Who decides whats "reasonable"

[DsmithAsmith]

What is the name of your state? California

My SD is in 8th grade, she has had a 504 plan in place due to her diffculties in school from ADHD. The school offers her "accomodations" which mostly are BS. They do seat her close to the teacher in her classes. This year she has done MUCH better in completing her homework. She has an A- in homework for her math class, but still has an F on her tests. I feel that she has difficulty concentrating on her tests due to the discraction of other kids in the room.

I suggested at our last 504 meeting that SD be allowed to take her test in a "quiet, distraction free setting". My SD suggested the library at the school. The 504 coordinator agreed that Amber had difficulty concentrating on her tests but said they could not accomadate her with a quiet distraction free setting because they did not have anyone available to supervise her. (Although my SD says the librarian is always in the library) They did offer to allow her to take her test in the corner of the room with her desk facing the wall. This was not acceptable to me because it does not do enough to reduce the noise and movement distractions.

Does the school have the ultimate say in what is considered a "reasonable accomodation" or is there any thing I can do to "force" them to accommodate my SD on her tests.

 

[pegmatite9999]

What is the name of your state? California

My SD is in 8th grade, she has had a 504 plan in place due to her diffculties in school from ADHD. The school offers her "accomodations" which mostly are BS. They do seat her close to the teacher in her classes. This year she has done MUCH better in completing her homework. She has an A- in homework for her math class, but still has an F on her tests. I feel that she has difficulty concentrating on her tests due to the discraction of other kids in the room.

I suggested at our last 504 meeting that SD be allowed to take her test in a "quiet, distraction free setting". My SD suggested the library at the school. The 504 coordinator agreed that Amber had difficulty concentrating on her tests but said they could not accomadate her with a quiet distraction free setting because they did not have anyone available to supervise her. (Although my SD says the librarian is always in the library) They did offer to allow her to take her test in the corner of the room with her desk facing the wall. This was not acceptable to me because it does not do enough to reduce the noise and movement distractions.

Does the school have the ultimate say in what is considered a "reasonable accomodation" or is there any thing I can do to "force" them to accommodate my SD on her tests.

Have you contacted the superintendent?

 

[stealth2]

Does the school have the ultimate say in what is considered a "reasonable accomodation" or is there any thing I can do to "force" them to accommodate my SD on her tests.

What makes you think you have any say in what the school does or does not do wrt your SD?

 

[DsmithAsmith]

Not yet, my first plan of action is to send a letter with my request in writing to the 504 coordinator. Although she already told me no, verbally at the meeting; I want to send her the request in writing and CC the principal, I will ask that they respond to my letter in writing as well. I am trying to start the paper trail. If/When they tell me no, my next step was to go to the district level. I got the name of our districts 504 compliance officer. I just wanted to know if I have a "legal leg to stand on" in requesting this accomodation, or if they can just tell me its not going to work well for them so too bad. Basically I don't want to look stupid in the end, because I insisted they "had to" when they really did not.

 

[stealth2]

Not yet, my first plan of action is to send a letter with my request in writing to the 504 coordinator. Although she already told me no, verbally at the meeting; I want to send her the request in writing and CC the principal, I will ask that they respond to my letter in writing as well. I am trying to start the paper trail. If/When they tell me no, my next step was to go to the district level. I got the name of our districts 504 compliance officer. I just wanted to know if I have a "legal leg to stand on" in requesting this accomodation, or if they can just tell me its not going to work well for them so too bad. Basically I don't want to look stupid in the end, because I insisted they "had to" when they really did not.

Am I correct in thinking that SD = StepDaughter?

 

[DsmithAsmith]

Yes SD is refering to my Step Daughter. I am not sure if this is where your going with this, but if you are going to tell me about how I have no "legal" rights to my step daughter I am aware of this and don't need a reminder.

 

[stealth2]

Then you have no leg to stand on. So your question is completely moot as you don't get to tell the school anything.

 

[DsmithAsmith]

Thank you for showing the same compassion the school does. My SD needs help, I have my husbands complete support in this. He has sole legal custody of her.

I would appricate if you don't have anything helpful to say regarding getting my SD help in her SCHOOLING that you don't comment any further.

 

[pegmatite9999]

What makes you think you have any say in what the school does or does not do wrt your SD?

Ah, come on. Now you're just arguing for the sake of it. Mom isn't getting anywhere with the school. They want to shove her child in a corner. "What is reasonable" can often be anybody's guess! Call, or better yet GO to the superintendent's office with your paperwork, calmly explain the circumstances, and ask for the answer to the problem.
Squeaky wheel and all that.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Thank you for showing the same compassion the school does. My SD needs help, I have my husbands complete support in this. He has sole legal custody of her.

I would appricate if you don't have anything helpful to say regarding getting my SD help in her SCHOOLING that you don't comment any further.

Compassion has nothing to do with this. It's the point that you have no legal standing in this situation so the school is well within their rights to tell you to "BITE ROCKS'

 

[pegmatite9999]

Compassion has nothing to do with this. It's the point that you have no legal standing in this situation so the school is well within their rights to tell you to "BITE ROCKS'

Tell BB to "BITE ROCKS". Talk to the superintendent and ask him/her to articulate what he/she thinks is reasonable for your child's circumstances. Bring the father with you.

 

[stealth2]

Ah, come on. Now you're just arguing for the sake of it. Mom isn't getting anywhere with the school. They want to shove her child in a corner. "What is reasonable" can often be anybody's guess! Call, or better yet GO to the superintendent's office with your paperwork, calmly explain the circumstances, and ask for the answer to the problem.
Squeaky wheel and all that.

Dude - she's NOT Mom. She has no legal right to be involved in the child's schooling, nor is the school under any obligation to deal with her. If Dad's concerned, perhaps he needs to get off his butt and address some of these issues. StepMom cannot - legally.

 

[pegmatite9999]

Dude - she's NOT Mom. She has no legal right to be involved in the child's schooling, nor is the school under any obligation to deal with her. If Dad's concerned, perhaps he needs to get off his butt and address some of these issues. StepMom cannot - legally.

Agreed. She needs to bring Daddy.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Tell BB to "BITE ROCKS". Talk to the superintendent and ask him/her to articulate what he/she thinks is reasonable for your child's circumstances. Bring the father with you.

How long do you wish to stay here?

 

[DsmithAsmith]

I guess what I should claify is that DAD signs all the letters and attends the meetings also. The bottom line is I have chosen to bring this child in to my home and support her and "fill-in" where her mother is incapable of supporting her. It is not this childs fault that her mother is unable to properly advocate for her. If I sat around and did nothing and let her fail out of school, I would not feel good about myself. The school has had no problem recognizing me as a partner in SD's education. I am not so full of myself or caught up in the law that I am going to tell my SD I can't help her because she is not "legally" related to me. I simply want to help her be successful in school.