not disney realated need to vent

[disneydeb]

last year dgs4 was diagnosed with high functioning autism in pre-k. they made tremendous strides with him and we all learned together how to handle zach and how zach benefits the best from school. he could not stay in pre-k one more year because his birthday is dec 27th and he'll be 5 this december. so in light of all he learned this past year we decided to let him go to kindergarten and not fight to let him stay in pre-k. Big MISTAKE, they said he didnt need special need services at this time. so they mainstreamed him into regular kindergarten. Well appartently his new teacher has not one clue how to handle him in the afternoon when he starts to act up. she has put him in time out in a different room not giving him his afternoon snack , and every day he seems to be in trouble. when we go down to the classroom to find out whats going on, her cell phone is obviously receiving text messages.my daughter said the teacher has not read his chart and did not even know he had ppt sent over. after she read it last week, things seemed to escalate, every day she kept him after class so she could complain about something, she said he tried to rip stickers off other children, yeah right the kid never even plays with other kids so i dont think he did that, when we asked him he said no. then she said he put his foot out to trip other teachers, i dont believe that other so she wrote him up. well on friday we were at the hospital all day as dgs had a soccer injury and couldnt walk. the principal kept calling and we thought it was because he was out of school that day, i called the attendance line that morning. when we were finally able to get back to the principal, she stated they were going to switch zachs class ans that the teacher was a very good teacher. and tht they had 3 kids like zach in that classroom and was going to switch him to another classroom, i couldnt belive she said like zach. hello . when i drop him off for school tomorrow i am going to ask for a ppt meeting. other than that does anyone have any other ideas, my daughter thinks they are trying to get him kicked out of school all together, i'm sorry that they didnt give that teacher a perfect classroom , but she better learn how to deal with our children or pack her little teachers bag. oh yea the 2nd day of schoiol she denied him going on the nature walk, becasue he answered her back. we have asked her to keep a journal which she did not !any suggestions or help thanks in advance.

 

[bookwormde]

With being on the spectrum he should have and IEP. A proper IEP would “fix” all the problems you are facing.

bookwormde

 

[slk537]

 

[DannysMom]

With being on the spectrum he should have and IEP. A proper IEP would “fix” all the problems you are facing.

bookwormde

I completely agree. He has an ASD dx, he should have an IEP. The school district wanted to see if he could get by with no accommodations, he can't.
His parents could have insisted on an IEP for this year, coming out of a year of SpEd PreK & having an ADS dx , they would have been well within their rights to do so.

Hopefully his parents can get him and the school back on track soon.

 

[bookwormde]

While the parents could have insisted on a IEP if they were properly informed about IDEA, the district was required by IDEA (child find) to identify and provide evaluations for classification for the child and to have developed an IEP for the child to meet his needs for an appropriate education. If these things did not happen then the district is in clear violation of the federal IDEA regulations.

The fact that the district still has teachers and administators who have no idea what is appropriate for a child with spectrum characteristics is a good indication that they do not take IDEA regulations seriously.

bookwormde

 

[disneydeb]

thanks everyone, i'm bringing him to school this morning, while i stop by the office to see which classroom i need to take him to, i will be asking for another ppt meeting! Hopefully zach won't have to go thru this again! I'll keep everyone infornmed how we make out.

 

[disneydeb]

While the parents could have insisted on a IEP if they were properly informed about IDEA, the district was required by IDEA (child find) to identify and provide evaluations for classification for the child and to have developed an IEP for the child to meet his needs for an appropriate education. If these things did not happen then the district is in clear violation of the federal IDEA regulations.

The fact that the district still has teachers and administators who have no idea what is appropriate for a child with spectrum characteristics is a good indication that they do not take IDEA regulations seriously.

bookwormde

He had an iep in place because i have a copy from last year the new school and teacher just didn't bother to read it!

 

[bookwormde]

All school staff providing services are required to have been fully informed as to their responsibilities and be trained to carry tem out. You should call an immediate IEP meeting to address their obvious IDEA violation. With that said unless they are resistant to following the prior IEP and making the needed modifications to make it work this year, there is no need to persue process for the violations unless this is needed to get them moving towards compliance.

bookwormde

 

[kaffinito]

Here's a big for you! the same thing happened to my oldest child when he went from pre-k to Kindergarten. It was a nightmare that took me months to straighten out. I hope you have a much easier time getting Zach in the right placement so he doesn't have to go through any more difficulties in school. It sounds like you're doing all the right things, so hang in there!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

An IEP is not an automatic guarantee of services, it can be determined that student has a disability but will function just fine ni the regular classroom. It sounds like he woudl do well in an inclusive classroom with a competent teacher. It is the teacher's responsibility to read the IEP and follow all appropriate accommodations.

When an IEP is put into place, it is required that the school provides the parents with Procedural Safeguards. This is required by Federal Law, and you should have signed off that you received it. Look for that document, if you do not have it, demand that they give it to you, make sure you remind them this is required under Federal Law. Tell them that you want an IEP meeting to address the current situation, and then tell them that if the situation does not improve you will take them through due process. Use those exact words, it should put the fear of God in them.

Also ask them if there is a local agency that provides advocates for families. You are legally allowed to have an advocate in the meeting, a lot of times there is a local agency that will provide them free of charge. An advocate is somebody who is knowledgeable about the process and can help you make sure that the school is following the law. They will help you advocate for your grandson and ask all the appropriate questions. If there is not an agency, see if there's somebody at your church (or other local organization) who is willing to help, or even a family member or friend. The advocate can be whomever you want.

The main thing is to let them know that you understand what is required of them by IDEA and that if they do not follow it you will go through due process.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

So even though he won't turn 5 until the end of December, he still meets the age cut-off for kindergarten? I'm thinking he's awfully young to be going to K, even if he didn't have an autism diagnosis. In my opinion there's no reason why he needs to be in a regular kindergarten at this time, especially given his challenges. If it were me, I would get him out of kindergarten now and push for another year of pre-K. You can call an IEP meeting anytime you want and now would be a good time to do it. Discuss your options with the district. Right now the district is pushing a special needs 4 year old into a regular kindergarten class and that's just not right. If he can't go back to pre-k, they should at least put him into a special needs K class where there's a lower student:teacher ratio and experienced teachers and aides.

I once had a kindergarten teacher tell me that it's never a bad idea to hold a younger child back a year, especially boys. She was complaining about California's cut-off date which is Dec. 1 and saying she was getting too many 4 year olds who weren't ready for school. She said many of them never quite catch up socially and emotionally until around high school. I kept both of my boys out of kindergarten until they were 6. One is on the spectrum (Asperger's) and the other is typical. My oldest son spent an extra year in special ed preschool and it made all the difference in his being ready to be mainstreamed. The younger one went to a private school that had a Jr. K class and he did very well.

Good luck with your situation. I hope it works out soon!

 

[disneydeb]

Well here's what happened this morning. I brought Zach in (i am his grandmother who lives with him and his mom-parents are divorced). I saw principal Betsy in hall and she asked Zach how he was doing, which he said four. I asked if he was to go to old class room or new one, and she said new one. Then she hurried off. I stopped by old classroom to pick up his clothes in cubby and blanket and told old teacher that we were there to p/u blanket and clothes, she stated that she had already brought clothes over and that he could get blanket later. We went to new classroom where i introducted him to new teacher and she said I already know Zach, and what kind of day are we going to have today which Zach replied happy. She then proceeded to tell me tht her room was the one that zachs been having his time-outs in and she had offered to take him. I then proceeded to tell her that the other teacher did not bother to read his ppt, and then old teacher showed up with his clothes which she had already told be she brought , over to which i replied zach was on spectrum, i could tell from look on her face(the new teacher) the look she gave the old teacher that she had no clue he was on spectrum. the old teacher said she had sent over the ppt on friday, to which the new teacher told her she did not. the old teacher then left, i told her i had a stack of ppts at home to which she asked if i could bring them to her so she could read them. I went home got them and stopped back at the office to askif they could make copies of all of them as i wanted to retain the originals, at that point the principal came out of her office, and stated that the ppt said that he did not need special ed services, i told her that both of her teachers had no clue tht zach was on spectruma nd i proceeded to point out and highlight where it said that he was on spectrum, and if they had bothered to read it they would have seen that he did not need ispecia; ed anymore at his old school as he was doing fine there and he might need services later on. The principal then asked me for a note from my daughter to discuss anything that goes on with zach, to which i replied i am one of his primary caregivers, my daughter and i work as a team to help zach, i have attended every one of his ppt meetings, i am also a nurse but i will get her a note! She then told me they were going to start a journal with zach and then call a csw meeting to see if they needed to initiate special ed, they also told me my daughter needs to call them to set up a ppt to which she will do that, and that there was not an iep according to the prinicipal becasue he does not need special ed! But she did make copies of everything i brought, which she said she will give to new teacher , and i'm sure the principal will read them too. That 's all for now we'll have to see what happens next! i'll let everyone know! thanks again hugs to everyone

 

[bookwormde]

Here is my take. The Principle has never read the IDEA regulations. They are required to do a full evaluation to determine whether the child needs an IEP upon entering Kindergarten.

Virtually all children on the spectrum have an IEP and receive services. Your daughter needs to call an IEP meeting and/or formally (in writing) request an evaluation if the child has not been formally educationally classified as ASD or Aspergers.

This school is to busy making excuses to focus on meeting the child’s need for an appropriate education.

I am not sure what a PPT is but what you need is an IEP for the child. I do no that no document other than a formal evaluation and if needed an IEP can state that your child does not need services.

Start the clock ticking on the formal IDEA evaluation request as soon a possible because by the sound of your description the school/district do not have the proper procedures in place for IDEA.

Also contact the special education director for your district and tell her your tale and what is happening at the school and follow it up with a letter. Hopefully she will realize how far they are from complying with IDEA.

I hate to say it but it sounds like you are in for a fight.

Still cannot believe that they did not advise the teachers that child was on the spectrum, much of what they are doing now is clear and simple abuse of a spectrum individual.

bookwormde

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

Make sure that you have your daughter contact the administrator of the school to schedule an appointment. Unless you have custody of you grandchild, the school cannot discuss the child's educational services with you. This is due to confidentiality. I know this can be frustrating since you are the primary caregiver.

My DD has a hearing loss. My mom has been to all of her dr. appointments and school related meetings with me also. However, she would never be allowed to gain access to information without me present.

Good luck with the school.

 

[disneydeb]

.


I am not sure what a PPT is but what you need is an IEP for the child. I do no that no document other than a formal evaluation and if needed an IEP can state that your child does not need services.
A PPT IS THE PLACEMENT PLANNING TEAM (SORRY I DONT KNOW HOW TO SEPERATE THE QUOTES)
Also contact the special education director for your district and tell her your tale and what is happening at the school and follow it up with a letter. Hopefully she will realize how far they are from complying with IDEA. THE SPECIAL ED DIRECTOR FOR THE DISTRICT IS ACTUALLY AT THIS SCHOOL

 

[SueM in MN]

An IEP is not an automatic guarantee of services, it can be determined that student has a disability but will function just fine ni the regular classroom. It sounds like he woudl do well in an inclusive classroom with a competent teacher. It is the teacher's responsibility to read the IEP and follow all appropriate accommodations.

When an IEP is put into place, it is required that the school provides the parents with Procedural Safeguards. This is required by Federal Law, and you should have signed off that you received it. Look for that document, if you do not have it, demand that they give it to you, make sure you remind them this is required under Federal Law. Tell them that you want an IEP meeting to address the current situation, and then tell them that if the situation does not improve you will take them through due process. Use those exact words, it should put the fear of God in them.

Also ask them if there is a local agency that provides advocates for families. You are legally allowed to have an advocate in the meeting, a lot of times there is a local agency that will provide them free of charge. An advocate is somebody who is knowledgeable about the process and can help you make sure that the school is following the law. They will help you advocate for your grandson and ask all the appropriate questions. If there is not an agency, see if there's somebody at your church (or other local organization) who is willing to help, or even a family member or friend. The advocate can be whomever you want.

The main thing is to let them know that you understand what is required of them by IDEA and that if they do not follow it you will go through due process.

I don't have time to respond much, but wanted to point you to www.pacer.org
The PACER Center is in Minnesota, but it is a resource for the whole country for Educational rights. They have lots of links and have links to resources/advocacy in every state.

 

[disneydeb]

thank you everyone, he's actually doing better with his new classroom, but i am not going to let this go! my supervisor who has a special needs child told me she had a big fight with the school board too and it cost her 3500 dollars for a lawyer. Her daughter is now 21 and she has been helping me too! she told me tonight to keep a loose leaf notebook and keep all papers and report cards and whoever we send letters to to make a copy and note who receives them, i appreciate all the advice and i am reading each post and taking notes . I just wanted to thank everyone again for all there good advice

 

[LMC]

A binder is essential. Keep a log of every phone call, return calls, dates, times, etc. Keep copies of emails. AND, your daughter needs to request in writing that the school system do an evaluation for the child to identify any learning disabilities. They are required to do this within 30 days (I think) once they get it in writing. If they say no, tell them to send you a letter giving you the reason they are denying the request. If this happens, once you get the letter, send them another one stating that you want an independent eval done at public expense (this means they pay). Good luck I 'm in the middle of IEP he!! right now.