A question for teachers or anyone who might know

[kellyg403]

Yesterday, ds16 was given a copy of his transcripts. He is doing well, 21 in his class of 300, no behavior problems etc. He did have issues in middle school..the forgetful and what I felt were 'lazy' homework habits. He definitely was one of those kids where the teacher would comment how his grades would look turning in homework. He could ace a test but turning in homework was beneath him no matter how many times he was grounded.

Anyway, the question. I noticed on the transcripts (which go all the way back to elem school) that they have him listed as possibly autistic. He was considered special needs in first and second. He is a severe asthmatic and those first two years of school he seemed to go back and forth in and out of the hospital. While the drs and I tried to figure out what medications and triggers he had, he missed quite a few days of school. In first grade they approached me because he did not seem to be understanding math nor was he reading at all and his speech was far behind. Socially he was o.k. He did cry, horribly, everyday when he went to school until the end of 2nd grade. He did not like to be away from home. I had thought at the time that he was probably behind from being sick and being out. At the end of 2nd he was reading on a 3rd grade level, his speech was/is perfect and his math comprehension is wonderful..even today.

I wonder should I speak to the school and ask them to remove this or should I just let it be. Whe ds saw it, he brought it to my attention because he *never* knew he was considered special education classified. He made such steady progress those years, I never mentioned anything except when he had a memory of a special class or special friend. I also wonder why no one at the school ever even mentioned in the 300 meetings it felt like we had that they felt this way? I am reasonably certain that he is not autistic but I am not a dr and know that there is a wide range of spectrums. It listed on there that because he had little speech and verbal connections with people. He did really at home, but he was also painfully shy. Mostly I feel because I did cocoon him a lot since he was sick and I was always making sure he never went anywhere with cats, dogs, illness etc. He was so ill the drs recommended he stay out the first 3 weeks of kindegarten as most got (at that time) the live polio virus and he was on an extended oral steroid at that time (6 months).

Thoughts? Does it even really matter except to ds?

Kelly
ETA: I never really spoke much about this to ds, not because I didn't want him to know but because he quickly became an illness 'manipulator' in 2nd grade. Once his meds and triggers were under control, I noticed he was using his asthma to get his way. I spoke with his ped who said it was common and the best I could do as his parent is NOT to let it happen. So, a lot of times if there was an issue, I just 'pretended' it was normal or o.k...otherwise he would never try anything, do anything etc.

 

[Cindy B]

This would be more of a guidance counselor question and not a teacher question.
Are you sure you weren't looking at cumulative folder and not an official transcript?
My cumes (can't do the true abbreviation) have all types of information from early elementary to the current grade-in my case 8th grade. It has test info, standardized/district tests, any medical documentation and such.

A transcript- at least what I know- only has high school grades. The high school transcript (mine and my husbands) only has grades from high school. For college applications, the admissions departments only want high school transcripts.

Is it a a K-12 school or a K-12 district? I've never heard of a transcript going back that far, only a cume folder. Is is a private school?

That really doesnt make much sense to me.

 

[Magic Mom]

As a parent I would want that removed. Unless he was actually diagnosed then any mention of Autism is just speculation and has no place in his official transcripts.

Come to think of it...I don't think it would belong there even if he was diagnosed.

 

[kellyg403]

In came in a envelope 'Official Transcript'? Possibly the wrong paperwork given in the folder? Don't know? I will definitely call the guidance counselor and ask on Monday.

It had grades, testing, information re: special education classes in elem and 'notes'.

He is a student in a regular 9-12 HS, so no, not a K-12. This is the first year that we have received this type of transcript. In the past, the kids are given at the end of the first semester a high school transcript with classes, grades, class standing etc. Unless I never looked as closely. When ds handed it to me, I was looking through it and he was the one who pointed it out???

Very odd because it shows in 5th grade as part of the AG program and taken out of the classes in middle school...which did happen...and then all his classes in high school are AP.

Maybe, somehow, he has gotten something in error??

Kelly

ETA: Autism was never discussed. We did discuss 'developmental delays' but his pediatrician did not feel it was anything more than a hyper vigilant mother and his illness causing him to be delayed. He was in the hospital 8 times in kind alone and just about the same in first. He had the type of asthma that went from bad to worse in minutes and then pnuemonia within 24 hours. The kid was intubated at 5..it was a terrible time. Anyway, possibly there has been a mixup as most of the information IS correct, but some is just strange. The special ED teacher listed WAS his teacher, possibly she made the error many years ago and it just isn't/wasn't noticed?

Kelly

 

[3smithboys]

I am a teacher, and I cannot imagine anything that you would be looking at that would have that listed on it. School are not allowed to make that kind of diagnosis anyway. That would never be listed on a transcript. I would not want that put on anything from the school on my son's "transcript" either.

I think I would ask for it to be removed. (and I don't usually get *upset* and am not a helicopter mom in any way...) I let the school get on with their job educating my 3 boys, but I will question when things don't "make sense" and this doesn't sit right with me. I wouldn't want one of my boys to be given his transcript and read that kind of information about himself... Also, who else has gotten this information about your son?

 

[Wonders10]

I'm a speech pathologist in an elementary and middle school. Plus I still remember what my high school and college transcripts looked like. Actual transcripts should only have the courses and the grades, as far as I can recall, no diagnoses of anything, nothing else.

Even if they do things differently these days and put that kind of info on transcripts, the fact that is says "possible autism" would irk me since it isn't an actual diagnosis. I would definitely talk with someone - probably the guidance counselor, dean. Teacher wouldn't be able to fix that problem.

I'm also thinking of any sort of legal document that we would give a parent that would say "possible autism" unless they are conference notes and we are testing to see if they would qualify for ASD services.

Good Luck!

 

[kellyg403]

I am a teacher, and I cannot imagine anything that you would be looking at that would have that listed on it. School are not allowed to make that kind of diagnosis anyway. That would never be listed on a transcript. I would not want that put on anything from the school on my son's "transcript" either.

I think I would ask for it to be removed. (and I don't usually get *upset* and am not a helicopter mom in any way...) I let the school get on with their job educating my 3 boys, but I will question when things don't "make sense" and this doesn't sit right with me. I wouldn't want one of my boys to be given his transcript and read that kind of information about himself... Also, who else has gotten this information about your son?

See, thats me. I don't usually let things bother me, the school has a right to do their job and I reinforce that. Besides it not be 'factual' to my knowledge I couldn't figure out why it would even be there. DS looked at me like I had kept some important information from him and he was actually 'upset' that I had not told him he had a 'problem'. I expressed to him that he did not have a dr diagnosis nor was I told by the school they even thought that. I was always under the impression the school, teachers, principle, drs were on the same page. He was sick, he was behind and they were helping me get him back on track..end of story.

I will definitely call on Monday..maybe its something new but really, I feel the same it shouldn't be there. I don't want to be the helicopter parent either but ya know...

Kelly

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'd definitely have it taken out. Plus, the principal should be aware it was in there. Unless it was a comment made by the school psychologist after you agreed to testing, no one should make any official "suspicion" of a medical/psychological diagnosis.

 

[minkydog]

Wow. I thought autism was a medical diagnosis, not an educational one. I would definitely bring that to their attention and get that little tidbit removed. No need to give future colleges any reason to decline him. Don't know if they would, but you never know.

 

[3smithboys]

I would call for sure. There was nothing wrong with them discussing the fact that they thought he could be on the spectrum among themselves (and I'm not saying that we don't do that with each other so we can figure out how to best approach the parent so they can talk to the Dr....) BUT that is way different t from putting it in WRITING and in a transcript. Also, if they felt that way, there are ways to approach a parent to discuss that so you can talk to your Dr. about it. We are NOT allowed to make that diagnosis... We can only tell the parent what we observe so the parent can take these observations back to their Dr.

Luckily, your son was just delayed because he missed so much school and was able to catch up! He was also probably anxious because of his med issues too!!!

I'm sure your son was ... mine would have been the same way!!!

 

[nowellsl]

I work with transcripts every day and ours list courses, grades, immunization data, standardized test scores, and any special ed info. It gives dates tested and placed. It also lists the disability, SLD, EH, Speech or Lang. impaired, etc. It would not say something like "possibly autistic", only a disability that has been confirmed through testing. I would definately call and have it removed.

Also, it does list all courses and year grades all the way back to Pre-K or Kindergarten.

 

[Wonders10]

Wow. I thought autism was a medical diagnosis, not an educational one. I would definitely bring that to their attention and get that little tidbit removed. No need to give future colleges any reason to decline him. Don't know if they would, but you never know.

Off topic, but...it is a medical diagnosis, but in our school district at least, we still have to do language and psycho-educational testing to make sure they will qualify to receive services in the school system. Even if a neurologist says he/she is ASD.

 

[kellyg403]

I would call for sure. There was nothing wrong with them discussing the fact that they thought he could be on the spectrum among themselves (and I'm not saying that we don't do that with each other so we can figure out how to best approach the parent so they can talk to the Dr....) BUT that is way different t from putting it in WRITING and in a transcript. Also, if they felt that way, there are ways to approach a parent to discuss that so you can talk to your Dr. about it. We are NOT allowed to make that diagnosis... We can only tell the parent what we observe so the parent can take these observations back to their Dr.

Luckily, your son was just delayed because he missed so much school and was able to catch up! He was also probably anxious because of his med issues too!!!

I'm sure your son was ... mine would have been the same way!!!

I would have been very open had we had the discussion. His life was a mess at the time, not only sick, but mom and dad going thru a divorce, he was picked on a bit because he had a harder time with PE, I, stupidly, kept him from being social on a lot of levels. I was scared to let him stay the night at other places because I was afraid something would happen before I could get there...so socially I was totally at fault. I did feel at the time I was being cooperative with the school. I, to this day, still have a relationship with his Special Ed teacher as she shops in my store. She always comments that ds was one of her best success stories. I always thought she meant because he caught on quickly...now I am thinking differently....

Kelly

 

[kellyg403]

I work with transcripts every day and ours list courses, grades, immunization data, standardized test scores, and any special ed info. It gives dates tested and placed. It also lists the disability, SLD, EH, Speech or Lang. impaired, etc. It would not say something like "possibly autistic", only a disability that has been confirmed through testing. I would definately call and have it removed.

Also, it does list all courses and year grades all the way back to Pre-K or Kindergarten.

Yes! This exactly...but along with 'notes'. It was the first time ever I noticed on the kids transcripts but honestly he was the only one ever in Special Education so I didn't know if it was the way it worked. And honestly, he was in a special class in first but in 2nd he was in 2 classes a day and integreted with a 'regular' class for the rest of the day..speech and reading.

Kelly

 

[3smithboys]

I would have been very open had we had the discussion. His life was a mess at the time, not only sick, but mom and dad going thru a divorce, he was picked on a bit because he had a harder time with PE, I, stupidly, kept him from being social on a lot of levels. I was scared to let him stay the night at other places because I was afraid something would happen before I could get there...so socially I was totally at fault. I did feel at the time I was being cooperative with the school. I, to this day, still have a relationship with his Special Ed teacher as she shops in my store. She always comments that ds was one of her best success stories. I always thought she meant because he caught on quickly...now I am thinking differently....

Kelly

We do what we think is best at the time. Hindsight is always 20/20! Going through medical issues with kids is so tough and to go through a divorce at the same time could not have been easy... at least everything worked out great!!!

 

[Magpie]

Gee... I refused to sign my son IEP (Individualized Education Program), because they had him listed as an "Auditory Learner" when the kid actually has borderline hearing problems!

I'm glad you're calling the school on Monday. This needs to be sorted out ASAP. Whatever's on your child's transcripts should be accurate, whether it's as minor as a misidentified learning style or as major as a misdiagnosis of Autism.

Good luck getting this sorted out!

 

[Cindy B]

My high school transcript has just grades, GPA, class standing comments and honors.

No mention of grades prior to 9th grade.

My college transcript (graduated Dec. 2008) only has classes taken, grades, class standing, GPA, comment and honors.

My sons(10th grade) transcript would only have high school grades.. GPA, comments, class rank, honors, and such. He has an IEP-- so it would say IEP and that is it...no indications on what/who. It may have PSAT, SAT scores but nothing personal.

In your situation, it seems like a HIPPA violation.

Did the envelope say official transcript? Was it just a collection of guidance stuff? It seems very odd that comment would be on a transcript. Those comments are on the cume folders in my school, but not on transcripts. In our district, transcripts are just a collections of grades and other grade like information.

I would take it up with the guidance counselor or even the child study team.

Really the teacher has nothing to do with it.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I don't understand why a transcript would have elementary and middle school grades, let alone any information regarding special needs. But then I have never dealt with school districts in North Carolina.

Mostly transcripts will have high school course information (including any courses taken prior to 9th grade but go towards high school credits), standardized test scores, diploma information, demographics and sometimes registration dates.

 

[tasha99]

Wow. I thought autism was a medical diagnosis, not an educational one. I would definitely bring that to their attention and get that little tidbit removed. No need to give future colleges any reason to decline him. Don't know if they would, but you never know.

It varies by state, but in Oregon at least, you can have either a medical or educational diagnosis of autism (or both).

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I can't comment on the removal, but if it's that big of a deal to him... pursue it.

FWIW, I work with a kid who's blind. He' got no other inhibitor other than his eyes don't work. He's in the top 10 in his class. Let him know that the classification in no way represents his ability. My student takes mostly all AP classes and scored a 2000 on the SAT - and he is classified special ed.