School problems

[Perky]

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.

Okay, well if you're tutoring 6 other kids with the same amount of homework every night, you could talk to the other parents. Are they concerned too? Would they contact the school about it? If enough parents complain, the principal will most likely investigate.

You can also sit in on your niece's class to see what's going on for yourself. That's where I would start.

 

[Chrln_little]

Other parents

Okay, well if you're tutoring 6 other kids with the same amount of homework every night, you could talk to the other parents. Are they concerned too? Would they contact the school about it? If enough parents complain, the principal will most likely investigate.

You can also sit in on your niece's class to see what's going on for yourself. That's where I would start.

The other parents in the situation have fought the same battle. They are just not in as persistent as I am. They have given up for the most part. The children that I tutor in the afternoon have all been labeled by the school as the "students with ADHD or ADD. They figure that their children will eventually leave elementary school and may catch up then. However, I am not willing to let the situation go that far.

I quote one of the parents in saying "the school board is an endless maze and you end up back where you started, angry and in tears."

 

[Perky]

The other parents in the situation have fought the same battle. They are just not in as persistent as I am. They have given up for the most part. The children that I tutor in the afternoon have all been labeled by the school as the "students with ADHD or ADD. They figure that their children will eventually leave elementary school and may catch up then. However, I am not willing to let the situation go that far.

I quote one of the parents in saying "the school board is an endless maze and you end up back where you started, angry and in tears."

I'm surprised that the school would actually tell a parent to have a child tested for ADD/ADHD. In my state, that would make the school responsible for performing the testing. We are not allowed to suggest ANY possible diagnosis (nor should we, since we're not medical professionals.) You might want to check into that for MD.

At any rate, 2nd grade is pretty early to give up and hope for later success! I still suggest that you sit in on the class for a day.

 

[Chrln_little]

I'm surprised that the school would actually tell a parent to have a child tested for ADD/ADHD. In my state, that would make the school responsible for performing the testing. We are not allowed to suggest ANY possible diagnosis (nor should we, since we're not medical professionals.) You might want to check into that for MD.

At any rate, 2nd grade is pretty early to give up and hope for later success! I still suggest that you sit in on the class for a day.

By Maryland State law, they are not allowed to recommend any type of testing or any type of medication. This is why I am so upset.

I have tried to set up a time that I can sit in my nieces class to observe and I was met with the response that I could not do that because teachers are busy and it would create a distraction for the students. I promised to sit in the back of the class and I promised that I would not attempt to interfere in any way. I was told that they have specially trained staff that monitors the classroom and if any concern is raised I would be notified.

I have asked a few times this year if my nieces class has been monitored so I could find out if there was anything documented. I was told that the school monitors are busy and they have not had time to make it to my nieces class. As far as documentation goes, there is no documentation of anyone other than the intervention workers monitoring the class. This was only so they could pull children out of class that need help with reading.

 

[Perky]

Does the school receive Title I funds? If so, I believe schools must allow parent observations. They may not allow you, but they would have to allow the guardians.

 

[Humusluvr]

This link seems to answer some of your questions, and might be how you frame your question to the principal.

Parent Observations v. Student Privacy and Confidentiality by Pete Wright and Pam Wright - Wrightslaw.com

You might also ask to speak to the special ed director directly, not the principal.

If parents cannot observe their child's classroom because they would see other children, then parents could not go into the school for other reasons - to help supervise on field trips and to help teachers with holiday parties. Parents would not be able to pick up their children from school because they would see other children.

Under the guise of protecting student "rights to confidentiality," parents would be forbidden from participating in any school activities.

Do parents participate in other activities at your child's school? Do parents pick their children up from school? If the answer to these questions is "yes," then this not does support the special ed director's position that she has to protect students' privacy.

This principal seems to be showing a pattern of breaking the laws he does not think you'll find out about, like the ARD rules and allowing you to observe. You might point this out the the superintendent. I agree that you should keep pursuing this, because it will keep the children behind grade level. I don't see any evidence you have asked for more than you or the students deserve. I do see evidence that the school is being inappropriate.

 

[Chrln_little]

Title I funding

Does the school receive Title I funds? If so, I believe schools must allow parent observations. They may not allow you, but they would have to allow the guardians.

The school does not receive title I funding this year. They did last year, but due to budget cuts, they were denied.

 

[Humusluvr]

The school does not receive title I funding this year. They did last year, but due to budget cuts, they were denied.

That doesn't make sense. Title I funds are not distributed that way.

Title I - Improving The Academic Achievement Of The Disadvantaged

 

[Chrln_little]

This link seems to answer some of your questions, and might be how you frame your question to the principal.

Parent Observations v. Student Privacy and Confidentiality by Pete Wright and Pam Wright - Wrightslaw.com

You might also ask to speak to the special ed director directly, not the principal.




This principal seems to be showing a pattern of breaking the laws he does not think you'll find out about, like the ARD rules and allowing you to observe. You might point this out the the superintendent. I agree that you should keep pursuing this, because it will keep the children behind grade level. I don't see any evidence you have asked for more than you or the students deserve. I do see evidence that the school is being inappropriate.

I am going to call the school board this morning and see if I can speak to the special education director. Thank you all for your help and guidance in this situation. I appreciate it very much.

 

[Chrln_little]

State School Board

I made it up to the assistant superintendent of my state. They gave me the instruction that I should send the information to the state superintendent and said that it is the best route. The man I spoke to acted like there was something they could do, until they heard the name of the principal in question. He then hesitated and asked if I knew that his brother holds office in the county school board. The man also stated that the principal's brother is a prominent attorney for the area. He then hesitated and said that in fact maybe there is not much they can do.I am taking a time out from phone calls now because I am so mad that his brother's status is protecting him. I am so mad could pop!

 

[Chrln_little]

That doesn't make sense. Title I funds are not distributed that way.

Title I - Improving The Academic Achievement Of The Disadvantaged

All I know about the title I funding for my area is that they went to a meeting at the school board and found out that we lost our title I funding. Last year, the title I funding helped with school supplies and other items needed for the children. They even sent a letter home with the students on the first day of class stating that they lost their title I funding.

 

[Chrln_little]

Does the school receive Title I funds? If so, I believe schools must allow parent observations. They may not allow you, but they would have to allow the guardians.

My father asked if he could several times this year. He was met with the same answer I was.

 

[Humusluvr]

All I know about the title I funding for my area is that they went to a meeting at the school board and found out that we lost our title I funding. Last year, the title I funding helped with school supplies and other items needed for the children. They even sent a letter home with the students on the first day of class stating that they lost their title I funding.

This is why an attorney would be very helpful at this point. Both the principal and brother feel invincible, and are taking legal liberties that are not theirs to take. If this continues, consider moving to another district. Even if there were some way a legal guardian in another district could make a different county the residence for these girls, that would be advisable!

 

[Chrln_little]

NEW information

Today I received an IEP packet for my oldest niece. As I have mentioned before, she has an IEP meeting on the 15th to decide her placement.

The packet states in the related services section that my niece receives 30 minutes of occupational therapy 4 times per month. She also gets physical therapy for 30 minutes 2 times weekly. It states that she only spends 5 hours weekly in a special education environment where she is away from her regular class setting. However, this is not the case. When my niece was grabbed by the arm, the meeting was set up. The regular education teacher that my niece is supposed to have stated that she had never met my niece and that she was not aware that she was supposed to be in her class until that meeting. She is in a special classroom for the full day except when she attends speech physical therapy and occupational therapy.

What is the best way to approach this on the 15th when the meeting comes up without sounding like I am trying to pick a fight?

 

[Humusluvr]

Today I received an IEP packet for my oldest niece. As I have mentioned before, she has an IEP meeting on the 15th to decide her placement.

The packet states in the related services section that my niece receives 30 minutes of occupational therapy 4 times per month. She also gets physical therapy for 30 minutes 2 times weekly. It states that she only spends 5 hours weekly in a special education environment where she is away from her regular class setting. However, this is not the case. When my niece was grabbed by the arm, the meeting was set up. The regular education teacher that my niece is supposed to have stated that she had never met my niece and that she was not aware that she was supposed to be in her class until that meeting. She is in a special classroom for the full day except when she attends speech physical therapy and occupational therapy.

What is the best way to approach this on the 15th when the meeting comes up without sounding like I am trying to pick a fight?

Schools are required to provide logs of when students receive their special ed services. Tell them that you want a weekly summary of what services she receives, when she is in her regular class versus special ed class. Tell them you'll meet with her counselor or the special ed director each week to disucuss them, until you are satisfied that your niece is being served in the least restrictive environment. I would voice your concerns, and have them make note of them in the file, that the regular classroom teacher had never met the student.

Honestly, I would go in with a tape recorder, and state that you want to make sure you remember everything that was said at the meeting. Set it in the middle of the table, and turn it on. If they balk, ask to see where it is written that you can't record the meeting, because there is no law prohibiting audio recordings of meetings. See this:

Tape-recording IEP Meetings: What Does the Law Say?

Tell them you want your parents to be able to review the tape, since they aren't at the meeting. They can't deny it, the legal guardians have to have access to the meetings, even if they can't attend.

Look back at this thread, make yourself a notecard of bullet points of things you want included in the IEP, and a way to check that her needs are being met. Go into the meeting confident and don't let them bully you.