Iep

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
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.

:yahoo:

That's great. My son mastered about 86% of his G&Os already and that's with only 3 months of speech classes.
 

DanceMom

New Member
Reading over these posts about IEP I wanted to share some knowledge. Usually the disadvantaged financially and the disabled get priority to speech and other services through the school system. That said, I have a disabled student, who I've had to fight hard to receive services that he is entitled to. I've had to call meetings, challenge teachers/therapists and refuse to sign IEP meeting agreements. In the end, I've won services for my child. Basically the school system only has so many specialists to meet the needs of kids - so if the are less than 25% deficiant it goes back to the parent to provide private services, which in Calvert County are sparse. Keep fighting for your kids! They deserve a good education, after all your tax dollars pay for it.
 

Lamini

Member
the IEP process in my experience has been near no help. I remember being told my child (now age 7) would talk over 4 years ago, but still speechless. Placing challenged children who are not ready for a group environment with 1-2 teachers for 6-7 students=fail. Bang for the buck does not work for special ed children. Whats all the hours add up to when its divided by the number of students. The schools know this, the teachers know this, everyone knows it, and its always about budget cuts. whats the point of IEPs when its not tailored for the child like its supposed to be, but rather the child is tailored for the program in my experience (4+ years). Perhaps its different in other counties, but this is the general understanding I have heard from other parents and professionals in a similar situation. Its sad when we all agree, including the doctors, parents, teachers, that getting out of St Marys is the first step, unless you have the cash for professionals (therapies) or cash for lawyers to get involved.
 

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
Lamini, my son began the IEP program in St. Mary's when he was 3 and was barely speaking. Less than 3 years later his speech has improved tremendously. He has never been placed in a group setting. All of his speech sessions have been 1 on 1 with a therapist. Which school does your child go to? I'd go straight to the Board of Ed if after 4 years my child wasn't seeing results. I find it odd that they'd waste their time putting them in the IEP program if they weren't providing the services correctly. Their program is funded by numbers. They have to show a success rate. Just curious to find out how involved you are in the IEP progress meeting between you, the principal, teacher, and speech therapist. There is no way that I'd just sit there and let my child go 4 years without getting the help that they deserve.
 

itsbob

I bowl overhand
They keep telling me that underprivileged kids need it more and my son will do better over time.

You need to start taking notes.. Time, places, the who, what was said..

IEP is NOT supposed to be financial need based but CHILD based.

What they are trying to tell you is it's ok for YOUR child to fall behind and not do well, because he's from a "normal" family? :bs:

I'd be standing ON someone's desk to get their attention. Remember... The squeaky wheel gets the grease..
 

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
Congrats to you BOTH!

I am more excited about it than he was. He should have been out last year but they decided that they needed to work on projecting his voice. However, in the span of 10 months, they only saw him 4 times. It would have been easier/faster for them to just say, "Hey, speak up so people can hear you." :lol:
 

Lamini

Member
Lamini, my son began the IEP program in St. Mary's when he was 3 and was barely speaking. Less than 3 years later his speech has improved tremendously. He has never been placed in a group setting. All of his speech sessions have been 1 on 1 with a therapist. Which school does your child go to? I'd go straight to the Board of Ed if after 4 years my child wasn't seeing results. I find it odd that they'd waste their time putting them in the IEP program if they weren't providing the services correctly. Their program is funded by numbers. They have to show a success rate. Just curious to find out how involved you are in the IEP progress meeting between you, the principal, teacher, and speech therapist. There is no way that I'd just sit there and let my child go 4 years without getting the help that they deserve.

Involvement is key. From my lessons learned, it is also their justification for failure, err me not supervising them, or them not having QA department to make sure "progress" is actually defineable. I had an awesome parent advocate that rocked their world, it forced them to bring out the schools big guns at the meetings, unfortunately she quit that job. I've spoken w/ them all dont get me wrong. The meetings are heartbreaking, theres no results, even know everyone knows what needs to happen, its not. I hear its because of budget cuts, lack of resources, did i mention funding? Speaking w/ those that have left the system (educators) has reflected my thoughts. I've been told by several to get out of the system, ie get out of county (st marys). Its a messed up system. Thats great you've had good results w/ speech, glad its working out for you! I wish I could say the same for anyone in her class (that I have been watching grow for years, same results). Please dont misunderstand me, I know the parents too, we're all in same place, and that is, trying to get out of here.
 

sockgirl77

Well-Known Member
Involvement is key. From my lessons learned, it is also their justification for failure, err me not supervising them, or them not having QA department to make sure "progress" is actually defineable. I had an awesome parent advocate that rocked their world, it forced them to bring out the schools big guns at the meetings, unfortunately she quit that job. I've spoken w/ them all dont get me wrong. The meetings are heartbreaking, theres no results, even know everyone knows what needs to happen, its not. I hear its because of budget cuts, lack of resources, did i mention funding? Speaking w/ those that have left the system (educators) has reflected my thoughts. I've been told by several to get out of the system, ie get out of county (st marys). Its a messed up system. Thats great you've had good results w/ speech, glad its working out for you! I wish I could say the same for anyone in her class (that I have been watching grow for years, same results). Please dont misunderstand me, I know the parents too, we're all in same place, and that is, trying to get out of here.

Yet, my son has been to 3 different schools in St. Mary's and had wonderful results with the IEP program. Please tell me what other county is so much better than St. Mary's when it comes to schools? What school is she in? I know that there are shiatty schools in the county, but the IEP program has not failed us. In fact, I know several parents whose children have been through the program and I can honestly say that they have all been pleased with it. :shrug:
 
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