IEP & Goals not being met, new school says nothing will change , Can they really do nothing? - Page 2

[mommyonamission]

One other thing,  find out why she received the detentions.  if it related to her disability, she needs more support or a different setting.

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by SoCaliMommy 

She sort of likes it. Last week she came home saying she got detention 2 days in a row, i wrote a note to the teacher and have yet to hear anything back, i even asked the front office about it and they said they didn't know anything about it. I can't talk to the teacher because she's gone right when the bell rings at the end of the day and she gets to the school right before school starts.  

Oooh, not good. The fact that the teacher leaves early and comes late makes me nervous. It's not the sign of a good teacher. A teacher needn't be at the school every minute of the day, but most teachers are there 45 min - 1 hour early and stay at least that long afterward. In fact, most contracts with the school district require that. (When on earth does she do her planning?)

DEFINITELY e-mail the teacher, copy the principal and state in writing that you would like a response within 2 business days. I would also ask to set up an appointment before or after school. She should be required to be there to meet you. If she 'can't' go directly to the principal.

I agree that it's too early to tell if what they're doing is working, but since you KNOW she's got special needs, you need to be in contact with the teacher regularly. If the teacher can't/won't help you with that, you need to be the squeaky wheel until her needs are met.

[SoCaliMommy]

 I'm hoping she brings something home today * they did have a sub for 2days last week i think, so figured give her 2 days to get back to me is more than enough time* and if not i will be going to talk to the Principal tomorrow morning about it.

[meandmine]

Jumping in ...

Sounds like the dententions might have been from the sub who did not know about your dd's IEP/situation.  

Absolutely you should get a response from teacher.  As a teacher I will tell you that email is the best form of contact.  Trying to have a mini-conference with a teacher on the fly before/after school is not ideal for you or the teacher.

To the pp poster -- good teachers work all kinds of hours -- just not always at school -- they may have children, too -- so the teacher coming/going at her contract times is not necessarily a bad sign -- she may work many hours at home (as I do, for example).

Being a squeeky wheel and advocating for one's child is important.  Assuming good intentions is also important until proven otherwise.

M

[SoCaliMommy]

 I talked to the teacher she was at the drive up pick up line today.

 She said she tells all the students in her class if they don't finish their classwork they will get detention umm wft.

 She also then said that i need to get Alex to try and do her classwork. Umm yeah sure how the heck do you expect me to do that.

I highly doubt this school even requested her cumulative file from her old school 

[LynnS6]

I think it's time for you to demand an IEP meeting. Clearly the teacher is not making accommodations for your daughter. Not good.

[khaoskat]

With regards to the detentions for not completing work...

1) Review your IEP.  My son's has a section that they mark special accomodations, including things like extra time to complete work, take tests, etc.  You need to see if there is anything marked in that area, or if there is anything written into the IEP that would allow your child extra time to do work that the other children are doing.

2) If there is not - you need to sit down and request a meeting to modify the IEP to allow for said extra time, as well as a possible tutor in the areas she needs help. 

I mean seriously, if the child is functioning on a 1st grade (or even Kinder) level in a subject, you cannot expect her to complete the work in a timely manner when she honestly probably does not understand it on a 2nd grade level.  It sounds, on the surface, like the teacher is treating her as a typical 2nd grade child who is not behind and has no special needs.

[Aridel]

As the PP said, you need an IEP meeting ASAP.  Bring a printed copy of her IEP, and if extra time or adapted work isn't on the list of accommodations it needs to be added.

[SoCaliMommy]

 It's official the school new school clearly never took the time to actually read her old IEP which they have a copy of..... there is section  for Gross/Fine Motor Skills where they say her writing is neat. It's not at all and on her old IEP it says " According to her classroom teacher she displays poor fine motor skills. This includes coloring, writing letters and cutting.

 The new IEP has the box Response To Intervention Method ( RTI ) checked off but nothing under it marked off at all, which seems weird since the box is checked off.

 On the first page under comments/additional services required. it says Offer of FAPE: 90minutes 5x a week of specialized academic instruction in a separate class.

There is no place on the new IEP talking about her having modified classwork at all. 

 Her old IEP had a area saying Classwork/Curricular Accommodations/Modifications : a box was checked of saying " Student is expected to meet the same standards of curriculum content mastery as non- special education students within the classroom- With accommodations: When available: small group setting, individual on to on assistance, modified assignments, HW journal and home to school communications are needed daily.

Her last report card from October from her old school  says " She continues to struggle with all her modified work and is unable to retain what knowledge is given to her. In small group she is working on phonics/letter sounds, and continues to struggle with the simplest tasks. She is unable to compete tasks such as cutting,coloring and pasting projects/assignments. The regular classroom is a great challenge for her.   Her one from November says " Alexandria has much difficulty managing the 2nd grade work load. She is unable to do much of the work on her own and requires a tremendous amount of support. Even with one on one teacher support she struggles and has great difficulty.

[khaoskat]

I would sit down and request a meeting and demand that her IEP be rewritten to include some of the things from the old school.  I would also find out where to get an advocate to advocate for your child on your and her behalf.

If you don't like what they have done, at least keep what is on it for right now while appealing.

[Aridel]

Did you sign that you accepted the new IEP? 

I agree that it sounds like it's time for an advocate.  I doubt you'll get the separate school as a placement, but clearly her current teacher and the current services she is getting are not working, and are not being implemented correctly. 

Everything that has been an issue needs to be in writing.  If you talk to the teacher, follow it up with a letter or email summarizing your discussion, so that you have proof - and if she disagrees with how you put things then she'll probably respond.  This helps keep the school honest, and starts a paper trail in case you have to take things to the next level later on.

[SoCaliMommy]

 Yes i did sign the IEP, She had started school on Nov 30th and they had a new IEP written up by December 16th right before getting out for Christmas break.

[Aridel]

Since you accepted the new IEP in full, and it says nothing about modified classwork they are not violating the IEP by not giving her modified classwork.  You need a meeting to get that changed, it sounds like you need a whole new IEP again since the one she's working off of is inappropriate.  The new school should be working with her based on what she needs, but it sounds like they're following her current IEP.  She still should not be disciplined for manifestations of her disability, and detentions for not finishing work she is struggling with are completely unacceptable.

It's water under the bridge at this point, but never ever sign anything you haven't read completely (twice) and don't 100% agree with.  If you ever want her to get the services or work on the goals in a new IEP but you don't agree with the accommodations or placement, accept the parts you like, check that you partially reject on the form, and write a letter rejecting the parts you don't like.  Bring an advocate to your next IEP meeting - they really help, even for experienced parents. 

The old IEP gives valuable information and documentation, but the new school does not have to work off that, they have to work off the most recent accepted IEP, which is theirs.