[cynthia900]

My daughter has learning disabilities and ADHD. She has had a great experience in public school until this year when she entered grade 4. I am trying to decide whether to move her to a private school or to just keep fighting to improve her experience where she is. Her accomodations are not being implemented (although there have been improvements every time I intervene - now 2 hours of homework versus 5, modified tests on the third re-take etc) but she is being told she "failed" when she got 80% and that she is getting the "easy test" etc. I am livid! I am thinking I need to get an advocate ASAP - ideas on how to find a great one??? In Chicagoland???? Keeping a record of problems. Any other advice? If I go private, I want them to pay tuition and transportation (It is $33,000 a year at the school she qualifies for). Advice on how to make that happen without due process hearing? I am thinking focus on the fact she needs more strategies to prepare for middle school may be a way to make it more about her needs and less about their inadequacies??? Any and all help is appreciated - I really should have learned more sooner but we were so lucky up to now!

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by cynthia900

My daughter has learning disabilities and ADHD. She has had a great experience in public school until this year when she entered grade 4. I am trying to decide whether to move her to a private school or to just keep fighting to improve her experience where she is. Her accomodations are not being implemented (although there have been improvements every time I intervene - now 2 hours of homework versus 5, modified tests on the third re-take etc) but she is being told she "failed" when she got 80% and that she is getting the "easy test" etc. I am livid! I am thinking I need to get an advocate ASAP - ideas on how to find a great one??? In Chicagoland???? Keeping a record of problems. Any other advice? If I go private, I want them to pay tuition and transportation (It is $33,000 a year at the school she qualifies for). Advice on how to make that happen without due process hearing? I am thinking focus on the fact she needs more strategies to prepare for middle school may be a way to make it more about her needs and less about their inadequacies??? Any and all help is appreciated - I really should have learned more sooner but we were so lucky up to now!

Hey there,

sorry you have been experiencing headaches with the system lately...that really bites!!!!

This is just my 2 cents worth...take it or leave it with your state and district in mind...(I work for the school system so can understand most IEP jargon)

1. Ok sounds like some of the IEP isn't being implemented the way it should be (accommadations) so I would request an IEP meeting to go over what is on her IEP and what should be happening....Make sure you have your minimum IEP team in attendance...Administrator(principal), General ed. teacher, Special ed. teacher, any other service provider, and you. You will be amazed how many times an IEP is magically signed by the above when they weren't even in attendance. I'd ask for a daily or at least a weekly journal to go back and forth between school and home. Sad to say but in some situations, it makes teachers actually work with the student the way they should be doing anyways.
I don't know your area, but I'd get an advocate for the simple fact that it sounds as though your daughter is getting teased over her testing...or berated???? that is unacceptable...I'd dig around to find out about this.

2. I don't know your state's dynamics with special education and district and when they will pay for a private school. Here where I am (CA) this will happen in mediation if it appears as though the school did not offer a good plan and there were so many timelines broken and such, but that is already in the due process arena...since CA is one of the most litigious states for everything, my district has been really good (for the most part) in making sure IEPs are done to benefit the child so they aren't forced to pay for private schools...so I don't know if getting her in a private school for what she qualifies for can be done without due process...but you never know.

Again I'm speaking from the fact of the matter that I'm used to parents filing for any reason, which is kinda good because whether we need it or not, we do work harder and do pay attention to what every child on our caseload needs, but then again...I don't know if you can get services like the private school because....maybe families in your state are used to not filing therefore the system is milking that giving YOU better amunition to get whatever you ask for due to their negligence on fulfilling their end of the IEP.

Like I said, take what you can and if you have any other questions you can pm me....but definately look for an advocate. Maybe someone has a link to a number in your area??????

[cynthia900]

Thanks - that is really helpful information and advice. The private school told me that most families who have had their district pay had to go due process but recently that seems to be less. They have not dealt with my district before.

What would you have included in the journal - that sounds like a great idea!

My IEP meetings have always included the whole team you mentioned above except that they occur at the end of the school year so it is the outgoing teacher not the new one who is present. The new one flat out refused to even discuss making accomodations for my daughter in our first conversation the second week of school so I have been working with the special ed teacher mostly. She has been terrific but is being pulled into lots of testing this year and isn't able to work with my daughter as much. Sorry for the novel!

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by cynthia900

What would you have included in the journal - that sounds like a great idea!

My IEP meetings have always included the whole team you mentioned above except that they occur at the end of the school year so it is the outgoing teacher not the new one who is present. The new one flat out refused to even discuss making accomodations for my daughter in our first conversation the second week of school so I have been working with the special ed teacher mostly. She has been terrific but is being pulled into lots of testing this year and isn't able to work with my daughter as much. Sorry for the novel!

Dont' be sorry....parents have a right to advocate and it's great you're going around for help.

(I only mentioned the whole team being at an IEP team meeting because parents have sometimes told me that their last principal wasn't at the IEP meeting but they signed it, or the speech therapist came quickly and left the goals and signed.....gasp, that's just wrong....so glad to hear everyone is there )

ok I would have liked to quote in parts, but I'm not that computer savvy in some things so I hope this comes out making sense lol

1. Journal--what is the most important thing you want to know/keep up with at school. Some things I usually have had to jot down were
*when she was seen....or when a special ed. teacher worked with her....
*worked well....needed to be redirected....lesson of the day too hard/easy
*behavior (if any) issues
*HOMEWORK.....pages, packet, how has it been modified (example of what some gen. ed. teachers do at my school....1 page instead of 2 pages for math....if it is spelling words, 5 spelling words instead of 10....worksheet, teacher will cross out what the child doesn't need to do ...again the 1 page vs. 2 pages)
*what worked with her in the classroom....some kids with ADD/ADHD and learning disabilities work well under timers, individual schedules etc.....so checking to see if these accommadations are working.

2. Even though your's daughter's IEP isn't due until the end of the year (I'm assuming she was found eligible at the end of a school year and that's why her IEP is at the end of the year) you have the right to request an IEP in writing and the IEP team has 30 days to convene. Gen ed. teacher flat out refusing to use accommadations specified on an IEP? oh heck no. That's not an option. (I'm hoping the special ed. teacher talked to her teacher about this???????)

Frustrating...you're doing well trying to get options for her. Another thing that might help, if you are having a rough time, put in a call to special education department of your district and ask for a special ed. administrator at your IEP as well...sometimes this helps in getting 'everyone' involved....or at least wake up the school that they need to not put their head in the sand regarding IEP issues....I'm glad that the special ed. teacher is being an ally....it's just I feel your concerns need to be officially written down and amend anything that needs to be amended or just make your presence known by calling an IEP....that alone says that you're an involved parent and are keeping an eye on things....and sometimes unfortunately it needs to be that way before people take notice.

Ok sorry for my novel....I get a little carried away....hope most of this made sense.

[ajjhmf]

A parent can, and should, at any time call for an IEP meeting with the whole team. I found a great website with forms for writing letters and I advise sending copies not only to the school, but to the district level as well. Make sure they know you aren't seeing her IEP implemented and I bet you start seeing things happen.

Illinois Assistive Technology Program Funding Manual

[greenrobin]

Not to be a party pooper, but getting a district to pay that much money for a private school is probably going to be difficult. You would need to prove that your daughter's needs are not being met by the public school system. And if she is scoring in the 80s with her modifications, you might have a pretty hard time.

No, she should not be told she's failed, she's getting the easy test, etc., but that is a personnel issue that the principal needs to correct.

And yes, you have the right to call the IEP meeting at any time that you feel is necessary. You might try asking your child's doctor to point you in the direction of an advocacy service. Our p-doc gave us the name of one. He also offered to act as advocate. You may want to retain an attorney who specializes in this as well.

[cynthia900]

Thanks everyone for the help! I love the ideas for what to put in a journal DannieAS and I didn't know I could have an IEP meeting any time. This school does the IEP at birthdays - that is why the weird timing. I guess it spaces out the meetings for them and lines up with a natural point for testing.

THanks for the link AJJHMF - I am sure I will make use of that.

Greenrobin - I don't think you are a party pooper - I came here because you guys have a lot of experience and have been so good to help others. I figured it would be a fight but might be worth it. And she is not getting all 80's LOL!

You guys are great! Thanks so much.

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by cynthia900

Thanks everyone for the help! I love the ideas for what to put in a journal DannieAS and I didn't know I could have an IEP meeting any time. This school does the IEP at birthdays - that is why the weird timing. I guess it spaces out the meetings for them and lines up with a natural point for testing.

first of all, glad the journal idea made sense. I do them for some of my speech kids so some of the information isn't the same, but it's in the area that you would want to have info on.

second of all....ok if you have a copy of your parental rights somewhere, dig them up and read them...I'm at home right now, but I have a copy at my school issued laptop at work if you need me to send you one. ummm the birthday thing does not make sense to me because children don't automatically are found eligible for services on their birthday....now if they did an IEP and then just updated it on or before the year date on the initial (which happens to be on her b-day) then I suppose it's within protocal, but the rule of thumb is, that annuals are to be done before the initial IEP date...and every three years from the INITIAL IEP date is when her trienniel is due (when they do re-testing to see if she still is eligible for special education services)

I say when in doubt, call an IEP....sometimes I have 2 or more IEPs with certain families due to the complexity of their individual case. I don't mind....maybe it's extra paperwork for me, but hey, it's my job....and more importantly don't feel bad because it is ALWAYS your right!

ETA: I think I'm tired and wrote some grammatical errors in my post....I apologize We have late start friday at work and I don't have staff meeting tomorrow so I usually bum around Thursday evenings LOL

[cynthia900]

Thanks - I am going to go through all my paperwork this weekend and research advocates so I can call a meeting. They promised a conference with the teacher and special ed teacher a month ago but this will be better. I honestly don't remember her first IEP date from Kindergarten - she transitioned from a special ed preschool. I have the wrightslaw books too but haven't looked at them much since K. Guess it is time to put down Charlaine Harris and pick up the complete IEP guide. Thanks again for your help - you have no idea how much your support means. One of the few times I find being a single parent really hard is at IEP time or in dealing with other issues advocating for her...having all of them on one side and me alone on the other is tough. Having you guys on my side is great!