Should I be concerned about getting testing from the school?

[Bestbirths]

In order to get a grant for vision therapy we need to get our children tested to see that they fall below grade level, and enroll them in one class.

I called the school district to ask about getting my children tested. The man would say things like "I don't mean to scare and intimidate you"...which I translate "I am trying to scare and intimidate you"....just irritating stuff.

I was told that the school districts routinely test children for no charge for homeschoolers. This is just the basic test. He doesn't know if they will do that for us...they need to have a meeting. We might need to have a meeting with a team first. I asked if we could do both, basic testing right away for the vision therapy, and more in depth evaluations.

I said "don't worry, you aren't intimidating me". I asked of the possibility for testing and for the children to be enrolled in one pull out class, evidently this is what would require the team, and the in depth testing. They need to show enrollment in one class for the vision therapy. Plus, I thought, maybe with dyslexia/other LD's they could benefit from some of the therapies the school may offer. He was fairly offended at my expectation that the school was going to roll on over and do testing based on any parent who decided they wanted it for some whim (he probably thinks vision therapy is quackery or something-thats the vibe I got).

He was insistant on getting our children each set up with a meeting, an IEP, a decision making thing with a team to discuss what we've been doing (Ha! discuss unschooling..... with them?).

Holy crapola....what am I getting into?

I said that I wanted to continue homeschooling but also was interested in any pull out classes or special therapies that could compliment the unschooling of our LD children while keeping the integrity of our homeschool.

He is going to get back to me on whether or not it is an all or nothing deal with them, such as, if you want the services, you must enroll them in school.

And...he is making it sound like the law states that they don't even give homeschoolers basic testing for grade level if we ask for it. So, I asked for a copy of the law to read it myself. It is http://www.ksbe.state.ks.us

[Linda on the move]

This is really a state issue. Can you get in touch with other homeschoolers in your area and find out the real deal and how to work the system where you are?

[Dar]

The schools won't provide special education services without an IEP. That's federal. In Kansas, the public schools do offer special education services to children attending private schools (according to this), presumably including non-accredited private schools (which is how most people in Kansas homeschool). To qualify for services, though, your kids would need to be fully tested, usually with the Woodcock-Johnson or something similar.... and then you would need to mess with regular IEP meetings and stuff, and they could decide to let your kids take a pullout class or not... it would depend on whether the team decided that was the most appropriate educational setting. If you disagreed with the team, you could appeal... but it gets messy. The testing would take hours, too.

Kansas law does not require public schools to just test homeschoolers. Some districts might do this, but they're not required to legally.

Dar

[Bestbirths]

Thanks Dar...

[paganmum]

Goodness!!! I know that it varies from state to state but even with the problems here I'm kind of glad we are where we are. For us there is a lot of paperwork, all that fun legal red tape stuff for permission, but man it's still simpler. Right now I am working on getting OT services for my senspry kid, I feel that it is best for her to continue, plus they will test for anything else that they think might need looking into. (I'm going to kind of push for that since I think somethings have been pushed aside as "normal kid stuff") I just have to wait for them to get back to me for the dates and times.

[frogguruami]

I know very little about what vision therapy does or is used for so feel free to ignore this post.

My son can get OT for sensory intergration disorder through the PS if I want him to. But in talking to several therapists and teachers I discovered that by going through the school he will be receiving therapy that will help him perform better in the school/classroom environment to "facilitate easier learning". Being that I homeschool, that is of very little use to me. Through some research I have been able to understand SID a little better and help my son develop coping skills at home. In the future I may seek out professional services but I will not do so through the school. I don't feel that their ultimate goal (producing a functioning member of a classroom) and my ultimate goal (producing a functioning, happy and well adjusted member of reality) are remotely close. I ultimately decided that the hoops I would have to jump through to get him services were not worth it because the services would be unsatisfactory IMO. Not to mention the stress it would cause him.

I will admit that the services you will receive are probably far superior to anything our state offers. FL is awful! Just thought I would throw my recent decision out there as food for thought.

[boongirl]

I'm confused. I thought that all of this stuff came from federal funding. Why is it so different by state? Here in WA, to qualify for special ed services of any kind, you have to have the testing to have a IEP. That is the only way the district gets the federal funding for it. Without the federal funding, there is no money for it. Plus, districts sometimes get audited to make sure they are in compliance. Basically, if you want to get the vision therapy for free from the district you have to play their game as that is the only way they get money to pay for the therapy.

And don't be intimidated by meeting with the group. Just state your case and let them think what they think.

It sucks but that is the way the game is played.

[Bestbirths]

boongirl,

This vision therapy is funded by a grant from the natl optometrists assn. or something like that....so it isn't federally funded. We'd like to meet their requirements to recieve the grant. Vision therapy helps dyslexic children to read better. What we'd like from the district is testing, and possibly enrollment in one class to satisfy the grant requirements. Plus a helpful therapy would be nice, if one exists that the school offers, that is "helpful for our goals".: Meaning....yk....a treatment that is truely useful for severly dyslexic students that will help them to read, or help with auditory processing...etc. If such a thing exists within the public school system and can be accessed by homesch.... or um.... non accredited private schools.......

I've just heard so much how blah blah blah with a phd are so much better able to teach a dyslexic child how to read...I mean..really? Here..have at it...go for it....here is the child 3 times a week for an hour or something....yk?

Best of both worlds.....with no big hassles....I don't ask for much.

[Ravin]

I would contact the people who do the grant and ask if there are alternate qualifications for homeschoolers. It's BS that a kid should have to be in public school to get a grant for therapy.

[Roar]

My question is what is the worst case scenario or what do you fear by participating? It sounds like you may get some helpful services, what would the downside be in your book besides the general uneasiness homeschoolers tend to feel when interacting with the school system.

[Roar]

Originally Posted by amseiler

My son can get OT for sensory intergration disorder through the PS if I want him to. But in talking to several therapists and teachers I discovered that by going through the school he will be receiving therapy that will help him perform better in the school/classroom environment to "facilitate easier learning". Being that I homeschool, that is of very little use to me. Through some research I have been able to understand SID a little better and help my son develop coping skills at home.

It is great you've figured out stuff that works at home.

I'm wondering though if the school needs to phrase it in terms of the classroom because they are supposed to be providing medical instead of educational services. What we've experienced with sensory integration therapy is that it tends to focus on skills that yes, will help in the classroom but ALSO are vital for just being alive - feeling good, being able to go to a restaurant, talk to people in a group, feel good in your own skin. Without these it is hard to function in a classroom, but also every where else. Also, can you see that many of the classrooms specific skills like being able to use scissors, sit in a chair without falling out, etc. may be things that end up being a priority to your child even if they aren't to you?