Minor revision of IEP

**svengandhi** · 09-04-2007 04:24 PM

UPDATE!

We had the meeting this afternoon and it went well. I spoke about how the issues for which he is classified, coupled with the lack of any education for most of 6th grade, impacted on his score on the placement test. The SD atty was completely unaware that my son had been shoved by his 6th grade math teacher and when he looked at the Pupil Personnel head and she nodded yes, that did happen, he went pale. My next comment was that we are reasonable parents, we just want what is best for our child. When my husband left the room to get our son, I pointed out that I had not tried to push my oldest son or my daughter into honors math and that I did not want him there or in sciencejust so I could say "Oh, my son is in honors!" as I do live in a very competitive SD.

The lawyer said that he would be eligible for honors science in grade 9 even if he was not in it this year and I asked him how many students ever made it into honors math or science in HS if they weren't in it in MS? He couldn't answer - I know of none and I've lived here 10 years. I then said that this decision could impact his entire HS career because this science course is for HS credit, so it would put him ahead and allow him to take AP and college level courses for two years in HS, instead of just one.

We next discussed how my son would react if he didn't do well and had to be removed from the class. I can't conceive of that (I gave him one of the recent end-of-year tests in this subject to do and he got a 74, without having taken the course) but I said I thought he would prefer that to not being given a chance at all. We called him in and he said "If I didn't do well enough to stay in, I would be really sad and I would try harder in my other class." When asked what his favorite book is, he said "I can't possibly say, there are so many I haven't read yet!" He even said he likes to study!

There was more - I spoke about revising him IEP, which won't be necessary, and about how this science class is the LRE for HIM.

The upshot is that they decided to give him a chance. I have not seen my son smile so happily since he was accepted into advanced math! His first words to me after I told were "Let's get that special binder packed!"

Thank you all for the advice, hints and good wishes.

***Sheila*** · 09-04-2007 07:13 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The SD atty was completely unaware that my son had been shoved by his 6th grade math teacher and when he looked at the Pupil Personnel head and she nodded yes, that did happen, he went pale. </div></div>

I bet he did.

I'm glad to hear that things went so well, but I'm not surprised.

It's important that this be reduced to writing as a revision to the IEP. Personnel can change rapidly in a school district. If it's not in writing, it leaves your child vulnerable to any new player that may come on line.

***Martie*** · 09-04-2007 11:03 PM

I am very happy things went so well for you. Sheila is dead on: get it into writing in the IEP.

In general, it is not a good thing to say you want "the best" for your child bec. the SD will "Rowley" you. Given your comment about being cooperative and the 6th grade math teacher's behavior, I'm not surprised the SD attorney would not raise the issue with you. However, I've seen parents shot down many times for this.

All parents want "the best" for their child, but parents of children in special education are only entitled to "appropriate" except in the 4 "maximize potential" states, which are Michigan, TN, and two others it is too late for me to recall..

Congratulations!!

Martie

**svengandhi** · 10-06-2007 06:41 PM

The SD decided to give him a chance in honors science, which gets high school credit, as does the math.

The first month of school is over and things are going pretty well for my son.

At Open House, the honors science teacher mentioned that he had given one test and the results were "not pretty." My son, the one the principal said did not belong in the class, got a 100! He loves the class and is working hard to do well. Ditto for the advanced math.

He is struggling still in English, but really likes his teacher, who has an Aspie son so knows how to deal with out of the box kids. He has pronounced her "very nice for a teacher of English!" His SS teacher had my oldest son (Aspie boy) and loves this one - asked him if oldest boy was driving a tank yet! The child is doing his reading and writing for this class.

We did have some issues with gym - told the teacher he doesn't "do laps!" and told the chorus teacher he did not approve of her choice of music for the winter concert, but we got past those and he is now doing his work. We are getting a tutor for foreign language, but the teacher had oldest boy, who was on the middle school team which took second place against a roster of high schools several years ago, so he is enthused about having this one. I wish I could relate foreign lang to math or science and he would love it.

Anyway, I wanted to thank you, Sheila, Martie and Kimmo, who took the time to respond to me. I try to pay it forward by recommending the forum, Wrights Law and other resources to other parents I meet who need it.

P.S. - At about the same time, my rising 6th grader was accepted into a private LD school which specializes in high functioning dyslexics. The SD is paying. I am happy because he is not exposed to the principal from hell. He is happy and learning and has peers.