer honor any high school credentials from her high school, El Redentor Educative Center on Goldenrod Road.

FTC said the decision was not made lightly and issued a statement:

"FTC made this determination because El Redentor failed to respond to our request for evidence that it provided sufficient instruction to students.”

El Redentor is not accredited by an agency but is registered with the Florida Department of Education. Other higher institutions such as Valencia College accept the school's graduates.

Maria Nieves, the parent of another student, said: “I have her transcripts, I have her diploma, I have all of her awards, I have everything to prove that she is able to attend this institution of higher learning so she can finish her cosmetology degree, and they won’t let her.”

Staff at El Redentor said this is the first time an institution asked for additional documentation.

“El Redentor has been operating for 20 years, and students are our priority. We are working directly with FTC in hopes that our students can get back to the college,” admissions representative Elizabeth Benitez said.

FTC has offered to pay for a GED preparation course and GED exam for the students affected, regardless of whether they choose to re-enroll at FTC in the future.

El Redentor is now working to become accredited. But it's not soon enough for people such as Negron.

“It’s not fair for us that I am almost graduating, and they don’t let me do it,” Negron said.