Iep

[poster]

I am going to have a meeting with the school after spring break. The date is set up. Lets hope something goes right.

Whatever you do don't let them shelf this till next year.
This year is already a loss, try to get everything set and ready for the coming year or they'll drag that out well into the new year and it'll end up being a loss also.

Good Luck!

 

[Bann]

I tried. She is so rude. They keep telling me that underprivileged kids need it more and my son will do better over time. He gets frustrated sometimes when he talks. He starts to stutter. He knows what he wants to say but can't get the words out. When it came time for the updates i asked if i could bring my daughter with me because i don't have child care they said we can do it over the phone. Never received a call. When i called the school to ask why i didn't get a call they said oh we got no answer. I am going to try one more time with the principle and if i get nothing then im going over her head! This same principle told me that she was glad i was have behavioral issues with my son at home too. Not pleased with Carver at all!

Uh - this is totally UNacceptable! Which county are you in? On your son's IEP, there should be a page either in the front or the back of the IEP that lists ADVOCATES you can contact for information. It might be the services age. (my son's IEP is downstairs & I am so old school on this now I just sign them & don't read some of the finer print) And it may be in small print at the bottom. By law in the state of Maryland - it is supposed to be on the IEP. They should have ALSO given you a copy of what yours & your child's rights ARE! It's a state & federal law. (under the IDEA law)

It is not allowed by law for them to stop an IEP without your knowledge, either. I'm not saying they can't refuse services, but you have due process rights. There should be some information on your Board of Ed's school website about Special Education and agencies in your county that can help you through the IEP maze.

Additionally, read up on the IDEA Law -(Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) it tells you what yours & your child's rights are. The schools can't tell you crap like that principal did! It is a violation of a child's civil rights to deny him services if he is entitled to have them. No matter if he's "under priviledged" or not! (how ignorant!)

 

[Bann]

I am going to have a meeting with the school after spring break. The date is set up. Lets hope something goes right.

GOOD! You'll have time to do some research! My son's much older and things are a lot more routine for his IEP now. But I will say - I had to push & prod a few people more than a few times to get *some* of services he needed. We're in Calvert & I won't say it was easy here, either.

I have to tell you, you need to be be well-versed in what you are asking for & have to be diligent in following through. There are some requirements in time and deadlines they are REQUIRED by law to meet - but you won't know that if you don't know. You are your child's most important advocate.

I went and got my son's IEP notebook. (I keep all the paperwork organized in a binder) There is a booklet you can get at the school called "Understanding the Evaluation, Eligibility & IEP Process in Maryland. It's put out by the MD State DOE.

You should have also been given at some point a copy of the "Procedural Safeguards & Parental Rights" document. If you can't find yours, call the IEP Chairperson at your son's school. They should have BOTH of those resources and you should be able to get one from them.

 

[SoccerMom2]

GOOD! You'll have time to do some research! My son's much older and things are a lot more routine for his IEP now. But I will say - I had to push & prod a few people more than a few times to get *some* of services he needed. We're in Calvert & I won't say it was easy here, either.

I have to tell you, you need to be be well-versed in what you are asking for & have to be diligent in following through. There are some requirements in time and deadlines they are REQUIRED by law to meet - but you won't know that if you don't know. You are your child's most important advocate.

I went and got my son's IEP notebook. (I keep all the paperwork organized in a binder) There is a booklet you can get at the school called "Understanding the Evaluation, Eligibility & IEP Process in Maryland. It's put out by the MD State DOE.

You should have also been given at some point a copy of the "Procedural Safeguards & Parental Rights" document. If you can't find yours, call the IEP Chairperson at your son's school. They should have BOTH of those resources and you should be able to get one from them.

I still have all his paperwork from day 1. We are moving so it is boxed up but i am going to try to find it. When i got the letter saying that he no longer meets the requirements for an IEP i was outrage. I called and talked to the school. I hear the same crap. Well i am not putting up with it anymore. I pushed to get my son help in the first place and now i am going to push even harder to keep getting him help. I got my highlighter and i am going to use it...lol!

 

[Bann]

I still have all his paperwork from day 1. We are moving so it is boxed up but i am going to try to find it. When i got the letter saying that he no longer meets the requirements for an IEP i was outrage. I called and talked to the school. I hear the same crap. Well i am not putting up with it anymore. I pushed to get my son help in the first place and now i am going to push even harder to keep getting him help. I got my highlighter and i am going to use it...lol!

Good for you!

I was trying to search through the old posts here and have yet to find some of my prior posts with links to various resources.

I just got a newsletter in email which reminded me that it's a great place for information. Check it out!

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy

 

[RareBreed]

Does anyone know if there is a site where I can download the "Procedural Safeguards-Parental Right" booklet (the pink booklet given to IEP parents)? I am making up my son's IEP binder and I guess I misplaced it. If not, I'll just get another one from the school after Spring Break. Thanks!!

 

[Bann]

Does anyone know if there is a site where I can download the "Procedural Safeguards-Parental Right" booklet (the pink booklet given to IEP parents)? I am making up my son's IEP binder and I guess I misplaced it. If not, I'll just get another one from the school after Spring Break. Thanks!!

Did you check on the Maryland State Dept. of Ed. website? If I find it, I'll post the link.

 

[Bann]

Found it!


http://www.marylandpublicschools.or...roceduralSafeguardsNotice_updatedjanuary2.pdf

 

[RareBreed]

Found it!


http://www.marylandpublicschools.or...roceduralSafeguardsNotice_updatedjanuary2.pdf

Thanks. I found that too but the Infant/Toddler part threw me so I wasn't sure that was the right one. Thanks again!!

 

[RareBreed]

IEP Binder

I put together my IEP binder for my son. For all who have more experience with this than me, am I missing anything?

I've got:

Speech sound development chart
Parental Rights booklet
Meetings/ Results
Progress reports
Testing
Worksheets

 

[Bann]

I put together my IEP binder for my son. For all who have more experience with this than me, am I missing anything?

I've got:

Speech sound development chart
Parental Rights booklet
Meetings/ Results
Progress reports
Testing
Worksheets

Looks good. Also - here's a link to a good sample notebook. Use it to check it against what may apply to your situation -

IEPNOTEBOOK

The IEP Notebook #1



Advocates agree that the best way to prepare for an IEP meeting for your child is to bring along an IEP Notebook.

1. Start with the notebook: Large with plastic pocket on front cover (to put your child’s picture and his name on the front side and a calendar of the school year in the pocket on the back side)

2. District and Independent assessments

3. Informal correspondence

4. Parent/family observations outside of school

5. Medical records/ mediation logs

6. Formal and informal correspondence with all schools

7. All of his/her school records/ report cards/ progress notes/discipline records

8. All IEP’s and Notes from all IEP meetings

9. Examples of her/his school work

10. Logs of contacts with school/ and a separate one to show contacts with other professionals outside school environment

11. List of involved professionals, student study team, other resources

12. 504 Plan and list of parents’ rights/ (Understand the laws before the meeting) (if you don't have a 504 plan, this would be the IEP. But you need to understand how the SpEd laws in Maryland are implemented under the federal IDEA Law as it applies to what you are asking for you child)

13. List of questions/ideas

14. List of your expectations for IEP

15. Prioritize the long-term goals (which will have the greatest impact for the child?) and short-term objectives

 

[sockgirl77]

Looks good. Also - here's a link to a good sample notebook. Use it to check it against what may apply to your situation -

Funny thing is that I keep my son's stuff in a file that I rarely ever look at. I don't need a notebook to show me if my son is getting the services he needs or meeting his goals. His progress is obvious.

 

[Bann]

Funny thing is that I keep my son's stuff in a file that I rarely ever look at. I don't need a notebook to show me if my son is getting the services he needs or meeting his goals. His progress is obvious.

That's really great for you. How many services does your son receive? Does he have a 504 plan or an IEP?

Sockgirl, some people only need to keep track of one or 2 services. Some people have children who require a lot more services to keep track of. And it can be difficult to maneuver the SpEd maze of rules & regulations. A notebook, like the one I linked to, (to keep all the information organized when attending IEP meetings) - is an excellent idea - and every SpEd advocate worth their salt will advise a parent to make one & use it.

My son's IEPs have, in some years, been about 30 pages long.(or longer) The IEP meetings, in some years, have been 2 hours long. (or longer) There have been, at times, about 6 -10 people (specialists, teachers, administrators) at an IEP meeting, depending on the testing done and what specialist came to give their results. It can be intimidating managing to keep your thoughts together and absorb all the information you need to from people who are considered to be specialists in their various fields. Not to mention having to be able to keep track of and quote, chapter & verse, the rules & regulations which you need to know in order to get some services provided for your child.

I have a couple of banker's boxes full of old/prior IEP information, examination & testing results, etc., for my son. He's been receiving SpEd services for his entire school career. He's 19 - he started school when he was 1-1/2 in the Infants & Toddlers Program. So, keeping track of his services over the past 18 years has required a little more effort than opening a file folder.

 

[RareBreed]

Looks good. Also - here's a link to a good sample notebook. Use it to check it against what may apply to your situation -

Funny thing is that I keep my son's stuff in a file that I rarely ever look at. I don't need a notebook to show me if my son is getting the services he needs or meeting his goals. His progress is obvious.

Thanks for the link, Bann. Although my son's IEP isn't that involved, it was very helpful in deciding what I needed and didn't need. He really only has one or two objectives/goals so the binder was just my way of having what little paperwork I'll receive in one organized place.

I thought of another question. Just curious what happens at the start of the next school year. Since my son is starting his classes sort of late in this school year, will the class begin the first week of next year or will he have to be re-evaluated to see what progress or decline he made during the summer?

 

[Bann]

Thanks for the link, Bann. Although my son's IEP isn't that involved, it was very helpful in deciding what I needed and didn't need. He really only has one or two objectives/goals so the binder was just my way of having what little paperwork I'll receive in one organized place.

And for every parent who asks a question in this forum, there may be others who won't ask, but they do read here. Everyone has a different situation, and can take what information they need & leave the rest. I had many people help me along the way - just trying to do the same for others.

I thought of another question. Just curious what happens at the start of the next school year. Since my son is starting his classes sort of late in this school year, will the class begin the first week of next year or will he have to be re-evaluated to see what progress or decline he made during the summer?

If services are in place on an IEP, they are in place until the next IEP review, which is (at least) annually. (although you can ask for an IEP review at any time, if you think it is necessary.) The school cannot remove the services without your knowledge. There are laws the state has to follow & timelines, etc. So yes, they should start right away. Make sure you keep on top of it next year, so they don't drop the ball. Sometimes, they don't have the particular specialist available for a month. For example: if your child is to receive "X" amount of hours of speech, make sure they provide that number. ( It's the law.)

A lot depends on how your son's IEP is written. In the IEP, it will state how progress will be measured, and the IEP team meets periodically to determine if measurable progress has been made.

Also, if your son is going to regress during the summer if he doesn't receive the service, it is possible to have those services in the summer. It's not easy to get the ESY (extended school year) services, but it can be done if appropriate & necessary for your child.

 

[RareBreed]

And for every parent who asks a question in this forum, there may be others who won't ask, but they do read here. Everyone has a different situation, and can take what information they need & leave the rest. I had many people help me along the way - just trying to do the same for others.


If services are in place on an IEP, they are in place until the next IEP review, which is (at least) annually. (although you can ask for an IEP review at any time, if you think it is necessary.) The school cannot remove the services without your knowledge. There are laws the state has to follow & timelines, etc. So yes, they should start right away. Make sure you keep on top of it next year, so they don't drop the ball. Sometimes, they don't have the particular specialist available for a month. For example: if your child is to receive "X" amount of hours of speech, make sure they provide that number. ( It's the law.)

Ok, thanks. I will make sure that his speech classes are beginning right away when school starts. I'm not positive but I believe that he is scheduled for 36 hours of classes per school year.

A lot depends on how your son's IEP is written. In the IEP, it will state how progress will be measured, and the IEP team meets periodically to determine if measurable progress has been made.

I've already been informed that there will be a review about this time next year to see if his IEP should continue, which will probably be the case.

Also, if your son is going to regress during the summer if he doesn't receive the service, it is possible to have those services in the summer. It's not easy to get the ESY (extended school year) services, but it can be done if appropriate & necessary for your child.

In one of the meetings, we talked about ESY but he does not qualify. His delay is very slight so not having "formal" classes during the summer won't effect him much.

 

[Bann]

In one of the meetings, we talked about ESY but he does not qualify. His delay is very slight so not having "formal" classes during the summer won't effect him much.

Good luck to you and your son!

 

[Bann]

I just got another email newsletter from Wrightslaw and thought I'd pass along some of the info contained in it. It's a very informative service provided from the Wrightslaw website, for anyone interested in SpEd advocacy. I highly recommend it.

You can subscribe at their website.

Dear Bann,

As a parent you are an essential member of the IEP team. You are an active participant. Your role is similar to that of a project manager with a long term plan.

It's time to take a closer look at IEPs - the centerpiece of your child's special education program. This issue is the first in our series on what you NEED to know about IEPs.

What makes the IEP process so confusing? What makes writing IEPs so difficult? How can you get good goals in your child's IEP?

In this issue of the Special Ed Advocate, you'll find answers to these questions and learn about the keys to successful IEPs - how to organize, plan, monitor progress, anticipate problems, and keep the IEP team focused on your child.

Please don't hesitate to forward this issue to other friends, families, or colleagues.

Not a subscriber? Sign up free today! l Read previous issues

Find Wrightslaw on FacebookWrightslaw on Facebook

I hope the links work, I checked them all ...

 

[RareBreed]

Funny thing is that I keep my son's stuff in a file that I rarely ever look at. I don't need a notebook to show me if my son is getting the services he needs or meeting his goals. His progress is obvious.

I ended up just sticking what little paperwork I do have on my son's IEP into a file folder. I was waiting for all the helpful worksheets and practice sheets to come flooding in but they never did. As you said, I didn't need the notebook to see the progress.

 

[Bann]

Thing1 got his report card & notification of his HSA scores this week.

Along with his report card, we also get a copy of his "Goals & Objectives" (which outline the measured progress, as required by law.) He's mastered or nearly mastered all those goals/objectives. (some were newly written at his last IEP mtg & carry over to next year)

He made the Honor Roll for the year, and has passed his HSAs in order to graduate high school.