School problems

[Perky]

I'm confused. Is your niece performing at, or above, grade level, or not?

 

[Just Blue]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MD

A little history on the situation: My parents obtained custody of my nieces when they were born. There mother had mental problems that, at the time, the doctor could not distinguish. The two girls were enrolled in our local school district. The oldest, now 10, was enrolled at the beginning of kindergarten, and the youngest because of her speech problems was enrolled when she was 3 and spent 2 years in pre-kindergarten.

I would like to add before I start that I have full access to my nieces' school records and I am allowed to make decisions on their education. I am the person my family has designated now to attend Individualized education plan meetings and teacher/principal conferences.

My parents have been arguing with the same school for the last 4 1/2 years. The problem started when my oldest niece began kindergarten. She had a developmental problem and a behavioral problem that could not be diagnosed until she began school. After almost 9 months of her being in the school she was diagnosed with aspergers syndrome (a type of autism) and ADHD. After the diagnosis, they put her on an individualized education plan. Throughout this 9 months there was a considerable amount of calls (up to 5 calls per week) about my nieces behavior. Regardless of what my parent's tried she was moved to another school to begin special education classes. She is fully capable of speaking and is barely below grade level. We have come to the conclusion over the years that it is better to leave her in the class that she is currently in because the school board is refusing to budge and the principal stated that he would not put it on the record but my niece "would not ever return to this school as long as he was principal."

My youngest niece however, who is now 7, is above grade level in some areas, and at grade level in others.She currently attends the school that we had problems with in the past. We have tried everything to ensure that she gets a good education even though her sister has had many obstacles. We try to stay up to date with the teacher and ensure progress. However, she is not making any even though she can do the work. I receive long notes about what my niece is doing in class other than her work. I have asked the teacher to redirect her instead of taking notes because it is not benefiting my niece to be scolded hours after the fact. She comes home with hours of homework, up to seven hours several times a week. I know she is not the only child who is having trouble because I help tutor 6 other children after school and they have the same amount of homework and amazingly almost the same exact pages.

I have had 5 meetings with the school so far, since September, about my nieces performance. Today, the meeting was horrible. It started out with the principle telling me everything that "I" was doing wrong. The teacher had a horrible attitude. When I brought up that my niece was not the only student having these problems and that I tutor 6 other children every night in the same exact areas, I was told that it was none of my business and I needed to learn where I stand.

When my niece tried to explain that the teacher speaks to fast during instruction for her to understand and that she feels like the teacher is mad when she asks for her to clarify directions. The teacher laughed at her and began asking "Where is your assignment book, I want to see your assignment book right now. I don't see why you are even at school, it isn't like you do anything when you are here."

I looked at the principal, waiting for a response from him. I of course figured he would find the way the teacher had spoken to her as a problem. He just sat there. I tried to be as polite as possible and stated to the principal that I did not feel the way the teacher spoke to my niece was appropriate and that it may possibly be the reason she does not respond positively to the teacher. Yet again, I was told that I needed to mind my own business.

I contacted the local school board only to be met with bureaucratic stalling and useless attempts to diffuse my frustrations. After 5 hours of being on the telephone attempting to get my nieces teacher changed, I was told that the principal would not approve the change and that the school was ran by him and there was nothing the school board could do to intervene.

After this I contacted the state board of education. They stated that there really wasn't much they could do other than put pressure on the principal to make the change. I attempted to try an out of district transfer, which he told the school board he would not sign off on. I tried to get the paper work for home school. I was prepared to teach her myself through a program in Washington D.C. that is based online and is in full compliance with my school board requirements. the principal would not sign the paperwork for the school board to switch her to home school because he doesn't think it would be beneficial to my niece.

I know that someone, somewhere in this mess of a school system, there is someone that can help me. I just don't know who that would be. When is it that I have some grounds for legal action to get my niece moved to a new school. Can someone please give me some direction with this situation?

Who Dx'ed these children with the neurological disorders?

 

[Chrln_little]

2 children involved

I'm confused. Is your niece performing at, or above, grade level, or not?

My post regards 2 children. One who is performing at and above grade level (7 years old) and one who is performing just below grade level (10)

 

[Chrln_little]

Who Dx'ed these children with the neurological disorders?

The oldest (10) was diagnosed through a local organization called Kennedy Krieger Institute. The youngest was diagnosed by her pediatrician and we are planning to take her to Kennedy Krieger Institute to verify because we have no home behaviors to support the diagnosis. However, it was advised by Kennedy Krieger Institute to leave her on the medication until she is seen by their psychologist.

 

[Perky]

My post regards 2 children. One who is performing at and above grade level (7 years old) and one who is performing just below grade level (10)

I realize that, but a child who is performing at grade level doesn't generally qualify for an IEP. Her ADD alone is not sufficient reason. So, I'm confused about why you want an IEP if she is performing at grade level.

 

[Just Blue]

The oldest (10) was diagnosed through a local organization called Kennedy Krieger Institute. The youngest was diagnosed by her pediatrician and we are planning to take her to Kennedy Krieger Institute to verify because we have no home behaviors to support the diagnosis. However, it was advised by Kennedy Krieger Institute to leave her on the medication until she is seen by their psychologist.

I'm sorry..I should have more clear in my question.

Were the children EVER DX'ed my a Pedi-Neurologist or Neuro-Psychologist? Was a Neuro-Psych Eval preformed?

 

[Chrln_little]

Iep

I realize that, but a child who is performing at grade level doesn't generally qualify for an IEP. Her ADD alone is not sufficient reason. So, I'm confused about why you want an IEP if she is performing at grade level.

My niece only has an IEP because of her speech disorder. Her speech pathologist states that the reason for this is because the roof of her mouth is higher than most. When she began school, most people could not understand her. We even had trouble understanding parts of her language. The only direction in the IEP is the milestones that she will reach with her speech each quarter. It is also stated that given her progress, she will not be eligible for speech therapy after the end of the current school year.

 

[Chrln_little]

I'm sorry..I should have more clear in my question.

Were the children EVER DX'ed my a Pedi-Neurologist or Neuro-Psychologist? Was a Neuro-Psych Eval preformed?

My oldest niece was diagnosed by a Neuro-Psych Eval at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. It involved various tests that spanned over a period of months.

 

[Perky]

My niece only has an IEP because of her speech disorder. Her speech pathologist states that the reason for this is because the roof of her mouth is higher than most. When she began school, most people could not understand her. We even had trouble understanding parts of her language. The only direction in the IEP is the milestones that she will reach with her speech each quarter. It is also stated that given her progress, she will not be eligible for speech therapy after the end of the current school year.

Confused again, and maybe I need to be clearer too.

Did I misunderstand, or are you not pushing for an IEP meeting to establish educational goals? Or some other goals?

 

[Chrln_little]

I realize that, but a child who is performing at grade level doesn't generally qualify for an IEP. Her ADD alone is not sufficient reason. So, I'm confused about why you want an IEP if she is performing at grade level.

Also, I forgot to add that the principal stated that typically under ADD a student more than likely will have a learning disability, so he is discounting any claims that my nieces academic scores should be higher than they currently are. He stated that the problem couldn't possibly be the teacher that I need to have my niece evaluated further.

 

[Just Blue]

My oldest niece was diagnosed by a Neuro-Psych Eval at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. It involved various tests that spanned over a period of months.

Thanks...I actually goolged that Org and saw that is seems to be a very good org.

I just wanted to know if the child/ren were Dx'ed by qualified Medical Professionals.
You might be surprised by the number of posters that have children "dx'ed" by GP's or school personal.

Thanks for clarifying.

Blue

 

[Chrln_little]

The ultimate goal

Confused again, and maybe I need to be clearer too.

Did I misunderstand, or are you not pushing for an IEP meeting to establish educational goals? Or some other goals?

My goal is to do what is in the best interest of my niece by what ever calm democratic method the school feels best. I have attempted to create a positive learning environment for my niece. The school however, regardless of what I have tried, I have not made any progress.

That is why I am here. I do not know which is the next step to take.

 

[Just Blue]

My goal is to do what is in the best interest of my niece by what ever calm democratic method the school feels best. I have attempted to create a positive learning environment for my niece. The school however, regardless of what I have tried, I have not made any progress.

That is why I am here. I do not know which is the next step to take.

Can the Guardians afford to hire an Education Advocate?

 

[Chrln_little]

Thanks...I actually goolged that Org and saw that is seems to be a very good org.

I just wanted to know if the child/ren were Dx'ed by qualified Medical Professionals.
You might be surprised by the number of posters that have children "dx'ed" by GP's or school personal.

Thanks for clarifying.

Blue

I am actually concerned about my youngest niece's dx because she showed no signs of ADD previously. She was very shy, quiet, and I hate to say it, but robotic last year. This year, she has developed her own personality and her own form of abstract thinking.

Around the time I noticed that she was able to relate complex ideas with a story without direct relation to the text, is when the school started having an ADD freak out. They asked me specifically, "has ____ been evaluated for ADD? If not I strongly recommend that you have her tested as soon as possible. That is when the grade book began to contradict her "dibbles" scores.

 

[Chrln_little]

Education Advocate

Can the Guardians afford to hire an Education Advocate?

At this time, they cannot afford to hire an Education Advocate. Before the problems began, both of my nieces participated with our local social services, "Family Preservation Team." They are the organization that my parents get custody of my nieces and start the ball rolling on the different therapies that they received initially in school. However, my mother got a raise and it knocked her above the income limit for the program.