LAS VEGAS -- A second-grader is starting off the school year with controversy.

His mother is keeping him home because of an ongoing battle with the Clark County School District.

The boy's mother said she wants him to enjoy school like all the other children. But the school district is trying to accommodate to his special learning needs.

Nolan Davis, 7, never met his new teacher or classmates.

“I'm very stressful, very upset, very concerned. I think it will do great harm to him,” said his mother, Jeanine Davis.

Davis kept her second-grader out of school because he was placed into a class for students who are seriously emotionally challenged.

Nolan was diagnosed with autism, a brain development disorder, when he was 2 years old.

But Davis said Nolan has been in general education since kindergarten.

Last year, he was a first-grader at Kesterson Elementary School at 231 Bailey Island Dr. in Henderson.

“I have some information to give you that he's an honor student, so he's very high-functioning,” Davis said.

This year, the school district is moving him to Whitney Elementary School at 5005 Keenan Ave. in Las Vegas and into an SEC classroom.

“The children in that Socially Emotional Class -- I don't know how to say it politically correct -- are very emotionally disturbed children, and he can engage and learn detrimental behaviors,” Davis said.

The Clark County School District won't comment specifically on Davis' case but said in order for a student to be eligible for SEC, a student must exhibit emotional behaviors that interfere with his or her learning or the educational experience of other students.

School officials said the determination is also made based on the evaluations of school counselors, teachers and parents.

Davis insists her son was never given a fair assessment.

School officials said Davis will be able to request a due process hearing, but that process could take up to 75 days.

Davis said she's keeping her son out of school until they change his placement.

The school district said they could not comment specifically on the case because of privacy laws, but said it is following proper procedures in handling the case.