Monday, June 1, 2009

Cart Before The Horse?


Let's see, It's June 1st and there are only a few days of school left. By now, Ashley's IEP team should have met and developed both an ESY IEP and the IEP for next school year. Ashley is transitioning to high school, and as a team, we need to discuss the options for which high school she will attend. We have had no meeting and no meeting dates are set yet, but....

In the mail yesterday, I received a letter from one of the high schools which would be a possibility for Ashley to attend next year. Seems that high school already has her listed as a student for the 2009-2010 school year, and they have already assigned her to classes.

Silly me, I thought we might need to have her IEP developed - you know, goals and objectives and a placement decision - before that letter was sent.

5 comments:

little.birdy said...

Your school system does delight in breaking the law, don't they?

loonyhiker said...

I don't know how it works in your school district but all of our students are assigned by attendance area so everyone gets a letter like that. I always tell my students that it might change after the IEP meeting because the student's needs will ultimately determine placement. I think that schools do this so that they can account for every student on their books. As for the IEP meeting, I would contact your child's case manager and ask them when the meeting is scheduled.

Ashley's Mom said...

Loonyhiker, have I contacted the case manager? Well, if you count 13 emails and several phone calls, yes, then I have contacted them.

And, as for the letter, I understand what you are saying, but there is a lot more backstory to this post that I didn't include. Placement has already been decided by some of the school administrators even though the IEP team has not decided.

Michelle Morgan-Coole said...

I feel your frustrations. The Blue Jay transitions to high school this year too. And although I have met twice with the resource teachers at her new school, it was only after asking a direct question at the second meeting that I discovered that her aide hours have been cut from 4 per day to 0. Yup, that's right I said zero, zip, nada. But never fear, her name came back highlighted in a pretty colour, meaning she is to be paired up with other students who do have aides.

Yeah, right a drop from 4 hours per day to 0 hours ... in a transition year, of all times. Something tells me they will have a fight on their hands, both from Mom (three calls to the school board so far, do you think they will return one soon?) and from the Blue Jay herself, if she was forced to attempt to handle that transition without support. Which she won't be because Mom can't let it get that far.

Ashley's Mom said...

MMC, I really hate that our kids have to fail or experience extreme frustration before they are provided the services they need. And like you, that is why I fight so hard, to hopefully keep my child from experiencing that.