Problems in Saint Mary's County Public Schools Special Ed
- Thread starter ucfengr
- Start date
sockgirl77
Well-Known Member
Nothing in my son's IEP was ever changed without a parent consultation and agreement being signed. However, if they are reducing personnel then there may not be anything that she can do about it.
getbent
Thats how them b*tch's R
I'm sure she's going to get the consultation, if that's the law. Like you said though, if there's no staff to replace those leaving, there's not much that can be done. Even if it's not a budget cut, if there's no one applying or qualified what can you do?
Since the OP said it's not their first IEP, they probably know a lot of what has been posted, however, I always like to include sources to back up information I may give in my posts, so I am posting a link to IDEA - the federal law which provides the guidance for the IEP, and other special education issues.
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,dynamic,QaCorner,3,
While the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a federal law, it is implemented at the state level, so there are also state laws which allow for different ways of implementing the federal law.
As has been stated, it is against the law to change the IEP without a meeting of the IEP TEAM. I didn't see it posted, maybe I missed it - but the PARENT is the first member of that team. Not all parents are created equally, of course, but they are the most important member of the team. I made it my full time job to be as informed as I could possibly be, (and it is NOT sometimes an easy job, but it *was my job to be educated & informed on this law) and to advocate appropriately for my son.
IF there is a regulation which is not being followed, it is up to the parent to do something about it. In the appropriate ways, of course.
I saw a post where the claims that IEPs were (among other things) responsible for medications being over prescribed. ???? Admittedly, I haven't had to stay up to date on the exact letter of the law since my son graduated in 2012*, but it was illegal for any educator (teacher, paraprofessional, administrator, etc) to make suggestions of medication for a child. That is NOT THEIR JOB.
A quick search of the site I linked to above brought this up:
IF medications are being suggested or have ever been suggested, required, etc. it is against the law, and the parent should take appropriate actions. If an educator is witnessing this type of thing going on - then shame on them for not reporting it.
As far as making a "unilateral change" no one here can really comment about it, since there aren't enough details. I take it the OP is taking steps to make sure the IEP process is adhered to. HOWEVER, as other posters have mentioned - maybe this is an unavoidable situation if there are changes to the system (as in not enough personnel - if they lose a staff person, maybe they change the way they deliver the services. Maybe it will be a "good change" for the student. Maybe they have to stop offering a specific program at one school site and move it to another - so that might disrupt the flow for students while they adapt to the change. Who knows what it is, since the OP didn't elaborate. It's a little difficult to know what to say unless we knew what the change was.
I know that my son spent his entire school career WITH an IEP. I have been to more IEP meetings than I can remember. I took the lead in those meetings,and I wasn't always afforded the lead. I made it MY business to be informed, to be knowledgeable of the law. I came prepared to those meetings with extra copies of current evaluations, etc. and when one paraprofessional "had not read the latest" - I gave them a copy right then & there. I knew my stuff.
There were a few times throughout the 20 years he spent in school (age 1-1/2 in the Infants & Toddlers program - to age 21-1/2 when he graduated) that I had to fight tooth & nail to have the school provide a certain type of program to him. (Always within the "regulations". I always had justification: having had our own evaluations done & brought in OUR own specialists) However, there were a few times I was WRONG about what I wanted and the school system was right. Specifically, when he transferred to HS. He has issues with reading - he processes very slow. He doesn't have good depth perception. He looks like he's the "absent minded professor" when he is walking about. I was SO certain he would be lost when changing classes, and thereby create a mess of trouble for himself.
I had very high anxiety about him getting mis-directed - causing him to be hopelessly lost, or bumping into students - which would cause him to be picked on or bullied back, or be late to class and get in trouble for that, and then of course, any trouble he got into I just *knew would create more troubles for him as he tried to explain how it all happened, etc. I was W-R-O-N-G about all of that. I am happy to say that. He did very well. He pays attention to things we don't, and he makes his way just fine. ALL the years he was there, he made his way just fine. I couldn't find my way around half the time on parent night - he took me around. 
Anyway, a FAPE (Free, And Appropriate Education) doesn't mean the BEST, of the best. It doesn't mean you get it the way YOU want it. Sometimes, the delivery of the services changes, but it could be that will be better - who knows? (not saying the OP thinks this, just saying)
*My son graduated with a regular diploma in 2012. It was a long road, filled with many challenges and he was educated in 3 different states, 2 different counties in one state. (Maryland) Staying up on the regulations and law was my job and I took it very seriously, but I wasn't always right. When I was wrong, I deferred to the other experts on the IEP Team.
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/,root,dynamic,QaCorner,3,
While the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a federal law, it is implemented at the state level, so there are also state laws which allow for different ways of implementing the federal law.
As has been stated, it is against the law to change the IEP without a meeting of the IEP TEAM. I didn't see it posted, maybe I missed it - but the PARENT is the first member of that team. Not all parents are created equally, of course, but they are the most important member of the team. I made it my full time job to be as informed as I could possibly be, (and it is NOT sometimes an easy job, but it *was my job to be educated & informed on this law) and to advocate appropriately for my son.
IF there is a regulation which is not being followed, it is up to the parent to do something about it. In the appropriate ways, of course.
I saw a post where the claims that IEPs were (among other things) responsible for medications being over prescribed. ???? Admittedly, I haven't had to stay up to date on the exact letter of the law since my son graduated in 2012*, but it was illegal for any educator (teacher, paraprofessional, administrator, etc) to make suggestions of medication for a child. That is NOT THEIR JOB.
A quick search of the site I linked to above brought this up:
IF medications are being suggested or have ever been suggested, required, etc. it is against the law, and the parent should take appropriate actions. If an educator is witnessing this type of thing going on - then shame on them for not reporting it.
As far as making a "unilateral change" no one here can really comment about it, since there aren't enough details. I take it the OP is taking steps to make sure the IEP process is adhered to. HOWEVER, as other posters have mentioned - maybe this is an unavoidable situation if there are changes to the system (as in not enough personnel - if they lose a staff person, maybe they change the way they deliver the services. Maybe it will be a "good change" for the student. Maybe they have to stop offering a specific program at one school site and move it to another - so that might disrupt the flow for students while they adapt to the change. Who knows what it is, since the OP didn't elaborate. It's a little difficult to know what to say unless we knew what the change was.
I know that my son spent his entire school career WITH an IEP. I have been to more IEP meetings than I can remember. I took the lead in those meetings,and I wasn't always afforded the lead. I made it MY business to be informed, to be knowledgeable of the law. I came prepared to those meetings with extra copies of current evaluations, etc. and when one paraprofessional "had not read the latest" - I gave them a copy right then & there. I knew my stuff.
There were a few times throughout the 20 years he spent in school (age 1-1/2 in the Infants & Toddlers program - to age 21-1/2 when he graduated) that I had to fight tooth & nail to have the school provide a certain type of program to him. (Always within the "regulations". I always had justification: having had our own evaluations done & brought in OUR own specialists) However, there were a few times I was WRONG about what I wanted and the school system was right. Specifically, when he transferred to HS. He has issues with reading - he processes very slow. He doesn't have good depth perception. He looks like he's the "absent minded professor" when he is walking about. I was SO certain he would be lost when changing classes, and thereby create a mess of trouble for himself.
I had very high anxiety about him getting mis-directed - causing him to be hopelessly lost, or bumping into students - which would cause him to be picked on or bullied back, or be late to class and get in trouble for that, and then of course, any trouble he got into I just *knew would create more troubles for him as he tried to explain how it all happened, etc. I was W-R-O-N-G about all of that. I am happy to say that. He did very well. He pays attention to things we don't, and he makes his way just fine. ALL the years he was there, he made his way just fine. I couldn't find my way around half the time on parent night - he took me around. Anyway, a FAPE (Free, And Appropriate Education) doesn't mean the BEST, of the best. It doesn't mean you get it the way YOU want it. Sometimes, the delivery of the services changes, but it could be that will be better - who knows? (not saying the OP thinks this, just saying)
*My son graduated with a regular diploma in 2012. It was a long road, filled with many challenges and he was educated in 3 different states, 2 different counties in one state. (Maryland) Staying up on the regulations and law was my job and I took it very seriously, but I wasn't always right. When I was wrong, I deferred to the other experts on the IEP Team.
NurseSherri
New Member
oops, I meant to refer to ucfengr, the original poster
NurseSherri
New Member
well, I hugged the wrong guy, but I'm a hugger anyway, LOL! *hugz*
Some clarification. SMCPS was attempting to remove the organization providing my son's BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst). The organization is specifically called out in the IEP as being the provider of the BCBA consulting services.
Update - After contacting SMCPS and citing pertinent legislation and case law we were able to force them to reverse their decision. My point in making the OP was to make sure other parents, who may be effected by the SMCPS decision, know the need to understand their rights and responsibilities as a member of the IEP team under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and the "No Child Left Behind Act" and resist inappropriate changes to their kid's IEP.
BTW - Why does everybody assume I'm a mom? Can't dad's care about their kids too?
Update - After contacting SMCPS and citing pertinent legislation and case law we were able to force them to reverse their decision. My point in making the OP was to make sure other parents, who may be effected by the SMCPS decision, know the need to understand their rights and responsibilities as a member of the IEP team under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and the "No Child Left Behind Act" and resist inappropriate changes to their kid's IEP.
BTW - Why does everybody assume I'm a mom? Can't dad's care about their kids too?
Last edited:
getbent
Thats how them b*tch's R
Why were they trying to remove them? Budget issues?
you are sadly misinformed. The IEP defines the level of services the school will provide to accommodate the student.
Medicaltion is between the parent and the student's medical doctor. Not the school.
The school would only be involved if the medication had to be administered in school.
The school psycologist is not a medical doctor, he cannot make a medical determination of need. To my knowledge, the school does not have a doctor on staff.
What teachers think of it is that it's is more paper work, more reviews. The schools look at it as a burden, and that is often conveyed to the parents and child.
If there is one area underfunded in the school system more than staff, it's books and supplies. There have been times, in the past, where students were not permitted to take a textbook home because books had to be shared between classes. Without the money to produce handouts, that leaves students with disabilities on their own when it comes to note taking. School staff is put in the awkward position of having to deal with the disability, within the resources they are provided. Unfortunately they, not the person setting policy, has to deal with the parent.
Damn straight skippy
Everything is driven by cost. Staff, materiels, facilities, everything has a price.