[roselee]

School psych here:

Write a letter requesting to have your child evaluated. In most states the school has to acknowledge your letter in 30 days. If they don't call them or get in touch with the special ed. director, I would personally address the letter to the school psychologist and special ed director. The principal is likely very busy and the letter may get lost underneath a pile of papers. If you still get no response go to the asst. superintendent or superintended. Please first try to work with the school psychologist, teacher, counselor, special educator....most of the time they really want to help. When a person requests an evaluation, first there has to be ample proof that research based interventions have been tried. This will be the start of the evaluation and progress monitoring will most likely take place. If the child shows little growth through a period of time, then testing is done (if the team agrees). This is a recent addition to the federal law.

The reason why they want to keep kids in the regular ed classroom is to not let them get behind the other students in proficiency exams. However, there is a happy medium...get the child services and also have the child stay in the regular classroom as much as possible. This would make both parties happy. Such as allow the child to learn the material in the classroom and complete classwork in the special education classroom. Brainstorming is the key and so is collobration.

Go to the meeting (if the child is in special ed already request an IEP meeting as you can request one at anytime). If you really feel like the school is not cooperating, get an advocate (most places has an advocate available for free). Contact your state special education office and tell them the situation if needed. Ask also for an advocate - they may have their own.

There is a website entitled "wrights law". Look it up through Yahoo or Google or whatever search engine you use. There is a lot of good information on their regarding education law.

If you continue to fight the school district, they may give in or may continue to fight you (the second is more unlikely). If they do fight you, then another person will get involved to be the mediator. This person is from the state and is extremely neutral.

Good luck