What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Mississippi
My son Devin is 10 years old. He is very brilliant and smart. He has a mood disorder, ptsd, and ADHD. Last year they did placement tests on him and he scored high school to college level in all subjects with some holes in math. He was in GT (gifted and talented). The school placed him in ISS (in school suspension), told him he was not in trouble, it was only until they could figure out placement for him. He didn't like it off the bat and neither did myself or my family. The school said it was their only option while we got his IEP together. Reluctantly we agreed. After several months of IEP meetings and it seeming to be the only option available for Devin, we agreed on him being placed in a special education classroom. He was to help tutor the children with developmental delays while his teacher developed a curriculum more challanging for him. He continued his other classes such as GT and PE. A progress note was to follow him to each change of classes so that each teacher was on the same page with his daily goals.
His first week in the special education classroom, he brought home kindergarten level spelling words for homework. I called the director of special programs at the central office and she said that she would check into it. I recieved a call back stating the teacher needed time to develope his curriculum and she was just giving him what the other children were doing for now. By the end of the school year his curriculum had never been completed. He had continued with Kindergarten level work (completely bored with school). And his progress tracking between classrooms was not being filled out by any of his teachers other than the specialist that came in the last hour of the day.
Just before school let out we had a last minute IEP meeting. All parties involved seemed concerned about the IEP not being followed. The school stated that they did not want him in the same situation so at the beginning of the next school year for the first few weeks they wanted him to go half days with the specialist until they could figure out better placement for him. It was suposed to be temporary.
Devin spends the mornings with his grandmother and then at 11:30 goes to a classroom that consists of himself and the specialist. He is not allowed GT classes, PE or any other classes. A few weeks into this school year we met to discuss devin's goals again. I informed them that Devin was not happy with the half day program and recommended PE, GT, library, or art be used to fill his day. He needs those classes and the half day program is constraining on my family and with gas prices it is getting expensive. I was told that this program was helping Devin and he needed to continue it. That they wanted to work their way into putting Devin into a normal classroom enviroment. Devin became severly depressed and ended up being admitted into a hospital in another state. He was discharged yesterday. During his discharge his therepist was telling our family that most of his depression is coming from his educational enviroment. He should have never been allowed to be socially isolated. She recommended private school, or forcing the school to give him equal service he is entitled to. I work for a farmer and don't make alot of money. I can not afford a lawyer or private school.
I have no idea who to go to to get anything done. I'm told I have a say over his education but all I hear from the school is that they are not set up to handle a child as different as my son, and there is nothing else they can do. He has missed half of the school year because they will call for us to pick him up because the teacher isn't in. None of these days are counted against him, but he's not getting an education this way. I don't like his classroom either it's the size of a walkin closet. It joins the side of another classroom and I'm not so sure it wasn't origionally intended to be a closet. If anyone has any suggestions please don't hesitate to contact me. Any advice offered will be greatly appreciated. My email address is [email protected]. Thank you
My son Devin is 10 years old. He is very brilliant and smart. He has a mood disorder, ptsd, and ADHD. Last year they did placement tests on him and he scored high school to college level in all subjects with some holes in math. He was in GT (gifted and talented). The school placed him in ISS (in school suspension), told him he was not in trouble, it was only until they could figure out placement for him. He didn't like it off the bat and neither did myself or my family. The school said it was their only option while we got his IEP together. Reluctantly we agreed. After several months of IEP meetings and it seeming to be the only option available for Devin, we agreed on him being placed in a special education classroom. He was to help tutor the children with developmental delays while his teacher developed a curriculum more challanging for him. He continued his other classes such as GT and PE. A progress note was to follow him to each change of classes so that each teacher was on the same page with his daily goals.
His first week in the special education classroom, he brought home kindergarten level spelling words for homework. I called the director of special programs at the central office and she said that she would check into it. I recieved a call back stating the teacher needed time to develope his curriculum and she was just giving him what the other children were doing for now. By the end of the school year his curriculum had never been completed. He had continued with Kindergarten level work (completely bored with school). And his progress tracking between classrooms was not being filled out by any of his teachers other than the specialist that came in the last hour of the day.
Just before school let out we had a last minute IEP meeting. All parties involved seemed concerned about the IEP not being followed. The school stated that they did not want him in the same situation so at the beginning of the next school year for the first few weeks they wanted him to go half days with the specialist until they could figure out better placement for him. It was suposed to be temporary.
Devin spends the mornings with his grandmother and then at 11:30 goes to a classroom that consists of himself and the specialist. He is not allowed GT classes, PE or any other classes. A few weeks into this school year we met to discuss devin's goals again. I informed them that Devin was not happy with the half day program and recommended PE, GT, library, or art be used to fill his day. He needs those classes and the half day program is constraining on my family and with gas prices it is getting expensive. I was told that this program was helping Devin and he needed to continue it. That they wanted to work their way into putting Devin into a normal classroom enviroment. Devin became severly depressed and ended up being admitted into a hospital in another state. He was discharged yesterday. During his discharge his therepist was telling our family that most of his depression is coming from his educational enviroment. He should have never been allowed to be socially isolated. She recommended private school, or forcing the school to give him equal service he is entitled to. I work for a farmer and don't make alot of money. I can not afford a lawyer or private school.
I have no idea who to go to to get anything done. I'm told I have a say over his education but all I hear from the school is that they are not set up to handle a child as different as my son, and there is nothing else they can do. He has missed half of the school year because they will call for us to pick him up because the teacher isn't in. None of these days are counted against him, but he's not getting an education this way. I don't like his classroom either it's the size of a walkin closet. It joins the side of another classroom and I'm not so sure it wasn't origionally intended to be a closet. If anyone has any suggestions please don't hesitate to contact me. Any advice offered will be greatly appreciated. My email address is [email protected]. Thank you
