Child's OOD Placement Classroom too Chaotic!

[carolanne]

Took me a while to find this board again - last time I posted was 2011 lol! So my daughter has done well in her special school for 6 years. This year, however, almost all of the 8 children in her class have way more emotional and behavioral problems than she does. She is considered a "role model". She has intellectual disability and the other students mainly have autism. I'm having trouble accepting this placement because it's very distracting and distressing to dd! We've loved the school and can't understand... what are her rights with placement into a class without such distractions?

[eoffg]

Hi Carolanne,
Under IDEA, their is "free, appropriate public education " (FAPE).
Where the key word is 'appropriate'.

FAPE makes it clear that any program or placement, needs to be 'appropriate to the unique needs of a student'.
This takes precedence over any program or placement.
As it is pointless if it isn't appropriate, for a particular student.

How an 'inappropriate placement' can be demonstrated?
Is to take your DD's IEP, and the goals that are set.
Where you could state that the 'distraction and distress' that the other students are causing her.
Are an obstacle to her being able to achieve those IEP goals.

Where she needs an appropriate placement, to enable this.
As her current placement, isn't Appropriate for her unique special needs.

I'll attach a link to information about FAPE, at wrightslaw:
www.wrightslaw.com/info/fape.index.htm

[healthy11]

Welcome back, Carolanne. I looked back at your older posts, to try and find out where you live, but I don't think you mentioned it. Can I ask what state you're in?

According to what I read, your daughter was in 3rd grade in 2011, so is she now in 9th grade/Freshman year of High School? It sounds like she has remained in the same out of district school, but this year there are a bunch of new classmates, who probably came from other schools? Since you have been at the school for awhile, I'm wondering if you have expressed your concerns to the principal/administrators? Is the ODD school large enough to offer more than one "Freshman class," or are all the students together for the entire day? Are there any other ODD schools in your area that you feel would be a more appropriate placement for your daughter?

[carolanne]

I'm located in NJ. The OOD school population has changed in the past 2 years. My DD is sweet and easy going and many classmates have extreme behavioral issues, causing my child to experience stress. I'm going to ask whether the school would consider putting together a classroom of students with less behavioral issues. Also looking at other programs. Just feeling overwhelmed and sad for DD!

[healthy11]

We have a couple of members who live in NJ, as well as a few who are more familiar with OOD placements than I am. Hopefully they'll see your post, and comment. In the meantime, I'm not sure if the following sites give some help:

homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/apssd/
www.state.nj.us/education/choice/

[carolanne]

Thanks very much for the replies. We had a second IEP meeting today. When the school learned of my concerns and that we were looking at other options they agreed to move my child into another classroom. They were very receptive and the new classroom is a much better fit. I also asked that this decision be made part of her record so that we don't have to have this problem moving forward. Thanks again for all your help.

[healthy11]

Carolanne, how many 9th grade classrooms does your daughter's school have? It's good to know that there are other options for her...I just wonder why they placed her in the first class to begin with? If you don't mind sharing, the information might help other parents who find themselves in similar situations. (They might be "lurking," meaning reading these discussions, but afraid to post...)

[carolanne]

My daughter's school doesn't have grades per se, They break up students within a 4 year age range. They had put my daughter with 2 friends for the last couple of years. She also has lots of other friends! I didn't think she belonged with the class because she has mild anxieties and some leftover PTSD due to orphanage. I explained to the school that the class wasn't meeting her unique educational needs, she wasn't getting meaningful benefit and it was causing harm. They offered another classroom with less behavioral students. We are very happy with the school's response.

[bros]

Glad to hear they decided to move her to a better classroom. What part of NJ? I know there's a good behavioral school in the Marlboro/Morganville area.