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Post by chaknine on Apr 22, 2004 22:00:56 GMT -5
Our school's special ed program is being audited. The school called me and asked if I would be willing to be on the audit panel. Has anyone else done this before? I said I would do it. They said to plan to spend half the day there. If anyone had any info or experiece with this let me know!
shelli
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Post by Mayleng on Apr 23, 2004 7:38:09 GMT -5
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Post by d on Apr 23, 2004 8:31:55 GMT -5
Mayleng, I know we're both in NY. Where I am, the local office of sp ed (one for the county) can/do come in and read any files whenever they want w/o warning. It happens in my school very very infrequently. School hates those visits, puts the fear of G-d in them. I got the impression they are unannounced.
I can't imagine being asked by the school to be on a sp ed audit panel. I don't think I'd be their first choice. Regardless, if asked I'd be there with bells on.
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Post by Mayleng on Apr 23, 2004 9:00:28 GMT -5
Mayleng, I know we're both in NY. Where I am, the local office of sp ed (one for the county) can/do come in and read any files whenever they want w/o warning. It happens in my school very very infrequently. School hates those visits, puts the fear of G-d in them. I got the impression they are unannounced. I can't imagine being asked by the school to be on a sp ed audit panel. I don't think I'd be their first choice. Regardless, if asked I'd be there with bells on. d, if they ask me to be on an audit panel, I would be there in a New York minute, so would alot of my buddies on schwab. I don't know what good reading the sped ed files would do, what they need to do is evaluate the programs they are using to teach the kids. Alot of the programs don't work, and they don't use the proven ones that do. And the time and intensity is not enough to help some students. These would be the things I would be looking for. |
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Post by d on Apr 23, 2004 9:26:34 GMT -5
What I'm describing is each county in NYS has an office with inspector(s) to do those 'drive by' audits of the schools' kid files for legal compliance. I know those inspectors can make judgement calls such as whether the amount of services are appropriate to the issues. (Hence that is what the school used in a many of their reading and spelling have NOTHING to do with ADHD proclamations).
Chalknine, I wonder who is conducting the audit? Is it the school's initiative where they are actually looking for ways to improve their programs and want parent input? It is hard to wrap my head around that angle... Is it a state audit for legal compliance or a case where the school is aiming for an award/recognition, therefore they are picking parents who best suit their interests? As you can tell, I have some cynicism issues with sp ed.
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Post by chaknine on Apr 23, 2004 22:38:39 GMT -5
I do not think it was the schools idea. When the head of the special ed program called she did not sound really very happy about it and did not want to give me alot of info. I asked her what all it involved and she said they would have me fill out paper work, ask me questions, and that it would take at least all morning. Then she told me where it was at and said she would see me there. I have a feeling this is going to be really interesting!!!!!!!! I under stood it to be an audit either by the state or govt.
shelli
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Post by dfp on Apr 24, 2004 13:03:46 GMT -5
oooh, I LOVE this! And this is the same school where the teacher is asking your daughter if she has taken her meds??? Get on that committee!
I love it. Sometimes justice CAN be served. I wonder if they're getting audited because other parents are complaining?
dfp
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Post by chaknine on Apr 24, 2004 19:47:15 GMT -5
I go to the meeting Tuesday morning at 8:15. Do you think they will ask questions reguarding meds and attitude about meds? Also my son was suppose to receive time each week with a psycholigist through the school and that was back in January. I have inquired about this every month and know one seems to get back to me and he is not seeing the psycholigist still and there is only about 3 weeks of school left. Also he is in special ed for reading, english, math, spelling. He is in 9th grade. They left him in a regular class room for computers and world geography. He is failing both of these classes. My question is if he can not read or spell well, how can they expect him to take a regular class. He can not study the text book because he does not understand it. His reading level score was very low!!
I hope I do not become the hated parent over this!!! But I am going to stand up for my kids. Also it took me 2 years to even get him an Iep. He refuses to take meds so I am sure they will through that one up.
Shelli
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Post by dfp on Apr 24, 2004 20:53:36 GMT -5
Oh my gosh! Get thee to an advocate as quickly as you can! There are some magic words that you can utter which can help your children's situation greatly: "out of compliance with the IEP". If the IEP says your child is to get services x times a week, and you have PROOF (always keep written proof) that your child has not received these services, then they are inviolation of the LAW and they are required to make up that time.
Also, if your son is failing regular classes because of inadequacies in the school getting him the services he needs, then they are in violation of the IEP there too.
Sadly, it is up to YOU to document where they fall off and call them on it EVERY time. Eventually they'll realize they can't fool around with you and will move on to easier prey. But they will not offer anything because of the generosity of their hearts. And they may actually be nice people, but their job is to watch the bottom line and they are squeezed as can be. So they only give in to the squeaky wheel.
But your children are being denied things that have been protected by the law and you can get them for them. But you must get to a SPED advocate or a local Parent Resource Center.
Sorry, gotta run, my adhd son is completly wigging out upstairs. Good luck!!!!
dfp
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Post by chaknine on Apr 24, 2004 22:39:52 GMT -5
Where do I find the special ed advocate? I have a feeling this is going to get messy. I kept his IEP papers that all of them signed. I will take them to the meeting. We have only been in special ed a semester and I am sure that is why I was selected for the panel. They think I am stupid and will not say anything. This is going to be good.
shelli
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Post by dfp on Apr 25, 2004 12:56:44 GMT -5
Chaknine,
Where do you live? If you don't feel like putting this on the public site, you can message me through this board. I can do a little research to dig up your local resources. Otherwise you can check your state department of ed website. Doing a Google search for "special ed advocate and xxxxx" where xxxxx is your state or town name should get you some results.
Yes, collect your information. The power an IEP gives you is great-- IF you know what your rights are and if you can get the school system to comply (often not an easy prospect).
dfp
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Post by chaknine on Apr 26, 2004 8:37:21 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for all your help. I will try the google search to find our special ed advocate. If that does not work I will pm you dfp.
I will let everyone know how things went after the meeting tomorrow.
Shelli
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Post by dfp on Apr 26, 2004 9:06:33 GMT -5
You might also try "SPEDPAC and xxxx" where xxx is your state name. That may also yield results.
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Post by chaknine on Apr 28, 2004 21:44:46 GMT -5
Well I went to the meeting and the school was audited. One of the corrections was to have a committee made up of principals, special ed teachers, and special ed parents. I am now on a committee that I know nothing about! I have been looking on the internet and requested an Illinois Board of special ed. manual to gather as much info as I can. I hope I can at least help some child if not my own. I also have to fill out a survey for the state of the whole process we went through. Let me know of any good resource sites and I will be looking at old posts from our education posts.
Shelli
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Post by dfp on Apr 28, 2004 22:29:34 GMT -5
chaknine,
What kinds of questions does the committee want answered? Are they asking specifics about children at your child's school? Or are they asking more general questions?
Certainly your participation will help other children but it will also help you. You will probably find a bunch of useful information in the state regs.
When, in our last home (diff. state), my son was having trouble getting services & assistive technology (he's hard of hearing too), I was amazed at how the laws helped me. And also amazed at how much better meetings, etc. went when they realized I had actually read the regs.
It's terriffic that you're doing this!
dfp
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Post by chaknine on Apr 28, 2004 22:54:38 GMT -5
Some of the questions are presented as in reguards to child A or child F. We do not know the names but they are actual students. They discussed ways of identifying at risk children before things get way out of hand and ways to stop kids from slipping through the cracks. They looked at the overall process from being identified to actually receiving services and placements. They had charts of all the different special ed sub groups and how many were in each sub group and they showed past years and how many complited school, dropped out, or took ged. There was alot of info. some I had no clue about and need to learn and some I new from personal exp. We talked about the least restrictive enviroment and the no child left behind. We looked at financial aspects and the costs of just 1 Iep. We are sharing a school psychologist with another district and that is slowing up our evals. We need a school psychologist but can not find one. There is not alot of them out there. I am really overwhelmmed!!!!!  But I will get through and hopefully make a difference. We had have alot of special ed kids in our school disrict and the number is increasing very quickly. Shelli |
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Post by dfp on Apr 29, 2004 8:11:49 GMT -5
It really sounds like they are trying to catch everything. That's great. I am able to forgive a lot when I think someone is trying...
Sounds like a tremendous experience.
dfp
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Post by Mayleng on Apr 29, 2004 8:12:36 GMT -5
chaknine, you could checkout some of the articles at www.ldonline.org and www.schwablearning.org and www.wrightslaw.com and www.reedmartin.comAlso when they look to qualify a child for sped or NOT, they should look at both the evaluations (subtest by subtest ie. subtest scatter) as well as how the child's academic performance is in class. Most schools only look at deviations in the Performance IQ and the Verbal IQ and forget about everything else. It should be the whole child. And if you have any input in what kinds of methods/programs they use to teach reading, they should look at proven methods, like Orton Gillingham and Lindamood Bell. These are what has proven to work for dyslexics and it has to be intensively done. You could post some questions at www.schwablearning.org/message_boards/index.asp? about what they recommend for Sped Ed etc. I am sure they would love to give you their input. The moms there are very saavy in Sped Ed and remediation. All their kids have LDs and they all have experience dealing with the schools and administrations. Good Luck |
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Post by chaknine on Apr 29, 2004 16:26:46 GMT -5
Thanks Mayleng for the info. I regisitered at schwab learning and looked at some of the posts. Those parents seem to be on top of things!!! It was almost kind of intimidating, they know a lot! I did not post anything yet but I looked at some of the posts, I can get all kinds of info from them. I am going to post a message tonight asking pretty much where to begin.
Thanks!!!!! Shelli
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Post by Mayleng on Apr 29, 2004 20:02:28 GMT -5
Thanks Mayleng for the info. I regisitered at schwab learning and looked at some of the posts. Those parents seem to be on top of things!!! It was almost kind of intimidating, they know a lot! I did not post anything yet but I looked at some of the posts, I can get all kinds of info from them. I am going to post a message tonight asking pretty much where to begin. Thanks!!!!! Shelli Shelli, Don't be intimidated, they are all very nice and caring people there. Most are my "friends" on and off the boards. These people are very experienced and some have even gone thru Due Process and won. Some are advocates, my very Special Friend Gina Robuck is a School Psychologist who is on our side and teaches us how to fight the school system. Her pet hate is "retention". Even the moderator "Scot Moore" is more like a friend and is very supportive. You will feel very welcome there. |
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Post by chaknine on Apr 29, 2004 22:32:30 GMT -5
Mayleng I posted over at schwab. It is awfully long and I hope I did not ramble to much. There was alot of interesting posts there. Thanks so much!!!
Shelli
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But I will get through and hopefully make a difference. We had have alot of special ed kids in our school disrict and the number is increasing very quickly.