Friday, 11 June 2010
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My Child and The No Child Left Behind Laws
So I'm just like any mother, I think I have the World's Greatest Daughter ever. I mean she's smart, funny, well mannered, and is such a people person.
This 2009-10 school year I had the misfortune of personally selecting a teacher for my child who doesn't like me and likes my child even less. Though for what reason I don't know and to be frank I don't really give a damn about it either.
I've made numerous attempts to try to work with her, and to be if nothing else more than adequately professional. In addition to this, I informed her teacher that my child is epileptic and that it could affect her ability to learn. Not that any of this has worked. The admin staff hasn't been much help either. The teacher fills in days, when my daughter was present, as an unexcused absence when she was in class and even wrote down her homework assignments for that night herself.
In addition to this, this Amazon woman as I love to call her, even insists that my baby be retained in the 4th grade even though she has what's called a 504 plan in place. The 504 plan stipulates that she gets extra testing time, a separate location for testing as well as a trifold to help her focus. I mean if you've been in a classroom lately, you know that there is a whole lot of crap all over the place. I'm grown and I can't concentrate when I walk into some of the classrooms especially if there are lots of bright colors!! So I don't expect the kids to be able to do it.
Since the implementation of this 504 plan, it has yet to be followed. She isn't permitted to use her trifold, she doesn't get a separate testing site, and that I'm aware of she doesn't get any extra time either. I don't feel that she is a candidate for retention, not that anyone has listened to me about it. I was even told by the administrator that it might be time for my daughter to find another school to go to because "she needs to spread her wings without her mother crowding her". Although I've never mentioned it to even my teammates that she won't be back next year. I've already found another school for her.
At any rate, I wrote this lengthy letter to the principal requesting a conditional passing that if my child could do the work in the 5th grade til January she could continue and finish the 5th grade with success. However if indeed she was still struggling, she would be sent back to the 4th grade to finish out the remainder of the school year and be a more successful 5th grader the following year. My request was denied.
What floors me is that I find out that the special education teachers don't have any paperwork on my daughter, and that the central processing office doesn't take care of the 504's for the charter schools. The only good thing that came of this is that I got the number for the educational legal aid office, and that in the end I will be having her tested for special education.
Have you ever experienced difficulty with your child's school or teachers? How did you handle it?
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- From: nubian_qween@xanga
- Name: nubian_qween
- About Me: I am who I am, you don't have to like it, but you will respect it.
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Comments (41)
Sue the school board. Seriously, hire a lawyer and do it. They'll take notice then.
@Morningstarrising@xanga - This!
@Morningstarrising@xanga - I'm not sue-happy in most cases, but I have to agree 100%. This is crap.
that's fucked up... excuse my french... it's a good thing i came across this blog so i'll have this knowledge and prevent this from happening to my kids in the future! this is informing... hopefully things will be better at her new school! good luck!
Wow, that really is awful. I would definitely keep looking into that other school, because it shouldn't be that way. I was going into education before I switched my major, but my best friend to this day is in special education. She also handles the 504s and other similar aids, and she would NEVER let something like this happen to your daughter. Find a school that is as eager for your daughter to succeed as you are!
Do exactly what morningstar suggested. Immediately! Somtimes I have no I.D.E.A. what the schools are thinking.
I wish you luck!
I am worried about dealing with incompetent teachers and my daughter's needs being met. I have noticed that sometimes suing or even threatening to sue can bring about results. I wouldn't let this slide. Good luck. xoxoxo
I am not a sue-happy person...I actually hate it most of the time. But this isn't the case. You and the school had special things set up to help your challenged daughter succeed. The school didn't follow this plan and now is threatening your daughter's education because of it. Sue them. Or at the very least, threaten to sue with the power of lawyer on your side. My daughter isn't school age yet, but this is one of the many, many reasons I am seriously considering home-schooling. -_-
oh boy, don't get me started. Let's put it this way: after 4 years in the public school system, I now have one kid in private school and one kid is homeschooled. I don't have specific advice - just keep fighting for your daughter! The school has hundreds of kids, the district has thousands to keep track of, so you have to be the one to advocate for your child - especially since you already have the evaluations and paperwork and 504 plan in place, just keep pushing for her right to learn how she learns best!!
Get in touch with the school district's AEA representative. They will follow up with any school that is in their local area. If you switch school's it probably will be the same AEA reps unless you move to a completely different location. I would suggest contacting them now. You might get a drastic turn around with someone else standing behind you. Also, the special education department doesn't handle all 504's... only those of students in the program. Many times it's handled by administration or even the school nurse depending on what it's for. I would advise to take a step beyond the principal. Administration and the AEA. Even if you switch schools... you might make someone else's son/daughter's life a little easier. :)
However, not sure what this really has to do with the actual No Child Left Behind Laws. Basically the law requires that students be tested and score above a certain percentile. No Child Left Behind is a headache for all teachers as it puts them in a position to NOT be able to individually help students with special needs in the way that they feel necessary. Students can no longer take courses, such as math, in a special education setting... no matter how low their ability. Anyways... just my two cents.
We could make this a quick deal, & I could take care of that teacher for you...
mwhaha, jk(:
But, Yeah... I agree with @Morningstarrising@xanga .
@filtered_sunlight - Agreeing with basically everyone else.....being sue happy is very much for the lose, but in this case, they are hindering your daughter's ability to learn and neglecting her and not doing their jobs. SUE.
This just sounds like a really shitty school. The first thing that tipped me off was that they let you choose your child's teacher--the administrators know their teachers better than you do, and in a good school district they SHOULD know enough about your child and her educational needs to know which teachers will best suit each student. In the school district I worked in, class lists were an inside deal and no parent would find out anything about who was placed in which class until the lists were released to everyone during registration week. While parents were allowed to make requests, the administrators usually know best and when they make a decision about that kind of thing, it's usually for a good reason, despite what a parent may think. Then again, I worked in an absolutely fantastic school district, but it sickens me that most districts and schools are not run as well as that one. I'm not teaching for that very reason--there are some piss-poor excuses for schools and administrations out there, and I don't care to work for such places.
I can't imagine being in a situation in which none of the teachers, administrators, or other staff were able or even willing to help. That's ridiculous. They should be ashamed to call themselves educators when your daughter is not receiving an individualized or even remotely effective education. I agree with others who have said this--sue them, or at least create some big enough waves that they realize you mean business and you're dissatisfied with not only your daughter's progress but the support you've received from the staff.
I agree with the suing. I would find a lawyer that specializes in cases like this and I would follow through with it. Write a formal letter from the lawyer and send it to the school. I think this is complete bullshit. I am currently in school for elementary education and personally I will do everything in my power to not let this happen to the children that are placed in my classroom. I think that the teacher is just lazy and doesn't want to follow the rules. Teachers like that should have their creds pulled. Push it girl! seriously. Your baby's education and future is on the line. I can't believe that there are people in the world teaching our children, this country's future, that do things like this. It just plain pisses me the fuck off. Excuse my french. Let us know how it goes please.
How disgusting. We dont need schools like this, I hope you sue the shit out of them! Who knows how many other kids are in the same situation!
If you don't mind me asking where do you live? I know around here (Trenton nj and where I grew up Allentown pa) Sue them! My best friends mom does a lot of work with the schools for this purpose. Sue or mention suing because the 504 plan must be followed. I hope this helps you.
Talk to administration, if you get nowhere, take it to court.
I'm learning disabled and I have an IEP. I'm graduating high school in 2 weeks.
I've always had teachers that gave me huge problems dealing with my testing mods and stuff. My mom had to be on constant guard with my teachers the past 13 years of my life.
Last year my science teacher wouldn't give me the mods and he covered it up to the school administration, my consolers, my resource teacher and my mom. My mom had to keep pushing the school to switch me out of that class so I would get the proper attention.
I'd call a lawyer if the school board won't help.
@Morningstarrising@xanga - Oh yeah I have that number calling them this morning.... This should be interesting to say the least.
@glittershadow@xanga - CONGRATS TO YOU!!!!
@Summer_Loving_0505@xanga - Bflo, NY
Sorry you had to go through this but so glad you found another school. These people sound like terrible educators and terrible advocates for their students.
@Lydia_Lynne@xanga - I wish that I could and if I have to I will quit my job to make sure that I can provide her with the educational assistance that clearly the school isn't willing to give. I mean I always thought that teachers were there to help. Sadly and hurtfully I was wrong on so many levels.
@TheWorldIsA__Vampire@xanga - What sad is that I know there are so many other kids who have been through this and their parents who don't have the support system, don't know how to help their children and then the children suffer.
@gwacemom - I don't think they know what they are thinking most of the time!!!